Test squad for WI tour

[philohk]

Didn't see this posted anywhere else.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/west-indies-v-australia-2012/content/current/story/557237.html

Peter Forrest's rise as an Australian batsman of the future has been maintained and Michael Beer's sturdy domestic summer rewarded with their selection in the squad for three Test matches against the West Indies.

...

As previously indicated by the national selector John Inverarity, Shaun Marsh was left out following his horrid returns against India, while Usman Khawaja and Phillip Hughes have lost their places as touring batsmen after struggling for runs and amid a poor season for New South Wales.

Watson to bat at 3 for Marsh, it looks like. No Cummins, which is the right thing if he's not 100%. No real surprises either. Looks like some stability coming to the side.

 

[aussierulesrules]

No surprises there.

Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson, Michael Beer, Ed Cowan, Peter Forrest, Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner

 

[Taco]

I don't understand the appeal of Michael Beer over a guy like O'Keefe at all. O'Keefe is a siignificantly better batter, in my opinion a considerably better bowler and then add in the fact he is a better fielder and a better leader and it really leaves me baffled.

 

[KAYNE]

I don't understand the appeal of Michael Beer over a guy like O'Keefe at all. O'Keefe is a siignificantly better batter, in my opinion a considerably better bowler and then add in the fact he is a better fielder and a better leader and it really leaves me baffled.

Have you ever watched shield cricket? Beer had a much better season compared to O'keefe. O'Keefe only has him covered in batting, Beer has great hands and should be in the slips more.

 

[Phone]

O'Keefe had a shit season. If O'Keefe wasn't get picked in front of Doherty and Beer last season he sure as hell isn't now.

 

[Tulip]

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Harris
Lyon/Hilfenhaus (would be Ben, but he's had a pretty average follow through since the tests)

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Pretty happy to see Frosty get selected, had a pretty good season for WA in all formats.

I think the only question for the First XI is Harris or Hilfenhaus?

 

[adamj1300au]

O'Keefe had a shit season. If O'Keefe wasn't get picked in front of Doherty and Beer last season he sure as hell isn't now.

O"keefe needs to move state. he always seems to be making way for another player, who has been dropped or coming back from injury.

Cant understand what the fascination is with Mitchell starch, another left hander in the Mitchel Johnson mound erratic and lacks control, but prehaps because of the lack of lefties in the playing ranks

 

[2222 Richie B]

Pretty standard squad. Thought G Bailey might have snuck in the squad, but there isn't room in it for him.

Team pretty much picks itself after the test matches this summer.

 

[realsniper09]

Beer won't play. Neither will Starc unless someone gets injured.

Starc is great in the shorter versions, but I'm as with most people, I'm convinced there are better options in the longer version of the game.

With Watson back Lyon should play all the tests.

And I do hope Forrest gets a debut, but I can't see him displacing anyone.

AND as for Haddin vs Wade... I'm pretty sure they'll play Haddin, even though I think Wade deserves the gig more.

 

[2222 Richie B]

AND as for Haddin vs Wade... I'm pretty sure they'll play Haddin, even though I think Wade deserves the gig more.

I agree with everything you said.

It would be interesting to see if Paine had not of broken his finger and played this year. Would Haddin of been on this tour? I think no.

It just seems like the selectors still want Paine in the longer formats, so they are holding onto Brad so Wade doesn't get a chance - do well and they can't pick Paine when he is fit!

Oh well Haddin gone from the one dayers is better than gone from nothing at all.

 

[Underarm]

I disagree re: waiting for Paine to make a decision on his keeping career. They are keeping Haddin because he is the incumbent keeper and they don't want to place all their eggs in wade's basket.....

 

[Tyberious Funk]

Cant understand what the fascination is with Mitchell starch, another left hander in the Mitchel Johnson mound erratic and lacks control, but prehaps because of the lack of lefties in the playing ranks

Starc can occasionally swing the ball back into the right-hander. This is an important attribute that makes a left hander dangerous. Johnson seems to only do this at the WACA. Starc has also shown a willingness to take advice and improve his game. I thought he showed some real development over the summer. Johnson's action seemed to almost completely break down before he did any kind of remediation.

Not saying I'm a fan of Starc, but I think the comparisons with Johnson are unfair.

 

[frankrizzo]

Im happy enough As long as starc actually earns a spot in the team as one of the best 3 quicks and not just get a free ride because he's another leftie who from to time bowls an unplayable in swinger to a righthander.

 

[dan warna]

Important question is, how many test drop catches will Haddin deliver?

Wade dropped one at the international level, albeit a dolly, Haddin had a fair few this summer past. His shield form was pretty crap as well.

 

[realsniper09]

It just seems like the selectors still want Paine in the longer formats, so they are holding onto Brad so Wade doesn't get a chance - do well and they can't pick Paine when he is fit!

I think Paine would be the best option in tests, but it's just silly to suggest that the selectors aren't picking Wade just because they are scared he will do well so they can't drop him for Paine.

They'll just pick what they think is the best option for Australia. At the moment, they think that's Haddin... for various reasons. Whether it'd be that it's because of his experience, leadership, presence around the dressing room, or whether because they think he's actually done okay in the recent tests, we don't know.

Wade was good during the one-dayers, but he didn't knock the door down at all. Still, I think we'd be better off giving him a go and seeing how he does.

I really think Haddin doing well during the last Ashes fared him really well in the eyes of the selectors, though that was AGES ago.

 

[rickyp]

Important question is, how many test drop catches will Haddin deliver?

Wade dropped one at the international level, albeit a dolly, Haddin had a fair few this summer past. His shield form was pretty crap as well.

Not a single bye in his most recent test.

 

[damochandler]

haddin will be given 2 tests i reckon.

also good to see these selectors have common sense when not picking cummiins

 

[Torz]

I don't understand the appeal of Michael Beer over a guy like O'Keefe at all. O'Keefe is a siignificantly better batter, in my opinion a considerably better bowler and then add in the fact he is a better fielder and a better leader and it really leaves me baffled.

O'Keefe is not a great fielder. Seems to drop a catch a match. Still odd that they'd pick Beer for the test squad, when he's clearly a limited-overs bowler. I'd have no issue with him playing ODIs and T20s, but he doesn't have enough variety/turn for the longer form.

 

[dan warna]

Not a single bye in his most recent test.

yeah, and two tests in a row where he didn't muff a catch, that must be a record for him.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

O'Keefe is not a great fielder. Seems to drop a catch a match. Still odd that they'd pick Beer for the test squad, when he's clearly a limited-overs bowler. I'd have no issue with him playing ODIs and T20s, but he doesn't have enough variety/turn for the longer form.

He ended up taking 26 wickets at around 26 for the Sheffield Shield season, which I'm pretty sure was the best return for any spinner.

It's good that he's being picked on form; it's good for Lyon as well, he won't get complacent with another option behind him.

 

[Torz]

He ended up taking 26 wickets at around 26 for the Sheffield Shield season, which I'm pretty sure was the best return for any spinner.

It's good that he's being picked on form; it's good for Lyon as well, he won't get complacent with another option behind him.

It's not that I don't like Beer, I've watched him quite a bit on the live stream bowling in Sheffield Shield. He's bowled pretty well.

Just get the feeling he won't have the penetration at international level.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

It's not that I don't like Beer, I've watched him quite a bit on the live stream bowling in Sheffield Shield. He's bowled pretty well.

Just get the feeling he won't have the penetration at international level.

Probably not, but he's handy back up and probably the best 'second option' we have going around right now.

You could make the case that we don't need to take two spinners but it never hurts to have the option, I guess.

 

[Slax]

It's not that I don't like Beer, I've watched him quite a bit on the live stream bowling in Sheffield Shield. He's bowled pretty well.

Just get the feeling he won't have the penetration at international level.

You maybe right on his penetration at test level. Don't understand the SO'K comments though, Doherty is the only other spinner who would even be looked at as he took 19 @ 25 from 5 games this summer.

 

[dan warna]

o'keefe has had a couple of good seasons before this one, remembering he carried an injury for a fair bit.

I still like him as a player and think he should have had a shot before a fair few players.

I think if 12/13 and 13/14 are good years for him 11/12 will go down as an injury blighted blip in his otherwise solid career.

still think he's an impressive player.

Happy with lyon's form so far. to criticise him against an indian team that ate Warne for breakfast, lunch and dinner is unfair.

Next two series will show him mettle.

I suspect if he can do his role of pinning down batsmen while the pace does its job, he'll collect wickets along the way.