***Official*** Australia in South Africa

[Mister Wright]

Don't get all the Hauritz bagging tbh. He's been the best ODD spinner in Australia for a few years now, and it was only 2 games ago he contributed heavily towards an Aussie ODI win. Like a lot of players he needs some consistent time in the team to show his worth.

 

[jondavluc]

This is my XI at the moment.

Shaun Marsh
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting
Micheal Clarke
Andrew Symonds
Micheal Hussey
Brad Haddin
James Hopes/Nathan Hauritz (If it is a turner of course)
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Nathan Bracken

 

[Jono]

It seems Katich choked all the talent out of Michael Clarke.

 

[oitoitoi]

Watto will surely open the batting with Marsh againt Pakistan, you'd think. Unless Haddin makes a couple of hundreds in the remaining SAF games.

I reckon Watson's much better down the order, like in the last WC. They've got to get Hughes in there opening, he's only 20 so he's got plenty of time to learn and is a player the next generation can build around. I was shocked at his omission tbh, thought he must have been injured or something. I actually rate Hopes, every team needs a player like him, can give you near enough 10 overs and a handy hitter down the order. He played some damn good innings in the IPL last year. Keep in mind any team should be selcted with an eye to the next WC.

My Aussie team would be:

Hughes
Marsh/Warner
Ponting
Clarke/Symonds
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Hauritz or another spinner, surely Australia have one somewhere, I mean even SA are getting them these days.
Bracken/Hopes (based on current form)

 

[popepouri]

Rofl looks comfortable in the international arena and he shows why he averages 20 in List A. He bowled full, straight and even got turn in the rough. I'm looking forward to the time when Albie and Rofl bat together in the batting powerplay. SA spinning stocks are more than ever now. Botha, Rofl, Tahir and Harris all possible successful spinners.

 

[Prince EWS]

We have gotten the balance wrong. There's absolutely no doubt about that.

1. Not picking Hughes
2. Using makeshift openers (which at this stage is a fair complement to Clarke) - even Warner could do better than him at the moment
3. Resting Hilfenhaus and Siddle - basically cost us the series by resting these two guys
4. Hauritz, Geeves
5. Despite his recent innings with the bat still don't rate Hopes as an option, especially once Watson comes back to full tilt

None of that actually has anything to do with balance though. You don't seem to understand the difference between role and quality.

An (exaggerated) example of getting the balance wrong would be picking nine specialist bowlers, two wicket keepers and no batsmen.

There's a difference between picking the wrong team and picking an unbalanced team.

 

[Steulen]

Actually...

Since Jan 2008, Hussey has 1120 runs @ 50.90 (S/R: 80.28), Ponting has 595 runs @ 23.80 (S/R: 75.98)(very bad) whilst Clarke has 719 runs @ 29.95 (S/R: 64.60).

Hussey is still streets ahead going by that, Ponting has been rubbish but so has Clarke. It's arguable that Clarke has been worse just because that S/R is so bad it could be costing Australia matches.

That's hardly current form, Jan 2008 is 16 months ago!

Current form would be how Hussey and Ponting have played in the last two series against SA. In which both have struggled, bar the occasional good innings (like Hussey's in the 2nd ODI this week).

 

[Nate]

Hussey was gun in the ODIs in Australia iirc.

 

[Noble One]

South Africa are simply a better one day international outfit than Australia. Slight changes to the Australian team will hardly change that fact.

 

[oitoitoi]

South Africa are simply a better one day international outfit than Australia. Slight changes to the Australian team will hardly change that fact.

AWTA, but Australia could make it closer than it is right now. I hope Amla plays ahead of Gibbs next match, and that Rofl smashes a 50! The problem is for Australia is that there are so many holes in their side right now, top order failing, middle order poor, no good bowling options in the middle overs, death bowling very temperamental. Realistically it's going to take them some time to sort these things out.

 

[Son Of Coco]

We have gotten the balance wrong. There's absolutely no doubt about that.

1. Not picking Hughes
2. Using makeshift openers (which at this stage is a fair complement to Clarke) - even Warner could do better than him at the moment
3. Resting Hilfenhaus and Siddle - basically cost us the series by resting these two guys
4. Hauritz, Geeves
5. Despite his recent innings with the bat still don't rate Hopes as an option, especially once Watson comes back to full tilt

Full strength:
Hughes/Warner
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Symonds
Ferguson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Bracken

I think the fact you have Warner at the top makes a mockery of things straight away...it would be good to see Hughes there though and get one of the other guys down the order.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

That's hardly current form, Jan 2008 is 16 months ago!

Current form would be how Hussey and Ponting have played in the last two series against SA. In which both have struggled, bar the occasional good innings (like Hussey's in the 2nd ODI this week).

Alrighty, averages since the first ODI series against SAF (including NZ):

Ponting: 317 @ 26.41 (S/R: 80.25).
Hussey: 498 @ 45.27 (S/R: 89.08).
Clarke: 248 @ 27.55 (S/R: 69.27)

Yep, you're still wrong.

 

[oldmancraigy]

That's hardly current form, Jan 2008 is 16 months ago!

Current form would be how Hussey and Ponting have played in the last two series against SA. In which both have struggled, bar the occasional good innings (like Hussey's in the 2nd ODI this week).

Why can't Hussey's series against NZ count? It was in the middle of the 2 SAf series...

 

[Gilly Fan]

With Lee training with the Aussie side, and an injury to Geeves, would the Aussies be allowed to play him?

 

[brockley]

Whats dave husseys' average,batting and bowling?

 

[Briony]

Whats dave husseys' average,batting and bowling?

Mediocre. Modest at best. Batting average of mid-20s is not something you want if you're a top order batsman.

 

[Briony]

Dissappointing, the Iron Man can do better than her, unless it was an ego lay because she shagged a prince. Bring on the Brazilian supermodels, Smithy will have 'em all! On the same note, has anyone seen Steyn's girlfriend....he's a lucky lucky man.

Well he's had a long, dry spell since Minki so surely he'd take anything. He said they're just friends.

Steyn's girlfriend is a midget, bit of a golddigger too methinks, she was waiting tables when she met him.

 

[jondavluc]

With Lee training with the Aussie side, and an injury to Geeves, would the Aussies be allowed to play him?

Hopefully Geeves is injured enough that he misses the Pakistan tour.Siddle for the WIN!!!.I honestly don't get why he wasn't in the squad in the first place.

Edit: Looks like my wish came true Yay (I'm a monster)

Geeves home with fractured foot - Australia in South Africa Tour - Fox Sports

 

[TT Boy]

With Lee training with the Aussie side, and an injury to Geeves, would the Aussies be allowed to play him?

It shouldn’t be a problem. Geeves is removed from the squad and Lee is added instead but from what I can gather, Laughlin will just come back in. North may also come in for David Hussey but they are reluctant to play Cam White, as he wasn’t deemed good enough to be in the squad for the UAE series against Pakistan.

 

[Briony]

It shouldn’t be a problem. Geeves is removed from the squad and Lee is added instead but from what I can gather, Laughlin will just come back in. North may also come in for David Hussey but they are reluctant to play Cam White, as he wasn’t deemed good enough to be in the squad for the UAE series against Pakistan.

Lee wouldn't be risked. White is Australia's Albertus, I'm surprised he doesn't get more of a go.