***Official*** Australia in England 2012

[amanuensis]

It would help if Patel was actually picked as a batsman tbh.

Indeed, but he shouldn't be treated as any sort of bowler other than one who supports 5 frontliners.

 

[uvelocity]

I'd select

Warner
Watson
Wade
Clarke
Bailey
Hussey
Smith
Johnson
Pattinson
Hilfenhaus
McKay

4 main bowlers with 10 overs to come from Watson/Smith/Hussey/Clarke and Warner

its funny that the fans can see we need to lose doherty and this is our top 4, but the selectors cannot. good picks social.

 

[NasserFan207]

England are crazy strong at home. Don't see anyone beating them except possibly SA.

 

[Valer]

its funny that the fans can see we need to lose doherty and this is our top 4, but the selectors cannot. good picks social.

I feel 5-7 seems a bit weak, I'm not sure how well we'd chase down big totals// accelerate at then end with that team... Not that I have any better selections.

 

[social]

I feel 5-7 seems a bit weak, I'm not sure how well we'd chase down big totals// accelerate at then end with that team... Not that I have any better selections.

I would be far more comfortable with Christian in the team (would also give us 5 front-line bowlers + Watto) but the selectors supposedly want to see whether Smith's improvement in domestic cricket will translate to the international game

If that is really the case, then he should play virtually every game

 

[uvelocity]

no, apparently mickeys moonshine thinks he will be valuable in sri lanka for the t20 world cup. So he is playing in England in one dayers. Plus not only is he possibly a reasonable batsman; "If he's not bowling he brings two disciplines; he's fantastic in the field as well." probably why Bailey is playing too. Using ODI's to blood players for the two more important formats obv.

 

[Spikey]

I like how australia picked smith in the exact role he failed in plenty of tines before, and replaced him with forrest who got to waltz straight into 3. if smith makes it as an odi batsman - and I'm doubtful - he's doing it at 3/4/5. Stop picking him at 6/7 ffs.

watson
warner
forrest
clarke
smith
bailey
dussey
wade
3 fast bowlers

could be interesting. obv if watson-warner are 0/200 after 20 you switch the order around

 

[uvelocity]

thought benchmark banned you from cricket chat

 

[Spikey]

he caught a plane back to australia and along with the carbon tax broke into the tel**** exchange and removed a wire, meaning I could not access the internet. this took tel**** a week to fix. WAC

but yeah, if smith plays 6/7/8 i'll go postal

i of course support dropping doherty

 

[Jono]

Great, now for the next few hours I have to deal with Spikey posting in a bunch of threads as he catches up with everything.

****'s sake.

 

[Spikey]

yeah well you know who to blame

I remember someone, I think BoyBrumby, saying Cummins reminded him of Bond when he first saw him. Well.

 

[social]

I like how australia picked smith in the exact role he failed in plenty of tines before, and replaced him with forrest who got to waltz straight into 3. if smith makes it as an odi batsman - and I'm doubtful - he's doing it at 3/4/5. Stop picking him at 6/7 ffs.

watson
warner
forrest
clarke
smith
bailey
dussey
wade
3 fast bowlers

could be interesting. obv if watson-warner are 0/200 after 20 you switch the order around

I dont disagree with you re Smith but the fact is that he isnt one of the best 5 batsmen in the squad and the only justification for playing him there is that this is simply a development tour with results a secondary consideration - wouldnt have a problem with that but it would mean 1/3 of the squad not being here in the first place

Also, there has been nothing about Watson's bowling to suggest that he should be bowling 10 overs under every possible scenario - guy is a very good 6th option atm with the odd golden spell thrown in

 

[Spikey]

The main justification is that it's Smith's best position in LO overs cricket. So play him there, or don't play him at all. It's where he bats for NSW. He has time and time again shown he can not hit out from the start. He's like a mini-Clarke.

That's probably not a team I would pick if I was focused solely on result. But we are down 2-0, so risks might have to been taken, and it does play everyone in positions they can actually perform in.

But yeah I would mainly pick that team cause it's hella interesting to me, which isn't really the best way to pick a team.

 

[Valer]

How about

Warner
Watson
Wade
Clarke
Smith
Bailey
Hussey
Johnson
Pattinson
Hilfenhaus
McKay

Basically a cross between both teams?

It avoids wade / smith down the order, yet still keeps the stronger bowling.

 

[Spark]

That looks pretty good to me tbh. Smith at 3 is nosebleed territory against this attack. Though Dave Hussey is a bit low at 7.

 

[Spikey]

I'n just glad we all agree doherty must be killed

 

[Valer]

Though Dave Hussey is a bit low at 7.

Dussey is our best batsman (in the squad) with the tail. Obviously Mussey would go there in a full strength team (Cummins in for Hilf / MJ/Lee).

 

[Ruckus]

yeah looks about as good as possible to me too. But geez Hilf, Johnson and Patto in the attack isn't exactly the most reliable combo you'll ever see (not that any other combination with the squad is much better, given Lee probably should be rested anyway).

 

[Spikey]

I was surprised MJ played last match. I was sorta assuming MJ would only play when Lee didn't.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Serious question for you Aussies, seeing as there are question marks over the make up of the test batting line up and probably 2 slots to come available soon anyway when Ponting and Hussey retire what are the chances of Bailey or Forrest getting a test chance in the near future. Never having seen them play first class cricket I have no idea whether they would be anywhere near up to it.