***Official Australia in South Africa***

[Nate]

I'd put Watson ahead of Clark.

...why?!

 

[aussie]

The aussie side should and in all likelihood will loook a little something like this in the not to distant future, barring injuries etc


1. Gilchrist (locked in )
2. Jaques ( its not how many runs katich can scrape togeather but the way he does it, it effects the balance of the innings If gilly is not overcompensating for katichs lack of attacking intent , katich is shown for the shocker he is)
3. Ponting ( locked in)
4. Martyn ( needs a score but selectors owe him one (or two))
5. Symonds (locked in)
6. Hussey (locked in)
7. Clarke (locked in)
8. Hogg (Locked in)
9. Lee (locked in)
10. Bracken ( handy with the bat and his variation has increased his value)
11. Mcgrath ( Locked in )

12. Tait ( if he can continue to increase his accuracy and consistency, especially away from adelaide oval)
13. Gillespie ( the man is back, laugh all u want poms)
14. Voges
15. Cosgrove
16. Henriques ( one for the future)
17. D.Hussey

Not good enough at the moment
----------------------------------------------
- Hopes
- Watson
- Lewis
- Katich
- Johnson
- Dorey

i agree with your main squad but how can you say Watson & Katich aren't good enough?, Watson just had a bad game only the other day he was playing pretty well in the super-series & Katich has done well in the VB series even though we all agree Jaques is the best long term option. While the jury is out on Hopes but i wont class him in the not good enough cateogory..

 

[aussie]

well with Ponting probably out for the reamainder of the OD series, & Jaques called up this could be the chance Jaques can replace Katich. Lets say Jaques does really well & Katich fails the selectors will have to chose who they want in the end. Anywayz my team for the 2nd ODI:

Gilchrist
Jaques
Martyn
Symonds
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
Clark

I'm picking Watson to bat in the top 5, because he doesn't seem like your the type of all-round in the razzaq, Afridi, cairns mode who can smash it, he is better suited at the top.

This team might not play but for me it would be the best team to play with Ponting injured..

 

[mikeW]

Bring in Allan Wise, looks a very good prospect from what i've seen this year

 

[mikeW]

well with Ponting probably out for the reamainder of the OD series, & Jaques called up this could be the chance Jaques can replace Katich. Lets say Jaques does really well & Katich fails the selectors will have to chose who they want in the end. Anywayz my team for the 2nd ODI:

Gilchrist
Jaques
Martyn
Symonds
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
Clark

I'm picking Watson to bat in the top 5, because he doesn't seem like your the type of all-round in the razzaq, Afridi, cairns mode who can smash it, he is better suited at the top.

This team might not play but for me it would be the best team to play with Ponting injured..

Mine would be

Gilchrist
Katich
Jaques
Martyn ( running out of chances)
Symonds
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Clark
Lewis ( Same as Marto)

 

[aussie]

Martyn

I hope that he isn't dropped even if he has an average series in SA it would be so unfair. But if he is instead of going to domestic cricket & picking another batsman it could be a blessing in disguise for Australia where Watson can get a chance to bat in the top 5, then maybe we will se the best in his batting:

The best aussie team if Martyn is dropped:

Jaques
Gilly
Ponting
Symonds
Watson
Clarke
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

Doesn't look bad..

 

[Ikki]

...why?!

Stuart Clark over Shane Watson? You need an explanation for my dissent?

 

[Langeveldt]

Great win for SA, its refreshing to see Smith talking with his bat.. Nice to see Kemp in the runs too..

Although I think Australia lost it for themselves really.. They are no longer my favourites for WC2007 having seen the "talent" of Watson, Clark, Lewis, Dorey and Johnson coming through.. They really need Dizzy and Glen back, and quickly.. Warney to come out of ODI retirement anybody? Moises Henriques? Steve Irwin?

 

[aussie]

Although I think Australia lost it for themselves really.. They are no longer my favourites for WC2007 having seen the "talent" of Watson, Clark, Lewis, Dorey and Johnson coming through.. They really need Dizzy and Glen back, and quickly.. Warney to come out of ODI retirement anybody? Moises Henriques? Steve Irwin?

just one game, obviously Lewis & Johnson are not the best around and Watson had his first game back & was though. A full stenght australian team are definately hot favourites to win the WC no question..

 

[Langeveldt]

Watson has looked mediocre for quite a while, he's had trouble coming back from injury and has lost pace.. Lewis looks like he will never be anything but average (when you see a really poor player a la Rikki, you can judge in one game).. Johnson looked like he had a bit about him though, he was obviously nervous though and didnt bowl a good length.

 

[TT Boy]

Watson has looked mediocre for quite a while, he's had trouble coming back from injury and has lost pace.. Lewis looks like he will never be anything but average (when you see a really poor player a la Rikki, you can judge in one game).. Johnson looked like he had a bit about him though, he was obviously nervous though and didnt bowl a good length.

Wouldn't say Watson has lost his pace, bowled pretty quick the other night 85mph plus his just lost his rhythm but then again Watson has never been a real bowler. If Australia want the best out of him, move him up the order if not get him out of the team and stick Hopes in, he can hit a ball, his bowling not up to much but batting at 7, usually all he would need to do is slog when he comes in, which he can do.

 

[sirjeremy11]

They really need Dizzy and Glen back, and quickly.. Warney to come out of ODI retirement anybody? Moises Henriques? Steve Irwin?

Can't wait for Steve Irwin to play for Australia. He would be an ace commentator to -

"That shot is beyooooooooooootyfulll"

 

[TT Boy]

Can't wait for Steve Irwin to play for Australia. He would be an ace commentator to -

"That shot is beyooooooooooootyfulll"

He would though hopefully he wouldn't have to use the word debris.

 

[Langeveldt]

Can't wait for Steve Irwin to play for Australia. He would be an ace commentator to -

"That shot is beyooooooooooootyfulll"

Irwin on Smith

"Woah babe come and get a closer look at thiis, this adult male is huuuuuge! And you can see that widened jaw, this beast is really pumped!"

 

[sirjeremy11]

Irwin on Ponting dismissed in the 90's...

"Oh no! (through tears) Oh, Ricky, I'm so sorry! Oh, this is tragedy. Sure, he may have helped guide his team to victory, but this is unfair. Oh god. Oh this is just... oh, excuse me. It's just... I love this guy like I love me wife. Oh god. Give me a minute..."

 

[TT Boy]

Irwin on Ponting dismissed in the 90's...

"Oh no! (through tears) Oh, Ricky, I'm so sorry! Oh, this is tragedy. Sure, he may have helped guide his team to victory, but this is unfair. Oh god. Oh this is just... oh, excuse me. It's just... I love this guy like I love me wife. Oh god. Give me a minute..."

His wife (Terry) would say something like this "Its such a waste, such a waste...".

 

[Langeveldt]

His wife (Terry) would say something like this "Its such a waste, such a waste...".

"lets just put it in the bag terry and get on with it"

 

[Sportsgirl]

Champion Australian paceman Glenn McGrath has ruled himself out of the Test series starting on March 16 in South Africa.

McGrath, who is not playing in the current one-day international series against the Proteas, will remain in Australia to support his wife Jane who is battling cancer.

The New South Welshman told Sydney radio station 2KY on Tuesday morning that he will not participate in the much-anticipated Test series.

Australian selectors were hopeful that McGrath would play for New South Wales in the Pura Cup match with Tasmania starting on Thursday, in the view for a national squad return, but he said that he wishes to remain with his family.

- Fair enough decison by McGrath, could this spell the end of his career?

 

[Langeveldt]

Not sure about his career, while its going to be nice not to have to worry about him for the tests, it would be sad if such a champ had to finish in this way.. I don't think even he could tell you about how he is going to finish, so best not to speculate!

 

[aussie]

- Fair enough decison by McGrath, could this spell the end of his career?

not really, but if the unthinkable happens & lets say his wife doesn't recover or something & dies , then you never know what he will do. But hopefully that doesn't happen & McGrath is back in the side when they go to bangladesh.