First Test Eleven

[am Bays]

Johnson 4-56 of 22, including the wickets of Hussey and Martyn....

Clarke, Tait, Johnson....they've all put their hand up in the past week....

[MLFC]

Mine would be and should be the team
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Tait
McGrath
Will be the team..has to be if we want to win

[mal]

Mine would be and should be the team
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Clarke
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Tait
McGrath
Will be the team..has to be if we want to win

Are you absolutely mad
how can you leave out Shane Watson on his p/cup effort v WA
O RUNS
O WICKETS

[sydney-dog]

To be honest and some people might jump on me for this

my biggest concern is McGraph, I know he puts the ball in the right spot but he does not hit the deck as hard as you should at test level, I think the Poms will target him as they did Dizzy on the last series

McGraph has been an absolute champion but my concern is that the POM's no longer fear him, they will attack him and given Glenn is only bowling these days at 129km / hr at his peak pace, Glenn may struggle to break through with the new ball

[am Bays]

To be honest and some people might jump on me for this

My biggest concern is McGraph, I know he puts the ball in the right spot but he does not hit the deck as hard as you should at test level, I think the Poms will target him as they did Dizzy on the last series

McGraph has been an absolute champion but my concern is that the POM's no longer fear him, they will attack him and given Glenn is only bowling these days at 129km / hr at his peak pace, Glenn may struggle to break through with the new ball

Sacreligous but you are right, IF, we struggle in the 1st 2 tests, and both of them fail, they will both be under pressure (Langer moreso) to hold their spots for the 3rd test. IMHO 130 km/h is a benchmark for pace bowling at test level.

[sydney-dog]

1980 Tassie Medalist

Sacreligous I know, his record is undisputable

but I am lookinbg at this series in isolation and the importancy of the series, this is the biggest series in 20 years

my concern is he has lost some zip and even though he may not get punished, his job is to take early wickets

[stampy]

what about gilchrist? i reckon his best has past him by, give him the first 3 tests and if he doesnt fire with the bat give haddin a go

[sydney-dog]

I personally have no concerns with Gilly

Langer and McGraph are the two that need to fire from day one,

You can't keep ignoring Jacques form and we finally have some depth and quality in our bowling stocks

[am Bays]

However it is good that blokes feel under pressure and know that they have to peform, no matter what their reputations, as Lauarie Lawrence would say, "Hungry Dogs Hunt Best."

We needs the blokes just outside the test team putting the pressure on the blokes to perform and if the players in the team show any sort of character they should respond in turn and their skills do the talking in the tests.

[heater31]

Im tipping this will be Langer's last home series, win lose or draw he has copped some bad knocks in the last few years and I wouldn't be suprised if more followed and the changing of the guard began.

[mal]

The thing that the selectors should look at is pensioning the lads in increments.
Remember when Lillie/Greg Chappell/Marsh all retired at the same time in the 80's.
The team struggled for a few years.
I would go in this order[unless they starred]

1 Martyn now[keep for o/d games only]
2 Langer end of series
3 Mcgrath next series
4 Warne 2 years time
5 Gilchrist 2 years time
6 Macgill 2 years time
7 Hayden 3 years time
8 Lee 4 years time
9 Hussey 4 years time
10 Symonds 4 years time
11 Ponting 5 years time

Clark/Gillespie///Bracken/Haddin/Hodge will be finished within 3 years as well.
Katich is still in the equation at his age.

Seems like a good time to promote Clarke/Watson/Jaques/Tait/Johnson/Manou
whilst there is a winning culture right now to 12 months time.
They will all be a nucleas in 2 years time in the next generation
Paine/Birt/Hilfenhaus/Cullen/HenREBiques/Chrstian/Ronchi/North/Bailey/Dorey/Borgas will be
in the equation to support the nucleas[and others I may have inadvertantly missed]

[Rik E Boy]

Gillespie is finished now mally. He'll be a Redback for the rest of his cricket days. Speaking of Redbacks, I believe that Tait should be picked for the first test but I reckon they will pick Johnson.

REB's (final LOL) XI

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Watson
Gilchrist
Lee
Warne
Tait
McGrath

12th Johnson

regards,

REB

[westozfalcon]

My 12 would be:-

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martin
Clarke
Gilchrist
Hussey
Lee
Warne
Johnson
McGrath

12th - Andrew Symonds

Tait sprays 'em too much. Johnson will be a better option
Watson may bowl at 140 clicks but is about as straight up and down as a bowling machine. Not sure if if his batting ability is sufficient to get him in as an allrounder either.

[rod_rooster]

On Inside Cricket on Foxtel, Darren Berry and Jamie Cox both thought Watson should be batting at 4 for Australia. WTF? If Watson is a Test number 4 then i am a Test number 3 and i can assure you i am crap.

[rod_rooster]

What it will be:

1 - Hayden
2 - Langer
3 - Ponting (c)
4 - Martyn
5 - Hussey
6 - Watson
7 - Gilchrist (wk)
8 - Warne
9 - Lee
10 - Clark
11 - McGrath

12th - Johnson

What it should be:

1 - Hayden
2 - Jaques
3 - Ponting
4 - Hussey
5 - Lehmann
6 - Symonds
7 - Gilchrist
8 - Warne
9 - Lee
10 - Tait
11 - McGrath

12th MacGill

[MLFC]

Mate im not crazy
i hate watson always have....and have always preffered clarke over him
if he plays 1st test i will be spewing. Especially with clarkes lastest form

[sydney-dog]

Gillespie and Hodge are finished now, they wont find their way back in to the Australian side

Martyn, he is in good touch but for the test matches, I would like the selectors to push some younger players through, one day matches I do not have too much of an issue with Martyn's selection

Langer, just a tough nut and ha put his body on the line for his country, but how long can we keep a class act like Jaques waiting, the selectors will not want to change two openers at the same time, I would like to see Jaques bat with Hayden for a couple of years and settle in to international cricket before we need to make another change, it's called good planning

Watson, my opinion, he needs to get some more performances on the board, players like Hussey, Boof, Hayden and now Jaques played at such a high level season after season before getting their opportunity, but with Watson, we seem focused and in a hurry to find a Freddy clone, but let's pick him on results and performances, more work to do

McGraph, as stated before, he needs to get his speed up to 132-135km and be more then a stop bowler, champion bowler, great competitor, 500+ TEST WICKETS, but at the age of 36 he has to keep on performing, his measure for performance is early wickets

[am Bays]

S-Dog this is The ASHES, now is not the time for blooding players the best 11 now must be picked!!!!

Martyn is a monty IMHO given the form he was in at the Champions trophy.

Blood players next year against SL and India when it doesn't matter who wins.

No way will the selectors pick Clark, McGrath and Lee in the same side, Clark might make the 12, but he won't be in the 11 they are all too similar. I expect Tait or Johnson to be in the 11.

If we are one down after two, expect changes, with McGrath for Clark and Jaques for Langer if both haven't performed.

I susppose we'll knw at 12:30 pm tomorrow when the test side is posted on cricket.com.au

[sydney-dog]

1980TM

Mate always respect your opinion and I agree I would not play Clarke (McGraph Clone) in the same side as Glenn, and I agree Glenn deserves first crack

In regards to blooding players, you have picked either Tait or Johnson, isn't that Blooding a new test bowler

In regards to Jaques, he is ready to go and I do not see him as a huge risk factor

In regards to Martyn, I would bat, obviously Ponting at 3, Hussey 4, Pup at 5, Gilly at 6 and Roy at 7

Great sides remain great because the have the courage to bring youth through while they are still a great side and with an experience core to support them

In regards to the POM's, deserved the ashes victory last season, but they will not get close to the aussies no matter what side we pick

Last series everything went right for the POM's, with both the cricketing gods and injuries, they played to their full capabilities on home soil, in 18months so much has changed

My Prediction - at least 3-0

[mal]

Gillespie and Hodge are finished now, they wont find their way back in to
______________________________
the Australian side

Martyn, he is in good touch but for the test matches, I would like the selectors to push some younger players through, one day matches I do not have too much of an issue with Martyn's selection

Langer, just a tough nut and ha put his body on the line for his country, but how long can we keep a class act like Jaques waiting, the selectors will not want to change two openers at the same time, I would like to see Jaques bat with Hayden for a couple of years and settle in to international cricket before we need to make another change, it's called good planning

Watson, my opinion, he needs to get some more performances on the board, players like Hussey, Boof, Hayden and now Jaques played at such a high level season after season before getting their opportunity, but with Watson, we seem focused and in a hurry to find a Freddy clone, but let's pick him on results and performances, more work to do

McGraph, as stated before, he needs to get his speed up to 132-135km and be more then a stop bowler, champion bowler, great competitor, 500+ TEST WICKETS, but at the age of 36 he has to keep on performing, his measure for performance is early wickets

Top line S/DOG HOdgEy made 153 today