COMM BANK SERIES GAME 1: AUSTRALIA vs ENGLAND (MCG, SUNDAY)

[stmookeyj]

Say what you want about the future of the 50 over game, but Sunday will mark the 40th anniversary of this format of the game. No player from either side was born on or before the 5th of January 1971, a day when a 40 over a side 8 ball an over match gave birth to the ODI. On that day England who batted first was paced by John Edrich who scored 80 off 119, but a late collapse (plus 3 wickets each to Ashley Mallett and Keith Stackpole) saw England restricted to 190. Australia reached that target with just over 5 overs to spare, Ray Illingworth's 3 poles not enough as 60 from Ian Chappell and a brisk 41 off 51 from Doug Walters was enough for the home side to record the first ever win.


So onto today's generation, and this match is important for a number of reasons. Forget the fact that this is the first of a 7 game series for just a moment. This match represents the final opportunity for players to get their tickets to the sub-continent for the World Cup, for squads have to be finalised by January 19 and Game 2 in Hobart is 2 days after that. One bad performance here, and someone else can very well jump the queue.

To that end, Australia have named a single game 14 man squad. With a number of the young bowlers such as Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc both out injured (both McKay and Starc you may recall starred with the ball in Game 3 of the Sri Lankan series played in November), Australia are pinning their hopes on virtually the same pace attack as what they used in the 20 over games. Whether all of Brett Lee, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson play is a matter of debate, but with only Peter Siddle (not really an OD bowler but in the squad with the injuries to others) and Doug Bollinger (who is more likely to get a game here) in the 14 this may be the attack they'll go with one more time.

Add to that the spin debate, with a couple of seemingly forgotten discards back in favour. Xavier Doherty rocketed into contention for the test side with a grand performance on this ground on his ODI debut. But also in the squad happens to be the bloke he replaced, Andrew Hilditch's personal favorite Nathan Hauritz. Michael Clarke (captain), Brad Haddin and Michael Hussey (who joins his little brother) all come in, seemingly more suited to the longer short form of the game much to the annoyance of Haddin.


England won't exactly be reeling from the loss on Friday night, in fact they'll claim that this will keep their side hungry for this series coming up. Their squad is virtually the same as the T20 squad subtracting Michael Lumb (who didn't play in either game), and adding captain Andrew Strauss, Jonathan Trott and (from the 4th game of the series, James Anderson). The composition of their lineup may well be the same as in the 20 over games save for a reshuffle to accommodate the captain. Michael Yardy will probably be the player to miss out, with possibly Davies going back down the order given Ian Bell's playing too well up top. Maybe Trott and Eion Morgan will battle each other for a middle order place.


In charge of this one is Billy Bowden and Bruce Oxenford. Bowden's countryman Tony Hill is in the booth, which is important as for this series we do have the Review System in play as it will be for the World Cup. As in Test Cricket, there are 2 INCORRECT reviews per innings per side. Ranjan Madugalle is match referee for this game, before handing over to Javagal Srinath for the rest of this series.


SQUADS

AUSTRALIA: Michael CLARKE (C), Cameron WHITE, Doug BOLLINGER, Xavier DOHERTY, Brad HADDIN, Nathan HAURITZ, David HUSSEY, Michael HUSSEY, Mitchell JOHNSON, Brett LEE, Peter SIDDLE, Steve SMITH, Shaun TAIT, Shane WATSON

ENGLAND: Andrew STRAUSS (C), Ian BELL, Tim BRESNAN, Paul COLLINGWOOD, Steve DAVIES, Steven FINN, Eoin MORGAN, Kevin PIETERSEN, Ajmal SHAZAD, Graeme SWANN, James TREDWELL, Chris TREMLETT, Jonathan TROTT, Chris WOAKES, Luke WRIGHT, Michael YARDY



MEDIA COVERAGE

Plus there's the usual Cricinfo and Cricket Australia live score services.

FIRST BALL is at 2:20 PM Local Time.

 

[Doctor Feel]

Our line up looks horrendous...

 

[Jolldo87]

Watson
Haddin (+)
White
Clarke (c)
Mussey
Dussey
Smith
Johnson
Hauritz
Lee
Bollinger

That's probably the best lineup we've got from the squad we've selected. I reckon they'll probably opt for Doherty in front of Hauritz and maybe even Tait ahead of Bollinger.

 

[ROSEMVP]

Why Hodge isnt playing deserves attention from the FED GOVERNMENT. its the biggest Joke going around.

HE IS PERFECT FOR NUMBER 3
hopefully Tait doesn't get a game.he can barely make it through 20 overs let alone 50.

 

[beez]

CA announced the XI this arvo and Clarke said he'd bat at 3.

Watson
Haddin
Clarke
White
Hussey
Dussey
Smith
Doherty
Lee
Bollinger
Tait

Johnson (12th Man)

 

[aussie1st]

Haurtiz will be happy that should mean hes a given. Not a bad looking side, hopefully the right Dussey turns up.

 

[damochandler]

Why is mitchy missing out. Good idea, after a good performance, lets rest him. Having a wannabe spinner that can't bat. Doesn't make any sense. Having lee and tait in the same team doesn't make any sense

 

[Cousin Jed]

Because Johnson just has to stay fit to make the WC squad.

The other guys are having somewhat of a bowl off...

 

[kingbet22]

england to win the series 5-2

 

[apollo_creed]

Because Johnson just has to stay fit to make the WC squad.

The other guys are having somewhat of a bowl off...

Yep, I think they pretty much said that when they announced the squad a week or so ago.

There was no doubt that Tait and Lee were both playing when this game was the only reason they both made the squad for the matches to begin with.

I wouldn't take either on recent viewings.
Lee is too old, bowls a very hittable length and has struggled in Indian conditions in recent IPL's. Last time around he was borderline hopeless. He's not a threatening bowler anymore.
Tait without consistently bowling at a ridiculously high speed is inferior to other options.
He still gets good shape on the ball into the right handers with an old ball but without the control and express pace he'll be picked off with ease by the better batsman over there.

Are they fighting for one spot? Or fighting for a spot that may not even be there, unless either of them puts in a blinder?


Not sure how long term McKay's injury is but hopefully he's back. Bollinger, Johnson and I suppose one other - which may be where Tait and Lee come into the equation. Siddle and Hilfenhaus don't exactly inspire confidence either.

 

[Cousin Jed]

McKay is out through the WC.

 

[Phone]

there's talk it's Lee v Tait for one spot, both hauritz and doherty are going and worst of all Siddle is going.

 

[HSSB]

lol why is Tait in the side? He struggles to bowl 4 overs let alone 10

 

[apollo_creed]

I suppose they're showing faith based on his performance last time around. (world cup)

Problem being - he doesn't have the same ability anymore.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

lol why is Tait in the side? He struggles to bowl 4 overs let alone 10

Tait did ok in England last year in ODI's, he changed the flavour of the series but I'm not sure about any of them doing well in the sub-continent. Brett Lee has to get his lengths right as otherwise he just ends up bowling in the slot and he'll get taken apart doing that.

I hope they separate Clarke and Dussey in the line-up by at least 2 players or it could get very stodgy indeed.

 

[Torpedo12]

I can tell who the posters are that dont follow cricket during the year, only in the Aussie summer. Tait can get through 10 overs, watch his one day performances last year. He came in and was our best bowler. Smart move by the selectors to pick Tait, when he gets back to his best and bowls 150+ he will be one of the deadliest bowlers in the world cup. Remember he has only bowled a little over 20 overs this season. If we get a fit and firing tait for the WC it will go a long way to winning.

 

[mattys123]

I can tell who the posters are that dont follow cricket during the year, only in the Aussie summer. Tait can get through 10 overs, watch his one day performances last year. He came in and was our best bowler. Smart move by the selectors to pick Tait, when he gets back to his best and bowls 150+ he will be one of the deadliest bowlers in the world cup. Remember he has only bowled a little over 20 overs this season. If we get a fit and firing tait for the WC it will go a long way to winning.

I agree, I see Tait as being perfect for the 50 over format, more so then the 20/20 format.

He struggles to contain the amount of runs taken off him, but he is a proven wicket taker, and if used in spurts of 3-4 overs only, he can be damaging, especially in the middle of the innings, where I believe most 50 overs games should be won and lost from the fielding side these days.

Lee I'm not so sure about, I don't rate him at any level any more, he obviously isn't a 20/20 player, we've all seen that now, so why would he be any better at 50 over cricket?

I hope we make plenty of changes throughout the series, giving absolutely everyone in the WC squad a game, and the best performed over 2-3 games each goes to the WC IMO.

 

[Jolldo87]

I hope we make plenty of changes throughout the series, giving absolutely everyone in the WC squad a game, and the best performed over 2-3 games each goes to the WC IMO.

The 15 man squad for the world cup is picked after this match and can't be changed unless there's an injury.

 

[damochandler]

i don't have a problem with them picking tait or lee. but together is ridiculas. the plan for taity should be, have him bow 3 overs at the start and bring him back at the end, where all he will bowl is yorkers

 

[Tazwegian]

The squad looks quite weak without Ponting at 3.

 

[themightybloods]

why are we leaving it to the last game to decide our World Cup squad, when we've had 4 years to try out different players and team make-ups

 

[eddiesmith]

Johnson, Lee, Tait, Bollinger, Siddle, Hauritz, Doherty

No reason why they wont all go to the WC, Australia never liked taking spare batsmen anyway

For England

Strauss, Davies, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Yardy, Bresnan, Swann, Tremlett, Woakes

Trott? No thanks, Bell can go back to no3, not much difference for him

 

[Jimthegreat]

Johnson, Lee, Tait, Bollinger, Siddle, Hauritz, Doherty

No reason why they wont all go to the WC, Australia never liked taking spare batsmen anyway

For England

Strauss, Davies, Bell, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Yardy, Bresnan, Swann, Tremlett, Woakes

Trott? No thanks, Bell can go back to no3, not much difference for him

Wonder if they'll take a punt on Starc being fit for World Cup as he's the next best option.

They'll take both Lee and Tait to the World Cup. Let's face it, the alternatives are all injured. Hoping Starc is fit. I think only one of Lee and Tait will play being on the sub-continent. With Bollinger now fit he'll be a certainty as will Johnson as he always gets picked. Leaves one more fast bowling spot.

 

[Dan]

It'll be a close game I reckon.......be interesting to see what crowd we get tomorrow

 

[THRILLHO]

i don't have a problem with them picking tait or lee. but together is ridiculas. the plan for taity should be, have him bow 3 overs at the start and bring him back at the end, where all he will bowl is yorkers

Probably because it took us until the 5th Ashes test to settle on our new lineup.

It'll be a close game I reckon.......be interesting to see what crowd we get tomorrow

I'd be surprised if it's more than 40k. Which is still a good crowd but a long way down from the heydays on 70k