The Quest - Ashes 2013/14

[Booney]

Siddle will play and rightly so but imho I think he will struggle. He doesn't swing the ball or cut it and is generally reliant on banging the ball into the pitch with a bit of extra bounce. I don't think the pitches will suit him.

I disagree.

I think Siddle has improved his length, pitching it up more and gets lots of his wickets caught behind the stumps after decking the ball in or, usually away, to compliment his natural angle into the batsman.

I think he has developed past a hit the deck hard bowler to one that has more control, bowls better lines and certainly this past Australian summer, better lengths. I look forward to him toiling away in England.

[The Sleeping Giant]

Siddle is doing something right. Be interesting too see how a couple of bowlers go in India.

[whufc]

Siddle will play and rightly so but imho I think he will struggle. He doesn't swing the ball or cut it and is generally reliant on banging the ball into the pitch with a bit of extra bounce. I don't think the pitches will suit him.

I disagree.

I think Siddle has improved his length, pitching it up more and gets lots of his wickets caught behind the stumps after decking the ball in or, usually away, to compliment his natural angle into the batsman.

I think he has developed past a hit the deck hard bowler to one that has more control, bowls better lines and certainly this past Australian summer, better lengths. I look forward to him toiling away in England.

I hope ur right I would love to see Siddle rip through the poms!!

I still think he has a massive gap between his best and worse spells, some of his early spells this summer against the Saffies were very ordinary with dozens of hip high leg side balls.

IF he can hit good lengths and and get a tad of seam either way he could be very dangerous!

Imho he is the key for us to challenge for the ashes, come on mate!

[LBT]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/601575.html
Hodge ponders Ashes bid

Brad Hodge is seriously considering a last-gasp effort to push for a spot on the Ashes tour, and Victoria's selectors have discussed the possibility of finding room for him in the closing three Sheffield Shield matches of the summer.

Currently playing in the Bangladesh Premier League, 38-year-old Hodge has revealed that he is weighing up the possibility of a return to the Victorian Shield team in the closing months of the season.

ESPNcricinfo understands this has been a topic of conversation at the Bushrangers' selection meetings, which have factored in filling the hole left should David Hussey and/or Glenn Maxwell be chosen for the four-Test tour of India that begins in February.

While Hodge will not be considered for Victoria's next Shield fixture against South Australia at Adelaide Oval from Thursday, he may yet turn out in their matches against Queensland, New South Wales and Tasmania. The Bushrangers are currently second on the table, level on points with the Bulls but returning an inferior quotient.

"Would I like to play for Australia? Of course, everyone would," Hodge said after making 53 for Barisal against Khulna in Dhaka. "I probably deserved to play a little bit more when I had the opportunity. It seems that there seems to be a lot more rotating players than when I was in my prime.
"I am still playing good enough to represent Australia I think. But I do believe that my opportunity is passed. Having said that I am considering after this tournament, to go back to four-day cricket and have a quick shot at trying to make the Ashes team."

Seriously Brad.....zip it!

[Grahaml]

Why? You don't like blokes making fair statements of themselves? He's dead right, he definitely deserved to play more for Australia. Just like Lehmann, Stuart Law, Martin Love, Jimmy Maher, Jamie Siddons etc etc did. If those guys were born 15 years earlier or later, they play a big chunk more cricket than they did. But even in his era, Hodge (IMHO) played too little. His results at every level were good enough to warrant it.

[LBT]

Well there is a pretty strong suggestion that his attitude and criticism of the selectors burnt a lot of chances for him. Who from the Australian team from say 1998 -2008 should have been left out to accommodate Hodge?

Lehmann, Stuart Law, Martin Love, Jimmy Maher, Jamie Siddons .

None of these blokes carried on like Hodge though.

[CENTURION]

Bring back Warne then.

[Squids]

Wasn't it Hodges mum that cracked the sads?

[Coach Bombay]

Give a Klinger a ******* a go yeah ?

[stampy]

Wasn't it Hodges mum that cracked the sads?

johnson

[Squids]

Wasn't it Hodges mum that cracked the sads?

johnson

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/crick ... 1112699507


holy carp they look the same

[scoob]

how could he let his mum go to the papers and criticise the selectors... is he f@#king 11 years old? what an absolute knob jockey - feck off fo good will ya!

[rod_rooster]

LMAO The scary thing is that 'Nick' Hodge actually believes the crap that comes out of his mouth. Pretty obvious where he got it from too Val!

The fact that the Victorian selectors haven't laughed in his face is even scarier. They can't be that short of blokes to actually consider picking a 38 year old knob who has only ever been concerned about himself and not the team he's playing for surely?

[the joker]

So apparently it's down to Smith, Ferguson, Doolan, Bailey and Voges for the spare batting position in India and England. But Bailey and Voges missing these shield games with Aussie t20 duties

[whufc]

So apparently it's down to Smith, Ferguson, Doolan, Bailey and Voges for the spare batting position in India and England. But Bailey and Voges missing these shield games with Aussie t20 duties

Gut feel tells me Voges will get the nod in India due to his ability against spin and having a bit more experience playing in India

[The Dark Knight]

So apparently it's down to Smith, Ferguson, Doolan, Bailey and Voges for the spare batting position in India and England. But Bailey and Voges missing these shield games with Aussie t20 duties

Gut feel tells me Voges will get the nod in India due to his ability against spin and having a bit more experience playing in India

I wouldn't mind that, I like Voges and if him, Doolan or Ferguson get picked for India I'd be happy, not Smith, anyone but him FFS.

[heater31]

So apparently it's down to Smith, Ferguson, Doolan, Bailey and Voges for the spare batting position in India and England. But Bailey and Voges missing these shield games with Aussie t20 duties

Gut feel tells me Voges will get the nod in India due to his ability against spin and having a bit more experience playing in India

If they end up taking Smith heaven forbid don't under any circumstances throw him the ball to roll the arm over

[stampy]

1st test line up

warner
cowan
hughes
clarke
khwaja
watson
wade
siddle
pattinson
starc/bird
lyon

at least one of the bowlers will be injured thats a given

5 of the top 7 are lefties and so are patto and starc which would be unusual if they all fronted

[Squids]

Voges must play in the ashes if Australia are to have any chance.

[stampy]

why