The Ashes

[dakapayne]

I love my cricket and this year the summer cannot come quick enough, you know what I mean.

The following is an article that has me worried. It is the latest article in which Australian players have been quoted, in my opinion, as being a tad over confident.

This time it is Shane Watson trying his hand at the verbal disintegration on the new England pace bowling beanpole, Steve Finn.

Ponting is under pressure to perform after a recent lean patch and Marcus North is under extreme pressure and I question his continued role in the side. One or two failures in Australia and he must surely make way for someone else. I would like to see Steve Smith given the number 7 position and push a fit? Brad Haddin up to 6. Even if Haddin isn't fit, Tim Paine has displayed enough to quality to suggest he could handle 6. This would give Australia the option of playing 3 pacemen and two spinners.

Australia's attack will be bolstered by the steadying influence of Hilfenhaus and his excellent line and length bowling with a hint of outswing is key to Australia's bowling attack. His ability to make early inroads should give strike bowler Mitchell Johnson more confidence to focus on what he does best, bowl fast and blast batsmen out.

My Australian lineup (Wolfbrother style)

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin/Paine
Smith
Johnson
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

Australia



Shane Watson singles out England paceman Steve Finn as No.1 target

By Ben Dorries
August 24, 2010
Shane Watson has launched the first ferocious verbal bouncer of the Ashes by singling out rising England paceman Steve Finn as Australia's No.1 target.
Finn, 21, is the latest young fast bowler to carry England's hopes and the Poms already believe the 203cm beanpole seamer can be their surprise replica of former Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath.
However Watson - the confident Allan Border Medal winner - believes England is deluded, as the raw Finn has never played Down Under or even against Australia.
Finn has burst on to the international stage, taking 28 wickets at 24 in his seven Tests, but was shielded from Australian eyes when he was rested during the recent one-day series in England.
Finn is also yet to fire a shot on foreign soil, taking only four wickets at 44.25 in two Tests in Bangladesh earlier this year.
Watson didn't hold back when asked if England's big Ashes bowling hope was likely to crumble in the heat of battle on Australian shores.
"A really important thing for us to win the Ashes is to single out some individuals to put a lot of pressure on them. Finn is someone, we can really try and make the most of his inexperience and also his inexperience of being out in Australia," Watson said.
"I think he is someone that we, as a batting unit, and me especially, can really try and put a lot of pressure on.
"If he bowls anywhere near a loose ball, I want to put it away. If he gets it slightly wrong, and he is very inexperienced, then he is going to really feel the pressure.
"We want to test his durability as a bowler."
Watson lunged further on to the front foot by claiming England's decision to, so far, hide Finn away from Australia could backfire horribly.
He also questioned Finn's preparation for the Ashes, insisting the youngster probably wouldn't have a clue how to bowl in Australia.
Skipper Ricky Ponting also joined Watson in a stirring Ashes rocket by questioning the credentials of another England newcomer - 23-year-old Irish batsman Eoin Morgan.
Ponting believes England will plump for the brash batsman - ahead of the failed Ian Bell - but says Morgan won't know what has hit him during the Ashes.
Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin is in doubt for October's Test and one-day tour of India after failing to recover from a tennis elbow problem.
Tasmanian Tim Paine won plenty of admirers in his Test debut against Pakistan in England.
England appear to have settled on three Ashes quicks (James Anderson, Finn and Stuart Broad) and Watson continued to thumb his nose at the Poms' pace attack by claiming Anderson was highly vulnerable in Australia.
Australia believe Anderson is a threat when conditions are favourable and the ball is swinging - but history shows he is no good in Australia, where he averages 82.6.

[Coast Cowboy]

Yeah am pumped up for the Ashes this year myself. Have got tickets for day 1 at the Gabba and can't wait to get stuck in to that overrated pretty boy Stuart Broad if he comes my way (or any Pom for that matter).

This will be a tighter series than 06/07 (can't get any more onesided than 5-0), but I still get the feeling Aus will win 2-1 or 3-1/3-0. Aus are hard to beat at the Gabba, Adelaide and Perth will be England's best chance for victory or a draw, MCG is another Aus fortress and Sydney is no longer a spinners pitch so Aus will enjoy themselves there.

This would be my Aus lineup for the 1st test at the Gabba:

Simon Katich
Shane Watson (don't like him as opener, but will have to do for now)
Ricky Ponting(c)
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey (needs runs or Usman Khawaja comes in for him)
Brad Haddin
Steven Smith (North to be dropped, Smith the spin option)
Mitchell Johnson (must show some form in India though, or Hauritz replaces him)
Ben Hilfenhaus
Ryan Harris (impressed me with his seam movement, is a must at Gabba imo)
Doug Bollinger

Hauritz comes back in for Adelaide at the expense of Harris or Johnson (depends who bowls worse).

Now compare that to the expected England team:

Andrew Strauss (out of form, cr*p in Aus)
Alistair Cook (same as above)
Jonathan Trott (not good against short pitched stuff)
Kevin Pietersen (also out of form)
Paul Collingwood (solid but unspectacular)
Eoin Morgan (nicks off to the slips too much for Aus conditions)
Matt Prior (solid but unspectacular)
Graeme Swann (decent spinner, but won't win them the series on his own, was outbowled by Hauritz in last Ashes)
Stuart Broad (overrated and chucks a tantrum when things don't go his way)
James Anderson (sh*t when it doesn't swing, and it won't swing nearly as much in Aus)
Steve Finn (untried in Aus conditions, looks accurate but doesn't do much off the seam or in the air)

I think our team has a lot more balance and is more suited to the Gabba's pace and bounce.

Can't wait for the Summer (as the Winter has given us a whole lot of nothing). Plus with the World Cup on after that it should be a great 6 months of cricket. C'MON AUSSIE!!!

[The_Darkhorse]

Yeah should be a good summer but unfortunately i think the Aussies are going to cop a hiding.

[gotta love rednecks]

Yeah am pumped up for the Ashes this year myself. Have got tickets for day 1 at the Gabba and can't wait to get stuck in to that overrated pretty boy Stuart Broad if he comes my way (or any Pom for that matter).

is that you dylan?

[gotta love rednecks]

i love my cricket and me and a mate have tickets to the first 3 days at the gabba and cant f****** wait.

the poms are in for a belting and im not worried about ours or there recent form in england because there are many different factors playing in australia.

first is the heat,get those priks out of england into the blazing hot australian sun and watch them melt like the snowmen they are.

second is many of there side havnt played over before.finn,morgan,swann,broad,trott.and the ones who have played out here before have failed dramaticly.strauss,cook,bell and jimmy anderson who in england averages around 20 with the ball but outside of home cant get under 40 with the ball.

another factor is the lack of swing(except the gabba)and we use the kookaburra ball which dont swing like the dukes ball they use in the old dart.

now my team goes like this

hughes
katich
ponting
clarke
hussey
watson
haddin/paine if hads not fit
hauritz
johnson
bollinger
hilfenhaus

notice there is no marcus north because he is a sh!t c*** and a imposter and should be hit for 6 right now before we start in india on the 1st of october.

hughes is my first choice to take his spot by pushing watson down the order where he belongs.

if not steve smith can take norths spot with just a straight swap that way we have a leggie and a offie in the team and smith scores runs when runs are needed,just like he did against pakistan in england in the second test after north had failed....................again.

another option still is cameron white to come in for north.white can bowl a little bit if need be but his batting is what he would be there for.

great thread i love the f****** cricket:thumbsup:

[RHINO]

got a yearly cricket day for work so ill be there on day 2 at the gabba and also got a 4 day pass to the sydney test :)

[dakapayne]

All this corruption hoo-ha has quelled my interest in cricket at the moment and left me a little disenchanted. I'm sure day 1 a the Gabba will fix that.

[paddy]

Ashes, best cricket contest. I wanna see us regain the urn.

[The_Darkhorse]

Australia



England set to fly a 16-man B-team to Australia to aid their Ashes defence

By Ben Dorries
September 25, 2010
England unveiled part of its plan to retain the Ashes in Australia this summer, by planning to fly an unprecedented 32 players, including a 16-man B-team down under.
The second-string troop, to be based in Brisbane and Perth, includes shadow players for every member of the top squad, ready to step in in the event of poor form or injury.
It is a stunning move by innovative England coach Andy Flower, the former Zimbabwe batsman.
Flower remembers England's disastrous Ashes tour of 2002-03, when bowlers Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones and Darren Gough all broke down.
The "England Performance Program" squad effectively means every Test player will have a clone who can replace him at short notice.
The squad includes Craig Kieswetter, Ajmal Shahzad and James Tredwell, all of whom have represented the top side in the past year.
To ensure the players are fit and firing, the B-team will play four-day matches against Queensland and Western Australia.
England performance director David Parsons said the squad "allows our coaches to work intensively with the players and assess their readiness to graduate to the full England side when the opportunity arises".


The Poms are certainly bringing the fear this year

[paddy]

The Poms have a really good team, but on Aussie conditions and harder wickets it might favour our bowlers and batsmen too.

[SpaceCake]

The following is an article that has me worried. It is the latest article in which Australian players have been quoted, in my opinion, as being a tad over confident.
When its the Ashes and played at home, the Aussies have to show alot of confidence, especially after losing the last 2 over in England. Plus there's also the quoted sledging and banter, that builds that healthy rivalry.
Aussies win 3-0

[The_Darkhorse]

Aussies to lose 2-1

[paddy]

North shouldve already been dropped, his forms been abysmal.

[SpaceCake]

Aussies to lose 2-1

ooooooh really? What ground would they get their only win?

[The_Darkhorse]

****ed if I know but I can see a period of domination in the Ashes coming up by England. The Aussies don't have a lot of quality bowlers coming through and the ones they do have are injury prone and mentally weak ie: Mitchell Johnson, Hauritz ....not that I rate Hauritz as a spinners arsehole anyway. Hopefully I am wrong but I think they deserve their number 4 world test ranking right now.

[paddy]

ooooooh really? What ground would they get their only win?
If it was 2-1 Id say their only wins in Brisbane.

[Coast Cowboy]

****ed if I know but I can see a period of domination in the Ashes coming up by England. The Aussies don't have a lot of quality bowlers coming through and the ones they do have are injury prone and mentally weak ie: Mitchell Johnson, Hauritz ....not that I rate Hauritz as a spinners arsehole anyway. Hopefully I am wrong but I think they deserve their number 4 world test ranking right now.

Give me Johnson, Bollinger, Hilfenhaus, Watson and Hauritz over Anderson, Broad, Finn and Swann anyday of the week (especially in Aus conditions). And our batting is more than a match for their batting atm.

If Johnson bowls more ****e like he has the last 12 months then we have quality ready made replacements in Siddle and Harris waiting in the wings to take his place as well.

England rely way too much on Graeme Swann and while he is a good bowler, I don't think he is good enough to win the Ashes all by himself. We handled him pretty easily in England last Ashes (he averaged forty and his figures were pretty flattering considering that he bowled on the biggest dust bowl pitch in Ashes history at The Oval, where I could of taken 5 wkts).

They also have no Flintoff who has been their inspirational talisman with the ball in the last three Ashes. And that is a big hole in your team (especially in Aus) not having a quality allrounder to call on.

England's recent form has all been in England conditions. When they come out here to Aus with the 30 degree heat, pro Aussie crowds and most importantly no swing they will be found out.

[paddy]

Id have Swann over Hauritz lol England dealt with Hauritz pretty well too last year, our pacemen failed to deliver in good bowling conditions.
I think we can bounce back but it will be a tough contest.

[SpaceCake]

****ed if I know but I can see a period of domination in the Ashes coming up by England. The Aussies don't have a lot of quality bowlers coming through and the ones they do have are injury prone and mentally weak ie: Mitchell Johnson, Hauritz ....not that I rate Hauritz as a spinners arsehole anyway. Hopefully I am wrong but I think they deserve their number 4 world test ranking right now.

See how they go against India in October. If they play well over there, builds alot of confidence to whack your pommy mates at home. I can't see England winning the opening game at the GABBA.

[paddy]

See how they go against India in October. If they play well over there, builds alot of confidence to whack your pommy mates at home. I can't see England winning the opening game at the GABBA.
I remember Nassar making probably the worst call when he won the toss up there, he bowled first at the Gabba.
lol would go on to get carted around the ground.

[The_Darkhorse]

Ponting has made his share of **** calls too

[Coast Cowboy]

Id have Swann over Hauritz lol England dealt with Hauritz pretty well too last year, our pacemen failed to deliver in good bowling conditions.
I think we can bounce back but it will be a tough contest.

I'd have Swann over Hauritz too, but I was more saying that I'd take our bowling unit as a package over England's (in Aus conditions).

Johnson has been poor recently but on his day is as good as anyone in the world. Hilfenhaus is a top quality swing bowler that was the best bowler in the Ashes in 09. Bollinger would be in the top 2-3 fast bowlers in the world atm and is at the top of his game. Hauritz actually outbowled Swann in 09 but wasn't picked in the 5th test which was the stupidest mistake Aus made in the series. And Watson gives us a quality allround option that England don't have in their attack (unless you include Collingwood's little meds).

On the England side of things. Broad is almost as bad as Johnson in terms of his inconsistency and is not a good traveller. Finn looks decent but hasn't played any serious opposition yet so his stats are quite flattering. Anderson is inneffective outside of England and was woeful last time in Aus. Swann looks like he has come along well, but there have been plenty of quality opposition spinners that have come out here to Aus and been found out badly (Murali, Kumble, Saqlain, Vettori etc).

I just think the balance of the England attack is a big worry for them. If Australia handle Graeme Swann they will win the Ashes in a canter imo.

[paddy]

Ponting has made his share of **** calls too
Ah yes the Edgbaston blunder when he also chose to bowl.

[SpaceCake]

Ponting has made his share of **** calls too

Are you sticking up for the POMs DH?

[RHINO]

i for one like the unsettled opinion in this thread. Nothing better then an ashes than an ashes where there isn't a certain favourite. The 5-0 thrashing they got last time i called as soon as the boys got on the plane back after the 05 embarrassment and turned out to be some of the best test cricket i have ever watched.The last day of amazing adelaide happened to coincide with the worst day of my life (for reasons i don't wish to explain here) and watching it was just ****ing brilliant.

Bag our lineup all you like, we are at home, they will aim up and even if we had a pura cup XI to play with you can gaurantee it will be competed for to the last ball. Just hoping the result isnt decided before i get to the sydney test

[dakapayne]

I like Marcus North. He is a classy bat when on song and in my opinion, is almost obscenely under bowled at test level. However his continual selection in the Australian team despite a poor run of form is almost Cowboy-ish. He hasn't earned the right to this much loyalty, this early in a career and an era in which Australia has come back to the pack after the retirements of once in a lifetime players like McGrath and Warne.

[BDR]

North was out for a duck again last night in India... he simply has to go. Not good enough at the moment, he needs to recover some form. Same to a lesser extent with Hussey, he hasn't performed to his best for a very long time. Watson made a fine century just before stumps and Ponting was run out on 71. I think we are something like 5-255

[Spiral]

India need 6 to win, Australia need one more wicket. Ah, great to be back in the cricket season!

[The_Darkhorse]

Aussies were ripped. That LBW appeal at the end was plumb.

[SpaceCake]

Not a bad test match, looked like it was going to be a drawn game, but turned out to be an entertaining finish in the end

[Spiral]

The whole match was littered with rubbish decisions. Both sides got their fair share though. The decision to give Sharma out just before was wrong as well, so it evened out.

I will take watching a game like that over any stupid twenty/twenty crap. It had everything.

Hauritz and North have to go. Can't carry dead weight into the Ashes series. Give Smith a go on a turning Indian wicket next game.

[gotta love rednecks]

The whole match was littered with rubbish decisions. Both sides got their fair share though. The decision to give Sharma out just before was wrong as well, so it evened out.

I will take watching a game like that over any stupid twenty/twenty crap. It had everything.

Hauritz and North have to go. Can't carry dead weight into the Ashes series. Give Smith a go on a turning Indian wicket next game.

well said spiral. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Get-Marcus-North-Out-Of-The-Australian-Cricket-Team/114113955304791?v=photos&ref=ts#

here is a page to get rid of north im so sick of him and his lack of runs.we need smith and hughes in the team.

[dakapayne]

This series in India has proved North is not the man to bat at 6 for Australia. It's a feast or an all too often famine for him recently. Callum Ferguson, Khawaja, Hughes or Smith would all be better options in my opinion. And Hauritz, well I'm not so sure about this one. Maybe a 4 strong pace attack in Brisbane could be the way to go... I'm not prepared to write him off though.

I do think there are a lot of similarities however with the thought process of bringing Smith into the team, compared with when the Aussies blooded Warne against India in '92. Australia was a battling side without a consistent spinning option and the mulleted blonde with mismatching whites was given a go and the rest is history. While it is unrealistic in the extreme to think Smith could have the same sort of effect on international cricket as Warne, their is certainly some similarities with the position of the current test side with the '92 version.

Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke's form is a worry also. While Clarke will be given a long chance to correct his misfiring form, Hussey again must be skating on thin ice. Again their are similarities with Hussey's situation. In 2005, with the Australian batting faltering in England and Australia poised to lose their first Ashes series in nearly 20 years, the Australian selectors were continuing to ignore the irrepressible form of Hussey under some misguided notion of loyalty. He eventually got his opportunity and never looked back, until recently. Age is not on Hussey's side and he has been experiencing a lean trot for a while. The time for a fresh face in the batting line up is now.

This could also provide Ponting with the impetus to drop himself to number 6 and play a bit of a guiding roll with the tail and a bit of stability in the lower, middle order.

This will more than likely not happen though as Ponting is a stubborn and loyal character. He likes batting 3 and he has a lot of loyalty to guys who have done the job in the past for him. Unfortunately, that past was a while ago now and Australia has slipped to the 5th ranked test nation in the world. Ponting has not had McGrath and Warne around for a while now to bail the side out of dire predicaments.

My team for Bris Vegas

Watson (The guy is currently the best performed batsmen, he shouldn't be considered for anywhere else)
Katich
Khawaja (haven't seen much of him but he hit a double ton a couple of days ago and appears to be next in line)
Clarke
Ponting
Smith
Haddin (tough call as Paine continues to impress, but Haddin's experience gets it with my new inclusions)
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
George/Siddle
Bollinger

Ok, so I just said Ponting should bat 6 and I've named him at 5. I think Ponting, Smith and Haddin can add more at 5,6 and 7 than what Hussey, North and Paine (sorry Tim, you've been grand of late) can. And Katich needs to bowl more!

[SpaceCake]

I havn't seem Callum Ferguson, in about 2 seasons. He was turning into a real consistant batsman till leg injuries kept him sidelined. I guess hes playing state at the moment. The Aussie selectors are not going to drop both North and Hussey as they wanted to field an experience team against the Poms. I heard that AB did suggest for Punter to go down the order for future team selections and guide other up and coming potential batsmen, may also prolong his career (as captain may not be the best thing for Australia long term). If that was going to happen surely Pup would have to be first drop. Pointing at 5, not that much of a difference, but I feel number 6 is just a waste of his talents. As for Hauritz, the Aussie team has put alot of time and effort into him, I don't know if they want to drop him so readily. When does the team get named for the the Gabba test?

[Coast Cowboy]

I think the Australian Cricket Team needs to do a Cowboys and have a cleanout of the whole system. From upper management to the coaches/selection panel through to the players.

Too many old and tired formulas being used in Australian Cricket atm. We are riding on our past successes and showing loyalty to players that have passed their use by date.

The rest of world cricket has stepped up their game to combat us, and we seem to think that it is our god given right to be the best Cricket nation in the world. We have sat back and just expected things to be the same as it always was. The Poms have brought in new ideas and fresh approaches to the game while we are stuck in the same old same old.

Even though losing an Ashes Series on Home soil may be extremely painful in the short term, but hopefully (just like the 2010 season was to the Cowboys) it will be the catalyst for the change that Australian Cricket so badly needs atm.

We have the talent to still be a top team but people in charge just aren't using their heads atm.

[The_Darkhorse]

I think the Australian Cricket Team needs to do a Cowboys and have a cleanout of the whole system. From upper management to the coaches/selection panel through to the players.
.
I agree starting with the people who decide that players need to have a whole one day series rest after playing 2 test matches. The rotation system they have is a crock of ****. Put your best team on the field every game. If they are too tired to do what they get paid to do...sack them.

[Coast Cowboy]

I agree starting with the people who decide that players need to have a whole one day series rest after playing 2 test matches. The rotation system they have is a crock of ****. Put your best team on the field every game. If they are too tired to do what they get paid to do...sack them.

Yeah especially Johnson. He always bowls Sh*te when coming back off a lay off.

I mean I don't mind resting players here and there but these blokes need to get plenty of cricket into them before the Ashes.

And whoever scheduled Sri Lanka to come out here for some one dayers and a t20........just before the Ashes needs to be sacked as well. What a joke that we have to play the Lankans in a meaningless ODI series just before the biggest series in this country for 20+ years.

[SpaceCake]

I hate these 2 team series. Bring back the old 3 team ODI series, feels more like a competition. Who cares if Money Bags Packer doesn't make a profit when the 2 foreign teams play? Think of ways to make money elsewhere to make it sustainable like yr old man would have. It is a bit silly Coast, but I think you'll find only half the side from the ODI series picked will play in the Ashes. Does Punter still play the one-dayers?

[Coast Cowboy]

I hate these 2 team series. Bring back the old 3 team ODI series, feels more like a competition. Who cares if Money Bags Packer doesn't make a profit when the 2 foreign teams play? Think of ways to make money elsewhere to make it sustainable like yr old man would have. It is a bit silly Coast, but I think you'll find only half the side from the ODI series picked will play in the Ashes. Does Punter still play the one-dayers?

I think the problem was lack of competition in those Tri Series. It very rarely went down to the last couple of games in any of them, which rendered some games just completely meaningless at the end when two teams had already qualified. If they brought out two decent sides and made the whole series very competitive then it could still work (like say Australia, England and India would make a great tri series).

You're right that not many of the test players are playing in this series. Just checked and only Bollinger (probably won't play though), Clarke, Hauritz (hope he gets dropped before the Gabba), Hussey and Paine are playing.

And yeah Ponting still plays One Dayers.........I hope he retires from that form though after the World Cup and follows in Tendulkar's footsteps and concentrates solely on Test Cricket (and hands over the Captaincy as well, which would be great for his batting).

[Coast Cowboy]

Blow to England ahead of the Ashes
By Paul Newman Last updated at 12:22 AM on 15th October 2010

ASHES 2010: England paceman Anderson breaks rib during boxing fight with team-mate By Paul Newman Last updated at 12:22 AM on 15th October 2010
England strike bowler Jimmy Anderson is highly doubtful for the start of the Ashes after having his rib broken by a team-mate in a boxing session.

The leader of England's attack was injured during a 'boot camp' in Germany at the end of last month during one of the exercises that were meant to bond Andrew Strauss's team together.

A broken rib could take two months to heal and the first Test in Brisbane starts on November 25 - 41 days away. The second Test begins in Adedlaide on December 3 and Anderson may even struggle to make the third Test in Perth two weeks later.

The accident came during a controversial five-day trip organized by England team director Andy Flower and involved another England bowler.
Privately, the players wanted to rest at the end of a long and arduous season which culminated with the controversial visit of Pakistan for a tour marred by spot-fixing allegations.
Yet, in what will now be viewed as a rare mistake by the Strauss and Flower regime, England insisted on taking the Ashes squad away from their families for an additional five days during which they embarked on several physically challenging exercises.

Ajmal Shahzad was always due to travel with England to Australia as an additional player for their three warm-up games ahead of the first Test before joining the Performance Squad in Australia.

Now he will stay with the team while Anderson battles for fitness and there is every chance the Yorkshireman will be promoted as a full member of the Ashes squad.
Anderson's crushing misfortune will be a fillip for Ricky Ponting in the week that Australia lost their Test series in India 2-0 and slipped below England in the world rankings for the first time since they were introduced seven years ago.
Ponting arrived back in Sydney yesterday after his side's 2-0 Test defeat by India and was immediately forced to assert that he remains the right man to captain Australia.
'Absolutely, I've got no doubts about that at all,' he said. 'I'm trying to do the best I can as captain to help some of these guys through difficult times

[Coast Cowboy]

Usual Soft Pommy bowler. I think he is just faking because he knows what a hammering he's going to get out here from our batsmen like he did last time.

[SpaceCake]

I think the problem was lack of competition in those Tri Series. It very rarely went down to the last couple of games in any of them, which rendered some games just completely meaningless at the end when two teams had already qualified. If they brought out two decent sides and made the whole series very competitive then it could still work (like say Australia, England and India would make a great tri series).
Yeah at times it was a very one sided series with 3 teams involved in the past. Even if they had 3 teams for 20-20 (which to me is not cricket) now would be a good series as the Aussie team can be quite ordinary, so make some competitive games.

[forster cowboy 3]

Yeah especially Johnson. He always bowls Sh*te when coming back off a lay off.

I mean I don't mind resting players here and there but these blokes need to get plenty of cricket into them before the Ashes.

And whoever scheduled Sri Lanka to come out here for some one dayers and a t20........just before the Ashes needs to be sacked as well. What a joke that we have to play the Lankans in a meaningless ODI series just before the biggest series in this country for 20+ years.

mate johnson is just sh*t in general
95% of his wickets are from the batsman trying to smash his way ward bowling
the only one time where he actually dominated the batsman with swing and movement off the pitch was the last tour to south africa every other time he has been garbage

[dakapayne]

Fosters, that's a **** comment in general.

Mitchell Johnson


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 38 74 8870 4824 166 8/61 11/159 29.06 3.26 53.4 9 6 2
ODIs 82 80 3997 3292 128 5/26 5/26 25.71 4.94 31.2 4 2 0

Merv Hughes


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 53 97 12285 6017 212 8/87 13/217 28.38 2.93 57.9 14 7 1
ODIs 33 33 1639 1115 38 4/44 4/44 29.34 4.08 43.1 1 0 0
Brett Lee


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 76 150 16531 9554 310 5/30 9/171 30.81 3.46 53.3 17 10 0
ODIs 186 182 9478 7456 324 5/22 5/22 23.01 4.71 29.2 11 9 0


Ben Hilfenhaus


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 13 24 2836 1491 48 4/57 5/70 31.06 3.15 59.0 4 0 0
ODIs 15 15 758 717 18 2/42 2/42 39.83 5.67 42.1 0 0 0


Jason Gillespie
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w
Tests 71 137 14234 6770 259 7/37 9/80 26.13 2.85 54.9 8 8 0
ODIs 97 96 5144 3611 142 5/22 5/22 25.42 4.21 36.2 3 3 0

His stats are pretty comparable to some of the guys who have been mainstays in the Australian team for many years. The difference is simply the fact that our attack does not have the once in a generation talents like McGrath and Warne. While Johnson is capable of some wayward bowling at times he is still a world class bowler. He and Hilfenhaus will be the first two pace men picked for the Ashes.

95% hey... You're dreaming.

[Coast Cowboy]

With a bowler like Mitchell Johnson, who for the most part is quite expensive (but is a wicket taker). You have to pick an economical bowler that can keep things tight and build pressure, to counter him in the attack (with an economy rate of around 2.5 runs per over).

At the moment the economy rates of the rest of the Australian attack are:
~Doug Bollinger: 3.14
~Ben Hilfenhaus: 3.15
~Nathan Hauritz: 3.14
~Shane Watson: 3.15

Now they're all respectable figures but there is no meiser type bowler to keep his end tight and build pressure on the batsmen. Which in turn gives Mitchell Johnson less chance to just do what he does best (which is look for wickets), because he is worried about keeping the runs down off his own bowling.

My future Aus team (Post Ashes with Katich and Hussey both retired) is:

1: Phil Hughes
2: Shane Watson
3: Usman Khawaja
4: Ricky Ponting (dropped down the order 1 and stripped of the Captaincy to let him concentrate on scoring runs again)
5: Michael Clarke (c) (made captain as he is much more of an attacking captain than Ponting imo)
6: Brad Haddin (wk) (Tim Paine or Matthew Wade to come in sooner or later)
7: Steven Smith (the spin option and can be the attacking style number 7 ala Gilchrist)
8: Andrew McDonald (this is my economical bowler that I would bring in, his economy rate is under 2.5 in first class cricket. Plus he is a very good batsmen who averages 38. Was an underated part in our win in SAfrica)
9: Mitchell Johnson
10: Ben Hilfenhaus
11: Doug Bollinger

This team has the best balance all around in my opinion. It has youthful exuberance in Hughes, Khawaja and Smith mixed with experience in Ponting, Clarke and Haddin. It has a long batting lineup with McDonald at 8 plus Johnson at 9. And it has plenty of variety in the attack with 5 seamers, and two spinning options in Smith and Clarke.

[SpaceCake]

Your right Coast, that's why Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee worked well together. Lee and Johnson are similar in the way they can be expensive at times but are genuine wicket takers. I'd like to see Johnson be more aggressive though. I like Dougy Bollinger as a bowler. He's the only bowler we have at the moment in our test team, who has that intimidation factor. Hes always tries his best, running in and hitting the pitch hard every delivery. The others Hillfy, Mitch, Siddle and co are quality bowlers, but don't possess that threatening mentality. Compared to Lee, Dizzy, Merv, Craig McDermott, McGrath, Warney.

[forster cowboy 3]

Fosters, that's a **** comment in general.

Mitchell Johnson


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 38 74 8870 4824 166 8/61 11/159 29.06 3.26 53.4 9 6 2
ODIs 82 80 3997 3292 128 5/26 5/26 25.71 4.94 31.2 4 2 0

Merv Hughes


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 53 97 12285 6017 212 8/87 13/217 28.38 2.93 57.9 14 7 1
ODIs 33 33 1639 1115 38 4/44 4/44 29.34 4.08 43.1 1 0 0
Brett Lee


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 76 150 16531 9554 310 5/30 9/171 30.81 3.46 53.3 17 10 0
ODIs 186 182 9478 7456 324 5/22 5/22 23.01 4.71 29.2 11 9 0


Ben Hilfenhaus


Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10
Tests 13 24 2836 1491 48 4/57 5/70 31.06 3.15 59.0 4 0 0
ODIs 15 15 758 717 18 2/42 2/42 39.83 5.67 42.1 0 0 0


Jason Gillespie
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w
Tests 71 137 14234 6770 259 7/37 9/80 26.13 2.85 54.9 8 8 0
ODIs 97 96 5144 3611 142 5/22 5/22 25.42 4.21 36.2 3 3 0

His stats are pretty comparable to some of the guys who have been mainstays in the Australian team for many years. The difference is simply the fact that our attack does not have the once in a generation talents like McGrath and Warne. While Johnson is capable of some wayward bowling at times he is still a world class bowler. He and Hilfenhaus will be the first two pace men picked for the Ashes.

95% hey... You're dreaming.

mate all those stats suggest is how often he gets wickets which can also work both ways as in the batsman are trying to smash him with all the wide and uncontrolled balls
if i read that correctly he has the highest economy out of all of them except brett lee which does suggest the batsman having an attacking mindframe towards him and shows he aint the number 1 bowler seen by other countries otherwise they wuld be more conservative
he is only a wicket taker because of the batsman going after him n miss timing the wide balls or edging wide balls he is garbage and dont even hav control of is bowls
plz daka tell me how often you see johnson swing the ball back into right handed batsman or away from left handed batsman, answer............never, he has no control over his deliveries
only time he has bowled at a world class level was that tour to south africa, other then that he has been average at the very best

[dakapayne]

Well, that's an improvement. You've gone from describing Johnson as 'sh#t in general' and 'garbage' (apart from South Africa), to 'average at best'.

Every Australian cricket fan would love to see him swinging the ball in and away from the bat at will. Then we would have an Australian Wasim Akram playing in the side. In fact the last left armer to do this for Australia was the great Bruce Reid who in my opinion, if he had stayed injury free, would have collected 300+ test wickets.

"he is only a wicket taker because of the batsman going after him n miss timing the wide balls or edging wide balls he is garbage and dont even hav control of is bowls"

I would say this sentence is garbage.

And while he hasn't reached the heights of the tour of South Africa and even when South Africa toured Australia and he took an 8 for, he has still been a solid contributor and worthy of a little more respect.

Tall poppy syndrome?

[forster cowboy 3]

Well, that's an improvement. You've gone from describing Johnson as 'sh#t in general' and 'garbage' (apart from South Africa), to 'average at best'.

Every Australian cricket fan would love to see him swinging the ball in and away from the bat at will. Then we would have an Australian Wasim Akram playing in the side. In fact the last left armer to do this for Australia was the great Bruce Reid who in my opinion, if he had stayed injury free, would have collected 300+ test wickets.

"he is only a wicket taker because of the batsman going after him n miss timing the wide balls or edging wide balls he is garbage and dont even hav control of is bowls"

I would say this sentence is garbage.

And while he hasn't reached the heights of the tour of South Africa and even when South Africa toured Australia and he took an 8 for, he has still been a solid contributor and worthy of a little more respect.

Tall poppy syndrome?

well he is sh*t in general to me and imo you can only rate him an average at best bowler
ok well when i see him clean a batsman all ends up then ill reconsider my opinion of him but apart from that south african tour i have not seen him do that he only gets wickets for batsman going after him as he is the weak link in the team along with hauritz

[SpaceCake]

A Q-Cup Rugby League scout and an Aussie cricket selector. We should all feel honored

[forster cowboy 3]

awww still holding grudges against me spacecake lmao

pretty sure this is a forum where we say what we think

i could easily say the same about you when you hav somthing different to say...

[The_Darkhorse]

I do think that Johnson seems to get a lot of his wickets from tail enders which is fine if you have someone cleaing the top order batmen up regularly which they don't seem to be doing much lately. Johnsons biggest problem is consistency and mental belief, it doesn't take much to drop his head and shoulders and get frustrated. I think they are missing Stuart Clarke..he was a very underrated bowler who used to strike quite often early and got a lot of top order batsmen out and do it without giving many runs away. Johnson is the best bowler they have right now but like any team 1 bowler does not make an attack. I would like to see Ryan Harris cement a spot he is a star of the future for the Aussies.

[SpaceCake]

No need for grudges on here..... I'm just in awe of your superior views and your extensive knowledge on certain topics. Even when the facts are plain as day, they are suppressed by your quixotic conceptions.

[forster cowboy 3]

I do think that Johnson seems to get a lot of his wickets from tail enders which is fine if you have someone cleaing the top order batmen up regularly which they don't seem to be doing much lately. Johnsons biggest problem is consistency and mental belief, it doesn't take much to drop his head and shoulders and get frustrated. I think they are missing Stuart Clarke..he was a very underrated bowler who used to strike quite often early and got a lot of top order batsmen out and do it without giving many runs away. Johnson is the best bowler they have right now but like any team 1 bowler does not make an attack. I would like to see Ryan Harris cement a spot he is a star of the future for the Aussies.

imo hilfenhaus and bollinger are better then johnson and ryan harris thats a gee up isnt it?
the guy is in his 30's mate

[forster cowboy 3]

No need for grudges on here..... I'm just in awe of your superior views and your extensive knowledge on certain topics. Even when the facts are plain as day, they are suppressed by your quixotic conceptions.

only one sayin i hav superior views and extensive knowledge is you mate im only sayin my opinion to things, not putting any1 down for their opinion
ok well while you keep goin on bout how you think im a know it all etc why dont you for once write down what you believe in the topics discussed instead of sitting on the fence and be like the coaches must of thought different or in this case go on bout how you think im a big head lmao

[The_Darkhorse]

imo hilfenhaus and bollinger are better then johnson
I am not much of a Bollinger fan tbh. Hilfenhaus is not bad but he isn't an opening strike bowler. He is more of a first change bowler IMO.

[The_Darkhorse]

imo hilfenhaus and bollinger are better then johnson and ryan harris thats a gee up isnt it?
the guy is in his 30's mate
Didnt realize he was that old.neither did you until you googled it. Still got plenty of talent

[forster cowboy 3]

Didnt realize he was that old.neither did you until you googled it. Still got plenty of talent

how you know i googled it lmao
na i knew he was on the older side had to google him tho lol

[SpaceCake]

only one sayin i hav superior views and extensive knowledge is you mate im only sayin my opinion to things, not putting any1 down for their opinion
ok well while you keep goin on bout how you think im a know it all etc why dont you for once write down what you believe in the topics discussed instead of sitting on the fence and be like the coaches must of thought different or in this case go on bout how you think im a big head lmao
Oh forster, it's so easy to comment on your dribble mate. Take a look at my other 400 + posts since I've been here for this short time. Not everything is about you there pal.

[forster cowboy 3]

Oh forster, it's so easy to comment on your dribble mate. Take a look at my other 400 + posts since I've been here for this short time. Not everything is about you there pal.

mate where in the bolded section hav i said its all about me? lmao
ur the one dribbling on bout how i supposibly think i have superior views and extensive knowledge lol it is a open forum where im writing my opinion on the topic
before you dribble on with more crap how bout you go find the posts where iv stated that i hav superior views and extensive knowledge over every1 one this forum...

[gotta love rednecks]

players that could replace our middle order.

hughes
fergason
white
jaques
hodge
kwagja
smith
marsh

why keep going with people that fail?

[The_Darkhorse]

Because there are too many politics in Australian cricket. It seems its not just about form, you have to fit in and have the right sort of personality. It is a well known fact that Hodge who could have been a great batsman for Australia hardly ever got picked because he wasn't very well liked by the team and by Punter especially even though he averages over 50 in tests.

[forster cowboy 3]

yep punter looks after the guys he likes off field
marcos north definately seems to be one
jason kreyza was rumoured to not agree with what punter was doing for his field settings etc, look how long he lasted in the team despite taking all those wickets in india against india in his first couple tests
i wonder if phil hughes has said or done anything in the australian camp that punter didnt like

[gotta love rednecks]

phil hughes had 2 bad games and got the a$$,north keeps failing and is still there.

hughes is 21 and has a big future ahead of him,north is getting on and is a band aid soloution(a bad one at that)

hughes averages over 50 in tests,north is in the 30s

jaques last test he scored a 100 before being dropped for the return of hayden

what has white done wrong

it really is all bullsh!t the way this selection has been going.

[SpaceCake]

Wow.. looking at the one day side the other night against the Indians, not too many players would make the Ashes squad. It's almost a whole different side. You can kinda tell, this short series is not a high priority for the Aussies. Its a shame if they don't win a game over there and don't bring some good form back home.

[forster cowboy 3]

even with a full strength one day side over there they wouldnt of won
india is just too good

[gotta love rednecks]

Wow.. looking at the one day side the other night against the Indians, not too many players would make the Ashes squad. It's almost a whole different side. You can kinda tell, this short series is not a high priority for the Aussies. Its a shame if they don't win a game over there and don't bring some good form back home.

what should be happening is all the test players going back to shefield shield and playing 4 day cricket.

hussey is doing it, they say he should get 2 games in,thats in our conditions .

north is doing it which is what he needs(not that i think it will help much)

i also wouldnt mind seeing ponting play a games for tassie,he looked good in india and i would like him to continue his form which im sure he will.punter is a stuben pr!k and wants to keep playing and if his form in india is anything to go off he is primed for a big ashes.

[gotta love rednecks]

even with a full strength one day side over there they wouldnt of won
india is just too good

we played them in 5 or 7 ODI last year and fogged them.

last year also australia won the champions throphy for the second time in a row.

with a full strenght ODI team australia would have won the ODI series in india but like they should they have bigger prioritys and bigger fish to fry then a sh!ty old ODI series..............the ashes.

[SpaceCake]

what should be happening is all the test players going back to shefield shield and playing 4 day cricket.

hussey is doing it, they say he should get 2 games in,thats in our conditions .

north is doing it which is what he needs(not that i think it will help much)

i also wouldnt mind seeing ponting play a games for tassie,he looked good in india and i would like him to continue his form which im sure he will.punter is a stuben pr!k and wants to keep playing and if his form in india is anything to go off he is primed for a big ashes.

Yeah your right good call. Even Mitch Johnson is aswell. I thought Punter batted well over in India. 50+ average I think, although it was disapointing not to win a game, the 3 games I watched were fairly entertaining.

[forster cowboy 3]

we played them in 5 or 7 ODI last year and fogged them.

last year also australia won the champions throphy for the second time in a row.

with a full strenght ODI team australia would have won the ODI series in india but like they should they have bigger prioritys and bigger fish to fry then a sh!ty old ODI series..............the ashes.

but in india we hav no chance

[gotta love rednecks]

but in india we hav no chance

we played them in india in the the odi games im talking about and we flogged them.

test cricket is completly different,that we do not have a chance in india although we almost won the first game.

[SpaceCake]

but in india we hav no chance

Yeah thats a big call, considering how close the matches were this season and our success in the past.

Anyway did any of you catch the Aussie advertising highlighted on Big Ben in London on the news? Great stuff!!:lol:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/oct/29/england-australia-ashes-big-ben

[forster cowboy 3]

jus my opinion
under ponting, australia will continue to fall down the world rankings as he is the worst captain austalia has had in a long long time imo

[SpaceCake]

jus my opinion
under ponting, australia will continue to fall down the world rankings as he is the worst captain austalia has had in a long long time imo

I'm guessing you've been watching cricket for about 10-12 years give or take.
Australia has dominated the world through out that time, with once in a generation players like Warne, McGrath, Gillchrist and more. We were extremely fortunate to have these calibre of players all playing at once. The West Indies had a similar luck 30 odd years ago with the talent they had in the team. The truth today for the Australian team, is we don't have the wealth of extreme super stars at this point in time. It takes years to substitute players of that quality. And our Test ranking especially is showing this. It has now become a more leveled competition. Of course Pontings captaincy is going to be questioned because the team cannot copy our past successes. But to say he is the worst captain Australia has had............ I think is an unfair statement

[The_Darkhorse]

he is the worst captain austalia has had in a long long time imo
Tactically ..I agree. He has made some terrible decisions and field placing over the last few years. I think he was very fortunate that he had Warne and McGrath for so long who made him look a lot better tactically than he really is. They basically set their own fields. I personally think he has been shown up a bit in recent years with some rather poor fields and bowling changes etc.

[forster cowboy 3]

im not trying to hav a go at you spacecake but imo he just isnt a good captain, yes he hasnt had the resources in the last few years but that dont justify his lack of quality tactics and outplaying of the opposition
its almost as if he dont even hav any game plans or know what to do at different situations especially when the opposition start getting on top he just seems to go with the flow instead of try different things to unsettle the opposition i think its time to move on in terms of him being captain as well as some of the players in terms of playing for australia
we only went through a ''rebuilding phase'' not long ago but we are going to have to again in the next year or so because of the players they used in the rebuilding
we need the likes of hughes, khawaja, smith, mitch marsh, payne, hazlewood etc in the team over the next 12-18 months
imo ponting should stay in the team as a batsman and guide the younger batsmen through their first couple years of test cricket and leave the captaincy upto micheal clarke

[gotta love rednecks]

ponting is not the best captain but he sure isnt the worst.

the field placings are mostly set by the bowlers anyway so its not all on pontings shoulders the fact we have had some fields we would not have had in the past.remember we have different bowlers in the team now who set different fields to what we are used to because they bowl different.

this rebuilding phase has been the biggest joke in the game.

north
katich
hussey
ponting
haddin
and also clarke

they are all in there 30s and near the end of there career(except clarke he has a good 5 years left).im not saying they all shouldnt be there because one or two experienced guys are good in the team but there is 5 players that will be making way in the next couple years for retirement so the rebuilding phase will happen again

ponting is not the reason for australias fall from grace(how much worse would that team be without him)the reason for our demise is because of retirement and also the selectors for picking has beens or never has beens when we have a bunch of good young kids waiting in the wings.

[forster cowboy 3]

mate ponting is responsible for 90% of the selections in the team so u cant blame the selectors there
otherwise hughes and kreyza would be in that team instead of north and hauritz
ponting is just looking after his mates in the team

[gotta love rednecks]

so selectors dont select team...........ok.

maybe they should be called spectators then lol

greg chappell has been appointed as our first full time selector and with jamie cox,merv hughes and boony im sure they have a fair amount of say in who is selected and who is not.

ponting has come out and said he wants hughes back in the team so obviously he dosnt have complete control,im not silly though im sure he has a say but your 90% comment i think is a fair way of the mark.

forget kreja he wont ever play again in test cricket but its not all his fault even warne didnt have success in india.

[forster cowboy 3]

ok you can believe what you will but kreyza was dumped from the team because of ponting despite him taking so many wickets in the limited chances he had, being droped the way he was had screwed up any confidence he did have and he is one of those players that wont be able to recover from it
why do you think hussey and north have lasted so long? because of ponting not wanting anyone else in the team
why you think north has been bowling heaps?....its so that ponting has an excuse to justify his selection in the team
the selectors will hav their input in the team but it will come down to who ponting wants dont worry about that

btw kreyza while conceding alot of runs in india he did take alot of wickets considering it was his debut over there
dont count me on it but im sure it was more then 10 wickets in his first test, not bad against the team known as the best against the spin bowlers

[SpaceCake]

ok you can believe what you will but kreyza was dumped from the team because of ponting despite him taking so many wickets in the limited chances he had, being droped the way he was had screwed up any confidence he did have and he is one of those players that wont be able to recover from it
why do you think hussey and north have lasted so long? because of ponting not wanting anyone else in the team
why you think north has been bowling heaps?....its so that ponting has an excuse to justify his selection in the team
the selectors will hav their input in the team but it will come down to who ponting wants dont worry about that

btw kreyza while conceding alot of runs in india he did take alot of wickets considering it was his debut over there
dont count me on it but im sure it was more then 10 wickets in his first test, not bad against the team known as the best against the spin bowlers

That's a pretty heavy conspiracy theory you have there

[forster cowboy 3]

well theres no other explanation i can think of with them in the team still after their long lean scoring droughts
and considering how there were rumours of ponting and kreyza not getting along real well personally hence why he has been dropped and never to be seen again i can see why they are still in the team and atm it aint because of their scoring form

[gotta love rednecks]

well theres no other explanation i can think of with them in the team still after their long lean scoring droughts
and considering how there were rumours of ponting and kreyza not getting along real well personally hence why he has been dropped and never to be seen again i can see why they are still in the team and atm it aint because of their scoring form

the selectors are to scared to make tough calls because for the last 15 to 25 years they have had a easy job.

also look as sh!t as north is he keeps scoring that ton one in every 6 or 7 tests but in between there are many scores in the single digits but he puts on a ton just to ease presure on himself.

clarke he hasnt made a big score since the NZ tests but he remains in the team,now i dont want him sacked because there is great cricket in him and he just needs runs and it will all come back to him.

hussey has been in a big dry spell but in our last summer he scored runs and got a ton in the sydney test but then earlier this year failed against pakistan and india(like the rest of our middle order which has eased the presure on him)

this plus hauritz taking wickets before india has made it a tough decision for the selectors and without making mojor changes to more than spot then there will be not much difference in the side we already have so in a way they are taking the easy way out

[The_Darkhorse]

mate ponting is responsible for 90% of the selections in the team
you're talking out of your arse there

[forster cowboy 3]

ok you believe that then
while you continue believing that please tell my why hussey and north are still in the team despite being unable to put a few consecutive innings together

[forster cowboy 3]

must be real tough to drop hauritz even though a part time spinner in north took more wickets and looked more dangerous as a spinner then him....hmmm yea geez hauritz must be a class above every other spinner in australia...

[gotta love rednecks]

must be real tough to drop hauritz even though a part time spinner in north took more wickets and looked more dangerous as a spinner then him....hmmm yea geez hauritz must be a class above every other spinner in australia...

this statement alone proves to me you know f!@k all about cricket and probably dont watch a test match and that your opions are only what you have interpreded in the newspapers.

i still remember pontings position as captain after 05 ashes series being questioned and he responded the next ashes by scoring runs at will and winning that series 5-0.

what i find funny is that when ponting first lost the ashes in 05 it was all his fault and none of the players if you believe the papers.

in 06/07 it was all warne,mcgrath,hayden,langer and if ponting was lucky he might get thrown in sentence somewhere.captains are never congratulated while there winning,only criticized when losing

[forster cowboy 3]

this statement alone proves to me you know f!@k all about cricket and probably dont watch a test match and that your opions are only what you have interpreded in the newspapers.

i still remember pontings position as captain after 05 ashes series being questioned and he responded the next ashes by scoring runs at will and winning that series 5-0.

what i find funny is that when ponting first lost the ashes in 05 it was all his fault and none of the players if you believe the papers.

in 06/07 it was all warne,mcgrath,hayden,langer and if ponting was lucky he might get thrown in sentence somewhere.captains are never congratulated while there winning,only criticized when losing

yes and nothing you hav said there relates to what i hav said about hauritz...
for your information i was in junior rep sides playing in state carnivals as a junior so yes i do hav a background in cricket
and i can tell you this i once played with and against in rep cricket against a guy who at that age, under 12's, 14's and 16's was a better spinner then hauritz
took 1 for 0 after 10 overs in one game

[gotta love rednecks]

yes and nothing you hav said there relates to what i hav said about hauritz...

no because i covered hauritz in a earlier post.until india he has been taking wickets and hasnt been all that bad.i dont think he is our best option but he has done enough that the selectors dont come under fire for keeping him.

[forster cowboy 3]

you cant seriously be counting the wickets he took against pakistan being legit
if they got busted for a betting scandal about when a no ball is going to be bowled you would like to think there would be some where they would lose their wicket on a certain ball
and then the west indies before pakistan...do me a favour anyone could get wickets against them
like india proved just recently he is not upto test standard, great one day bowler but not test cricket
quicker they give smith the spot in the team the better

[SpaceCake]

yes and nothing you hav said there relates to what i hav said about hauritz...
for your information i was in junior rep sides playing in state carnivals as a junior so yes i do hav a background in cricket
and i can tell you this i once played with and against in rep cricket against a guy who at that age, under 12's, 14's and 16's was a better spinner then hauritz
took 1 for 0 after 10 overs in one game
LMFAO I don't think yr mate is playing against the same caliber of players Hauritz is. Impressive bowling figures tho. Can we use a "signature" in this forum? I want to use this quote

[forster cowboy 3]

LMFAO I don't think yr mate is playing against the same caliber of players Hauritz is. Impressive bowling figures tho. Can we use a "signature" in this forum? I want to use this quote

well mate he still knew how to pitch the ball in the same area and spin it aswell as having the one that goes on thats what im trying to point out here
hauritz in test cricket doesnt hav the variety or skill to pitch it in the one place and build up pressure

[gotta love rednecks]

LMFAO I don't think yr mate is playing against the same caliber of players Hauritz is. Impressive bowling figures tho. Can we use a "signature" in this forum? I want to use this quote

lmfao do i need say anymore. nice work cowboyspacecake

i think he might know a connection to colts 4th grade cricket club lol

[gotta love rednecks]

hauritz in test cricket doesnt hav the variety or skill to pitch it in the one place and build up pressure

and what spinner in shefield sheild can do that at the moment?

[forster cowboy 3]

tbh no one
but the one with the potential is steve smith
he needs to be thrown in now, you cant leave him out when the greatest leg spinner of all has touted him as the next big thing in terms of spin bowling, plus he can bat 10 times better then hauritz

the reference i was telling you about was to demonstrate even at the age of 16 there was a guy in my team with better control and skill then what hauritz has today
and yes it may not be the same calibre of players he was bowling to but he was only 16 and plus the fact that do you really think 16 yr old guys would want a guy on their opposition to bowl 10 consecutive maidens against you???? i think not as they were trying to hit him all over the place but even at 16 he had the composure and skill to outplay them, something hauritz does not posses and never will

[The_Darkhorse]

tbh no one
but the one with the potential is steve smith
he needs to be thrown in now, you cant leave him out when the greatest leg spinner of all has touted him as the next big thing in terms of spin bowling, plus he can bat 10 times better then hauritz

the reference i was telling you about was to demonstrate even at the age of 16 there was a guy in my team with better control and skill then what hauritz has today
and yes it may not be the same calibre of players he was bowling to but he was only 16 and plus the fact that do you really think 16 yr old guys would want a guy on their opposition to bowl 10 consecutive maidens against you???? i think not as they were trying to hit him all over the place but even at 16 he had the composure and skill to outplay them, something hauritz does not posses and never will
So when is this dude going to make the test team? Someone with that much talent should be a shoe in surely? :rolleyes: 10 consecutive maidens....I bet you faced 5 of them lol

[forster cowboy 3]

too bad he dont play no more
and im betting your wrong considering i was in the same team as him, but thats a good effort darkhorse

[SpaceCake]

Mervy Huggers is no longer an Australian cricket selector, moving aside for Greg Chappell. I've heard he's keen to bring some youth into the test team. Possibly to replace North, Hussey?

[forster cowboy 3]

Mervy Huggers is no longer an Australian cricket selector, moving aside for Greg Chappell. I've heard he's keen to bring some youth into the test team. Possibly to replace North, Hussey?

yea kwahaja and steve smith should be in the team for hauritz and north and if hussey was to go id go with either hughes or mitch marsh to replace him for the first ashes test

[gotta love rednecks]

Mervy Huggers is no longer an Australian cricket selector, moving aside for Greg Chappell. I've heard he's keen to bring some youth into the test team. Possibly to replace North, Hussey?

i wasnt aware that was finalised yet,i heard the talk that one would be going and merv was the likely candidate.

[forster cowboy 3]

i wasnt aware that was finalised yet,i heard the talk that one would be going and merv was the likely candidate.

was confirmed during nsw v qld in the one day domestic game

[Coast Cowboy]

yea kwahaja and steve smith should be in the team for hauritz and north and if hussey was to go id go with either hughes or mitch marsh to replace him for the first ashes test

WAY to early for Mitch Marsh. Promising talent but shouldn't be anywhere near the test team just yet.

This is my first test team for the Gabba:

Simon Katich
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting(c)
Michael Clarke(vc)
Usman Khawaja
Marcus North (it was either him or Hussey and I think we are more likely to get some runs out of North at this stage, plus bowls handy off spin)
Brad Haddin(wk)
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Peter Siddle
Doug Bollinger

[forster cowboy 3]

WAY to early for Mitch Marsh. Promising talent but shouldn't be anywhere near the test team just yet.

This is my first test team for the Gabba:

Simon Katich
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting(c)
Michael Clarke(vc)
Usman Khawaja
Marcus North (it was either him or Hussey and I think we are more likely to get some runs out of North at this stage, plus bowls handy off spin)
Brad Haddin(wk)
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Peter Siddle
Doug Bollinger

not having a go at you but no recognised spinner on a GABBA wicket that is known for its turn and bounce... plus the fact that the pommies cant play spin very well.
imo steve smith needs to be in that squad and out of the 4 pace bowlers you got there id be replacing siddle for smith
yes mitch marsh is probably a little to young to be in the side but i believe he should be in there so that ponting can also mentor him, as much as i dislike ponting as captain there is no doubting his ability to bat and i think mitch marsh will go to another level batting in the middle order in the same test side as ponting while he is still performing at his best, as marsh imo is the next batsmen to dominate in the middle order for australia along with khawaja

my team for the GABBA test
Simon Katich
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting (c)
Micheal Clarke (vc)
Usman Khawaja
Mitch Marsh
Brad Haddin (wk)
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger

next batsman in line.... Phil Hughes
next bowler in line.... Peter Siddle (would be Josh Hazlewood but i think he is currently injured)

[gotta love rednecks]

we really cant go into any test with north as our main spinner,thats insane.

i also agree with forster cowboy 3 that smith would be a better option than hauritz.he is a more attacking bowler,a leg spinner which is harder to play than off spin,he does go for some runs as he dosnt really contain batsman but neither does hauritz.

khawaja is a good young player but he wont be there in the first test.they will not make drastic change on the eve of our most important test series.

fergason scored a sheffield shield ton against WA so he keeps putting his hand up also.

whether we like it or not we all know what team we will see run out onto gabba in 25 days(barring injuries)so all we can do is hope they get the job done.

[Coast Cowboy]

not having a go at you but no recognised spinner on a GABBA wicket that is known for its turn and bounce... plus the fact that the pommies cant play spin very well.
imo steve smith needs to be in that squad and out of the 4 pace bowlers you got there id be replacing siddle for smith
yes mitch marsh is probably a little to young to be in the side but i believe he should be in there so that ponting can also mentor him, as much as i dislike ponting as captain there is no doubting his ability to bat and i think mitch marsh will go to another level batting in the middle order in the same test side as ponting while he is still performing at his best, as marsh imo is the next batsmen to dominate in the middle order for australia along with khawaja

my team for the GABBA test
Simon Katich
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting (c)
Micheal Clarke (vc)
Usman Khawaja
Mitch Marsh
Brad Haddin (wk)
Steve Smith
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger

next batsman in line.... Phil Hughes
next bowler in line.... Peter Siddle (would be Josh Hazlewood but i think he is currently injured)

I just think four specialist seamers at the Gabba is a must. It's going to be a juicy green wicket up here for the 1st Test and I think we should hit England hard in the pace bowling department. And I thought Siddle looked pretty impressive in the t20 game last night and is the sort of hit the deck seamer that will just love the Gabba surface (also looking at the Shield game between NSW and QLD, pace is doing plenty of damage).

But I do agree that Steve Smith deserves a chance over Hauritz....... when it is time to play a spinner. If for nothing else then he gives us a very long batting order if he comes in at number 8. I think the Poms would rather us play boring old "doorknobs" Hauritz than a young enthusiastic leggie who is relatively unseen and untested at Test level.

[Coast Cowboy]

we really cant go into any test with north as our main spinner,thats insane.

i also agree with forster cowboy 3 that smith would be a better option than hauritz.he is a more attacking bowler,a leg spinner which is harder to play than off spin,he does go for some runs as he dosnt really contain batsman but neither does hauritz.

khawaja is a good young player but he wont be there in the first test.they will not make drastic change on the eve of our most important test series.

fergason scored a sheffield shield ton against WA so he keeps putting his hand up also.

whether we like it or not we all know what team we will see run out onto gabba in 25 days(barring injuries)so all we can do is hope they get the job done.

We don't need to play a specialist spinner every test match. If your best four bowlers in the Country are fast bowlers then you play them imo (especially on pitches like the Gabba). Obviously on decks that are condusive to spin then you bring in a specialist spinner but in this instance four quicks is the way to go (with North, Clarke, Katich filling in when required).

And I wouldn't count out Khawaja being in the team for the Gabba. Especially if North and Hussey fail again against SA and Khawaja keeps piling on the runs.

EDIT: Hussey has just failed again. His place has to surely be under SEVERE doubt with Ferguson and Khawaja knocking the door down.

[forster cowboy 3]

I just think four specialist seamers at the Gabba is a must. It's going to be a juicy green wicket up here for the 1st Test and I think we should hit England hard in the pace bowling department. And I thought Siddle looked pretty impressive in the t20 game last night and is the sort of hit the deck seamer that will just love the Gabba surface (also looking at the Shield game between NSW and QLD, pace is doing plenty of damage).

But I do agree that Steve Smith deserves a chance over Hauritz....... when it is time to play a spinner. If for nothing else then he gives us a very long batting order if he comes in at number 8. I think the Poms would rather us play boring old "doorknobs" Hauritz than a young enthusiastic leggie who is relatively unseen and untested at Test level.

didnt watch the t20 last nite and dont know whats happening in the shield match except that khawaja got 60 so cant comment about that
but going on past history the GABBA wicket suits a spinner with the turn and bounce along with the history of the poms not handling spin so thats why i would hav steve smith in the side
if siddle was to stay in the side the next pace bowler id drop would be johnson, just dont rate the guy and with smith in the side we wuldnt hav to count on him making a small contribution with the bat down the order as smith is there

[Coast Cowboy]

didnt watch the t20 last nite and dont know whats happening in the shield match except that khawaja got 60 so cant comment about that
but going on past history the GABBA wicket suits a spinner with the turn and bounce along with the history of the poms not handling spin so thats why i would hav steve smith in the side
if siddle was to stay in the side the next pace bowler id drop would be johnson, just dont rate the guy and with smith in the side we wuldnt hav to count on him making a small contribution with the bat down the order as smith is there

Yeah same, Johnson has been cr*p for 18 months now. Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus is a good pace attack (with plenty of control, which Johnson doesn't give you).

The only time I'd be picking a specialist spinner for the Gabba is if you had a genuinely class spinner like a Warne, MacGill etc. But we don't have that unfortunately atm so IMHO it's best to go with your four best bowlers (though Ryan Harris should surely be pressing for Johnson's spot when he gets back).

[forster cowboy 3]

We don't need to play a specialist spinner every test match. If your best four bowlers in the Country are fast bowlers then you play them imo (especially on pitches like the Gabba). Obviously on decks that are condusive to spin then you bring in a specialist spinner but in this instance four quicks is the way to go (with North, Clarke, Katich filling in when required).

And I wouldn't count out Khawaja being in the team for the Gabba. Especially if North and Hussey fail again against SA and Khawaja keeps piling on the runs.

EDIT: Hussey has just failed again. His place has to surely be under SEVERE doubt with Ferguson and Khawaja knocking the door down.

the GABBA wicket historically is condusive to spin just look at the amount of wickets warne got on the wicket compared to other pitches in aust as well as his own personal comments on the GABBA wicket being his favourite in aust imo steve smith is a must for the test, sure he mite go for 4+ runs an over but he will get alot of wickets given ponting persists with him
agreed with khawaja i think he will be in the team at the expense of hussey, only thing saving north is the off breaks he bowls

[forster cowboy 3]

Yeah same, Johnson has been cr*p for 18 months now. Siddle, Bollinger and Hilfenhaus is a good pace attack (with plenty of control, which Johnson doesn't give you).

The only time I'd be picking a specialist spinner for the Gabba is if you had a genuinely class spinner like a Warne, MacGill etc. But we don't have that unfortunately atm so IMHO it's best to go with your four best bowlers (though Ryan Harris should surely be pressing for Johnson's spot when he gets back).

not trying to argue here but wouldnt you think that a pitch like the GABBA would help smith get his confidence up in test level with the amount of turn and pounce he will recieve and troubling the batsmen
i think its the perfect type of pitch to introduce him to test cricket
do you rate that peter goerge? tbh i dont know how he got in the squad in the first place to tour india and hope he isnt anywhere near the aussie side unless he improves alot imo

[gotta love rednecks]

We don't need to play a specialist spinner every test match. If your best four bowlers in the Country are fast bowlers then you play them imo (especially on pitches like the Gabba). Obviously on decks that are condusive to spin then you bring in a specialist spinner but in this instance four quicks is the way to go (with North, Clarke, Katich filling in when required).
.

you need a specialist spinner every game.

we played four quiks in the oval test and where did that get us.

also you need a spinner for the over rates as they bowl there overs more quikly.

[gotta love rednecks]

do you rate that peter goerge? tbh i dont know how he got in the squad in the first place to tour india and hope he isnt anywhere near the aussie side unless he improves alot imo

peter george looked rubbish.what did stuart clark do wrong,he should have been there before george.

i watched a bit of clark bowl in the qld vs nsw game and he looked good still,plenty of bounce and cutting off the pitch as well as swing.

[forster cowboy 3]

iv seen peter goerge a few times at state level and he did nothin there to warrant his selection for south australia seriously dont know how he made the aussie squad
yea i watched the one day game and clark looked good but then again that was against queensland and they deadset hav no decent batsman imo

[gotta love rednecks]

clarke was playing test cricket in the last ashes and took a bagfull of wickets at headingley.

i know it was only qld he was playing on the weekend but the balls he was bowling were good balls that would trouble better batsman.im not calling for him to be back in the test side but he would have been a better choice than peter george.

[forster cowboy 3]

clarke was playing test cricket in the last ashes and took a bagfull of wickets at headingley.

i know it was only qld he was playing on the weekend but the balls he was bowling were good balls that would trouble better batsman.im not calling for him to be back in the test side but he would have been a better choice than peter george.

yea i agree with you
if i had to choose between clark and george id be picking clark
in saying that i dont think he should be seen in australian colours again we need more youth
theres to many guys near their mid 30's instead of mid 20's
but peter george shouldnt be anywhere near that side unless he improves alot

[gotta love rednecks]

theres to many guys near their mid 30's instead of mid 20's

and theres our problem right there.

[forster cowboy 3]

and theres our problem right there.

and thats the selectors and pontings fault for going with the likes of katich, haddin, hussey, north, clark etc for the ''rebuidling'' phase

[gotta love rednecks]

i would have liked to see 1 or 2 old heads there but not the whole team.

this is not a rebuilding phase its a holding period,the rebuilding phase will begin in a couple of years when all these guys retire.

[forster cowboy 3]

they should all retire from international cricket within the next 12-18 months imo

[gotta love rednecks]

they should all retire from international cricket within the next 12-18 months imo

i would like to see ponting keep playing but only if he is still scoring runs

[forster cowboy 3]

i would like to see ponting keep playing but only if he is still scoring runs

yea he is the only one id like to see play still, only to guide mitch marsh and khawaja in the middle order but id like him to step down as captain so the new era can begin

[Coast Cowboy]

not trying to argue here but wouldnt you think that a pitch like the GABBA would help smith get his confidence up in test level with the amount of turn and pounce he will recieve and troubling the batsmen
i think its the perfect type of pitch to introduce him to test cricket
do you rate that peter goerge? tbh i dont know how he got in the squad in the first place to tour india and hope he isnt anywhere near the aussie side unless he improves alot imo

I rate Peter George. He bowls good lines and lengths and gets plenty of bounce, plus has an ability to swing the ball as well. His main problem imo is that he only bowls in the low 130km's an hour. To trouble top quality international batsmen you have to be up somewhere closer to late 130's early 140's consistently to be a major threat. If he can pick up and extra 5-10 kph he will be a quality bowler.

[Coast Cowboy]

you need a specialist spinner every game.

we played four quiks in the oval test and where did that get us.

also you need a spinner for the over rates as they bowl there overs more quikly.

Um did you forget the test before that where we played four quicks and beat England by an innings.

Obviously picking 4 seamers on a pitch like The Oval last year was a dumbsh*t decision, as it was turning square from day one and even a pie chucker like Hauritz would of looked like Muttiah Muralidaran bowling on a day 5 sand pit in Sri Lanka.

But pitches like Headingley/The Gabba are seamers paradise pitches where spinners (other than Warne really) have traditionally struggled to have a great impact.

[gotta love rednecks]

Um did you forget the test before that where we played four quicks and beat England by an innings.

Obviously picking 4 seamers on a pitch like The Oval last year was a dumbsh*t decision, as it was turning square from day one and even a pie chucker like Hauritz would of looked like Muttiah Muralidaran bowling on a day 5 sand pit in Sri Lanka.

But pitches like Headingley/The Gabba are seamers paradise pitches where spinners (other than Warne really) have traditionally struggled to have a great impact.

yeah the game at leeds was played on green top,the gabba is not a green top.

[Coast Cowboy]

yeah the game at leeds was played on green top,the gabba is not a green top.

Yes it is. Just look at the Shield game that's just been played there. All the wickets bar 1 fell to quicks. It is probably now the quickest wicket in Aus since Perth lost it's pace and bounce (but looks like it might be getting it back). And always has plenty of seam movement for the quicker men. Plus if it is a overcast humid day then it will swing all over the shop as well.

[gotta love rednecks]

Yes it is. Just look at the Shield game that's just been played there. All the wickets bar 1 fell to quicks. It is probably now the quickest wicket in Aus since Perth lost it's pace and bounce (but looks like it might be getting it back). And always has plenty of seam movement for the quicker men. Plus if it is a overcast humid day then it will swing all over the shop as well.

the wicket will be different by the time the first test comes around,thats even if they play on the same pitch.

everyone has there own opinions but i dont like going into a gabba test without a spinner.

[forster cowboy 3]

the wicket will be different by the time the first test comes around,thats even if they play on the same pitch.

everyone has there own opinions but i dont like going into a gabba test without a spinner.

agreed

[dakapayne]

yes and nothing you hav said there relates to what i hav said about hauritz...
for your information i was in junior rep sides playing in state carnivals as a junior so yes i do hav a background in cricket
and i can tell you this i once played with and against in rep cricket against a guy who at that age, under 12's, 14's and 16's was a better spinner then hauritz
took 1 for 0 after 10 overs in one game

Hahahaha, Oh good one.

I remember a game between Kirwan SPS and Weir SPS back in the day. Weir were bowled out for 4 with the opening bowlers taking 9 wickets between them. 3 of those runs were wides too. Don't ever know what happened to those 2 opening bowlers but gee, if they bowled like that for Australia, we'd be back to number 1 in the rankings in no time. Different quality of opposition, granted.

[Coast Cowboy]

the wicket will be different by the time the first test comes around,thats even if they play on the same pitch.

everyone has there own opinions but i dont like going into a gabba test without a spinner.

I'd 100% agree with you that we need a spinner at the Gabba, if we had a top class spinner that is one of our best four bowlers.

The fact of the matter is we don't have that atm and until we do we IMHO should pick our four best bowling options (who all happen to be fast bowlers) on pitches that suit seam bowling.

[forster cowboy 3]

I'd 100% agree with you that we need a spinner at the Gabba, if we had a top class spinner that is one of our best four bowlers.

The fact of the matter is we don't have that atm and until we do we IMHO should pick our four best bowling options (who all happen to be fast bowlers) on pitches that suit seam bowling.

we wont produce a top class spinner if we dont bowl a spinner on a spin friendly pitch which the GABBA historically is

[Coast Cowboy]

we wont produce a top class spinner if we dont bowl a spinner on a spin friendly pitch which the GABBA historically is

How is the Gabba a spinners pitch? I don't understand how you think that.

In the top 20 bowlers in terms of wickets at the Gabba of all time, only Warne and Benaud feature in the top 20. And in terms of averages only Warne and an offspinner called Ian Johnson feature in the top 20.

Murali averages 85 at the Gabba from 50 overs. Dan Vettori 43.3 from 149.4. Really the only performances by a spinner of note at the Gabba is by SK Warne. ALL the damage has been done by fast bowlers over the years.

Not trying to have a go at you but I'd just like to hear your reasoning behind saying that the Gabba is a spin friendly pitch. I thought it was quite common knowledge that the Gabba was a green seamer.

[dakapayne]

It would be a very negative tactic to go into the first test with both Hussey and North. Give at least one of Kwhaja and Ferguson an extended go. Pick them now while they are in form!

And Forster, not such a brash statement about Ponting's captaincy considering Australia has been the most stable team in world cricket for the past 20 years. In that time we have only had Border, Taylor, Waugh and Ponting as captains (Gilchrist stepped up for 1 or 2 tests).

Saying you don't want Ponting as captain is one thing, but who do you replace him with? There is no-one who commands the respect like Ricky Ponting. Sure Michael Clarke is being groomed for the job, but his palce will start to be questioned unless he turns in some good performances against the Poms. I think he will back in Australian conditions, which will be more to his liking.

[forster cowboy 3]

murali and vettori are finger spinners, not as easy to get turn and bounce compared to a wrist spinner that warne and benaud were just like steve smith is now
he will thrive in terms of gettin turn and bounce off the GABBA wicket, whether he capitalises on it or not is somthing im wanting to find out, just my opinion though

[forster cowboy 3]

It would be a very negative tactic to go into the first test with both Hussey and North. Give at least one of Kwhaja and Ferguson an extended go. Pick them now while they are in form!

And Forster, not such a brash statement about Ponting's captaincy considering Australia has been the most stable team in world cricket for the past 20 years. In that time we have only had Border, Taylor, Waugh and Ponting as captains (Gilchrist stepped up for 1 or 2 tests).

Saying you don't want Ponting as captain is one thing, but who do you replace him with? There is no-one who commands the respect like Ricky Ponting. Sure Michael Clarke is being groomed for the job, but his palce will start to be questioned unless he turns in some good performances against the Poms. I think he will back in Australian conditions, which will be more to his liking.

considering the team will be heading into yet another era in the coming cpl of years just after going through that process 4-5 years ago with the captain being one of them that wont be there in a few years time imo the team is better off going with a new captain that will be there leading the way through the new era, the only guy i can think of is clarke who is as you said has being groomed for that position for a few years now so it seems like a fairly logical decision to make to me

[Coast Cowboy]

Lively Gabba pitch in prospect
ESPNcricinfo staff
November 1, 2010

As England had their first serious net session of the Ashes tour, events on the opposite side of Australia may not have escaped their attention as the Gabba served up a dramatic two-day Sheffield Shield match with Queensland twice skittled for under a hundred. Kevin Mitchell, the Gabba's curator, didn't rule out a repeat of conditions for the first Test.

Brisbane has suffered a large amount of rain in the early stages of the season and the bowlers enjoyed themselves on a lively surface, none more so than Mark Cameron who took 11 for 64 in the match. There are still three weeks to go before the first ball of the Ashes on November 25, but there is the prospect of England's quicks feeling more at home than they may have imagined.

"Anything is possible," Mitchell told AAP "If there are some cloudy and humid days [during the preparation] then the moisture will stay in the wicket and the grass will continue to grow - that's what happens in the tropics. So it would be something that could possibly happen.

"We are hoping for 10 or 12 days including the duration of the match to have nice sunny days - if that happens it will be a fantastic match. If we don't get all that it will still be a fantastic match - you just won't see as many runs."

However, it's difficult to say which side a green-top would favour because pace bowling is Australia's stronger suit, with the likes of Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle to call upon, while England will be confident of exploiting any turning conditions they encounter with Graeme Swann.

"I know Ricky Ponting and the Australian guys enjoy the pace and the ball coming onto the bat - it provides fairly entertaining cricket," Mitchell added. "But obviously when you get conditions like we have just had plus that bounce and pace, with movement and swing as well, it is a difficult wicket to play on."

Such conditions could raise the prospect of Australia playing an all-pace attack so there is some irony that Nathan Hauritz, who captained New South Wales, played in the match to regain some form instead of linking up with Australia's one-day squad. He ended up bowling just two overs, although he did pick up the wicket of Cameron Boyce.

England, though, will be wary of reading too much into conditions three weeks out from the first Test. Australia have a formidable record at the Gabba and haven't lost since facing West Indies in 1988, 22 Tests ago. And if Andrew Strauss fears getting sucked in by conditions, he need only seek out Nasser Hussain who put Australia in on the 2002-03 tour and watched them finish the first day on 364 for 2.

[gotta love rednecks]

Saying you don't want Ponting as captain is one thing, but who do you replace him with? There is no-one who commands the respect like Ricky Ponting. Sure Michael Clarke is being groomed for the job, but his palce will start to be questioned unless he turns in some good performances against the Poms. I think he will back in Australian conditions, which will be more to his liking.

thats right there is no one better to replace him with so we keep him,clarke i dont want captain any time soon.

[Spiral]

Can someone please explain to me how on Earth Australia have managed to let Sri Lanka back into this game? These guys don't seem to have any clue on how to clean up the tail in any form of the game.

This would be all sorts of embarrassment if they were to lose this one.

[paddy]

Australia have had a problem with closing out games for years.
England are gonna smash us if they keep playing this pathetic.
Doherty was pretty good though on debut.

[SpaceCake]

Australia have had a problem with closing out games for years.
England are gonna smash us if they keep playing this pathetic.
Doherty was pretty good though on debut.

That is true, it's like they take the pressure off the opposition, and coast along expecting the final couple of wickets to fall. Both Tests and one dayers. OMG I couldn't believe we lost that game last night.

[gotta love rednecks]

to many short balls allowed easy runs.they needed to pitch it up more like siddle and johnson did in the first 4 overs and the batsman were playing and missing.

[paddy]

Why is it Johnson never or rarely bowls freakin yorkers, its like he cant even bowl them.

[forster cowboy 3]

Why is it Johnson never or rarely bowls freakin yorkers, its like he cant even bowl them.

he cant bowl fullstop imo

[Coast Cowboy]

he cant bowl fullstop imo

Amen to that. He had 2 decent series against the Saffers but other than that has done nothing.

His performances haven't been even club standard let alone international standard lately. I don't think he bowled more than 2 balls in a decent spot in a row for the entire match against Sri Wanka. Unfortunately he will probably get a start against the Poms for the 1st Test, and if he bowls the same crap he has been for the last 18 months the likes of Strauss, Trott etc will feast on the pies he serves up all summer (the Poms are very good at dispatching bad bowling atm, we need bowlers to build pressure on the Poms not release it like Johnson).

[paddy]

Where is Bollinger?? Is he injured?

[gotta love rednecks]

Where is Bollinger?? Is he injured?

yeah he done something in india,i think it was a stomach muscle or something along those lines

[forster cowboy 3]

i must admit i LOVE it when johnson gets belted around the ground

[gotta love rednecks]

i dont because i want australia to win

[paddy]

Hauritz got a wicket but that was a poor shot more then it was a good ball. Slog sweeping a ball across the line is just reckless.
Now Watson is a gun :D I like him.

[dakapayne]

Interesting article from Robert Craddock...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/a-once-mighty-australia-team-has-lasped-into-mediocrity-with-players-overrated-and-overpaid/story-fn2mcu3x-1225948110384

A once-mighty Australia team has lapsed into mediocrity, with players overrated and overpaid




By Robert Craddock



http://resources3.news.com.au/images/2010/11/05/1225948/115703-david-warner.jpg
No discipline ... Warner needs to pull his head in, Robert Craddock writes. Source: Tony Ashby / News Limited


Overrated, over-indulged and, in some cases, overpaid ... not a great formula if you are trying to assemble a winning cricket team.

Australia cricket has lost its mojo mainly because it lacks the talent but also because it's become soft and indulgent. Many players are getting huge money and national caps without earning either.
Mike Hussey and Marcus North (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/marcus-north-laughs-off-a-report-claiming-he-had-leapfrogged-michael-clarke-to-be-next-test-skippe/story-fn2mcu3x-1225947869044) had to inject 10 years of gruelling first-class toil to get their national spurs. Several average interstate cricketers have got theirs recently after less than 10 games.
Mediocre players are being treated as if they are stars of the present and future and many of them are neither.
Here are some of the issues facing the Australia team this summer.
The overrated
Australia (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia) have been handing out national caps like showbags lately, creating a generation of players who think three or four good interstate games - rather than that many good seasons - should be a passport to international cricket.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar. (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/a-once-mighty-australia-team-has-lasped-into-mediocrity-with-players-overrated-and-overpaid/story-fn2mcu3x-1225948110384#sidebar-end)




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NSW batsman David Warner, who shot to stardom on the back of one Twenty20 innings, is the conspicuous example of a player whose profile far outstrips his achievements.
Warner needs far more discipline in his life on and off the field if he is going to make it as an international cricketer.
If Australia went two years without selecting Warner, they would do him much more good than harm.
"Michael Clarke lacks the ability as a player and as a captain to put Australia back on the winning list," says foxsports.com.au user Marc on Australia's cricket crisis. Read what other users had to say. (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/michael-clarke-laments-australias-lack-of-killer-instinct-after-sorry-loss-to-sri-lanka-have-your-say/story-fn2mcu3x-1225947632843)
The lesson of his struggles should be retold in the national selection room every time they want to give a young player a swift passage to the big time.


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Batsman Shaun Marsh has been drifting around the first-class scene for a decade but continues to tease. Australia should have demanded much more from him.
The clamour for new stars is such that solid interstate first-class players such as Cameron White are made to feel desperately unlucky not to be playing Tests despite the fact his first-class average of 42 does not demand it.
Fine prospect though he is, Callum Ferguson will not be the hard-luck story he will be portrayed as if he misses out on Australia's first Test team. Ferguson averages 36 in first-class matches batting on the Adelaide Oval billiard table.
Some years ago Matthew Hayden could not get a Test despite averaging 60 on wickets that had branches growing on them at the Gabba.
The overpaid
At least six of the Australia team will earn more than $1 million this year - no matter how the team performs.
Players don't always have to succeed on the field these days to succeed off it.


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While the top players deserve security, there must be an incentive to perform.
Nathan Hauritz has done splendidly to resurrect his career and his earnings now push $1 million a year.
That's around three times as much as the Prime Minister, who might claim she puts more spin on her deliveries.
The over-indulged
This is the age of the silver spoon. Players have never been better looked after. There was a point early in the recent tour of India where Australia had more support staff than players.
Players not only have personal managers but within the Australian framework have doctors, physios, psychologists, nutritionists, batting coaches, bowling coaches ... you name it.
It's got to the stage where players have almost become over-managed. Many players lack the ability to think for themselves off the field and that can flow into their on-field psyche.


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Australia are just not throwing up dynamic free spirits such as Shane Warne and Merv Hughes or independent thinkers such as Stephen Waugh, Mark Taylor or Hayden.
Michael Clarke (http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/michael-clarke-laments-australias-lack-of-killer-instinct-after-sorry-loss-to-sri-lanka-have-your-say/story-fn2mcu3x-1225947632843)
He will be the next national captain but he has challenges to address, including a general lack of popularity.
When his name was nominated for a captaincy appointment of a recent Twenty20 side, one board member said: "What ... no options ... just one guy" in a clear pointer he was looking for other names.
Many of Australia's senior players of the past decade don't particularly like Clarke.
Some see him as the quintessential Generation Y boy who whinges too much and is quite self-indulgent.
One quality Andrew Symonds did bring to the Australia team was that he used to pull the Gen Y boys into line with lines like "mate, if you worried less about your hair and more about the team you would be a better bloke".

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[The_Darkhorse]

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has been rested from Sunday's final ODI against Sri Lanka at the Gabba to help him prepare for the upcoming Ashes series.


HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA he just had a rest then played 2 one day games and now needs a rest? This team is a farce an absolute farce. I hope they get flogged by England.

[Spiral]

WA v England
Tour Match at the WACA

England First Innings:
7/117 off 45.1

Pietersen 58
Trott 24
Strauss 14
Magoffin 2/12
Hogan 2/24

Western Australia First Innings:
8-Dec/242

Voges 72
Robinson 62
Ronchi 32
Broad 3/47

[Spiral]

Seems like England's top and middle order might have a slight headache considering they were just torn apart by a thoroughly inexperienced WA pace attack.

[paddy]

We were pathetic last night but credit to Sri Lanka, Ive always liked them as a team. Murali is a champ of the game too.
This Aussie one day team is way way out of form except for Shane Watson who is a gun.

[SpaceCake]

Damn, how much pace and bounce was in that Gabba wicket yesterday? I would always argue you need atleast one specialist spinner in pretty much every test match. But looking at the game yesterday, a spinner may not be need in the first test.

[paddy]

Plus I hate the idea of Hauritz being our frontline spinner.

[Spiral]

Anyone else heading out to a game this Summer?

Got tickets to the first day of the first Test...Come on Brisbane, if you're going to have consistently good weather for once, make it on that day..

[gotta love rednecks]

Anyone else heading out to a game this Summer?

Got tickets to the first day of the first Test...Come on Brisbane, if you're going to have consistently good weather for once, make it on that day..

we are heading up for the first 3 days of the gabba test.cant wait

[gotta love rednecks]

Australia skipper Ricky Ponting has been rested from Sunday's final ODI against Sri Lanka at the Gabba to help him prepare for the upcoming Ashes series.


HAHAHAHAHAHHAHA he just had a rest then played 2 one day games and now needs a rest? This team is a farce an absolute farce. I hope they get flogged by England.

mate he is playing a 4 day game for tassie to prepare for the ashes.i would rather our test players playing 4 day cricket then some sh!ty one dayer

[forster cowboy 3]

im most probably going to the atleast the first day at the sydney test, hope the ashes are still alive by then, highly doubt it though givin our current form

[Thurman Merman]

Anyone think Johnson will be dropped? Little chance of it happening but I'd go for bollinger, hilfy and Harris as the pace bowlers.

[The_Darkhorse]

mate he is playing a 4 day game for tassie to prepare for the ashes.i would rather our test players playing 4 day cricket then some sh!ty one dayer
He is the Australian captain. If he is fit he should be in the team. This is the sort of **** that is killing cricket. They wonder why crowds won't turn up to watch when the players themselves don't seem to give a **** about most games. The strongest team on the field every game...no exception.

[dakapayne]

ABC Grandstand Ashes Preview with Jim Maxwell and Geoff Lawson.

http://www.abc.net.au/sport/cricket/video/

[gotta love rednecks]

He is the Australian captain. If he is fit he should be in the team. This is the sort of **** that is killing cricket. They wonder why crowds won't turn up to watch when the players themselves don't seem to give a **** about most games. The strongest team on the field every game...no exception.

not for a joke of a one day game,no way.did anyone give a sh!t about the sri lanka games?i know i didnt.if ricky ponting rules himself out of a test then i will be concerned.

[gotta love rednecks]

He is the Australian captain. If he is fit he should be in the team. This is the sort of **** that is killing cricket. They wonder why crowds won't turn up to watch when the players themselves don't seem to give a **** about most games. The strongest team on the field every game...no exception.

not for a joke of a one day game,no way.did anyone give a sh!t about the sri lanka games?i know i didnt.if ricky ponting rules himself out of a test then i will be concerned.

[SpaceCake]

not for a joke of a one day game,no way.did anyone give a sh!t about the sri lanka games?i know i didnt.if ricky ponting rules himself out of a test then i will be concerned.

Yeah I cared to a degree.
I agree the scheduling was poor to play these onedayers/ 20/20 game. But except for the final game, the Aussies played some pretty ordinary cricket throughout. And it could be a worrying sign leading into the Ashes that the team couldn't build up some winning form (from India and now at home.) I can also understand why Punter opted to play for Tassy, but DH is right. Options like these are killing the game, along with too many matches being played. We are getting bombarded with too many meaningless games, which build little hype and it shows with poor crowd attendance.

[Spiral]

Good performance by Steve Smith with the bat.

Tour Match:
Australia A v England at Hobart

Australia A 1st Innings
6/162 (58.0)
Smith 53*
Cowan 31
Paine 27
Tremlett 3/41

[dakapayne]

Steve Smith was the only one. Not a good day for Ashes hopefuls with the bat...

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/the-ashes/australia-a-opener-philip-hughes-blows-his-latest-ashes-audition-against-england-in-tasmania/story-e6frf3gl-1225954863094

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/domestic-cricket/shane-watson-simon-katich-fail-for-new-south-wales-in-sheffield-shield-match-against-tasmania-at-scg/story-e6frf3kl-1225955013014

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/domestic-cricket/mike-hussey-will-come-under-even-more-pressure-after-an-18-ball-duck-against-victoria-in-the-sheffield-shield/story-e6frf3kl-1225954997410

Sheesh. There appears to be some pretty seamer friendly wickets around at the moment... At least Mitchell Johnson scored an 82 off 88 balls. He hasn't contributed much in the way of runs for a while. Hopefull he takes a bag in Victoria's innings.

[SpaceCake]

Ashes 13 Man Squad

* Simon Katich
* Shane Watson
* Ricky Ponting (c)
* Michael Clarke (vc)
* Mike Hussey
* Marcus North
* Brad Haddin
* Mitchell Johnson
* Ben Hilfenhaus
* Doug Bollinger
* Peter Siddle
* Steve Smith
* Xavier Doherty

[The_Darkhorse]

Yeah that team won't win. The only good news is Hauritz getting dropped. But Doherty prob won't even play. Smith isn't a test match quality bowler just yet.

[gotta love rednecks]

good to see hughes in the runs for his second dig against england,would have been nice for him to get a ton.

doherty will be in the team,he is there to take the wicket of pitersen who struggles against slow left armers.

smith will not be our main spinner,he will be there for cover if marcus north continues his ssh!t form.smith will be used as a bat and part time spin.

i really would like to see harris in there though,maybe sometime through the series he will pop up.

[forster cowboy 3]

doherty is the same type of bowler as hauritz, sh*t decision imo
north shouldnt be in the squad
why harris is 31 he will be moving on in the nex cpl years better off going for players who will be there for a good 6-7 years atleast

[SpaceCake]

doherty is the same type of bowler as hauritz, sh*t decision imo
north shouldnt be in the squad
why harris is 31 he will be moving on in the nex cpl years better off going for players who will be there for a good 6-7 years atleast

Something tells me, I knew you'd be happy if Hauritz didn't make the squad:tongue:
Very surprised Doherty made the team though at his expense. But you never know, it could be the move of the season by the selectors, if he comes up trumps. The ton in the last test saved North. I didn't think Harris would make it, but his age shouldn't have anything to so with it. If we want to win, we should pick the best 13 men for the job. But overall, a very predictable squad I think.

[forster cowboy 3]

wat good is it winning right now with players in their early to mid 30's at the moment and then travel to england next series with most if not all not being in the squad and us getting wiped 5-0 because of lack of experience?
age should matter if your 31, not having played a test match yet and your coming into an already aged test team i dont see what good it does for the future of the team
unlucky for harris got nothing against him jus bad timing in trying to get in the team imo

[SpaceCake]

The main focus the Aussies have right now is winning the Ashes. It's absolutely crucial.

If they loose, the media will label them the worse Aussie Test side in 30 years. Forget about building for the future, regardless of whats happening in 18months time, winning this trophy is priority number one at the moment. The Aussie side has been planning this series for a while now, and the best players should be picked regardless their age.

Different class of player, but Pigeon and Warne were 35+. The aging side you speak of are in relation to our the batters, Huss, Punter, Katich. The younger guys you've listed in past posts will get there chance.

[forster cowboy 3]

The main focus the Aussies have right now is winning the Ashes. It's absolutely crucial.

If they loose, the media will label them the worse Aussie Test side in 30 years. Forget about building for the future, regardless of whats happening in 18months time, winning this trophy is priority number one at the moment. The Aussie side has been planning this series for a while now, and the best players should be picked regardless their age.

Different class of player, but Pigeon and Warne were 35+. The aging side you speak of are in relation to our the batters, Huss, Punter, Katich. The younger guys you've listed in past posts will get there chance.

yea and when we go to england next series with no experience in the batting and getting belted 5-0 what you think the press are going to say there?

[Coast Cowboy]

I think that if we play our cards right over the next couple of years (probably won't happen with these selectors though) we can have a young squad on the rise that goes to England in 2013.

England by that stage will be an old cricket team (unless they make wholesale changes too). Strauss, Collingwood and Swann will be 35+. Bell, Pietersen, Prior, Anderson and Trott will all be into their 30's a well.

Our possible team for 2013 might be (this not taking into consideration more youngsters putting there hands up in between then).

Phil Hughes
Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Michael Clarke(c)
Cameron White(vc)
Tim Paine/Matthew Wade (wk)-I rate Wade so I think he could be a bolter for the team.
Steven Smith
Steven O'Keefe-Really rate this bloke, nothing special with the ball but gets the job done and keeps it tight, and bats/fields well too.
Ben Hilfenhaus
Trent Copeland-Superstar in the making.
Josh Hazlewodd/Peter George/Mitchell Starc/Peter Siddle- Whatever young bowler puts there hand up at FC level, possibly Siddle as he is only 25.

[SpaceCake]

yea and when we go to england next series with no experience in the batting and getting belted 5-0 what you think the press are going to say there?

That's a pretty bold prediction. Forever the drama queen, you like to over exaggerate don't you Forster?

[gotta love rednecks]

That's a pretty bold prediction. Forever the drama queen, you like to over exaggerate don't you Forster?

your signature says it all lol

[forster cowboy 3]

just hav a look at coast cowboy's possible team for the next tour and tell me how you think theyd go with the little experience that team combined currently have at test level as well as the fact that guys like katich, haddin, hussey, north, even ponting if he doesnt pick his performances up and maybe johnson dont look like getting replaced despite all the warnings/threats that hussy and north have gotten of possibly being dropped from the team

if those named arnt dropped for bad form or told to move along for the young ones within the next 12-18 months we wont win the ashes over there next series

plus the fact we all know that the poms cant play spin particulary wrist spin, we still have settled on our next spinner with doherty being what the 7-8th different spinner since warne retired

dont really think im over exaggerating

besides spacecake win or lose this series they already are the worst australian side in 30 years

[SpaceCake]

As usual you are getting abit side tracked.....
I'm not arguing about team selections, or who is inform or not
I'm stating that the best players should be selected for this Ashes series regardless of their age. You don't seem to grasp the concept how important these matches are. WE NEED TO WIN.

[forster cowboy 3]

how am i getting side tracked?
i am stating what good is it to win now with an ageing squad on our own home soil ( when we could/should be blooding atleast 2 younger players this series ) then we will be traveling to their own backyard next series with a inexperienced squad and the likely hood of us being belted
plus the fact that the english tabloids are probably the worse in the world and they could do some serious mental damage to the younger players if we are getting smashed
look what they did to johnson last series he is meant to be the leader of the bowling attack and they fried his head can you imagine what they will do to the younger ones who would be lucky to be in test cricket for 12 months and most likely playing in england for the first time

[SpaceCake]

Forget about team selections for one second.
Are you suggesting that it's beneficial not to name our strongest side to play this Ashes series?

[forster cowboy 3]

Forget about team selections for one second.
Are you suggesting that it's beneficial not to name our strongest side to play this Ashes series?

if it means playing younger players like khawja, smith etc who are in form and deserved their shot then yes
short term pain, long term gain

[The_Darkhorse]

i am stating what good is it to win now with an ageing squad on our own home soil ( when we could/should be blooding atleast 2 younger players this series ) then we will be traveling to their own backyard next series with a inexperienced squad and the likely hood of us being belted

Who says there won't be any youngsters blooded before the series is through???
They play a lot of cricket in 2 years these days. There are at least 30 tests listed to be played before now and the next ashes series. Plenty of time for youngsters to gain some experience.

[forster cowboy 3]

Who says there won't be any youngsters blooded before the series is through???
They play a lot of cricket in 2 years these days. There are at least 30 tests listed to be played before now and the next ashes series. Plenty of time for youngsters to gain some experience.

fair enough but it isnt the same capacity as a ashes series, atleast half those tests arnt on our soil which would be the prefered place to introduce players into the test arena, do the selectors look like changing? youd have to think that they dont after refusing to drop hussey and north, i really hope both arnt in the team by the end of the series
you cant say the hauritz dropping is any indication considering how ponting was never to fond of him even shane warne commented on how he thought hauritz was hard done by, by ponting

[SpaceCake]

if it means playing younger players like khawja, smith etc who are in form and deserved their shot then yes
short term pain, long term gain

Strange...... I thought I said forget about team selection:confused1:...
So are you now suggesting that you are happy to loose this Ashes series, for a chance to win the next series in 18 months?

[The_Darkhorse]

fair enough but it isnt the same capacity as a ashes series, atleast half those tests arnt on our soil which would be the prefered place to introduce players into the test arena
I would have thought away test matches would be the perfect opportunity to blood players gearing towards an away ashes series

[forster cowboy 3]

I would have thought away test matches would be the perfect opportunity to blood players gearing towards an away ashes series

yea and what if they have a sh*t series away and their confidence is shattered for 12 months?
youd want them introduced where they would be most comfortable which is in australia and what better way then to give them a shot against the poms
if they go well against them here you think the tabloids over there will hammer them next series when they belted them over here?

[The_Darkhorse]

yea and what if they have a sh*t series away and their confidence is shattered for 12 months?
youd want them introduced where they would be most comfortable which is in australia and what better way then to give them a shot against the poms
if they go well against them here you think the tabloids over there will hammer them next series when they belted them over here?
Then maybe they weren't ready to be thrown into international cricket perhaps? If they are good enough they should be able to do well enough anywhere. Modern day players are used to playing away with the likes of the IPL . Do you suggest the Cowboys only play debutantes at home games?

[forster cowboy 3]

Then maybe they weren't ready to be thrown into international cricket perhaps? If they are good enough they should be able to do well enough anywhere. Modern day players are used to playing away with the likes of the IPL . Do you suggest the Cowboys only play debutantes at home games?

any1 can be torn apart by overseas media/tabloids if they perform badly iv already used johnson last tour of england as an example
so to help protect them in that capacity it would be more beneficial to give them debuts on their own soil
you cant compare international cricket to a domestic nrl game

[forster cowboy 3]

Strange...... I thought I said forget about team selection:confused1:...
So are you now suggesting that you are happy to loose this Ashes series, for a chance to win the next series in 18 months?

thats strange as i do believe i said yes i would be, read the last word of the first sentance that you replied to
no not jus for the next series 18 months away but instead for hopfully the next 7-8 years atleast

[Coast Cowboy]

just hav a look at coast cowboy's possible team for the next tour and tell me how you think theyd go with the little experience that team combined currently have at test level as well as the fact that guys like katich, haddin, hussey, north, even ponting if he doesnt pick his performances up and maybe johnson dont look like getting replaced despite all the warnings/threats that hussy and north have gotten of possibly being dropped from the team

if those named arnt dropped for bad form or told to move along for the young ones within the next 12-18 months we wont win the ashes over there next series

plus the fact we all know that the poms cant play spin particulary wrist spin, we still have settled on our next spinner with doherty being what the 7-8th different spinner since warne retired

dont really think im over exaggerating

besides spacecake win or lose this series they already are the worst australian side in 30 years

We have to make changes AT THE END of this Ashes series, win/lose/draw. If some of the older blokes still don't want to retire post Ashes then the selectors have to give them a tap on the shoulder regardless of form (but the selectors are gutless wonders so won't).

I think we are 3-4 years away from being a decent test nation again. We have alot of younger talent under the age of 23, who are all playing in their first or second season of Shield Cricket atm. It's a bit hard to pick some of these kids on potential alone (though in some cases I think it was warranted). But give these kids another 3-4 years at domestic level, we should have a decent crop of players (with the stats to back them up) who are pushing for higher honours ready to go for the 2013 Ashes Series.

[SpaceCake]

thats strange as i do believe i said yes i would be, read the last word of the first sentance that you replied to
no not jus for the next series 18 months away but instead for hopfully the next 7-8 years atleast

Absolutely ridiculous
In admitting you're happy to loose the Ashes series alone, speaks volumes of your character. All to prove an ignorant point. Congratulations.

[forster cowboy 3]

Absolutely ridiculous
In admitting you're happy to loose the Ashes series alone, speaks volumes of your character. All to prove an ignorant point. Congratulations.

yes and while being happy with the aging squad continually being picked your indirectly being happy about the alarming prospect of us losing on a consistant basis for 2 or so years while half the team accomodate themselves at test level, speaks volumes of your character in always sitting on the fence or happy to just go through the motions
prime example this debate as well as being happy with the continual selections of the ''deadwood' players this year despite 3 players atleast (martin, mcdonald, reithmuhller) all now training with first grade and being available for selection this year
ayy wouldnt it of been good to test them this year then we would of already known if they are worth a 2nd tier contract or not but damn our coaching staff are as thick as you i guess

[SpaceCake]

yes and while being happy with the aging squad continually being picked your indirectly being happy about the alarming prospect of us losing on a consistant basis for 2 or so years while half the team accomodate themselves at test level, speaks volumes of your character in always sitting on the fence or happy to just go through the motions
prime example this debate as well as being happy with the continual selections of the ''deadwood' players this year despite 3 players atleast (martin, mcdonald, reithmuhller) all now training with first grade and being available for selection this year
ayy wouldnt it of been good to test them this year then we would of already known if they are worth a 2nd tier contract or not but damn our coaching staff are as thick as you i guess

Classy Forster, really classy mate. Congratulations, you now have zero credibility.

[forster cowboy 3]

Classy Forster, really classy mate. Congratulations, you now have zero credibility.

mayb i should of said WERE as thick as you but now they have done all the changes i think they have gone up 10 levels from your standard

id hate to know what your credibility is then if im zero geez...

[The_Darkhorse]

So basically you want to just pick a young inexperienced squad without any regard of whether or not they have a chance of winning this ashes series so as to avoid having to play a young inexperienced side in the next ashes series and risk losing? Do you not see the irony at all?

[NSW_Cowboy]

siddle huh?!

[SpaceCake]

Well played Australia to restrict the Poms to 260
Congratulations Peter Siddle for snaring a hat-trick in a 6 wicket haul.
Also Xavier Doherty for his first test wicket, to finish with 2- 41

[The_Darkhorse]

Perfect start to the series

[forster cowboy 3]

So basically you want to just pick a young inexperienced squad without any regard of whether or not they have a chance of winning this ashes series so as to avoid having to play a young inexperienced side in the next ashes series and risk losing? Do you not see the irony at all?

no i said i would of been happy with 2 of the younger ones in the team ie khawaja and smith

[Spiral]

Wonderful first day. Was an absolutely outstanding Ashes moment to be there to witness Siddle's hat-trick. I'd just like to personally say to every Australian who was bemoaning the Aussies' chances this series...

Shove that up your arse.

It might be only the first day of the series, but I can't tell you the joy of seeing this Australian attack, belittled by just about everyone who bothered to give their opinion before the series started, break through like they did today. Champion effort.

[SpaceCake]

lucky bastard

[forster cowboy 3]

Wonderful first day. Was an absolutely outstanding Ashes moment to be there to witness Siddle's hat-trick. I'd just like to personally say to every Australian who was bemoaning the Aussies' chances this series...

Shove that up your arse.

It might be only the first day of the series, but I can't tell you the joy of seeing this Australian attack, belittled by just about everyone who bothered to give their opinion before the series started, break through like they did today. Champion effort.

iv never belittled the bowling attack only johnson and from what iv seen and heard he bowled his usual standard of rubbish

[dakapayne]

I would have thought away test matches would be the perfect opportunity to blood players gearing towards an away ashes series

Well, Tim Paine had his debut in India and did a fantastic job. His experience gained will be invaluable for when he gets his next shot. Haddin deserves to be there imo as the incumbent, however I wouldn't have complained if Paine was selected. Irrelevant now though as Paine broke his finger recently.

I think Coast Cowboy mentioned Wade earlier, but putting my Queensland bias hat on... Chris Hartley wouldn't let the team down either.

[dakapayne]

Doherty's selection was one from left field but he made an impressive start to his career in the first innings. Congratulations Siddle! His selection came about after Bollinger was deemed to not have enough match fitness and he did the business in the most spectacular kind of way. Stuart Broad is a c*ck for challenging that LBW. 1st ball hat trick duck, plumb in front, just GET OFF!

Tomorrow will be massive! It's our batting that has been under the most pressure and Hussey, North and Clarke in particular need to stand up. I wonder when the last big score by an Australian bat was made? I'm talking 150 plus....

[Coast Cowboy]

Doherty's selection was one from left field but he made an impressive start to his career in the first innings. Congratulations Siddle! His selection came about after Bollinger was deemed to not have enough match fitness and he did the business in the most spectacular kind of way. Stuart Broad is a c*ck for challenging that LBW. 1st ball hat trick duck, plumb in front, just GET OFF!

Tomorrow will be massive! It's our batting that has been under the most pressure and Hussey, North and Clarke in particular need to stand up. I wonder when the last big score by an Australian bat was made? I'm talking 150 plus....

Last big score by an Aussie would be 200 by Ponting at Hobart against Pakistan last summer........I think.

Anyway was there day 1 and what a memorable moment it was. The crowd was pretty quiet in the 1st and 2nd sessions but they roared to life in that 3rd during that Siddle hat trick. Was funny to see the Poms in the crowd just sitting there watching in bemusement as Siddle ripped through them and the Aussies just giving it to England. Great atmosphere.

Still it's only day 1. There was plenty of encouragement for the England bowlers late on day 1 so I won't start feeling comfortable till we are at least 100/150 in front.

[dakapayne]

Another solid start by the Aussie openers. Unfortunately Watson couldn't go on with it, he got a good ball. Katich is a guy who has made big centuries in the past for NSW. His highest test score is 156 odd. With Australia's brittle middle order of late, he is the key, especially since Ponting just snicked one down leg side. Frustrating dismissal, that.

[dakapayne]

Bugger, not today for Katich. What a catch by Finn... Dam, impressive for a big bloke. He slid saving a 4 earlier this morning too. Moves well for a big bloke.

[SpaceCake]

4:15pm on a Queensland afternoon and the games been suspended because of bad light. When was the last time this has happened at the GABBA?

[SpaceCake]

no i said i would of been happy with 2 of the younger ones in the team ie khawaja and smith

What are you whinging about Forster?
Smith is in the 13 man squad and Khawaja is 12-13th man for the first test. I'm sure you just like to argue for the sake of it, regardless if you make any sense at all. And you have the hide to call me thick.

[forster cowboy 3]

What are you whinging about Forster?
Smith is in the 13 man squad and Khawaja is 12-13th man for the first test. I'm sure you just like to argue for the sake of it, regardless if you make any sense at all. And you have the hide to call me thick.

oh yes and 12 or 13 men play in each game ie. bat and bowl dont they hmmm dont know what cricket you watch then
im sure running the drinks out is going to do wonders for their batting and bowling

[SpaceCake]

Khawaja was called into the team for Clarke if needed. He's gaining experience, he was fielding abit yesterday and he's following other procedures some players take to make the Australian 11. There's a real chance both of these players you listed could play in other games this series. You wish these players to gain experience, yet you are so ignorant to the fact it's being offered to them.

[forster cowboy 3]

Khawaja was called into the team for Clarke if needed. He's gaining experience, he was fielding abit yesterday and he's following other procedures some players take to make the Australian 11. There's a real chance both of these players you listed could play in other games this series. You wish these players to gain experience, yet you are so ignorant to the fact it's being offered to them.

experience in actually playing and being able to bowl and bat and having international teams spot their weaknesses so that they can become better for it
im sure running the water out and fielding is going to do this in your world where 12-13 players are in the team but not in reality where only 11 players can bat and bowl
khawaja has to be a definate for the next game after yet another failure by north

[dakapayne]

Surely North has only got the second innings now to prove his worth. Dang, Brad Hodge made a hundred and got dropped and was never seen again and Stuart Law back in the day made a 50 I believe in his last innings.

[SpaceCake]

experience in actually playing and being able to bowl and bat and having international teams spot their weaknesses so that they can become better for it
im sure running the water out and fielding is going to do this in your world where 12-13 players are in the team but not in reality where only 11 players can bat and bowl
khawaja has to be a definate for the next game after yet another failure by north

Narrow minded view.
The fact is these players are in the squad, and on the cusp of selection. You have nothing to complain about, yet you pointlessly argue for the sake of it. You've already stated you are happy to loose the series, all because the selectors didn't pick the team you wanted. So you can either do 2 things. Call yourself a POM or don't watch it.

[forster cowboy 3]

yes and like i already said running the drinks or fielding aint going to test their batting and bowling out is it
only way they are going to improve is when international sides play against them and work out thier weaknesses that state sides dont pick up on
hopfully if the poms do win that andrew hilditch gets the flick he deserves
i only stated id be happy to lose the series if they used it to get a cpl of the younger ones involved in the 11 not running the drinks
so dont twist my words there mate

while i got your attention on here im still waiting for a reply on the touchies in rugby league, what other responsibility and power would you like them to have with there only being one ref controlling the game?
i hope you saw the 4 nations final did you see 2 critical and easy f*ck ups they made and you still wanna give them more responsibility and power im intrigued as to find out what more you wanna give them....

[SpaceCake]

Onya Huss

[forster cowboy 3]

yep well done hussey doing my fantasy team great he is also my captain lol

[Spiral]

One of the great Test partnerships. Not without its share of luck, but as has been said before, you need that in this game. Absolutely loved seeing Hussey vindicate himself in the eyes of the legion of doomsayers who feel like they know everything about team selections and the state of Australian cricket. Yeah, he's definitely too old...Surely people learned from the last time England was here that age and experience matters very little in the grand scheme of things...

Australian cricket fans are worse than Broncos fans. Absolute turncoats when things are going bad (in their eyes) and they lap it up when we're on top. Too much success for too long equals ridiculously-high standards. A couple of close losses and you'd think the world is ending..I've never wanted to see this side win a series more than I do now. For the sole reason of proving every doubter wrong.

Australia will have at least 5 sessions to bowl England out again you would imagine, and surely we can't choke with the finish line in sight again. Come on Australia.

[SpaceCake]

One of the great Test partnerships. Not without its share of luck, but as has been said before, you need that in this game. Absolutely loved seeing Hussey vindicate himself in the eyes of the legion of doomsayers who feel like they know everything about team selections and the state of Australian cricket. Yeah, he's definitely too old...Surely people learned from the last time England was here that age and experience matters very little in the grand scheme of things...

Australian cricket fans are worse than Broncos fans. Absolute turncoats when things are going bad (in their eyes) and they lap it up when we're on top. Too much success for too long equals ridiculously-high standards. A couple of close losses and you'd think the world is ending..I've never wanted to see this side win a series more than I do now. For the sole reason of proving every doubter wrong.

Australia will have at least 5 sessions to bowl England out again you would imagine, and surely we can't choke with the finish line in sight again. Come on Australia.

Well put Spiral, couldn't of expressed it any better myself. At times there's such a fine line between winning and losing games, people tend to concentrate on the negatives without understanding the big picture.

[SpaceCake]

yes and like i already said running the drinks or fielding aint going to test their batting and bowling out is it
only way they are going to improve is when international sides play against them and work out thier weaknesses that state sides dont pick up on
hopfully if the poms do win that andrew hilditch gets the flick he deserves
i only stated id be happy to lose the series if they used it to get a cpl of the younger ones involved in the 11 not running the drinks
so dont twist my words there mate.
I'm not twisting your words champ, you just cannot recognise how ridiculous you are sounding.
FACT: You've stated you are happy for the Aussies to loose if they did/ didn't pick certain individuals.
You are the one who made this moronic statement, and now failing miserably to justify any sensible reasoning. Everyone has an opinion about who should be in and out of the side, but only an unpatriotic fool would be happy for their side to loose, just to prove an ignorant point. Or a POM, so which one are you?


while i got your attention on here im still waiting for a reply on the touchies in rugby league, what other responsibility and power would you like them to have with there only being one ref controlling the game?
i hope you saw the 4 nations final did you see 2 critical and easy f*ck ups they made and you still wanna give them more responsibility and power im intrigued as to find out what more you wanna give them....
You are a lost cause of the highest order my friend.

[forster cowboy 3]

I'm not twisting your words champ, you just cannot recognise how ridiculous you are sounding.
FACT: You've stated you are happy for the Aussies to loose if they did/ didn't pick certain individuals.
You are the one who made this moronic statement, and now failing miserably to justify any sensible reasoning. Everyone has an opinion about who should be in and out of the side, but only an unpatriotic fool would be happy for their side to loose, just to prove an ignorant point. Or a POM, so which one are you?


You are a lost cause of the highest order my friend.

yes id be happy/not upset if we lost the series if a few of the young ones were playing as it would be great experience for them when they go over to england for the next series and have the desire to not feel the way they would of if they were involved in a losing ashes series providing australia lose this series and they played majority of the games
yes hmm im a lost cause ay considering you were the one pointing out to me wheres my facts or reasons etc for when i said id prefer players like mcdonald, martin, riethmuller, malone, stig etc to of givin a go this year instead of the consistant deadwood players but when its your turn to name a logical few things that the touches could do extra in your statement of going back to one main ref and give the touches more power and responsibility you ignore the topic and have the hide to say im a lost cause, well done spacecake

[Spiral]

yes id be happy/not upset if we lost the series if a few of the young ones were playing as it would be great experience for them when they go over to england for the next series

The next Ashes series which would be in three years after this? I'm pretty sure they can get more than enough experience in that time without having to be blooded into one of the most important Test series this Australian side's been involved in for quite a while. And I also think you're totally undervaluing the experience they gain from just being around the side in the first place.

The only objective should be winning and that would require you to put the strongest side possible into every match. I fail to see how throwing untested youth into the side is putting the best foot forward. There are plenty of ways to get them prepared and ready for the quality of Test match cricket that don't necessitate them being played just for the sake of it.

How anyone could be happy about losing a series and potentially damaging a lot of young guys' careers in the process is beyond me. Sure, the future is important, but sacrificing the present for it is ridiculous.

[SpaceCake]

LOL....
I think its time to go home Forster. Better switch off your computer and have an early night mate. Sounds like you've had a big day:lol:

[forster cowboy 3]

The next Ashes series which would be in three years after this? I'm pretty sure they can get more than enough experience in that time without having to be blooded into one of the most important Test series this Australian side's been involved in for quite a while. And I also think you're totally undervaluing the experience they gain from just being around the side in the first place.

The only objective should be winning and that would require you to put the strongest side possible into every match. I fail to see how throwing untested youth into the side is putting the best foot forward. There are plenty of ways to get them prepared and ready for the quality of Test match cricket that don't necessitate them being played just for the sake of it.

How anyone could be happy about losing a series and potentially damaging a lot of young guys' careers in the process is beyond me. Sure, the future is important, but sacrificing the present for it is ridiculous.

i doubt itd be a 3 year gap between ashes series

[forster cowboy 3]

LOL....
I think its time to go home Forster. Better switch off your computer and have an early night mate. Sounds like you've had a big day:lol:

lmao and yet again you try putting the attention back on me and refuse to say what other things the touchees could do surely it cant be that hard to come up with a couple of things after the statement you made but its been a good 2 weeks atleast and counting

[Spiral]

i doubt itd be a 3 year gap between ashes series

Two and a half years to be precise.

[SpaceCake]

i doubt itd be a 3 year gap between ashes series

It's approx a 28 month gap I'm guessing. Taking into consideration the different hemispheres seasons. Let it go son, you draw too much attention to yourself

[forster cowboy 3]

Two and a half years to be precise.

and in that time there is the one day and id imagine the 20/20 world cups so there wont be as many tests being played

[forster cowboy 3]

It's approx a 28 month gap I'm guessing. Taking into consideration the different hemispheres seasons. Let it go son, you draw too much attention to yourself

oh whats that your refusing to answer what more power and responsibilities the touchees could have again???
y am i not surprised

[RHINO]

back to the gabba and the pommy openers putting up a much better fight in the 2nd innings

[dakapayne]

And Johnson just dropped a catch. Dam.

[forster cowboy 3]

And Johnson just dropped a catch. Dam.

he is doing a great job in asking to be dropped next game thats for sure bollinger is looking like certainty for next game

[dakapayne]

You're a negative b@stard, aren't you.

Well done Hussey and Haddin for yesterday. Great effort and just what Australia needed. Big hundreds. Hopefully a wicket is not to far away.

[SpaceCake]

Gotta give it to England, the openers have batted well. Hopefully we can pick a wicket or 2 soon and build some pressure, because at the moment the Poms look pretty comfortable. Come on boys!!

[forster cowboy 3]

You're a negative b@stard, aren't you.

Well done Hussey and Haddin for yesterday. Great effort and just what Australia needed. Big hundreds. Hopefully a wicket is not to far away.

well id like to know what you have seen from him this test to justify his selection for the next game
actually not just this test but the last few he has played in, even the commentators are picking up on how poor he has been lately as well as ponting hardly using him this innings and bowling watson before him
not being negative just stating facts and that bollinger should be in the team ahead of him next game

[forster cowboy 3]

Gotta give it to England, the openers have batted well. Hopefully we can pick a wicket or 2 soon and build some pressure, because at the moment the Poms look pretty comfortable. Come on boys!!

sure have batted well but ponting with his field selection is helping ie only 2 fielders on the legside for hilfy wen he is known for his in swing to the left handers, even the commentators noted that as well as the fact when warnie said how ponting is ball chasing meaning he had been moving fielders to where the ball had previously been hit a ball or 2 ago
poor captaincy by ponting today there has been no pressure built up wat so ever
in writing this north just gets a wicket so no need to worry thats justified his selection in the team next match lol

[Beaves NQ]

Johnson is a muppet............ fancy giving up QLD for a missus???............................... no matter how minging she is!!!!!!!

[forster cowboy 3]

Johnson is a muppet............ fancy giving up QLD for a missus???............................... no matter how minging she is!!!!!!!

and choosing her over his mum, shows the class of the man

[forster cowboy 3]

once again johnson came onto the attack and releases any pressure that was or could of been put on the batsmen

[The_Darkhorse]

I would hate to be seen agreeing with forster cowboy in public but I certainly don't think Johnson deserves to be there next game. And barring some miracle match winning performance from him in the rest of this game I believe the selectors will agree also.

[Coast Cowboy]

I would hate to be seen agreeing with forster cowboy in public but I certainly don't think Johnson deserves to be there next game. And barring some miracle match winning performance from him in the rest of this game I believe the selectors will agree also.

I wouldn't count on that, the selectors love picking underperforming players and holding onto them until the public pretty much demand a change (ala Hauritz). The same will happen with Johnson.

They will use the excuse that he put up a decent performance at Shield level last week and say that he is the "X Factor" the bowling attack needs (despite him not even looking close to taking a wicket let alone actually taking one).

I'd bring Bollinger in for him, but you can bet that they'll use the excuse that if we pick Bollinger the batting lineup is weakened (despite Johnson not scoring decent runs in ages). Am so sick of this pie chucker, he adds NOTHING to our cricket team (literally in this test) and needs to be given the ass.

[forster cowboy 3]

I wouldn't count on that, the selectors love picking underperforming players and holding onto them until the public pretty much demand a change (ala Hauritz). The same will happen with Johnson.

They will use the excuse that he put up a decent performance at Shield level last week and say that he is the "X Factor" the bowling attack needs (despite him not even looking close to taking a wicket let alone actually taking one).

I'd bring Bollinger in for him, but you can bet that they'll use the excuse that if we pick Bollinger the batting lineup is weakened (despite Johnson not scoring decent runs in ages). Am so sick of this pie chucker, he adds NOTHING to our cricket team (literally in this test) and needs to be given the ass.

agree with the selectors mindset and the fact johnson is sh*t
bollinger has to be in the team
hilditch needs to get a size 14 boot kicked up his a*s and out the door imo

[The_Darkhorse]

Bollinger will be there next match 100%. He has been their best bowler for the last year.

[The_Darkhorse]

hilditch needs to get a size 14 boot kicked up his a*s and out the door imo
I agree. What he did to Bollinger in the lead up to the first test was criminal.

[Coast Cowboy]

Yep Hilditch, Cox and Boon all need to go. They favour too much the old underperforming players because at the end of their respective careers they were in the same boat, they obviously sympathize with them (in Hussey's case it worked but in North and Johnson's case it's time to get tough).

Also think Ryan Harris should even get a look in for Adelaide. He keeps taking wickets for QLD and is meant to be 100% fit again.

[Beaves NQ]

I reckon Johnson would be better if he didn't try to try bowl express constantly. I reckon if he slowed it down a bit, say down to 135ishkm/h he would get more control, he just seems to spray the ball a fair bit. I miss Glen Mcgrath.................. line and length, give the c@#ts nothing.

[SpaceCake]

No luck for our bowlers this innings at all.

[Coast Cowboy]

I reckon Johnson would be better if he didn't try to try bowl express constantly. I reckon if he slowed it down a bit, say down to 135ishkm/h he would get more control, he just seems to spray the ball a fair bit. I miss Glen Mcgrath.................. line and length, give the c@#ts nothing.

I think that's actually his biggest problem atm. Everyone has obviously got in his ear and told him to bowl line and length, but when he was at his best he was bowling fast 150km consistently. Yes his radar was all over the shop but because he was quick he took wickets. Now he is only bowling at around 140km and hour and is just cannon fodder for good players.

He has to go back to Shield Cricket and learn how to bowl fast again. He isn't a line and length bowler and we would be better off picking a Trent Copeland or Andrew McDonald instead if we wanted Johnson to become like that.