Changes for Perth

[Sylvia Saint]

We're probably stuffed no matter what side we field for the 3rd test, but IMO, we may as well try a couple of new things and hope like hell they pay off.

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
S.Smith
Haddin
North
Johnson
Harris
Copeland

* Copeland's first class record is sublime. Chances are he won't rip through the Poms, but surely it's worth a try given what we've seen so far in the series.

* North as the #1 spinner. Doherty has been a gamble that has backfired.

* S.Smith to take his spot at #6 and bowl 15 overs per innings.

* Yes, bring back MJ. He'll probably be spanked again, but we gotta hope for a miracle and see him return to 08/09 form.
Thoughts???

 

[HugeJohnson]

In: Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Hauritz, Smith
Out: Siddle, Bollinger, Doherty, North

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Hauritz
Harris
Hilfenhaus

 

[djrossie16]

We need every run we can get! Clarke and North are weak spots in the batting at the moment.

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Khawaja
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Hauritz
Harris
Bollinger

 

[mediumsizered]

Those wanting Haddin batting at 6 & Smith at 7 are basically suggesting we go in with 5 specialist batsmen at a time when our batting line-up is quite fragile.

I think North needs to go, but he must be replaced with a specialist batsman, not an all-rounder (Smith).

 

[Knight Ryders]

Clarke is still one of the best 6 batsmen in the country, although I think his back may be stopping him from training as much as he needs to. I would put it on him to train 100% or sit out for the sake of the team. 12 months back, Clarke was head and shoulders above the rest as our best batsmen and MUST stay if fit. His best option may be to get him down the order at number 6.

I'd go with something like this:

Katich
Watson
Hughes (prodigious talent, needs the confidence of the team behind him)
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Hauritz
Harris
Siddle
Bollinger

I would keep the bowlers - like or not, I think they are the 3 best fast bowlers in the country. It may be that Bollinger just needs overs and will improve significantly at the WACA. Hauritz as done as required and deserves a recall (eating shit on that one).

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Out:

Clarke (injured, he is not FIT)
North (dropped)
Doherty (dropped)
Siddle (dropped)

In

Sean Marsh
Usman Khawaja
Trent Copeland
SOK or Hauritz

 

[Andronicus]

The way it has been going its almost worth putting in 11 specialist fielders. That has cost us pretty badly so far.

 

[Rookie]

In: Hauritz for Doherty

Clearly Doherty isn't up to test level. Should be dropped and told to get ready for the ODI's. Hauritz has gone back to the Shield and got wickets. Other options are North as a specialist spinner, SOK, and Krezja. Krejza is probably the most attacking spinner we have, shame he was treated so harshly. SOK will take over long term, but for now Hauritz should be picked.

In: Hughes for North

I don't care how they work the batting order, Hughes is our future and his form hasn't been terrible. Watson's bowling is handy and batting him lower might help us exploit his talents better. I would have preferred Khawaja but he hasn't scored enough runs to seize the spot. Other options include Marsh and Ferguson. McDonald... Gee I don't think much of him, but his bowling could be incredibly handy... And his form with the bat was incredible. Untimely injury

In: Johnson / Hilfenhaus / Copeland for Siddle.

Smith is another possibility if North gets dumped. I'm thinking I'd go with Hughes first and Smith if Clarke or Katich is injured.

 

[Axel.]

Hughes - If Katich isn't fit.
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Khawaja - If Clarke isn't fit.
Smith
Haddin
O'Keefe
Harris/Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

 

[damochandler]

clarke will say he is fit and that will be enough for the selectors to pick him. they love north like a son and he won't be dropped. kattich is probably the only one that might be left out through injury

 

[BigCat2]

Khawaja for Clarke if he isn't fit @ 4

Hughes take North's spot and bat @ 6 - he's a talent, he'll go alright there

Hauritz for Doherty

Keep the same pace attack, they'll get more out of the Perth pitch.

 

[eagles06]

Why is their no love for Swan? Surely he is the best swing bowler in the country, then why not have him in the side, does it matter if he is 31? We need a quality side who can win a match, not young blokes who arent up to the task.

 

[TassieSaint]

I'd go
In: Hilfenhaus, Johnson, Smith
Out: Doherty, Siddle, Clarke (if not fit)/North

Likely changes knowing the selectors
In: Hauritz, Johnson
Out: Doherty, Bollinger

+ Marsh in for Katich if he doesn't pull up

 

[Johnson#26]

Agree with Eagles06. Just play the most inform bowlers. Lee, Clark, whoever, just make them play.

 

[Sasquatch]

In: Hilfenhaus, Clark, O'Keefe, Smith, Hughes
Out: Bollinger, Katich, Clarke, North, Siddle

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
O'Keefe
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Clark

If not O'Keefe, then Cameron White and plonk him at 4.

 

[TassieSaint]

Agree with Eagles06. Just play the most inform bowlers. Lee, Clark, whoever, just make them play.

Thing is though Swan has great sheffield shield figures, but they are about the same (taking matches played into account) as Harris whose bowled well but still only taken 2/85 and Cameron who bowled not as well in Bellerive and took 2/108. Basically I don't see Swan or Copeland making big difference on debut.

Going for form is a good idea but I think we need to bring some experience back into the attack as well, it's clear we're lacking leadership and experience at the moment.

 

[Super Hans]

Out:

Siddle
North
Doherty

In:

Okeefe
Hughes
Copeland

Katich
Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Okeefe
Harris
Bolllinger
Copeland

If Clarke isn't fit bring in Khwaja and if Katich isn't fit bring in White

 

[legend166]

Assuming fitness:

Katich
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Smith
Haddin
O'Keefe
Harris
Bollinger
Copeland

If not fit:

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Khawaja
Hussey
Smith
Haddin
O'Keefe
Harris
Bollinger
Copeland

 

[Subprime]

North and Doherty are the 2 under the gun and barring a match-saving innings from North, both will be dropped for Perth.

I'd bring in Sean Marsh for North and one of the mediocre spin options for Doherty.

Optional - rotate the quicks if need be.

 

[Jimthegreat]

It's hard to know where to look.

Ok, I'll try.

Watson
Katich
Ponting
D.Hussey
M.Hussey
White (need to groom a new captain when Ponting eventually gets the boot)
Haddin
O'Keefe (did think about North as he actually bowls pretty well, it's better
than his batting but went with a specialist one last time)

Harris
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger (good bowler, have to be better for the run, surely).

Harris speaks for himself. Certainly head and shoulders above our next best. Bollinger would have to be better than he was in this. His record shows that. Does he have a shield game in-between? Really would like to see him one more time. Hilfenhaus will never destroy teams but he'll give you line and length consistently and thus back the other two up well. O'Keefe is the only genuine spinner who's looked dangerous, as he was in the Australia A game, and can make runs too.

Need a no.4 with experience the way things are now so I went for D.Hussey. If it wasn't the Ashes I'd have blooded someone else. Gone for White for his leadership and experience as well as having a decent captain waiting when Ponting inevitably gets the @rse at the end of the Series.

North out. Batting like crap. Has been for ages. Only thing that might save him is if he plays no.8 and bowls. Siddle has done absolutely nothing since his hat-trick. Prefer Hilfenhaus. Bowling version of North, one great spell every 5 Tests to give the selctors an excuse to pick him. Doherty, out, speaks for itself. At least he can say he played Tet cricket, and Clarke's injury has affected his form. Great player but no point playing him if he can't make a run.

 

[dan warna]

the NSW selectors aren't picking o'keefe, come to victoria lad!

but then you'll never play test cricket

 

[The Governor]

This is my TEST XI for Perth. We have to look at the 2013 Ashes tour and it is the right time to blood in the young youthful cricketers to give them the chance to learn about test cricket.

Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Ricky Ponting (CAPTAIN)
Michael Hussey
Cameron White
Stephen Smith
Brad Haddin
Peter Siddle
Xavier Doherty
Ryan Harris
Doug Bollinger

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are injured whilst James Pattinson is returning from a stress back injury.

Cameron White comes into the side at the expense of Clarke whilst Usman Khawaja comes in at the expense of Katich. If Katich is injured, he should not be playing test cricket at all.

It makes me wonder if the test players are playing for themselves whilst Andrew Hilditch allows the players to dictate selectors' decisions.

 

[Jimthegreat]

This is my TEST XI for Perth. We have to look at the 2013 Ashes tour and it is the right time to blood in the young youthful cricketers to give them the chance to learn about test cricket.

Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Ricky Ponting (CAPTAIN)
Michael Hussey
Cameron White
Stephen Smith
Brad Haddin
Peter Siddle
Xavier Doherty
Ryan Harris
Doug Bollinger

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are injured whilst James Pattinson is returning from a stress back injury.

Cameron White comes into the side at the expense of Clarke whilst Usman Khawaja comes in at the expense of Katich. If Katich is injured, he should not be playing test cricket at all.

It makes me wonder if the test players are playing for themselves whilst Andrew Hilditch allows the players to dictate selectors' decisions.

Doherty? You're joking.

How many times can Siddle take 0/100? His hat-trick was the best thing that happened to England.

 

[djrossie16]

Any chance David Hussey comes in?

 

[Japes]

OUT: North, Doherty, Siddle, Clarke
IN: Smith, Hilfenhaus/George, (any two specialist batsmen - frankly, I don't actually care who any more)

I'm having a huge belly-aching laugh here at the people who are still including Siddle in their next Test XI.

FFS: how long does it take for someone to prove he is a total and utter dud and nowhere near Test standard as a pace bowler for some people to wake up to that fact? His length and line are consistently schizenhausen, and he barely ever even moves the ball a centimetre. He is also absolutely useless with the bat, and as slow and cumbersome as a wet week in the field. In 30+ years of watching Test cricket, I don't think I can ever remember seeing someone so out of his depth be given close to 20 Test caps.

That said, the selectors will still probably keep picking him. They absolutely love him - though God only knows why.