Australian Test Squad to the West Indies April 2012

[Freo Big Fella]

Warner
Cowan
Watson (vc)
Ponting
Clarke (C)
Hussey
Haddin+
Siddle
Pattinson
Hilfenhaus
Lyon

Wade+
Harris
Cummins
Beer/Starc

We need a reserve keeper (you can't fly in a replacement if Haddin breaks a finger the morning of a test match.), but we could probably get away with no reserve spinner given the nature of the pitches.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Beer and O'Keefe are handy second spinners IMO.

I don't see their pace bowlers causing us too much grief; they'd be better off preparing pitches that are going to turn and see whether Bishoo can spin a web around us IMO.

 

[aussie1st]

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Pattinson
Siddle
Cummins
Lyon

Hilfenhaus
Harris
Khawaja
Nevill

SOK, Starc there abouts if they decide to take 16. Bowling is going to be really interesting, could make a case for any of the bowlers I have listed to be in the starting side, I've just gone for my dream bowling combo.

 

[BLUES9898]

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Hillfenaus
Pattison
Lyon

Wade
Marsh
Cummins
Harris

 

[workhorse]

Matthew Wade has to go. Even just as a back up batsman. I think he's averaging about 60 in Shield Cricket this year? Hopefully Haddin retires.

I think he's only played like 3 games and had 4 bats at about 40 odd (correct me if I'm wrong). Still his career FC average is 40.15 and the fact that he has improved his batting and now bats at 6 for the Bushrangers (plus he's only 25) means that he must go.

 

[Ducky Tie]

I think he's only played like 3 games and had 4 bats at about 40 odd (correct me if I'm wrong). Still his career FC average is 40.15 and the fact that he has improved his batting and now bats at 6 for the Bushrangers (plus he's only 25) means that he must go.

He's played 4 games for 6 innings and hes averaging 63. He also 24 not 25.

 

[____]

16 man touring squad

Warner
Cowan
Ponting
Watson (vc)
Clarke (c)
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Pattinson
Hilfenhaus
Lyon
Harris
Starc
Cummins
Hartley
Khawaja

 

[year of the roo]

Yeah, Hartley. Good luck with that

 

[swingdog]

I've got a feeling Haddin will be getting the tap on the shoulder - according to press, Clarke was less than impressed with him in Adelaide. Think his race may have run, in which case, they'd take Wade and Nevill, with Wade just in front but why not have two young keepers battling for position?

My squad (likely test team first):

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Hilfenhaus

Starc

Khawaja
Maddinson
Nevill
Marsh

Can't see them taking a second spinner as none of the pitches warrant it - very few anywhere do. Second spinners should be as good as the front line spinner (e.g. current Pakistan attack), not back-ups. Expect the emphasis to continue to be on pace.

Also would expect Pattinson and Cummins to be left out to ensure they recover completely. Someone's idea upthread of getting them county contracts is a good one.

Of the batsmen, Khawaja and Marsh are basically next in line with opportunities to fight back, though does this tour interfere with Marsh's IPL plans? Threw in Maddinson based on his T20 form converting hopefully into first class form.

 

[frankrizzo]

I get this bad feeling cowan is likely to make way for watson instead of marsh.

Hopefully im wrong as cowan was solid enough for his first series, he got three pretty dodgy decisions early and yet still had a solid return, he and warner deserve at least the next two series to try and cement an opening partnership.

 

[DrVanNostrand]

I'll throw up a possible Windies line-up just for the hell of it. Despite a pretty poor India tour looking at the numbers, there seems to be enough to work with, keeping in mind they were good in Bangladesh (away) and against India and Pakistan (home) leading up to that series.

Kraigg Brathwaithe
Lendl Simmons
Kirk Edwards
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Marlon Sammuels
Carlton Baugh+
Darren Sammy*
Ravi Rampaul
Fidel Edwards
Sunil Narine
---with Kieran Powell and Bishoo in the squad. Ramdin will need a mountain of runs for T&T to be anywhere near the side.

Goes without saying that Gayle would be a massive gain. The Windies are just about to start their 4-day competition and it would be fantastic if he plays for Jamaica (he did in the 50-over comp a few months ago) and plays ball with the board but I'm not holding my breath.

Obviously this is very close the team they took to India/Bangladesh so I'm hoping they show some faith in the kids they've picked and stick with them for the time being.

Brathwaithe and Kirk Edwards were particularly inpressive at the top of the order. Both pretty conservative players, but are very patient and prepared to build an innings. However I'd love to see Chanderpaul and Samuels bat at 3 and 4, but they seem to love dumping all the pressure on the kids at the top. They did themselves proud in India but against Australia's pace attack surely you need your best players doing the hard work at the top.

Sammy isn't a spectacular player by any means but has been a pretty decent leader, and now and again produces a clump of wickets out of nowhere or a quick 30-40 with the bat. He had a very good home summer last year against India and Pakistan with the ball and does a pretty good holding job if nothing is happpening. The improvement of Ravi Rampaul over the last 18 months is unbelievable. Fidel Edwards has been better than his record suggests over the last 18 months as well, he's had better pitches in the Windies to work with, and he's had PLENTY of chances spilled in the slips.

The spinner spot is an interesting one. I love Bishoo as a bowler and love what he's done in the side, especially in Test cricket. With their 4-day comp about to start, I think Narine and Bishoo are bowling for that place in the side and I'd like to see Narine get an opportunity. It would be fantastic if both could play at Guyana and Trinidad where spin will be most effective.

 

[The Governor]

Here is my Squad of 15 to tour the West Indies. Shane Watson has to return to his rightful spot as an opening batsman. If people reckon he should be bowling his fast medium deliveries, we wont be seeing the best of Shane Watson.

The biggest mark on MJ Clarke's captaincy is the use of Shane Watson as a bowler. He made his name as an opener in 2009. We have a good bowling attack that bowls in packs to build pressure. He did not make a name for himself in 2009 as an allrounder.

Ed Cowan gets dropped. Who needs another clone of Simon Katich in the side?

Shane Watson (VC)
David Warner
Michael Clarke (CAPTAIN)
Ricky Ponting
Shaun Marsh
Mitchell Marsh
Matthew Wade
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Ben Hilfenhauss

Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
Dan Christian
Aaron Finch

Michael Hussey should receive his pension cheque from Cricket Australia.

Will Ryan Harris be around in 2013?

Our bowling attack is strong and stable whilst I have included the Marsh brothers in the squad. Mitchell Marsh and Dan Christian will battle out for the number 6 position whilst Finch and Shaun Marsh will fight it out for the test spot.

And, the tour is an excellent chance for Michael Clarke to bat at 3 against an average West Indian bowling attack.

THE GOV

 

[frankrizzo]

If people reckon he should be bowling his fast medium deliveries, we wont be seeing the best of Shane Watson.

Watson isn't a lock for the team if he can't bowl.

He's been a solid opener(although struggled badly with any pitch that has movement) he isn't a dominating bat he's an allrounder.

 

[dan warna]

Given how rubbish the WI side is atm, haddin might go, score a swag of runs, his fanboys will say he's in form as his numerous dropped catches seem to avoid media scrutiny in time for him to fail in epic and dramatic fashion during the ashes.

 

[frankrizzo]

haddin is playing the next home summer no matter what he does in the windies.

if he has an awful time against south africa and sri lanka he might be in doubt for the 2013 ashes.

 

[dan warna]

haddin is playing the next home summer no matter what he does in the windies.

if he has an awful time against south africa and sri lanka he might be in doubt for the 2013 ashes.

That is my gut feeling as well.

Ponting and Clarke gave the 'omg what have you done now' expressions at haddin at various times during the series.

Whatever clarke does, he's a company man, and not big enough to go against CA, like border did. Nor was Taylor at first, and never ponting. waugh was his own man for much of his career, which was probably why he was overlooked at first for the captaincy in favour of taylor.

Haddin is a selectors favourite no matter he does, and it will be a long road for nevill/wade/paine.

 

[The Speaker]

Yeah, Hartley. Good luck with that

I'd love to see them pick Hartley, but unfortunately I don't think he'll ever play for Australia.

The spinner spot is an interesting one. I love Bishoo as a bowler and love what he's done in the side, especially in Test cricket. With their 4-day comp about to start, I think Narine and Bishoo are bowling for that place in the side and I'd like to see Narine get an opportunity. It would be fantastic if both could play at Guyana and Trinidad where spin will be most effective.

I'd be surprised if they didn't pick Bishoo for the Tests.

They may go for both at some stage, especially in the one dayers, if the pitch suits.

 

[Thommo 42]

What I would pick:

Cowan
Warner
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Hartley
Siddle
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Lyon

Pattinson
Hauritz
Kawajha
Starc

(Pending injuries and balance of shield form)

What I think will happen:

Cowan
Warner
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Lyon

Christian
Pattinson
Starc
Kawajha
(Wade)

 

[oobee007]

Aaron Finch


THE GOV

Finch got dropped from the last (or 2nd last) Shield game, he won't get picked for australia

 

[workhorse]

I'll throw up a possible Windies line-up just for the hell of it. Despite a pretty poor India tour looking at the numbers, there seems to be enough to work with, keeping in mind they were good in Bangladesh (away) and against India and Pakistan (home) leading up to that series.

Kraigg Brathwaithe
Lendl Simmons
Kirk Edwards
Darren Bravo
Shiv Chanderpaul
Marlon Sammuels
Carlton Baugh+
Darren Sammy*
Ravi Rampaul
Fidel Edwards
Sunil Narine
---with Kieran Powell and Bishoo in the squad. Ramdin will need a mountain of runs for T&T to be anywhere near the side.

Goes without saying that Gayle would be a massive gain. The Windies are just about to start their 4-day competition and it would be fantastic if he plays for Jamaica (he did in the 50-over comp a few months ago) and plays ball with the board but I'm not holding my breath.

Obviously this is very close the team they took to India/Bangladesh so I'm hoping they show some faith in the kids they've picked and stick with them for the time being.

Brathwaithe and Kirk Edwards were particularly inpressive at the top of the order. Both pretty conservative players, but are very patient and prepared to build an innings. However I'd love to see Chanderpaul and Samuels bat at 3 and 4, but they seem to love dumping all the pressure on the kids at the top. They did themselves proud in India but against Australia's pace attack surely you need your best players doing the hard work at the top.

Sammy isn't a spectacular player by any means but has been a pretty decent leader, and now and again produces a clump of wickets out of nowhere or a quick 30-40 with the bat. He had a very good home summer last year against India and Pakistan with the ball and does a pretty good holding job if nothing is happpening. The improvement of Ravi Rampaul over the last 18 months is unbelievable. Fidel Edwards has been better than his record suggests over the last 18 months as well, he's had better pitches in the Windies to work with, and he's had PLENTY of chances spilled in the slips.

The spinner spot is an interesting one. I love Bishoo as a bowler and love what he's done in the side, especially in Test cricket. With their 4-day comp about to start, I think Narine and Bishoo are bowling for that place in the side and I'd like to see Narine get an opportunity. It would be fantastic if both could play at Guyana and Trinidad where spin will be most effective.

You may also want to add that from what I've seen Darren Bravo is a genuine gun. The guy is 22, has played 13 tests and made 1155 runs @52.50.

 

[The Passenger]

Finch got dropped from the last (or 2nd last) Shield game, he won't get picked for australia

gotta give the gov credit for persistance.

he dropped finch about a month ago, but he is back on him now it seems.

 

[Gordo453]

You may also want to add that from what I've seen Darren Bravo is a genuine gun. The guy is 22, has played 13 tests and made 1155 runs @52.50.

to add to that, he bats a bit like lara and also happens to be his
cousin

 

[Tulip]

People have rocks in their head if they think Pattinson won't be a starter IMO. Reinvigorated this side and showed them they could take wickets.

 

[The Passenger]

darren bravo is an excellent looking batsmen. their best prospect since chanderpaul imo. sarwan and gayle are the only one i can think of the top of my head in the last decade or so with the same level of talent. both had pretty solid careers too (although arguably underachieved).

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Pattinson
Harris
Lyon/Hilfenhaus/Starc (Depending on conditions)

Khawaja
Nevill
Cummins

Not that it will happen, but it's what I'd like to see and pretty much our best 16.*







*I want Nevill in ahead of Haddin, but Haddin will be first XI