Less than a month out , who's our XI for Brisbane

[Black Diamond]

As much as a lot of us may think Warner is a tool...

I see this posted a lot and I'm not going to dispute it. I wonder how much Warner's personality comes into it? He is a cocky, abrasive idiot who is prepared to rattle a few cages. Hughes in contrast seems too nice sometimes, and lacks that inherent arrogance it takes to compete at the top level.

Take two identical batsmen who are out of form, one is a tool and one is a shrinking violet, I know who I'd want in the middle with the game on the line.

 

[southernswannies]

What is the obsession with clinging to certain players?
Marsh, Hastings, Cosgrove, Klinger, NCN? So many individual problems with these players ranging from being One Day hacks to being as fit as the club players I get to bowl against.

Also, as much as I rate Cutting, he's not on CA's agenda. Ship's sailed people.

Rogers
Warner
Watson
Bailey
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Bird (Hilf/Sayers)
Siddle
Harris
Lyon

For the next couple of years I'd keep Hughes as a back up to Warner in Tests, then eventually take Rogers spots. Shouldn't be batting anywhere else. Why do we need Clarke at 4? I couldn't care less about tradition to where the best batsmen should bat, if Bailey provides the stability he does in the ODI team at 4 then i'm happy for him to be there with Clarke moving to the position in which he dominates the most.

I'm really waiting on an update on Bird. Would be perfect with the Kookaburra at the Gabba. Johnson has that X-Factor but it's not the fact that he bowls some shocking spells, he just isn't as effective as people think. A few 3/90 or 4/120 in the mix, runs we can't afford to give away. Need an economical swing bowler. Hilfenhaus and Sayers should be considered ahead.

With England.. they wont play Carberry first off. Harris would go through him with ease, same with Bairstow. No need to move Root.

Ballance is by far one of the biggest problems we could have in the series. Destroyed County this year w/ 1363 runs at 64.90.

 

[Super Hans]

I see this posted a lot and I'm not going to dispute it. I wonder how much Warner's personality comes into it? He is a cocky, abrasive idiot who is prepared to rattle a few cages. Hughes in contrast seems too nice sometimes, and lacks that inherent arrogance it takes to compete at the top level.

Take two identical batsmen who are out of form, one is a tool and one is a shrinking violet, I know who I'd want in the middle with the game on the line.

Agree with this, personality shouldn't come into it.

Whoever they pick out of Hughes and Warner needs to be given an extended run in the team.

 

[Black Diamond]

Agree with this, personality shouldn't come into it.

Whoever they pick out of Hughes and Warner needs to be given an extended run in the team.

I'm not saying personality shouldn't come into it, I'm just saying that as a package Warner gives an edge which Hughes doesn't.

 

[The_Reaper]

The interesting thing with Johnson is that we are the inferior team. I'd suggest that with Patto injured we need a fit and firing Johnson to even have a chance of winning back the Ashes.

Bird and Faulkner won't win us test matches. Neither would Coulter-Nile, Hilfy or Cutting.

With that in mind Johnson is a risk worth taking.

 

[DangerSloane]

To me you play Hughes and Warner in Australia.
The pitches suit their styles and put wallpaper over the cracks in their technique.
Trouble is I also want to play Bailey, which doesnt work with Clarke, Watson, Rogers, Smith included already.

 

[The_Reaper]

To me you play Hughes and Warner in Australia.
The pitches suit their styles and put wallpaper over the cracks in their technique.
Trouble is I also want to play Bailey, which doesnt work with Clarke, Watson, Rogers, Smith included already.

The problem is that both Hughes and Warner need to open.

 

[DangerSloane]

The problem is that both Hughes and Warner need to open.

Yeah I see that issue. Thats why only one of them will play. Personally I think Warner has done enough to show that he's striking the ball well.
Although a domestic one-day game is a different story to an ashes test against the current England side.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Talent-wise, certainly.

Results wise? His massive century (thanks to things going his way early as well) came after a string of performances that weren't good enough, which is the story of his Test career.

His bowling has become economical, but he seems to have lost the ability to take wickets.

He should not be guaranteed a spot for the whole series.

Need his bowling and led our batting aggregate and averages in England. Difference between Watson and the others in England was when he failed he always got a start. Others kept getting SFA.

Not a great way of analysing it admittedly but with the state of our batting it's unfortunately true. If one talks about dropping him you have to think about who'll replace him. There is none. None that'll do better and they certainly won't be able to bowl.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Warner
Rogers
Watson
Bailey
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Byrd

Warner and Bailey I'm dubiously taking them of their one day form. Fraught with danger I know but given they're smacking that many runs they must be in some sort of form. Especially when thinking about the lack of alternatives probably going to have to take them of trust on one day form and hope for the best.plus in case anything happens to Clarke, Bailey is a natural replacement as captain.

Love to put Fawad in so the Poms have to face a leg spinner, something they've traditionally struggled with, but Lyon deserves first go.

As for the fast bowlers it's about all we have left.

 

[Kyptastic]

People need to stop picking Bird, he's not going too be ready for the first test.

 

[Ashton Agar]

Yeah I see that issue. Thats why only one of them will play. Personally I think Warner has done enough to show that he's striking the ball well.
Although a domestic one-day game is a different story to an ashes test against the current England side.

Warner was playing on the flat decks of those crappy small grounds in New South Wales.

 

[DangerSloane]

Warner was playing on the flat decks of those crappy small grounds in New South Wales.

Flat decks like the Gabba, Adelaide, WACA, MCG?

 

[Super Hans]

Flat decks like the Gabba, Adelaide, WACA, MCG?

He hasn't played on any of those because of the change to the domestic one dayers, another great move by CA.

 

[The_Reaper]

Flat decks like the Gabba, Adelaide, WACA, MCG?

Significantly flatter and about half the size

 

[Black Diamond]

Warner was playing on the flat decks of those crappy small grounds in New South Wales.

Meanwhile Hughes has been playing in India on wickets where Australia has managed scores of 304, 359, 304 and 295.

 

[DangerSloane]

Significantly flatter and about half the size

So his 200 becomes 100?
He's a flat deck specialist, Australia is full of flat decks...I think you have to play him.

 

[The_Reaper]

So his 200 becomes 100?
He's a flat deck specialist, Australia is full of flat decks...I think you have to play him.

Did I say that?

He needs to play for Australia A and for NSW against England.

If he does well select him

 

[DangerSloane]

Did I say that?

He needs to play for Australia A and for NSW against England.

If he does well select him

Did I say you did?

He'll play in that game anyway, as will Hughes hopefully.

One thing we MUST do that we didnt do in England is ATTACK SWAN! If we dont attack swan he'll find a rhythm and kill us.

 

[Black Diamond]

One thing we MUST do that we didnt do in England is ATTACK SWAN! If we dont attack swan he'll find a rhythm and kill us.

I'd rather we play every ball on its merits.

When was the last time a premeditated attack on the spinners worked well for Australia?

 

[damochandler]

if warner scores runs in shield cricket. he'll be picked. he's getting out lbw and bowled a lot now. playing across the line too much.

 

[The_Reaper]

Did I say you did?

He'll play in that game anyway, as will Hughes hopefully.

One thing we MUST do that we didnt do in England is ATTACK SWAN! If we dont attack swan he'll find a rhythm and kill us.

He's an offie in Australia. Play him on his merits.

I'm more concerned about Broad and England's third paceman.

 

[southernswannies]

Flat decks like the Gabba, Adelaide, WACA, MCG?

There hasn't been an update on him for a while, I guess if he isn't running though there'd be no chance.

 

[southernswannies]

He's an offie in Australia. Play him on his merits.

I'm more concerned about Broad and England's third paceman.

Unlikely Swann will be nearly as effective as he was in England. He'll be like Warne in India - still get a few just at a much higher cost.

Broad wasn't great last time he was here though has arguably improved a considerable amount.

I'm hoping they'll persist with Finn because he's more than likely going to turn out as their version of Johnson. Will be carted around the ground if starts to become wayward. That being said, Chris Tremlett is looking to be the dangerman for me.

 

[Super Hans]

I'd rather we play every ball on its merits.

When was the last time a premeditated attack on the spinners worked well for Australia?

Probably 2001 with Matthew Hayden in India, guess that backs up your point.