Ashes Squad Discussion (CLOSED)

[Power Raid]

I will take a punt on some roughies.

1. Cowan
2. Watson - has played his best as an opener and bowling
3. Warner - play him like a viv richards at first or second drop
4. Hughes - should be given the sack but may shine on greener wickets
5. Clarke*
6. Khawja/ Smith
7. Wade+
8. Agar
9. Pattinson
10. Cummins
11. Bird

 

[Mateyman]

4. Hughes - should be given the sack but may shine on greener wickets

Why? Has looked good these last 2 innings

 

[Power Raid]

Why? Has looked good these last 2 innings

your right and I do want the kid to succeed. His average though is sub 35, which is not flash for a specialist batsmen.

Hopefully, with time he proves the patience afforded to him has been worth it.

 

[andy_99]

1. Shane Watson
2. Ed Cowan
3. David Warner
4. Michael Clarke
5. Phil Hughes
6. Usman Khawaja
7. Brad Haddin
8. James Faulkner
9. Luke Butterworth
10. Steve O'Keefe
11. James Pattinson

Good batting depth

 

[Heisenberg_]

Our bowling line up should be Pattinson, Siddle, Bird/Hilfenhaus and Lyon. Starc has talent but he isn't yet much chop as a Test bowler, don't mistake great limited overs results with Test bowling, has a fair bit of work to do before he can really perform in Test cricket.
Mitchell Johnson should NOT be going to England unless it's as a fan, amazed how anybody could mount a case for his selection given his past performances over there and the fact that he just isn't that good.
I see some people are still pushing for Henriques to play

 

[The 747]

Cowan
Warner
Hughes
Watson only if bowling, if not Bailey
Clarke
Smith
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson/Harris
Bird
Lyon
Haddin
Agar, although they might pick Maxwell
Best young Shield batter, no idea who that it but it isnt Usman or Moises
Faulkner, although they will pick Starc or MJ instead.

17, and at least three quicks (whoever is not picked in the squad from those listed and Hilf) should be over in England playing and ready for a call up.

Bailey doesnt have the best shield record, but he has stepped up at international level when asked and provides some leadership which we currently seriously lack.

 

[jethro11]

1. Shane Watson
2. Ed Cowan
3. David Warner
4. Michael Clarke
5. Phil Hughes
6. Usman Khawaja
7. Brad Haddin
8. James Faulkner
9. Luke Butterworth
10. Steve O'Keefe
11. James Pattinson

Good batting depth

G'day John.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'm still strggling with a couple of batting spots, but from seven down:

Hartley (I know it won't happen)
Pattinson
Siddle
Harris (not a certainty yet, but right now ahead of other contenders and there isn't much cricket to be played)
Lyon

 

[legend166]

My team:

Warner
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
<best performing batsman from the Australian A tour>
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon
Bird

I know it won't happen, but I'm just sick of Watson. Nevermind his petulant antics, he's just a really crappy batsman. Send him in the A tour and tell him to bat and bowl and he might get to slot in at 6.

 

[Spitz]

Bird's a good bowler and one for the future.

But Harris is one of the better, and most accurate quicks in the world when on-song. Front on action, and has swung it all through his career.

He's also the best grafter we have on a flat wicket, which will be handy on some of the late turners.

 

[legend166]

Yeah, I guess Harris in for Bird. He'll probably do an ACL getting on the plane or something though.

 

[Camo1902]

Bailey has to tour. We are desperate for old heads in the middle order. They should also sling a truckload of coin at Huss to make a comeback.

Harris should get selected as well.

 

[Footy Smarts]

Simple. 6 best bats, best keeper and best 4 bowlers should make up the side. That means the squad should be:

Batsmen:

Clarke
Cowan
Hughes
Warner
Smith
Watson (given 2 tests to prove himself)
2 best performed bats in Aus A tour (Doolan/Khawaja/Burns/Bayley, etc)

Keepers:
Wade
1 other but probably not Haddin since he's past it

Bowlers (the easiest to pick):
Pattinson
Siddle
Lyon
Best 3 from Aus A tour out of Starc, Harris, Hilf, Bird and Cummins (maybe Faukner if he has a massive tour)
Best spinner from Aus A tour so probably either O'Keefe or Agar (maybe Maxwell but doubt he's good enough on non-spinning wickets)

That's a 17 man squad. Probably don't need that many but we need other batsmen in case people like Watson need to be dropped. No all-rounders unless they're in our best ~8 batsmen or best ~7 bowlers.

 

[The Passenger]

At this stage i'd be thinking

Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Bailey, Clarke, Smith (Khawaja, Doolan/Burns)
Wade (Paine/Haddin)
Lyon (Agar/O'Keefe)
Pattinson, Siddle, Bird (Starc, Faulkner, Harris)

1) Wade's keeping needs to be addressed. He has just looked all at sea to spinners. Paine has a fair bit of cricket behind him now and is the second best keeper in first class level behind hartley. haddin will most likely be the back up though.
2) I wouldn't take Watson but we know he's 95% there in place of that Doolan/Burns spot.
3) Bailey is a must for mine. still scratching my head at his omission from india.
4) hughes and smith clinging on for dear life but i wonder how long they can do so for? hope to be proven wrong, but i fear it may end up being to the detriment to the home ashes where we could end up blooding a newcomer in a tough but very winnable series when we could've blooded that guy in a series that is going to be very very hard to win anyway.
5) there are plenty of unlucky quicks.

 

[Team DJ]

All right guys. the india tour is almost over and now our focus will switch to the Ashes(if it didnt before this series anyway). I havent found a thread on this ashes so ill kick it off with my starting 11 and then the rest. i have a feeling that they may go with a large squad over there so i will go with 17. the same as the india tour

1. Warner
2. Cowan
3. Hughes
4. Watson(must bowl!!)
5. Clarke (c)
6. Khawaja
7. Wade (wk)
8. Starc
9. Pattinson
10. Siddle
11. Lyon

i think thats our best side but watson must bowl and i think khawaja has the technique over there to succeed. top 3 is a must and i dont think there are any other options. if watson dosent bowl in not sure cause the balance of the side gets destroyed as we have seen vs india. i even wouldnt be against seeing watson batting at 6 and khawaja at 4. if this happens then the middle order will be completely different and itll be anyones guess wat the selectors pick. the bowlers pick themselves and i know when u pick a bowler that can bat a bit (starc) you can lose focus on taking 20 wickets but i believe if we are going to win the ashes our tail will have to help us out in a game or 2 hence starc gets a game over bird. not sure on lyon but there is no one else around. i have agar in my squad for a learning curve but i dont think he will play much.


12. Doolan
13. Haddin
14. Agar
15. Hilfenhaus
16. Bird
17. Cummins

First off i think we need the bowling options over there. hilf gets a spot as he was our best bowler there last time and still can offer alot. bird obviously cause if theres a bit of grass in the pitch must play as he can hold up an end and get wickets too. cummins for that raw pace and maybe only to play a test or 2. pending fitness and form obviously. haddin to back up wade to cover for injury and form but wade gets first shot. doolan is the next best performed batsman that is not 35+ or 100kg+. i havent seen much of him but seems to have a good technique and we need that over there.

would love some constructive criticism

Shaun Marsh and Jackson Bird have to be in the X1 for mine

 

[legend166]

What has Marsh done to deserve a recall?

 

[Phone]

got injured

should be a 18 man squad, to ensure two reverse batsman are picked. maybe 19 if they want an all-rounder.

 

[damochandler]

i reckon they'll go with 19. 9 7 2 1. 9 batsman, 7 bowlers, 2 keepers and 1 all rounder

 

[peterdean mk12]

1 Warner
2 Watson ( Give him 2 tests to prove himself, must be bowling or drop him till he earns his place again)
3 Cowan
4 Hughes
5 Clarke
6 Wade ( playing as batsman)
7 Haddin wk
8 Starc
9 Pattison
10 Harris
11 Lyon
12 Faulkner
13 khawja
14 Doolan
15 Siddle
16 Burns

Watson wants to open so tell to put up or f off, he also must bowl, if he fails cowan opens and Faulkner comes in at 7 as a genuine all rounder. Wade can focus on batting and is as good a batsman as anyone playing first class.
Siddle the unlucky one as it is a toss up between him and Pattison, Harris must play in England, I would take the 3 spare batsman and put it on all the batsman that they have a 2 options, start scoring big runs or move aside, they have all played enough international cricket now. No more excuses.

 

[Tommy the Cat]

Jordan Silk must surely be on the radar and he is pretty young so he will benefit greatly

I think the selectors love affair with the big No Show is embarrassing, he doesn't have the defensive technique to play test cricket nor is he able to apply himself mentally for more than 10 minutes without bringing out his T/20 shots hence he gets caught in the outfield

Bird will come back in, Cummins should also be fit and Starc needs to improve to keep his spot. Khawaja probably deserves a hit, he cant be any worse than our current group.

I'd hook Watson, sick of his prima donna attitude and the world revolves around him. Failed as a batsman in India and doesn't bowl so no point in having him in the team, yet he will bowl in the IPL for money, seriously piss him off.

I'd pick Haddin over Wade and keepers should be selected primarily as a glove man which Wade clearly hasn't been. Fact is neither of them are the future, time to look at someone else.

Alot of problems to resolve and I dont have any confidence in the fossil and his cronies to select a decent team, they seem to have love affairs for bad cricketers.

This is gonna be a long road back.

 

[Tyberious Funk]

I'm surprised at the number of people drinking the Joe Burns Kool Aid. No doubt he has some talent, but the guy is averaging ~33 this season... that hardly screams "pick me". For the record, Callum Ferguson is averaging ~40 as is Mark Cosgrove. While Chris Rogers has reeled off three centuries and is averging near 50. Fergurson used to be a bit of a CA favourite, but I think that's changed with the new selection panel. While Rogers and Cosgrove are probably on the "never to be selected" list. So I'd be surprised if any of them get a spot on the tour.

Also, I'm interested to see if the selectors do anything about adding experience to the squad. Bailey, Voges and DHussey all had poor first class seasons, but all have performed pretty well in the Ford Ranger. I think at least one of them needs to be in the squad. My preference would be Bailey, who'd I'd consider playing ahead of Watson (both as a batsman and as a vice-captain). Unlike others, I don't have a problem with playing Watson as a specialist batsman... he just needs to justify that place with some runs (which he hasn't done).

 

[Spitz]

^^^^

FWIW however unlikely it is, I'd love to see the selectors pick Rogers as a stop gap for the next 12 months. He deserves it, he was still able to break into a very strong batting lineup at the time.

Rogers
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke
Smith/Watson
Warner
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Harris
Lyon

Has a far tougher look about it, with a long tail. Not as exciting with Warner not opening, but it's got a gritty look about it, Rogers/Cowan value their wicket more, and we have two genuine stroke makers next in.

I don't think any side would be comfortable bowling to Warner and Wade down the order, especially if there was runs on in the bank and a license to go after the bowling. Michael Hussey was a opener turned aggressive #6, Warner's got a good enough defence and he's clearly attacking enough, it's a no brainer for mine......

I'd only play Watson if he could prove he can bowl at least 8-10 overs an innings.

 

[Caesar]

Rogers
Cowan
Hughes
Clarke
Smith/Watson
Warner
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Harris
Lyon

Recipe for a middle order collapse if I ever saw one.

Our three Ws are not exactly made of the same stuff as the West Indies greats.

 

[The Passenger]

Tyberious Funk

It's more that Burns is a youngster (23) with a first class average in excess of 40 and there isn't much of that floating around... He also had a shocking start to this season so his average is reeling from that but with a few scores in the back half of the season it's looking a bit healthier. he's still very inconsistent. very inconsistent. but with queensland rolling through tassie at the moment he has a huge opportunity in the second innings of the shield final to stake a claim. And lets face it. the cupboard is not stocked with many options in the batting department.

I agree about Bailey. I know he hasn't scored many runs in the shield this season but he's a proven performer over a long period playing most of his games on a tough wicket. and his poor form this season is a very small sample size over what he has done in recent years. he's also shown in the ODI's that he is not worried about the step up to international level. whilst i don't want to be making the mistake of picking blokes on ODI form i think it's somewhat of an indication of how they'll handle the step up in grade.

If he were to debut in the Ashes he'd be almost the same age as Michael Hussey when he made his test debut so age shouldn't be an issue. for mine bailey should be at number 4 for the first test. he should've been in india but that's done and dusted so forgot about it.

rogers won't play but shouldn't be too far off the radar. it was most likely going to be at the expense of hughes but hughes has earned himself another shot with a solid couple of tests to finish the series.

to me the selectors at some point have to make a stand because we have gotten ourselves into a cycle where blokes find themselves on the chopping block only to make a score and save themselves for a few more tests and do nothing in the interim. warner has done it a couple of times now, cowan was right under the pump before his maiden century and has never cemented his spot, hughes has just saved his ass, henriques couldn't follow up and smith has come back well but can he gone on? obviously the last two weren't on the chopping block as they had just come in to the team but henriques is an example of someone who didn't back up a good test with another good test and we'll see with smith.

further exasperating the problem of not following up a good score with another good score, is that when these guys save their bacon they generally aren't going on and making match turning innings. they're just doing enough (70-80 type scores) to give the selectors enough reason to continue to pick them for another couple of tests, but not enough to give us consistently defendable scores.

all that being said the selectors can't just pick a bloke and make him into a test quality batsmen. for mine the best outside of the team is bailey. sadly, it's a bit of a stretch to think a 30 year old debutant with a first class average of 38.5 (albeit with a lot of cricket down in hobart) is going to be the difference between us winning and losing the ashes.

 

[djrossie16]

Cowan
Warner
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Wade
Siddle
Starc
Pattinson
Lyon

I'm guessing this will be it but not sure whether Clarke at 4 is a permanent thing or just an Indian gimmick. Either way I think we're in trouble.