What's Your Aussie Ashes Squad?

[Nate]

Going off in the Live CricInfo blog.

Got some Bracken love in there.

 

[redhotchilipepa]

Going off in the Live CricInfo blog.

Do you have a link?

 

[Nate]

Do you have a link?

Here.

 

[redhotchilipepa]

Cheers mate!

 

[Nate]

Before the last hour, I did not know that -

- No-one likes Watson
- Everyone rates Hilfenhaus
- No-one wants Lee in the XI
- People want Hughes as the reserve wicket-keeper over Manou

Too much time on CW.

 

[pasag]

Given the make up of that squad, it's a shoo in Watson will bat 6 in Cardiff, isn't it (barring a fingernail injury of course)? Given it spins there, they'll have to play Haurie, meaning if they want 4 quicks as well Watson must play, assuming he's right to bowl.

They could run with Macca but I dunno if thet rate him enough as a number 6.

Is he ok to bowl? The squad also shows the constant fence sitting of the Aus selectors by taking a heap of all-rounders and pushing off a decision till later because they clearly don't know what to do. Bit like what they've done with the spinners in the past.

 

[Trumpers_Ghost]

I thought the squad was almost exactly what I thought it would bealthough not neccessarily what I would have chosen.

Hauritz- only in the squad to make the english think we might play a crap spinner.

Manau - not surprised that he was picked given he got a contract, but I don't think he deserved it. Really what has he done; been mediocre to average for most of his career up until this season when he produced numbers that were not even better than his two closest rivals who are both younger (in Wade's case much younger) and have yet to produce the kind of poor seasons that Manau has made a career of. Strange. In fact I'd rate him 5th or sixth as an Aussie keeper (Haddin, Wade, Hartley, Ronchi, Croswaite, Manau, Paine).

A dire waste of a selection on a player who is never going to be good enough to play for Australia.

cheers

 

[age_master]

I cannot believe that Watson got in, there is like a 90% chance that he will be injured again before the first test...

 

[social]

I thought the squad was almost exactly what I thought it would bealthough not neccessarily what I would have chosen.

Hauritz- only in the squad to make the english think we might play a crap spinner.

Manau - not surprised that he was picked given he got a contract, but I don't think he deserved it. Really what has he done; been mediocre to average for most of his career up until this season when he produced numbers that were not even better than his two closest rivals who are both younger (in Wade's case much younger) and have yet to produce the kind of poor seasons that Manau has made a career of. Strange. In fact I'd rate him 5th or sixth as an Aussie keeper (Haddin, Wade, Hartley, Ronchi, Croswaite, Manau, Paine).

A dire waste of a selection on a player who is never going to be good enough to play for Australia.

cheers

Totally agree re Manou

When was the last time Oz took a reserve keeper anywhere?

If they're so worried about Haddin breaking a finger in the warm-up on the morning of a test (let's face it, that's the only time Manou could seriously be considered for any game on tour!) then give him an all expenses paid trip to play club cricket on the proviso that he's available for tests

And the wtf are they giving Hodge a central contract for when they obviously have absolutely no intention of picking him for anything ever again?

 

[aussie]

Is what kind of girly, emotional selectors is this geez. Just tell McDonald thanks for your service & be rid of him, i cannot believe they actually see a future for him in test cricket.

Poor old Hodge again, test chances over. At least he has a contract, but don't know that means much really..

 

[aussie]

Totally agree re Manou

When was the last time Oz took a reserve keeper anywhere?

If they're so worried about Haddin breaking a finger in the warm-up on the morning of a test (let's face it, that's the only time Manou could seriously be considered for any game on tour!) then give him an all expenses paid trip to play club cricket on the proviso that he's available for tests
And the wtf are they giving Hodge a central contract for when they obviously have absolutely no intention of picking him for anything ever again?

Nah man, Haddin's workload since his debut has been hectic. Look at the schedule. After the T20 WC, 2 WU before the 1st test (Haddin will prop play 1), then games between the 2&3, 4&5 tests. No reason for Haddin to play those.

 

[jondavluc]

Poor old Hodge again, test chances over. At least he has a contract, but don't know that means much really..

Better pay maybe.

 

[andyc]

Totally agree re Manou

When was the last time Oz took a reserve keeper anywhere?

If they're so worried about Haddin breaking a finger in the warm-up on the morning of a test (let's face it, that's the only time Manou could seriously be considered for any game on tour!) then give him an all expenses paid trip to play club cricket on the proviso that he's available for tests

And the wtf are they giving Hodge a central contract for when they obviously have absolutely no intention of picking him for anything ever again?

Haddin was in England for the 05 Ashes.

 

[andyc]

Like others, really not sure about the selectors picking McDonald in the squad, givet than Watson and to a lesser extent North are already there to provide back up options. Unless the selectors are for some reason thinking of playing him at number 8 as a specialist bowler along with Watson at 6. Just don't understand it.

 

[redhotchilipepa]

Listen to Graham Manou speaking at the media all-in today about his Ashes selection at the SACA website

Now you guys can get the quotes before the newspapers can interpret them!

What a legend, well done Choc!!

 

[social]

Haddin was in England for the 05 Ashes.

And his contribution was 1 match at the beginning of the tour!

Seriously, whether it be England or New Zealand (our closest neighbour in travelling time), there is zero chance of flying in a replacement in time should the 1st choice get injured on the morning of a test match and yet a backup is only deemed necessary for an Ashes tour

Sorry but that makes no sense

 

[Craig]

Brad Hodge should look on the bright side. He has just got a well paying CA contract and he is unlikely to be picked again. Thanks for nothing suckers.

 

[Uppercut]

Wow, no Symonds. I have a feeling that's going to come back and bite the Aussies. Crazy decision to leave him out IMO.

A bit suprised Ronald got picked over Symonds - not on performance, but only on the basis that Symonds is a genuine match-winner, which I don't see McDonald being.

Echoing these thoughts. If Australia are 40/5 on the morning of the first test and McDonald walks to the crease, does anyone expect them to get out of it? When Symonds comes out it's a different story altogether.

 

[NUFAN]

Echoing these thoughts. If Australia are 40/5 on the morning of the first test and McDonald walks to the crease, does anyone expect them to get out of it? When Symonds comes out it's a different story altogether.

The problem with this is Symonds would bat at 6 and McDonald at 8.

Haddin will bat 7. In saying this, we are a batter short.

 

[Matt79]

Alright, here's the squad:

Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

No Symonds, McDonald in.

Happy with all of that.