Hodge's first class form hasn't demanded a recall.
It shouldn't (unless he has been in OBVIOUS awful form). Since he is a proven test player.
Additionally, he's basically been cast aside because he's too loose outside off in Test cricket, in the view of selectors. He basically bats the same as Haddin - and if Haddin didn't have glovework behind him, he would've never been picked for the same reason.
Come on, we both know that view is straight BS. That the selectors used to get Martyn back into side in the last SA tour. Looking back Hodge should not have been dropped in the first place, he was made a scapegoat for the previous selectorial blunder of dropping Martyn after the 05 Ashes. Since the selectors realised their mistake & wanted him back for the 06 Ashes.
In case if anyone gets mistaken i am not "MASSIVE Hodge fan". Just stating my concern of how is being treated in this phase of the team that needs to have its best possible XI.
Secondly. As i just mentioned given the the crazy hypothetical notion that "Hodge is weak outside off-stump" was created by the selectors. It would be 100% inaccurate to say he & Haddin bats similar. That is so untrue.
Basically, the two best options right now in terms of consistent scoring in SS cricket over the past two seasons are openers, in Rogers and Hughes. Add in a guy who averages high 40s in Test cricket opening; and you want to move a very good no. 4 to opening why?.
All true but as i mentioned earlier in the thread i believe in strictly "conservative selection" for the SA tour & the Ashes.
So i am 100% againts the selections of:
- Hughes, i haven't seen him bat of course. But although he is showing prodigy like batting performances in state cricket. Its only one season, if he goes to SA & fails he will be quickly relegated from prodigy to another selectorial blunder & i don't want that for him.
- McDonald, as an all-rounder. Since it should be clear with Watson out, we don't need to play him as an all-rounder to mess up the balance of the side. Just to play accomodate a spinner in a 5-man attack. A batsman should be picked ahead of him.
- Haurtiz or Krejza, as the spinner. Simply because i don't believe a spinner should be part of the final XI in any test since neither are good enough to play as part of a 4-man attack.
Although i haven't seen McGain bowl, his FC form last season along with the solid praise he got from many of the knowledgable Australian posters on this sight suggest he is the best spinner available.
Yes he is having setting the world on fire right now in his comeback match. But any spinner taken to SA is just for the "extreme case" of a turning pitch being encountered & the best spinner in the land should in the squad to potentially exploit it. Although i highly doubt based on watching past series in SA this will happen.
Back to the point though. Unlike the bowling, our batting depth still is strong & versatile. Hussey no doubt has established himself as our premier # 4. When Katich was picked to open in WI last year, i don't think many expected it to be permanent but he showed his versatilty, or when Langer in the 5th test of 2001 came to partner Hayden, not much expected it to be permanent either.
Hussey is just as cultured a batsman in playing different position as Katich & given he has opened already in test & looked compact plus years doing so in domestic cricket for years. He can do it again, so as to accomodate Hodge to give the side the strongest top 6available.
Picking Hodge does gives the batting a stronger look in Hayden's absense than going for Hughes, Rogers or Jaques. Very conservative. But i know the selectors won't do it because they feel Hodge has offended them. ATS of our cricket i don't want hear that crap TBH.
Noffke is coming off an injury, hasn't got form behind him, and Siddle is arguably a better bowler already, and definitely has the potential to be a better bowler. And Noffke will never be good enough to play Test cricket at no. 7.
Well i never suggested Noffke should bat @ 7. I want the best 4-man seam attack of Johnson, Siddle, Noffke, Bollinger/Hilfenhaus, with Noffke batting @ 8.
No doubt due to injuries Noffke hasn't displayed his 2007/08 with the ball. Has taken 18 wickets @ 24 in the 5 games he has played. But son is a proven FC performer & he is the only bowler in the land that Ponting could have in SA, that he could depend on to put the breaks on SA. Thats is very important.
