Your test team against the West Indies?

[OzBomber]

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Hauritz
12th Man: Hilfy

That would be my team. I would have Ferguson at number 5 instead of Hussey, but of course he picked up the ACL.

I'm all for Paine playing in ODIs instead of Haddin, but Haddin is still my preferred choice in tests. He is still a very good batsman.

 

[ILY Leonard]

Katich
Watson
Punter
Hussey
Clarke
North
Paine
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
12th: Clark/Hughes.

i don't think hughes has played a shield game yet? if he dominates that have him up the top but watson out performed him when it matters in the ashes so he can stay. just going on the way they bat, i would have thought paine would be more suited to tests than haddin and haddin odi's. paine is a gun and will be our test keeper for years.

 

[mattymac]

i don't think hughes has played a shield game yet? if he dominates that have him up the top but watson out performed him when it matters in the ashes so he can stay.

they dropped him on the back of 3 innings after a laughably inadequate preparation for english conditions. wasn't so much to do with him as it was about panicking about johnno and siddle leaking massive runs and watson coming in as "bowling cover". hughes is clearly the better opener and woulda had a couple of big innings if they stuck it out with him. watto opening was an ad hoc solution. he wasn't bad, wasn't great, but he's not an opener for the long term.

 

[weevil]

I really can't see Lee being picked. Like a pitcher in baseball, as far as I am concerned it is difficult to have just a minor elbow injury as a fast bowler.

They were saying they were likely to go with the guys who performed well in England even before bing got injured.

Huss may have done enough to hang onto his spot. Other than that PH v Watto and Ritz v Clark would seem to be the big questions.

 

[mattymac]

They were saying they were likely to go with the guys who performed well in England

who would that be then? Hilf and Haury? We're two short.

 

[Mr Big Footy]

The side should be IMO...the best players available the selectors lost us the ashes by not picking the best players, it is what we are striving to win after all.

Katich
Hussey
Ponting
Hodge
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

Australia A (assuming all the "normals" get picked)

Rogers
Hughes
Jacques
Hodge
Lee Carseldine
Voges/Marsh
Paine
Magoffin
Nannes
Mcgain
Bollinger

That side is miles better than West Indies

 

[DIG]

Katich
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

Husseys still going great in Odis but it's time to make the tough call on him on tests. Hughes has to get in there in IMO.

 

[Spudregus_87]

The side I'd like to see:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting*
Clarke
North
Hussey
Paine+
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Clark

- Hilfenhaus was greatly aided by English conditions, thats why he was our most successful bowler during the Ashes.
- Watson not required, but is the obvious replacement if Hussey fails in the first 2 tests, although having him at #6 should take some pressure off.

What the starting XI will be:

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

- The selectors' obsession with Watson will continue
- As good a bloke as Hilfenhaus may be, he is not one of our top 3 pacemen, but the selectors will just look at his Ashes stats and keep him there.

 

[Coin_Toss]

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
North
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Clark
Hilfenhaus
12th: Siddle

 

[Navyblues09]

http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/433004.html

Clarke no certainty for first Test

Cricinfo staff

November 5, 2009

Australia's injury crisis could yet have ramifications for the first Test against West Indies at the Gabba with Michael Clarke in doubt, according to Australia's physio Alex Kountouris.

 

[Notorious_29]

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
12th: Clark

4 bowlers, 3 paceman and hauritz.

Hodge could make runs standing upside down and reading a book at the moment.

Clark would have made the cut ahead of Johnson as a bowler but Johnsons lower order batting is far too valueable.

I realise this line up is a bit short on bowling but cmon guys its the West Indies. And that batting line up could make 900.

 

[ALwaysNorth]

The side should be IMO...the best players available the selectors lost us the ashes by not picking the best players, it is what we are striving to win after all.

Katich
Hussey
Ponting
Hodge
Clarke
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

Australia A (assuming all the "normals" get picked)

Rogers
Hughes
Jacques
Hodge
Lee Carseldine
Voges/Marsh
Paine
Magoffin
Nannes
Mcgain
Bollinger

That side is miles better than West Indies

I hope Watson makes your 3rd side

 

[TorresIsGod]

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
12th: Clark

4 bowlers, 3 paceman and hauritz.

Hodge could make runs standing upside down and reading a book at the moment.

Clark would have made the cut ahead of Johnson as a bowler but Johnsons lower order batting is far too valueable.

I realise this line up is a bit short on bowling but cmon guys its the West Indies. And that batting line up could make 900.

It depends, Ponting will probably switch his book and put a Twilight book there instead of what Hodgey prefers to read, so he'll fail.

 

[Notorious_29]

It depends, Ponting will probably switch his book and put a Twilight book there instead of what Hodgey prefers to read, so he'll fail.

Valid point didnt think of that one

 

[Spikey]

Hodge could make runs standing upside down and reading a book at the moment.

But could he put his pants on upside down without pulling his back?

Hughes
Katich (Captain)
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey (For lack of standout youngster. Just keep him away from 4!)
Watson
Haddin (Keeper)
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

I'll give Hilf a go here and see how he goes. Clark 12th man. A few NSW players unlucky not to make it. Kat gets the captaincy position he so richly deserves. North back-up batsman if Clarke isn't fit for the first match.

 

[The_Reaper]

Clark is gone
He is a toothless tiger now.

Not sold with Hilfenhaus and am concerned with Johnson

First Test

1.Katich
2.Hughes
3.Ponting
4.Watson
5.Clarke
6.North
7.Paine
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Siddle
11. Hilfenhaus/Lee

 

[LukeParkerno1]

From what I am hearing lee is no certainty- the injury is worse than is being let out.

 

[Zarrix]

You have to keep Hilfenhaus and Siddle in the side, though ti is tough to leave out Clark and Brett Lee if he is fit and firing. Hauritz could make way for North in Perth perhaps. But yeah, so disappointing to leave him out. If Hussey doesn't perform, North should take his spot.

I'm still guttered that Ferguson won't get his chance this summer.

And Hughes must play. Was dropped far too early after only a couple of poor games.

 

[The 747]

yep. siddle should be given a rest now that a couple of proven stalwarts are back from injury. he's not a wicket taker. too one dimensional. if he has got a bag of tricks he's done a bloody good job of keeping them a secret.

12 Tests, 49 wickets at 28.93.

Which stalwarts back from injury are you talking about? Lee is injured. Clark is gone. And neither of those guys take wickets at a better rate than Siddle anyway.



Will be the same side that lost the Ashes IMO. Maybe Haurtiz in for Clark and who knows for the other Clarke.

 

[TorresIsGod]

If Marcus North doesn't play the first test, I will be bombing the next selection committee meeting.

 

[TorresIsGod]

You have to keep Hilfenhaus and Siddle in the side, though ti is tough to leave out Clark and Brett Lee if he is fit and firing. Hauritz could make way for North in Perth perhaps. But yeah, so disappointing to leave him out. If Hussey doesn't perform, North should take his spot.

I'm still guttered that Ferguson won't get his chance this summer.

And Hughes must play. Was dropped far too early after only a couple of poor games.

Has to be.

Katich
Hughes
Ponting*
Hussey
North
Watson
Haddin+
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

Watson can bat at 6, allowing Hughes back in to open, North moves up to 5 to replace in the injured Clarke.

Hussey stays at 4 for this one, but may be out if he doesn't perform when Clarke is ready to play.

We must play a spinner at the Gabba IMO and Hauritz has to play, with Johnson, Siddle and Hilfenhaus as the chosen 3 pace bowlers, Watson to bowl a few overs if needed and if it's spinning more than usual, there's always North.

Raffle off the 12th man spot, will probably be Stuart Clark again, since Lee's injury is worse than first thought.

If Siddle isn't passed fit (hopefully he should be), then Clark can play and probably pick a fielder as 12th man.

I wonder what the selectors now do with McDonald? Was more than handy when called upon to play Test cricket, but with the re-emergence for Shane Watson, will be make the squad of 13 which is likely to be announced a few days before the Test?

 

[Blue Dimension]

It'll be interesting to see if Lee can fight his way back into the side.

It will also be interesting to see if Hughes is brought back in. He should be, but it will most likely be at the expense of Hussey who has just recently hit red hot form once again. Can't see him being dropped, because if he is it'll be the end of his career and I think he still has more to give (despite his very lean run in Tests over the past year or so).

I still think Watto has plenty to work on in terms of his LBW issue. Had major problems in England despite his 40's and 50's with the bat. Having said that though, he's also in red hot form at the moment. Personally don't see him as a long term opener in the long form of the game.

If Clarke is still injured it'll allow the selectors to delay making a decision. But ultimately it wouldn't be a decision that i'd like to make.

 

[Russian]

Watson/Jaques
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke/Watson
North
Haddin
Lee*/Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

*has to play and take wickets in the Shield game on the 17th

 

[mattymac]

12 Tests, 49 wickets at 28.93.

Which stalwarts back from injury are you talking about? Lee is injured. Clark is gone. And neither of those guys take wickets at a better rate than Siddle anyway.



Will be the same side that lost the Ashes IMO. Maybe Haurtiz in for Clark and who knows for the other Clarke.

His stats are very flattering. Picks up a lot of tailenders but rarely performs in crucial situations. Like his 5fa in the ashes. Along with Broad's 5fa in the same test, 2 of the most average 5fas i've seen. 4 tailenders after Clark did all the hard work of breaking the poms open and unsettling them, which is supposed to be siddle's job. For 3 tests we never looked like taking 20 wickets then Clark comes in and boom we win by an innings. He had a hard time of it in the 5th but so did everyone on a clearly doctored spinner's pitch. If you've been watching Siddle play you'll know he's only delivered a handful of world class spells amongst a lot of average stuff. I'm not a vico so I'm not as blinkered as some on this board regarding siddle. I think he's got heart and potential but he's too loose at the moment, especially playing next to Johnson. He could play alongside Clark but I'm not keen on Johnson and Siddle together.

Talk was of Lee's injury being not too bad, but some also reckon he's out. Sad for him cos from the glimpses of him in the tour games before the ashes and in the natwest series and the t20s in India he was in the form of his life. Clark is a far better test level bowler than Siddle, especially to cushion someone like Johnson.

That said I think you're right that we'll go in unchanged with our losing XI. Our selectors are too pigheaded to admit mistakes until its too late. Shouldn't matter at home against the windies but against class opposition we'll get found out again in the long game with that line up.

 

[fraser25]

Could we field this team in the first test if Pup is injured?

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus

Big Doug is in great form, when Pup comes back we could field the four quicks alone for the second test at the WACA without Haurie. I think it would be the best option, if we bring in a batter and he performs well there'll be a big dilemma.