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***Official*** Australia in South Africa
- Thread starter pup11
- Start date
Hoggy31
International Captain
Indeed, however don't see Ponting swallowing that much pride.
Matt79
Hall of Fame Member
My 14 would be:
Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Rogers
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Hughes
Nannes
McGain
Not sure whether Nannes is eligible for Australia given his Dutch nationality. If he is not eligible, Bollinger gets to go, just ahead of Dorey.
I don't think we should take Symonds at the moment, and that being the case there's no allrounder who deserves a spot in the team. As pointed out, one solution is to drop Katich down and play Hughes and Jaques, but I'm reluctant to take in so unsettled an opening pair - one debuting and one returning from injury. Plus I don't want to disturb Katich's rhythm at the moment. Rogers is in great form at the moment and deserves another go - he can have a go and see how he fares in the lower-middle order, given he's third in line at the moment to open with Katich. Hughes to be the back up batsman and hopefully learn a lot from touring.
pup11
International Coach
Ponting is one the best no.3's in the history of the game and why would you want to move him from there, yeah we all know his captaincy sucks arse, but don't mix that with his batting prowess.
Moving on, as harsh as it may sound, Jaques would have to score some runs before he can reclaim his opening spot, Hughes is in amazing form and Australia would be crazy not to play him in the XI, but just so Jaques can also play, tinkering with an already messed up batting line-up is the last thing they should do.
Clarke has been good at 5, Hussey has been awesome at 4 until now, and there is no way one should even think of demoting Katich back to no.6 which is then the only viable spot left.
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
Will be mildly surprised if Hauritz plays the first test now. I'd expect something like:
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
McGain
Bollinger
Hauritz
And another backup bat, maybe Klinger, or Dussey, or Rogers or Jaques.
If Siddle isn't fit, they'll probably play both Bollinger and Hilfenhaus and take Harris as backup.
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
McDonald
Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
McGain
Bollinger
Hauritz
And another backup bat, maybe Klinger, or Dussey, or Rogers or Jaques.
If Siddle isn't fit, they'll probably play both Bollinger and Hilfenhaus and take Harris as backup.
pup11
International Coach
That are the only changes i would like to see in the team, i would rather have David Hussey at no.6, no need squeeze in a proper opener into the lower middle just to see how it goes, rather give chance to a guy who is a proper middle order bat and knows how to bat in that position and has scored runs too in that position.
As i already said would definitely take the chance with Hughes with the kind of form he is in atm, comes across a very mature bloke for his age and i think he can handle the pressure.
Jaques struggled in the recent SS game, whereas almost everyone from the NSW side made big runs, and that's understandable too, as he is coming back from an injury and would take some time to get into the grove.
Still would have him in the squad as the reserve opener, but then there is also this case that he might be better off not picked in this series and allowed to play for NSW instead, so he can hit himself back into some form before the Ashes, and rather have Rogers as the reserve opener in this series.
Definitely won't take Symonds, my anger for his repeated off-field sagas not withstanding, his form atm is poor and not deserving of a test spot.
Siddle is another worry imo, even if he is fit, he would go into the series a bit underprepared and if in case he is not able to make it, then either Noffke, Harris or Magoffin would be decent replacements.
I like the look of Nannes, but as it has been already said, his age, his beamer problem are the two prime reasons why he is not much of an option, but even if he gets picked, it shouldn't be at the cost of Doug Bollinger, who even though didn't have a great debut, but still is deserving enough of a test spot on the basis of his recent domestic form, and there is no point either in handing over Baggy green's after every game to every half-decent bowler in the country.
Pup Clarke
Cricketer Of The Year
What about pushing Johnson up to 7?. Maybe he needs that extra responsibilty to become a test-class allrounder.
Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
McDonald
Hauritz
Bracken
Hilfenhaus
EDIT - Just seen Dorey's record, anyone with <25 after a reasonable number of matches deserves a look at, any reason he's not been given a go?
Katich
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Johnson
McDonald
Hauritz
Bracken
Hilfenhaus
EDIT - Just seen Dorey's record, anyone with <25 after a reasonable number of matches deserves a look at, any reason he's not been given a go?
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Green-top bully.
dontcloseyoureyes
BARNES OUT
There's no way he won't be picked now. Was respectable in Sydney, and since Symonds has failed horribly in state cricket and McDonald took 6-fa in the recent Shield match.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah, I probably wouldn't pick him in the eleven, but I'd definitely have him in the squad. In fact, I'd have him in the eleven as well if the selectors insisted on picking a specialist spinner again which seems as likely as ever.
NUFAN
Y no Afghanistan flag
This is the best team available IMO.
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Meh - so was Dennis Lillee, apparently.
Why has everyone got Hilfenhaus in their XI? He hasn't looked like swinging the white ball, what makes us think he'll swing the red one? Granted he's had a good season though.
If they're all fit, they probably won't change a winning side from Sydney (not saying they should keep it, just saying they probably will).
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pup11
International Coach
He has swung the new white ball alright, it just hasn't lasted long enough, but he has got himself embarrassed or anything in the ODI's, was Australia's best bowler in the ODI series against South Africa (stat's wise), so i don't see why he shouldn't play in South Africa.
If conditions are helpful enough in South Africa, he could get heaps of wickets there.
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
Not sure about Hilfenhaus. Got a nice outswinger but he swings it from the hand and doesn't get the ball to move late like Steyn.
He should tour though. There isn't much else.
TT Boy
Hall of Fame Member
inbox24
International Debutant
Sanity prevails, but if they include McDonald instead, then it's a step backward. Even if he does chip in with a couple of wickets, he's no viable option and it's hard to see him making any decent international team.
pup11
International Coach
He swings the ball both ways, is good with the old ball too and most importantly can bowl long and accurate spells, so he is certainly not a bloke who would be going there just to fill in the numbers.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Reckon that having Hauritz at 9 was a luxury that allowed them to play McDonald at 6. Hauritz is good enough to bat at 8. However, if McGain takes Hauritz's place, then this may make it hard for the selectors to include McDonald.