Australian Thread

[aussie]

You're not thinking in terms of a 15 man squad. You really can't afford to carry 2 keepers unless one of them can claim a place as a batsman alone. Granted Haddin is a very good OD batsman and a versatile one. But, if he is competiting for a spot with Hopes as a back up player, Hopes has more cards up his sleave. He is also a very good and versatile OD batsman and can also bowl 10 (usually cheap) overs. While I'm not saying that Haddin would be out of place in the WC squad, given that Australia can only take 15 players Hopes is the more viable option. If Gilchrist were to be injured Haddin would take his place.

Maher's only game as keeper was against The Nehterlands. I'm 100% sure that Gilchrist will play in all the games as Australia's first choice keeper, and someone like Hussey could keep against Holland or Scotland in one of Australia's first 2 games. I can't see Haddin gaining a spot ahead of Australia's current top and middle order, therefore Hopes would be the more viable option.

good point, but really i won't say he is competing with Hopes really for a final spot in the 15 man squad. Haddin really can hold his own very capably as a ODI batsman and won't mind if Australia get a injury to a middle order bat during the world cup i won't mind him playing as a replacement at all.

Hopes now would be challenging for a spot with the extra spinner which will most likely be Cullen or the possible 5th seamer in Clark or Tait.

So other than todays XI againts India, the other 4 for me would be Jaques, Hopes, Haddin, Hogg

 

[Johnners]

Unless Cullen dramatically improves his form this season he's got no hope imo. ATM i'd be looking at pretty much same squad that was at the CT, with the addition of Clark, Jaques & Haddin, and leaving out Katich, & Cullen. Haddin could pretty much walk into the squad as a specialist bat atm, so imo he's got to be there.

 

[aussie]

Australia don't need two spinners IMO, since they drop Hogg a lot a times for the sake of picking 4 quicks.

 

[aussie]

Haven't seen anyone discuss it yet, but obviously now that Martyn has gone, a little issue comes in who should take up his spot & if the order should be changed up again.

I suspect most would agree with this XI:

Gilchrist
Hayden/Jaques - based on performances in the coming months
Ponting
Watson - hopefully the selectors see it appropiate to send in down to #4
Symonds
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

The back-ups at this stage would be:

Cosgrove/White/Hodge/Voges - all depending on performances in the coming months
Clark
Johnson
Haddin/Hopes - depending on what the selectors want a back up to Gilly or want another utility player like Hopes.

 

[PhoenixFire]

Why does Gilchrist rattle on and on about 'burnout', pathetic. Seriosuly, I know people like Paramedics, Doctors and Firemen, and the job they do is a million-fold harder than the job he has to do, and do they ever complain about it, not on your life. Not to add they get paid a fraction of what Gilchrist does. I challenge him to be a Paramedic for a week, and then tell me what burnout is,

 

[PrincePeiterson]

Why does Gilchrist rattle on and on about 'burnout', pathetic. Seriosuly, I know people like Paramedics, Doctors and Firemen, and the job they do is a million-fold harder than the job he has to do, and do they ever complain about it, not on your life. Not to add they get paid a fraction of what Gilchrist does. I challenge him to be a Paramedic for a week, and then tell me what burnout is,

Im afraid its his knees. They are so butchered that he wouldn't be fit enough to be a firefighter.

 

[Stumped]

Australia will do it for McGrath!!!

 

[silentstriker]

Why does Gilchrist rattle on and on about 'burnout', pathetic. Seriosuly, I know people like Paramedics, Doctors and Firemen, and the job they do is a million-fold harder than the job he has to do, and do they ever complain about it, not on your life. Not to add they get paid a fraction of what Gilchrist does. I challenge him to be a Paramedic for a week, and then tell me what burnout is,

Huh? Mental stress is different from Physical Stress. There is only so much a body can take, regardless of how much you pay them.

 

[silentstriker]

Huh? Mental stress is different from Physical Stress. There is only so much a body can take, regardless of how much you pay them.

Burnout is a real issue, and its a huge issue, and not just in cricket. You can try your hardest, but after a while, you just get diminishing returns from your body.

 

[PhoenixFire]

As do the firefighters, but they just can't ask for a break, plus the cricketers have the money to motivate them.

 

[gordoninports]

Ponting (c)
Gilchrist
Hayden
Clarke
M Hussey
Hodge
Symonds
White
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath
Johnson
Tait

would be my latest guess at the XV

 

[howardj]

Our squad is:

Ricky Ponting (c)
Adam Gilchrist (vc)
Nathan Bracken
Michael Clarke
Brad Haddin
Matthew Hayden
Brad Hodge
Brad Hogg
Michael Hussey
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Glenn McGrath
Andrew Symonds
Shaun Tait
Shane Watson

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

The expected 13 then, with Tait beating Clark and Haddin beating White for the other two spots.

Have to say I generally agree with the squad. The only doubt for me is Tait getting the job ahead of Clark, as I imagine Clark might come good as an ODI bowler, while Tait is pretty inexperienced. Hopefully Tait bowls well in the C-H series and justifies the call.

 

[Prince EWS]

The expected 13 then, with Tait beating Clark and Haddin beating White for the other two spots.

Have to say I generally agree with the squad. The only doubt for me is Tait getting the job ahead of Clark, as I imagine Clark might come good as an ODI bowler, while Tait is pretty inexperienced. Hopefully Tait bowls well in the C-H series and justifies the call.

Tait isn't in the C-H squad though, so that won't be happening.

 

[Simon]

probably the squad everyone expected to be named, Tait in front of Clark is a positive move...

 

[age_master]

i agree, i think Tait will be a really good ODI bowler. Haddin was always going to come in with Gilly to miss the warm-ups.

 

[howardj]

Fair dinkum - it's the World Cup, and yet Gilchrist is still wanting time off.

How much is enough for that bloke?

There have been guys (like Warne with his first child) who have missed births.

Gilchrist should leave for the Carribean a few days after his baby is born in late February.

 

[mikeW]

White=Robbed.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Fair dinkum - it's the World Cup, and yet Gilchrist is still wanting time off.

How much is enough for that bloke?

There have been guys (like Warne with his first child) who have missed births.

Gilchrist should leave for the Carribean a few days after his baby is born in late February.

Why? It hardly matters in the grand scheme of things. He'll be there for all the major games, and it's a pretty important reason to miss a couple of irrelevant games.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

White=Robbed.

Nah, not really. He didn't really do enough to cement his place in the CB series, and Haddin had to be included because Gilchrist won't be available at the start.

There's nobody in that 15 man squad who shouldn't be there. White's the 16th man.