Who should Australia leave out for 1st Test vs NZ?

[Matt79]

Separate from the main thread for the purpose of allowing the poll - modz plz dn't merge omgz thx!!

Who should be the unlucky one to miss out in Brisbane. It seems certain selectors want to bring back Symonds, and early betting was on Watto unfairly missing. Now with the weather in Brisbane, the money has moved somewhat for Krejza, with the more unlikely scenario being that one of the three quicks makes way, with Haddin dropping down to 8.

I say Krejza should miss - while there should be some extra bounce for him in Brisbane, and spinners have got results there, it should be more helpful for the quicks, and they're all better bowlers than Jason, his debut notwithstanding. Krejza did enough to merit first go when a specialist spinner is selected, in this case however, I think we're better going with Symonds/Clarke/Katich to bowl spin if necessary. Doubt we'll be in the field for a whole day at any time anyway, so the overrate thing becomes a bit moot.

If it were one of the quicks, I'd guess it would be Clark on the pecking order that was established in India, although dropping him to accomodate a spinner with a FC average of 50, and one test, and an average of 30 would be a baffling decision IMO - on the proviso he's fully fit.

 

[_Ed_]

Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Lee and Clark.

 

[Johnners]

Given that there's a reasonably chance it will be damp/overcast, I'd be leaning towards saying Krejza. Obviously it seems harsh etc. dropping a bloke who took 12 wickets last match, but given his record on Australian soil, the fact that the Gabba is a better pitch/ground for seamers, and the addition of the overcast/damp conditions, I think he's the obvious choice.

That being said, I doubt they will drop him, and it'll be one of Clark, Watson or Symonds running out the drinks. Personally, without taking into account what I think would be our best team on the pitch, I wouldn't pick Symonds.

 

[Mister Wright]

There has been such an amazing amount of rain around here this week, so it's going to be very tough to leave any of the quicks out. Has to be Krezja.

 

[inbox24]

I think it would be wise to leave out Johnson. That way we can play 3 'frontline' seamers in Lee, Clark and Watson, include Symonds in the team, and have Krejza for spin. Thus,

Katich
Hayden
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Krejza
Lee
Clark

Still be a pretty damn long batting line-up too.

 

[Jakester1288]

Definitely Symonds. Doesn't deserve to come back into the team, has done nothing in state cricket. Make him earn it.

Would run with this.

1. Hayden
2. Katich
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Watson
7. Haddin
8. Lee
9. Krejza
10. Johnson
11. Clark

Best line up available, Krejza will not be dropped, after taking 12 wickets on debut, whilst I can almost guarantee Symonds getting back into the side, I don't want him to. Watson doesn't deserve to be dropped, for someone who has not shown any form in domestic cricket.

 

[four_or_six]

I always think you should pick batsmen who are in form - partly for their own good, but also for the sake of showing that good domestic form is important for younger guys coming through.

I expect they will pick Symonds, but from where I am that seems a bit clique-ish which I don't think is good when you're trying to build a new team.

That leaves Watson/Krejza, so I guess it comes down to conditions and over-rates.

 

[Natman20]

For NZ's sake Lee, We havn't fared to well against him in the past (I guess like any quicky). But who knows, his form doesn't look that great.

 

[BoyBrumby]

So we're just assuming Cam White is gone then? Was picked ahead of Razor Krejza three times in India....

But, seriously, I'd assume it'll be the doughty Czecho-Polish offie. Watson starting to show signs he might blossom & crucially didn't injure himself by stirring his tea too vigourously or somesuch.

 

[Johnners]

So we're just assuming Cam White is gone then? Was picked ahead of Razor Krejza three times in India....

But, seriously, I'd assume it'll be the doughty Czecho-Polish offie. Watson starting to show signs he might blossom & crucially didn't injure himself by stirring his tea too vigourously or somesuch.

White wasn't selected in the 13 man squad, so of course he's gone

 

[BoyBrumby]

White wasn't selected in the 13 man squad, so of course he's gone

Yeah, sorry, was weak attempt at me making light of the fact that he was selected ahead of Krejza three times in India.

 

[Johnners]

Haha, tbf my sarchasm metre was somewhat awry.

 

[Top_Cat]

Fully expect Watto to miss out. Didn't do anywhere near enough with the bat to keep his spot at 6 in front of Symonds and all the press is about how welcomed Symonds has been, hard to believe we'd be hearing all that for him to miss out. Although he bowled well at times, an attack of Johnson, Clark and Lee seems like we have enough seamers to do the job. Need to be able to pick Watto top-6 or not at all, I reckon.

He'll get his chance. He'll just have to beat out one of the top-6 to do it and he hasn't yet; for all his improvement, one 50 and associated mid-20's average on what were very flat decks is pretty dismal for a Test number 6. No-one accepted it from Freddie, neither should we from Watto. A player that good, in fact, we should be demanding more from.

 

[Rant0r]

I always think you should pick batsmen who are in form - partly for their own good, but also for the sake of showing that good domestic form is important for younger guys coming through.

I expect they will pick Symonds, but from where I am that seems a bit clique-ish which I don't think is good when you're trying to build a new team.

That leaves Watson/Krejza, so I guess it comes down to conditions and over-rates.

judging by recent selections, domestic form has absolutely nothing to do with selection policy, there's so many blokes plundering runs and taking wickets at state level but can't get a look in, it's not funny... apart from jaques last year, the guy averages 55 or something at state level, demanded selection at the time.

symonds will get in, can't have all those expensive adverts with him in it if he's not playing, i hope they give johnson a run in the 'shield' to develop his game further and learn to be more penetrating, but in truth it will probably be clark, who is the most damaging seamer, or krejza, the specialist spinner, more sense from the selectors

 

[krkode]

Remove Haddin and make Symonds keep wicket, IMO.

 

[BoyBrumby]

judging by recent selections, domestic form has absolutely nothing to do with selection policy, there's so many blokes plundering runs and taking wickets at state level but can't get a look in, it's not funny... apart from jaques last year, the guy averages 55 or something at state level, demanded selection at the time.

symonds will get in, can't have all those expensive adverts with him in it if he's not playing, i hope they give johnson a run in the 'shield' to develop his game further and learn to be more penetrating, but in truth it will probably be clark, who is the most damaging seamer, or krejza, the specialist spinner, more sense from the selectors

Think you're right by-and-large, but suspect it was Katto's record-breaking batting in the SS that won him his spot back in the test squad at least, so exceptions can be made for, er, exceptional domestic form.

 

[Craig]

Of course Symonds will play, they would not have picked him if they had no intention of playing him. Krejza for me.

 

[Richard]

judging by recent selections, domestic form has absolutely nothing to do with selection policy, there's so many blokes plundering runs and taking wickets at state level but can't get a look in, it's not funny

Not really. The batting is a closed shop because incumbants are performing, and the only person to break into it in the last year had come off a record-breaking domestic season.

And the only bowlers being left-out in error are Noffke and Bollinger. Hardly "so many".

And on the subject of the thread - all I'll say is if Clark misses-out I might be tempted to firebomb the offices of CA. And Matt of '79 - the Flintoff poll was merged into the England vs SA thread last summer, so I see no reason for precedent not to be followed.

 

[Athlai]

I think we'd actually do quite well against Krezja, so obviously it will be Krezja.

 

[jondavluc]

Remove Haddin and make Symonds keep wicket, IMO.

Well that would just leave captaincy as the only thing he hasn't excelled at.