Who comes in if (as suspected) Pontings finger is broken? And who bats at 3?

[DaRick]

Anyone honestly think a little broken finger is going to keep Punter out for a boxing day test match with the ashes on the line? I hope not.

I don't know what to hope in Ricky Ponting's case, honestly. His presence at the wicket seems to give England's bowlers unnecessary momentum - and a broken finger will not help.

 

[Ruck Machine]

Anyone honestly think a little broken finger is going to keep Punter out for a boxing day test match with the ashes on the line? I hope not.

Argreed, Punter has a chance to redeem himself as a captain by playing injured in the biggest game of the series. NO WAY HE WILL MISS THE GAME!

He can't bat any worse than he already is so a broke finger won't matter.

 

[Thommo 42]

My preference would be an opener, with Watson at #3.

With Hughes going the way he is, Watto would be opening anyway

 

[dan warna]

White is a technically flawed batsman, but there appears to be no obvious candidates should Ponting have to be replaced. I did state that Ponting can't really justify his place in the batting lineup, which is true, but I didn't consider the possible ramifications of Michael Clarke captaining. White is tactically astute and could help out there.

The usual suspects (Khawaja, Ferguson, Marsh) have been thrown around, but none of those guys are any more suited to #3 than White (who at least has some experience batting there). We could 'challenge' Clarke and move him to number #3 and have any one of the above at #4. Dave Hussey could be tried, but he'd only be a stopgap - and his form is no more than decent.

Whilst Steve Smith is probably not a #6, dropping him abruptly would hardly do wonders for his morale, especially since he has already outperformed Marcus North. Perhaps it is best to look to the future in his case. That is what occurred during the 1980's, when we placed faith in youth, rather than chopping and changing every Test when one guy made a random good score.

I've been a big wrap for White.

Cricketers today are as ego driven as they were 100 years ago. (some of the temper tanties at selection have made the press through annals of time).

Clarke is already probably feeling a bit fragile, and if there are communications issues between the player, dumping clarke as captain (jokes aside, is a fair batsman) if punter doesn't play would probably elicit even more negative responses.

I would suggest if punter is injured and white is brought in as a leader I suggest doing a neil harvey and making white VC. Either that or making M. Hussey with the intention of replacing Hussey with white, IF white can cut in the test side to support Clarke's leadership.

White is a solid to good middle order batsman, I would suggest he can't hold down NO.3 because Phillips is vulnerable right now and watto can't be expected to get 50 every innings. We need someone who can play no.3 and frankly given the fragility of our top order, Hussey is virtually our No.3 and Haddin is our no.4 on form

IF its a white for Punter then, white has to play 4 or 5 at least. D.Hussey has been practically our no.3 since hodge retired as in the absence of Rogers, our Openers in victoria have been a lot more fragile as well. Hill Quinney, and finch have been ok at FC level, but its rare than all 3 (this shield game being the exception) get runs.

White looks far more comfortable at 5 or 6 with McDonald in at 6 or 7 for us. He will be out cheaply without a doubt as virtual opener which is what our no.3 is atm. Punter has had some fine openers at the start of his career in hydo's and langer who rarely left punter to face a cherry less than 10 overs old.

Rogers, Mcdonald elliot and hodge's injuries, departures and retirements have made our batting line up dependent on White and D.Hussey to contribute pretty much all the runs this season.

As for white's international technique, he's been averaging 38 in ODI's and while I 100% accept ODI form is not test form (Brett Lee, michael bevan, Alan border, Steve Waugh who had significant disparity between their test and ODI performance), it would indicate that he's not the dud people make him out to be. But again, white bats down the order for Australia and rarely plays a selfish innings, if in early, he'll build, if in late, he'll throw his wicket going the tonk, rather than protecting his average.

IF white comes in, it has to be in the middle order, D.Hussey can hold 3 down.

 

[Damon_3388]

Deano.

You know it makes sense

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Also, I'd have Clarke at 3, Hussey at 4. When the top order is being run through so quickly, one batting position isn't going to make much difference.

So that's:

Watson
Hughes
Clarke
Hussey
Khawaja/White/Ferguson/Marsh
Smith
Haddin
etc...

Agree with this, it's what should happen.

It won't though. Clarke and Hussey will stay at 4 and 5 and some debutant will bat at three. It is the Steve Waugh method where the experienced players who should be taking the responsibility and leading from the front are instead content to hide away down the order and leave the toughest jobs to the kids.

 

[legend166]

White cannot bat at three. Not in a million years. Would get bowled through the gate every day of the week if he had to bat at three. If you were to bring White in, you'd have to shuffle the order around.

Bring Khawaja in. He's the next number three for Australia.

 

[Cleavy]

My preference would be an opener, with Watson at #3.

I like this idea.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Neither was Watson

Marsh opens in ODIs and has opened in FC cricket before.

Good enough qualies for me.

Want me to remind you what Marsh averaged opening in 4 day cricket? Believe me, it aint pretty. Much better at 3 or 4.

 

[Yoda_]

People calling for the selection dropping of Hughes is ridiculous.

To borrow a line from Xavier Doherety, "it screams of impatience".

He is the future, same as Smith, same as... well yeah, you get the point.

FWIW, I hope they bring in Khawaja and bat him at 3, he will be our next test number three, thought that it might be Ferguson, but have been leaning towards Usman for a couple of weeks now. A really good temperament, all the shots, no real weakness'.

 

[courtjester]

Deano.

You know it makes sense

Nice, I'll up the ante....

 

[Bombers_Forever]

They will move Clarke to 3 - and bring in Ferguson or Khawaja to 4 or 5. They will go with the safest options.

 

[oobee007]

The usual suspects (Khawaja, Ferguson, Marsh) have been thrown around, but none of those guys are any more suited to #3 than White (who at least has some experience batting there).

Khawaja is a number 3 batsman. he has batted at number 3 in all his sheffield shield games this year, and for Australia A. how is he not more suited than white who isn't dominating FC cricket this year, and is batting at 5 and 6

 

[grizzlym]

does that include the game against the brits or that just shield scores?

Not sure to be be honest. Think it's just the Shield scores.

 

[dan warna]

Not sure to be be honest. Think it's just the Shield scores.

mmm because I read earlier the FC scores for this season as 510 runs at 51 or something for d.hussey? that might be shaved a bit for his duck against the SA this week. Got a 70 or so against England staring tramlet and Monty in quickfire fashion (100 balls?) to set up an attempted contrived finish in the 3 day game. THe english didn't have the rubbish bowlers at this time, while Hill eked his century before white declared.

 

[jonesy86]

If Ponting is out I'd go...

Watson
Khawaja
Hussey
Clarke
White
Smith
Haddin

for the top 7

 

[dan warna]

If Ponting is out I'd go...

Watson
Khawaja
Hussey
Clarke
White
Smith
Haddin

for the top 7

Hughes dropped after 1 test? Probably if you were going to do that, put clarke behind white at 5 where he is more comfortable at, and hopefully give him enough protection so he can succeed.

Hughes did look shite this test.

 

[grizzlym]

mmm because I read earlier the FC scores for this season as 510 runs at 51 or something for d.hussey? that might be shaved a bit for his duck against the SA this week. Got a 70 or so against England staring tramlet and Monty in quickfire fashion (100 balls?) to set up an attempted contrived finish in the 3 day game. THe english didn't have the rubbish bowlers at this time, while Hill eked his century before white declared.

Here ya go:http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting.html?id=6096;type=tournament

He hasn't looked that good this year. But then again, neither have Ponting or Clark!

 

[DannyJ]

Hughes
Watson
Khawaja
Clarke
M. Hussey
D. Hussey (think he is a better No.6 than Smith)
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hilfenhaus
Beer

Out: Siddle, Ponting, Smith
In: Beer, Khawaja, D. Hussey

 

[DaRick]

Khawaja is a number 3 batsman. he has batted at number 3 in all his sheffield shield games this year, and for Australia A. how is he not more suited than white who isn't dominating FC cricket this year, and is batting at 5 and 6

Ah, has he? I stand corrected. He batted a bit lower last year. He seems like a reasonably obvious choice, then.

BTW, welcome to the forum.

 

[Dazb86]

IMO the team should be picked on form and form alone. Forget names, forget where they come from/ what they have done.

 

[robboaustralia]

F*** it just bring in Warner for a slog. Cant do any worse than Ponting's recent form!

 

[iTim]

Small break confirmed by X-Rays.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/content/story/493219.html?CMP=chrome

 

[Cousin Jed]

Going on recent form, Nathan Hauritz is putting his hand up.

 

[OzBomber]

Apparently he'll be okay to play the final 2 tests but won't be able to feld in the slips.