Predict Australia's 17 man squad for the first test in Australia

[Spikey]

1. Warner
2. Rogers
3. Watson
4. Clarke
5. Smith
6. Marsh
7. Bailey
8. Haddin
9. Agar
10. Lyon
11. Faulkner
12. Pattinson
13. Starc
14. Harris
15. Siddle
16. Bird
17. Hazlewood

 

[Tangles]

Can't think Marsh or Bailey are a shot. They like Hughes so some runs on SS probably keep him in the squad. The other batsman spot is a lottery. Form in the SS should be the main factor but they could just use it for someone with ODI form.

 

[morgieb]

Voges worth a shout IMO.

 

[Spikey]

I'M JUST PREDICTING WHAT THEY WILL DO a

 

[LongHopCassidy]

Wade will at least be part of the squad. For worse or worser.

 

[Maximas]

Wade will at least be part of the squad. For worse or worser.

yeah, but I reckon they ought to get Nevill into the national set-up at Wade's expense

 

[Tangles]

Surely any of the other SS keepers are #betterthanwade

 

[uvelocity]

the decline of spikey

 

[Howe_zat]

Can't be that squad. I've heard of all of them.

 

[Hooksey]

I think Boof will slot the best young batsman in at number 5 or 6, and at this stage I think that's Nic Maddinson. Alternatively he might go back to Phil Hughes.

1.Warner
2.Rogers
3.Watson
4.Clarke
5.Smith
6 Maddinson / Hughes
7.Haddin
8.Siddle
9.Lyon
10.Starc
11.Harris

Will have a look at the remaining 5 spots when I get chance.

 

[Spark]

I wouldn't touch the top five for anything except injury.

 

[Hooksey]

I wouldn't touch the top five for anything except injury.

It's hard to believe we went over there thinking our bowling was up to it and our batting wasn't and yet we've come away with our top 5 batting positions as locks? If we can find an answer at 6 we look to be in good shape for the return series.

 

[andyc]

It's hard to believe we went over there thinking our bowling was up to it and our batting wasn't and yet we've come away with our top 5 batting positions as locks? If we can find an answer at 6 we look to be in good shape for the return series.

To be fair, they're only locks for now. Smith only has the one ton, Warner is still hot and cold, Watson is still Watson, and Rogers is still 35.

 

[Howe_zat]

To be fair, they're only locks for now. Smith only has the one ton, Warner is still hot and cold, Watson is still Watson, and Rogers is still 35.

Yup, it's as much to do with Cowan and Khawaja playing themselves out of contention as it is Rogers and Smith booking themselves in.

 

[Hooksey]

To be fair, they're only locks for now. Smith only has the one ton, Warner is still hot and cold, Watson is still Watson, and Rogers is still 35.

Absolutely. I recognise that, but the irony remains.

 

[Cabinet96]

Adam Zampa, the Marsh brothers and Forkers Faulkner are all locks IMO.

 

[greg]

I'm not sure that they'll feel a 17 man squad is covering enough bases.

 

[Hooksey]

Boof''s message to Faulkner was "go back and make 100s and take wickets'. No assurances contained there.

Having inherited Arthur's Ashes squad in the 11th hour Boof only had so many options. It will be interesting to see how he goes about things now he has the chance to put his own signature on the team.

 

[Tangles]

A return to 6-4-1 would be a start but I won't hold my breath. If fit Watson can bowl so number 6 should be a batsman.

 

[Hooksey]

A return to 6-4-1 would be a start but I won't hold my breath. If fit Watson can bowl so number 6 should be a batsman.

Number 6 should always be a batsman IMO. Even Gilchrist was better at 7 with 6 batsmen coming in ahead of him.