Australia Test squad - 2014

[eth-dog]

I'd hope not. Surely you'd stick with Siddle and give Coulter-Nile or Hazlewood a go.

Starc's not near test standard at the moment

I hope so too, but it just feels that way. Give me NCN any day. For me the XI should be:

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Clarke
White
Watson/Marsh
Haddin
Johnson
Coulter-Nile
Lyon
Siddle

 

[SterlingArcher]

Warner, Smith, Johnson, Clarke, Lyon are our best options in each of those positions.

Rogers and Siddle are 90% likely the best options in their positions.

Haddin - best, but fitness?
Harris - best, but fitness? Bird - 2nd best, but fitness?
Watson - best, but fitness?

Warner
Rogers
???? (Watson)
Smith
Clarke
????
???? (Haddin)
Johnson
???? (Harris/Bird)
Lyon
Siddle

Hopefully Haddin, Bird and Watson fill 3 of those spots. Mitch Marsh in strong consideration. Then we have a long list of decent players (Hughes, Doolan, Starc etc) yet to put it together at the top level.

Will be an interesting discussion at the selection table. Love to be a fly on the wall.

 

[bird_man]

I hope we don't pick Marsh if they are going to bring Watson back in. Marsh played a coupe if solids innings but he's still a long way off a test batsman and with Watson in we won't really need his bowling.

 

[Kram]

Marsh deserves an opportunity for mine even if Robot plays.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'd hope not. Surely you'd stick with Siddle and give Coulter-Nile or Hazlewood a go.

Starc's not near test standard at the moment

Siddle has used all his chances. Needs to show he can bowl 145+ otherwise he doesn't play. Give NCN, Hazelwood, etc a go. Can't be any worse.

 

[The_Reaper]

Siddle has used all his chances. Needs to show he can bowl 145+ otherwise he doesn't play. Give NCN, Hazelwood, etc a go. Can't be any worse.

Two debutants quicks in the one team?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Two debutants quicks in the one team?

Johnson, Starc/Bird (the latter if fit), NCN. 1 bloke on debut. With Marsh, Watson as the AR's. Lyon the token rubbish spinner.

 

[The_Reaper]

Johnson, Starc/Bird (the latter if fit), NCN. 1 bloke on debut. With Marsh, Watson as the AR's. Lyon the token rubbish spinner.

Bird won't be fit. Starc needs time with NSW and I think having both Marsh and Watson weakens the batting too much

We should pick who we think should be number 3 in the Ashes next year and put him in at number 3 against India

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Bird won't be fit. Starc needs time with NSW and I think having both Marsh and Watson weakens the batting too much

We should pick who we think should be number 3 in the Ashes next year and put him in at number 3 against India

I don't like the two AR's either but I have to be somewhat realistic. It is the way they are going. To be honest, there isn't a standout number 3, unless you are dead set gambling on a really young player...and then we are back to square 1 with Clarke being a wuss and hiding at 4 or 5.

Starc isn't my favourite, ideally Harris is there. Siddle was beyond pathetic though, UAE conditions don't force you to bowl 125-130km meat pies! NCN deserves a crack, or Hazelwood.

 

[The_Reaper]

I don't like the two AR's either but I have to be somewhat realistic. It is the way they are going. To be honest, there isn't a standout number 3, unless you are dead set gambling on a really young player...and then we are back to square 1 with Clarke being a wuss and hiding at 4 or 5.

Starc isn't my favourite, ideally Harris is there. Siddle was beyond pathetic though, UAE conditions don't force you to bowl 125-130km meat pies! NCN deserves a crack, or Hazelwood.

Clarke isn't good enough against the swinging new ball to be at 3.

Is Watson in your opinion the man to bat at 3 in England next year?

LB Watson?

 

[western royboy]

I don't like the two AR's either but I have to be somewhat realistic. It is the way they are going. To be honest, there isn't a standout number 3, unless you are dead set gambling on a really young player...and then we are back to square 1 with Clarke being a wuss and hiding at 4 or 5.

Starc isn't my favourite, ideally Harris is there. Siddle was beyond pathetic though, UAE conditions don't force you to bowl 125-130km meat pies! NCN deserves a crack, or Hazelwood.

Pretty sure Doolan will at least start in this series along with Rogers. Watson will only be considered for 6 was my mail so I am prepared to stick with that. NCN would be ahead of Hazelwood. Thus my side for the Gabba would be;

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Coulter-Nile
Starc/Siddle
Lyon/O'Keefe

Never to be selected again under any circumstance

Maxwell

If we start well Clarke may miss tests, and under that scenario I'm tipping C White to get a look as a batsman only.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Clarke isn't good enough against the swinging new ball to be at 3.

Is Watson in your opinion the man to bat at 3 in England next year?

LB Watson?

If he isn't good enough Clarke- can people stop referring to him as great. He is an A Grade wuss. How many lambs to the slaughter does he want to kill before he bats 3?

Watson I feel is STILL the best 3 we have and that is not saying I love the bloke at number 3, believe me. I just don't feel any of Jake Doran (in the future), Joe Burns (who can bat 3), Callum Ferguson, Sean Marsh have enough runs on the board. Watson for all his faults still averages 37 at 3 from memory.

 

[Black Diamond]

You post a lot of shit.

 

[The_Reaper]

If he isn't good enough Clarke- can people stop referring to him as great. He is an A Grade wuss. How many lambs to the slaughter does he want to kill before he bats 3?

Watson I feel is STILL the best 3 we have and that is not saying I love the bloke at number 3, believe me. I just don't feel any of Jake Doran (in the future), Joe Burns (who can bat 3), Callum Ferguson, Sean Marsh have enough runs on the board. Watson for all his faults still averages 37 at 3 from memory.

Border and Waugh didn't bat at 3. Tendulkar didn't. Lara didn't. KP didn't. Inzaman Ul-Haq didn't. Chanderpaul doesn't.

 

[The_Reaper]

Pretty sure Doolan will at least start in this series along with Rogers. Watson will only be considered for 6 was my mail so I am prepared to stick with that. NCN would be ahead of Hazelwood. Thus my side for the Gabba would be;

Warner
Rogers
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Coulter-Nile
Starc/Siddle
Lyon/O'Keefe

Never to be selected again under any circumstance

Maxwell

If we start well Clarke may miss tests, and under that scenario I'm tipping C White to get a look as a batsman only.

If Clarke misses tests and White comes in - Haddin to Captain or Smith to Captain with help from White?

 

[western royboy]

If Clarke misses tests and White comes in - Haddin to Captain or Smith to Captain with help from White?

I think it would be Haddin

 

[Black Diamond]

Are you saying Watson didn't impress as captain in India?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Pretty sure Doolan will at least start in this series along with Rogers. Watson will only be considered for 6 was my mail so I am prepared to stick with that. NCN would be ahead of Hazelwood. Thus my side for the Gabba would be;

If we start well Clarke may miss tests, and under that scenario I'm tipping C White to get a look as a batsman only.

Surely we can't drop Marsh, behind Warner he was our best bat this series- not that there is much to compete with. But still it was a good debut series.

Interesting on White and while I am far from convinced, our batting stocks are rather low!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Border and Waugh didn't bat at 3. Tendulkar didn't. Lara didn't. KP didn't. Inzaman Ul-Haq didn't. Chanderpaul doesn't.

There is a difference- Border had a bloke named David Boon, Tendulkar had a bloke named Dravid.....we have who? I get what you are saying but we don't even have a competent 3. Why do you recon we are that bad we NEED Watson who is inconsistent at best at number 3!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think it would be Haddin

What happens if he is unfit? Surely Haddin is long odds to play in Brisbane.

Is Whiteman or Nevill seen as the 'keeper in waiting' right now?

 

[western royboy]

Surely we can't drop Marsh, behind Warner he was our best bat this series- not that there is much to compete with. But still it was a good debut series.

Interesting on White and while I am far from convinced, our batting stocks are rather low!

Watson and White are playing for the same spot....Had to pick one, I went with Watson.

 

[western royboy]

What happens if he is unfit? Surely Haddin is long odds to play in Brisbane.

Is Whiteman or Nevill seen as the 'keeper in waiting' right now?

Whiteman was the anointed one, but Nevill must be closing the gap and does play for NSW which is a significant boost.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Watson and White are playing for the same spot....Had to pick one, I went with Watson.

Where is Marsh then? Surely he is in the top 6 based on this series at least. If it comes to a choice, I'd play Marsh before I play Watson period.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Whiteman was the anointed one, but Nevill must be closing the gap and does play for NSW which is a significant boost.

Don't feel playing for NSW is that big a deal. The good players from other states get picked. I'm happy Whiteman is the one though. Injury aside I do have concerns for Haddin in the next Ashes. There have been signs this year that he was slowly getting worse behind the stumps.

 

[Run n Spread]

Shaun Marsh for no. 3? Made a ton in SA and was unlucky to be dropped after one poor test. Surely worth a go.