A pessimistic look at Australia's WC chances

[Noble One]

No doubting Australia have selected a side of class cricketers, just not brilliant T20 players. Will probably result in an exit before the final.

Too many negatives about our fortunes:
- Selectors are not interested in picking a true T20 squad
- The best T20 batsman (Hodge) and bowler (Nannes) did not even make the side
- The side contains some players who have done litle of note over there T20 careers (Clarke, Hopes, Hauritz)
- Australia are really struggling to play spin bowling in the limted overs format, most teams are now playing two spin bowling options.
- Our best T20 batsman in the side (Symonds) is only still finding his touch
- Lack of an economical 5th bowling option
- Too many batsman who may struggle to force the pace ealy in the innings (Haddin, Clarke, Ponting)
- Our only X-factor type player is a young batsman who is still very much an unknown quantity (Warner)
- An early exit from the tournament will not be considered a disaster. The Ashes is ahead.

 

[Mister Wright]

This was a huge chance for the Aussie selectors to select a specialist 20/20 side and rest some of the top ranked players ahead of the Ashes. Instead we've selected a squad based on previous international experience and have not given our Ashes strikers a rest ahead of the series.

 

[chaminda_00]

Have pure Twenty20 specialist ever worked at International level. i.e guys that aren't good enough to play ODIs but have brillant Twenty20 records?

Most sides who have brought in Twenty20 specialist per say, have just brought them in for their fringe players. The problem for Australia is that a lot of their top players haven't played a lot of Twenty20 cricket. As they don't play them much at International level and most of their players haven't played them much at domestic level due to International schedule.

I think Ponting has shown his capable of being an effective player at this level. Bracks and Clarke maybe not, but decent players to add depth to a squad. If the specialist don't work.

Hopes is 50/50. Batting wise he has been pretty effective, bowling well he looks behind at this level. Though there is not really another all rounder putting their hand up. Unless you class Hodge an all rounder at Twenty20 level. They should have played a Twenty20 specialist in Nannes or Harwood ahead of Hilf. But even with Hodge in for Hopes and Nannes in for Hilf, would the side look a lot different.

 

[Noble One]

I think you have hit the issue on the head Chaminda.

Most of our class ODI players simply never get the opportunity to play much T20 cricket. The KFC Big Bash is held in the middle of the international summer of cricket so players such as Clarke, Ponting, Haddin and Bracken simply don't get the opportunity to play the game. The international T20 games should not be left as the only opportunity these players get to have a practise at the format. I'm getting tired of hearing interviews from Clarke or Ponting stating how the upcoming T20 game is another opportunity to learn about the format. Most players should know what the format is about, many cricketers have played upwards of 50 games now.

It is little suprise that the most prolific T20 cricketers we have in Australia are those players who are just shy of international class. Players such as Hodge, Dave Hussey, Nannes, Dorey, Bailey. I'm sure we would have more confidence in the Australian outfit if Ricky Ponting had the opportunity to play 6-7 games for Tasmania over the summer.

 

[GIMH]

Have pure Twenty20 specialist ever worked at International level. i.e guys that aren't good enough to play ODIs but have brillant Twenty20 records?

It certainly didn't work out so well for England last time out

 

[Julian87]

Using non retired players this is our best team:

Phil Hughes
David Warner
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin (wk/c)
Andrew Symonds
David Hussey
Callum Ferguson
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Nathan Bracken

This would own most teams. Swap out Bracken for a wicket taker like Harwood or Nannes, if things don't go well.

How Phil Hughes gets a guernsey in your team ahead of the likes of Hodge I don't know.

 

[Julian87]

I am only really dissed by a couple of things. And they are no Brad Hodge who should be one of the first picked and the fact that they have persisted with Hilfenhaus at a form of cricket that does not suit him at all. We all know Clarke struggles at this level, but CA were never, ever going to drop their vice captain and future captain. I don't like our chances, but we aren't no hope IMO.

A couple of other points. I think Hopes, the real bits and pieces all rounder is a good squad selection considering this will be played in England. I hate his batting but he will play a part somewhere IMO. Mike Hussey has been out of form, but I like him in the side as a guy that floats in the middle order and can be a core of the team if wickets fall early. With Watson hopefully bowling, I think Hauritz will be a real key to any hope of success. I'm still unsure on what team I would pick, but probably something like this:

David Warner
Shane Watson
Ricky Ponting
Andrew Symonds
David Hussey
Brad Haddin
Mike Hussey
Mitch Johnson
Nathan Hauritz
Brett Lee
Nathan Bracken

James Hopes would cover most injuries and could play ahead of Hauritz if it is a raging seamer with Symonds and Hussey to bowl tweakers if need be. Hopes at 8 with Johnson, Lee and Bracken after him would pretty much allow the team to slog for 20 overs.

 

[brockley]

Well you play your test side you don't expect those who play 4/5 day cricket mentality to win the 20/20 cup.
Expect a lot of singles and not many 4's and 6's.
Dave warner was the only one chosen as a good 20/20 player.
Shambles of slection.
I guess players will get a warm up for the ashes but they won't win or go anywhere near it.

 

[Cruxdude]

I don't understand why Australia insist on playing Ponting in T20. Why not rest him from T20's and start giving youngsters a chance. Who knows it might just unearth your next Ponting.

 

[Noble One]

I don't understand why Australia insist on playing Ponting in T20. Why not rest him from T20's and start giving youngsters a chance. Who knows it might just unearth your next Ponting.

Confident that the next Ricky Ponting won't be suddenly unearthed from a T20 tournament. Apart from Brad Hodge there where few batsman, especially young batsman who deserved a shot in the squad. You play your best team available, not the best team in 5-10 years time.

 

[Naumaan]

well i think Australia 'll do better
no doubt anyone can win it cuz it's a twenty20 tournament
Pakistan picked a stupid side, yet i'm hoping for victory this time
Australia has a better side than us, so y Australians are so depressed?

The fact is only India has picked their best side, others didn't, but still this time India has no chance
i always say, last time we lost it, rather than India winning it, & same thing Australia did in semi final against India
if Australia had won it, they would 've beaten us too in the final

 

[Prad100w]

well i think Australia 'll do better
no doubt anyone can win it cuz it's a twenty20 tournament
Pakistan picked a stupid side, yet i'm hoping for victory this time
Australia has a better side than us, so y Australians are so depressed?

The fact is only India has picked their best side, others didn't, but still this time India has no chance
i always say, last time we lost it, rather than India winning it, & same thing Australia did in semi final against India
if Australia had won it, they would 've beaten us too in the final

What makes you say that India have no chance? With the recent form and kind of batting strength on paper atleast, they are easily one of the top four sides to win this competition. Regarding your point on pakistan losing it rather than India winning it, guess one team had to choke in a pressure situation and your guys did it and Australia did it too in the semis. Remember the same side made you choke even in the group stage. Now judge it by yourself.

Very hard to predict in 20-20. Pakistan are definitely a potent side. However i doubt still on Srilanka's ability with the bat in the English conditions. They got a very good bowling unit. New zealand could be the Dark Horses of the tournament. Australia have to improve to be called a great 20/20 line-up. South Africa are a good side, again not great. So most teams are evenly matched and have a chance to win. Only team i think which has no chance is England and probably the minnows.

 

[pasag]

Hate to say I told you so...

 

[PhoenixFire]

Is Hughes injured then? Was looking forward to seeing him bat.

 

[King Pietersen]

Hughes isn't in the ODI or T20 squad. He's yet to really shine in OD cricket.

 

[inbox24]

Hughes averages 40ish or thereabouts in domestic T20s if I am not mistaken. We could certainly replace Clarke and possibly Ponting with Hughes and Ferguson respectively, a decision made even easier by the departure of Symonds. Brad Hodge should be in the squad to replace Hopes. Time to take a leaf out of India's book.

 

[aussie]

Hughes averages 40ish or thereabouts in domestic T20s if I am not mistaken. We could certainly replace Clarke and possibly Ponting with Hughes and Ferguson respectively, a decision made even easier by the departure of Symonds. Brad Hodge should be in the squad to replace Hopes. Time to take a leaf out of India's book.

- Dont think Hughes would offer much more than Warner in T20s.

- Clarke no doubt be should replaced by Hodge.

- Ponting can play T20s, but the fact that given AUS ridiculous schedule in the last 4 years - leaving them to miss T20 or when they play them they are basically treated as exhibiton matches.

- Dont think Ferguson game suits T20, he would be another Clarke really.

The prob with Australia's batting in this tournament compared to IND & SA. Is the unlike them we don't have a top 7 of batsmen who can truly get moving from ball one. Losing Marsh, Symo was a huge blow & the selectors not picking Hodge obviously was idiotic.

 

[inbox24]

Ferguson is one our best limited overs finishers. He's like a neo Hussey. Hughes is a better bat than both Clarke and Marsh.

 

[Cruxdude]

Australia needs to do what India did in the last world cup. Get in the youngsters. No one knew Rohit Sharma before the last world cup.

 

[jondavluc]

Hate to say I told you so...

I don't think there is many here who are arguing with you when it comes to the side being badly picked so I don't see why you would need to say I told you so.