Australian test selection thread 2015/16

[Dan]

Cowan's a nice shout. Seems like a switched on dude too, experience could be valuable as an ally to Smith. Was he captaining Tasmania?

Could be a good VC for a year or two.

Bailey captained Tasmania, Paine in his absence iirc. I'd certainly back him for VC though.

 

[Gob]

You know I ****ing love Cossie. And he should've been in the test team for the last 5 years. Far better than both Marshes and Watson and Voges. Still only 31. Still time. He's durable.

He is too much of a burden to carry

 

[Gob]

Its all up to Smitteh now.

 

[NZTailender]

Katich is still under 40 right?

 

[Flem274*]

Dig up Bradman

 

[Valer]

Young guys have been carrying the attack for a while now so not overly concerned

Need to bear in mind Harris was only half fit last summer and didn't play in the WI, Siddle was dropped more than a year ago and MJ has been 3rd wheel for a few series

Siddle played Adelaide.

I'm not saying that Starc + Haze +1 is poor, just that its a step back from Johnson+Harris + 1 of 2 years ago. This means Australia can somewhat less afford to have a questionable batting lineup in Aus.

 

[NUFAN]

Katich is still under 40 right?

It would be pretty funny if the Kat was just waiting for Clarke to retire before returning.

 

[NZTailender]

It would be pretty funny if the Kat was just waiting for Clarke to retire before returning.

Give him the captaincy too imo. Misbah-ul-Haq it while Smith understudies and gets another 10 centuries under his belt.

 

[social]

It's a shame that Clarke cant simply step down from the captaincy and bat 6 for a year or so

Warner
Unknown
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Clarke

has something to build around

Warner
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

is a lottery

 

[Johnners]

usman seems to have some new hype around him for some reason

Also struggling to understand this

 

[flibbertyjibber]

It's a shame that Clarke cant simply step down from the captaincy and bat 6 for a year or so

Warner
Unknown
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Clarke

has something to build around

Warner
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

is a lottery

In a way you are in a similar situation to us after the 89 ashes when virtually half our team signed up for the rebel tour to SA. It looks scary but it also kind of exciting at the same time as there will be a few who will surprise you and become decent players. At that time we only really had Smith, Russell and Fraser that you could say were any good and the likes of Gower, Botham and Lamb would have to stay on a bit due to there being nobody else but nobody could have expected Gooch to do what he did in the years after.

 

[TheJediBrah]

It's a shame that Clarke cant simply step down from the captaincy and bat 6 for a year or so

Warner
Unknown
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Clarke

has something to build around

Warner
Unknown
Smith
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown

is a lottery

Have you seen him bat lately?

You'd might as well pick Chris Martin as a specialist batsman at 6

 

[social]

In a way you are in a similar situation to us after the 89 ashes when virtually half our team signed up for the rebel tour to SA. It looks scary but it also kind of exciting at the same time as there will be a few who will surprise you and become decent players. At that time we only really had Smith, Russell and Fraser that you could say were any good and the likes of Gower, Botham and Lamb would have to stay on a bit due to there being nobody else but nobody could have expected Gooch to do what he did in the years after.

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not that worried about it as our bowlers should ensure that we take 20 wickets at home more often than not

Mind you, there will undoubtedly be some ugly results and particularly overseas

Fortunately, it's not like a few years ago when we had zero talent on the horizon

 

[social]

Have you seen him bat lately?

You'd might as well pick Chris Martin as a specialist batsman at 6

Clarke is still a better bowler than Martin so it all evens out

 

[vic_orthdox]

Love Usman, still think he'll make it.

Cowan as VC not really a great choice; think Smith needs someone he wants and trusts. Cowan not exactly a people's man, more reflective and inward.

 

[social]

Love Usman, still think he'll make it.

Cowan as VC not really a great choice; think Smith needs someone he wants and trusts. Cowan not exactly a people's man, more reflective and inward.

Not sure about Usman as feet seem to be set in concrete

Agree that some players should be picked on character/relationships rather than promise

 

[NUFAN]

With Clarke gone and Rogers likely it is scary to think that only Warner and Smith have ever made more vital test match runs than the one and only Shaun Marsh.

I'm still not really sure what combination is my favourtite top 6 moving forward, I just know that it does include Joe Burns with Smith and Warner obvs. But past those 3 I see reasons for all of Voges, Marsh, Marsh, Watson, Bancroft, Handscomb, Cowan, Henriques, Ferguson, Maxwell, Lynn, Khawaja, Handscomb, Maddinson, Stoinis, Klinger, Cosgrove and Wade to play and maybe if they did all play we'd post a competitive total. #baboomtish #gotthereintheend

 

[Red]

Not sure about Usman as feet seem to be set in concrete

That's just one of those thing people start saying and repeating. His footwork is fine and he's as orthodox and poised as anyone at the crease,

 

[Spark]

That's just one of those thing people start saying and repeating. His footwork is fine and he's as orthodox and poised as anyone at the crease,

You surely must be aware of where this match was played.

 

[Red]

You surely must be aware of where this match was played.

Not sure how that effects his footwork in any way.