*Official* Australia in Bangladesh

[Jono]

Have to say that if I was an Australian fan I'd be pleased they've picked that squad and not gone for wholesale changes bringing in 8 or 9 new players - shows they're taking the series seriously.

I agree that 9 changes would have been farcicial, but isn't there a lesson in what India have done recently? Last 12-18 months they have rested some of their key players and given the youth some opportunities in matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. It has allowed Kohli and Ashwin to show that they're worth playing in the WC.

Just not sure what Australia get by playing both Hussey and Ponting in matches against Bangladesh. Surely one of them could have taken a rest?

 

[Jono]

Also Dave Hussey dropped altogether? Ludicrous.

 

[vcs]

I agree that 9 changes would have been farcicial, but isn't there a lesson in what India have done recently? Last 12-18 months they have rested some of their key players and given the youth some opportunities in matches against Bangladesh and Zimbabwe. It has allowed Kohli and Ashwin to show that they're worth playing in the WC.

Just not sure what Australia get by playing both Hussey and Ponting in matches against Bangladesh. Surely one of them could have taken a rest?

Yeah, England also suffered in the WC from not having adopted this approach enough IMO.

 

[marc71178]

I guess so, but having seen what Bangladesh did to NZ, surely the first thing they need to do is avoid a series defeat?

 

[Jono]

Indeed vcs.

India found out Jadeja wasn't good enough, Rohit Sharma wasn't good enough, Karthik wasn't good enough... at least right now, through giving them a shot against lesser teams.

Whereas England were finding out just what Tredwell could do in a must-win clash!

 

[Jono]

I guess so, but having seen what Bangladesh did to NZ, surely the first thing they need to do is avoid a series defeat?

I don't disagree with your overall premise. But I'm not sure whether you need all of Lee, Haddin, Ponting and Hussey for that. One could at least be rested.

I'm not saying be disrespecful and play a whole 2nd XI team like India did. But Australia basically played many rookies in the ODI vs. India in India last October. Why not similar vs. BAngladesh?

 

[vcs]

Also, it's such a huge positive to have Raina on standby to come in and have a blinder when Pathan didn't deliver. The guy has played a lot of ODI cricket on the subcontinent in the last 3 years and it shows in situations like this.

 

[robelinda]

Also Dave Hussey dropped altogether? Ludicrous.

He made himself unavailable due to the birth of his first child. JONO FAIL!

 

[Jono]

My bad.

Harsh reaction though.

 

[howardj]

I disagree, their job is to pick the best available team, losing two ODIs on the subcontinent can't really be expected to drastically alter their views on the composition of their best side. I don't buy into all the 'old boys club' bs, changes are only merited where they will improve the side. Picking Copeland will not improve the side...Picking Brad Hodge would, but that horse has well and truly bolted

Mate, that's an oversimplification.

Selectors must have an eye to the future, particularly after we've bombed out in the World Cup, and the next one is four years away.

Primarily yes, it's about picking your best XI, however there are other considerations also.

 

[TumTum]

Apart from Pattinson, I'm disappointed with the lack of youngsters in this squad.

 

[howardj]

Me too, Tum.

 

[social]

I disagree, their job is to pick the best available team, losing two ODIs on the subcontinent can't really be expected to drastically alter their views on the composition of their best side. I don't buy into all the 'old boys club' bs, changes are only merited where they will improve the side. Picking Copeland will not improve the side...Picking Brad Hodge would, but that horse has well and truly bolted

How do you know that Copeland wont develop into an outstanding ODI bowler unless you actually give the guy a chance?

He has done absolutely everything necessary to get a test call up so why not blood him in this format as well?

Anyway, nothing is going to change with Australian cricket until we get rid of some of the people that have made the same bad decisions over and over again

 

[Jono]

I am more and more baffled by both Hussey and Ponting going the more I think about this squad.

Hopefully one of them sits out a match at some point. Maybe Hussey in the first and Ponting in the second or third. Also worth playing Paine in one ahead of Haddin.

 

[Spikey]

Have to say that if I was an Australian fan I'd be pleased they've picked that squad and not gone for wholesale changes bringing in 8 or 9 new players - shows they're taking the series seriously.

i'd say the other thing - picking the same squad shows they're not taking the series seriously. as if we get knocked out of the wc and don't make a scrapgoat of someone.

 

[Prince EWS]

How do you know that Copeland wont develop into an outstanding ODI bowler unless you actually give the guy a chance?

By monitoring his progress in one day domestic cricket.

He has done absolutely everything necessary to get a test call up so why not blood him in this format as well?

Because he's crap at it. If he played he'd get pounded and be unfairly blacklisted from the Test team, like Brett Dorey. It's not in anyone's interest for him to play ODIs right now.

 

[Spikey]

got given a chance in the PM XI's game btw, and went terrible.






but this is CA so he'll be there by years end.

 

[Prince EWS]

Indeed vcs.

India found out Jadeja wasn't good enough, Rohit Sharma wasn't good enough, Karthik wasn't good enough... at least right now, through giving them a shot against lesser teams.

Whereas England were finding out just what Tredwell could do in a must-win clash!

I don't disagree - I don't necessarily agree either; I can see the merit in both strategies - but what I don't like is teams seemingly doing a mix of both without truly adopting either policy.

You either pick your best team for every ODI and try to win every series, or try and build for the next World Cup as best you can by rotating players for away tours and leaving out players who won't be around when the next World Cup rolls around. If Australia are going with the former approach then Dave Hussey shouldn't have been dropped and James Pattinson should not be in the squad. If Australia are going with the latter approach then Brett Lee shouldn't be playing and questions needed to be asked of Haddin, Hussey and Ponting over whether they think they'll still be available for ODI cricket in four years time.

 

[Spark]

There is also the argument that with the Clarke-Watson + ghost of Ponting thing being tested for the first time, perhaps not the best time to be experimenting with the team.

 

[marc71178]

I don't disagree - I don't necessarily agree either; I can see the merit in both strategies - but what I don't like is teams seemingly doing a mix of both without truly adopting either policy.

You either pick your best team for every ODI and try to win every series, or try and build for the next World Cup as best you can by rotating players for away tours and leaving out players who won't be around when the next World Cup rolls around. If Australia are going with the former approach then Dave Hussey shouldn't have been dropped and James Pattinson should not be in the squad. If Australia are going with the latter approach then Brett Lee shouldn't be playing and questions needed to be asked of Haddin, Hussey and Ponting over whether they think they'll still be available for ODI cricket in four years time.

PEWSfail