***Official Australia in South Africa***

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Clarke and Martyn are good selections, but I really do think Bracken should have been retained, and Watson should have slotted out Symonds.

 

[howardj]

Clarke and Martyn are good selections, but I really do think Bracken should have been retained, and Watson should have slotted out Symonds.

agree with all that. bracken for clark.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

bracken for clark.

Yep.

 

[aussie]

well what a reprive for Martyo the batting now has a real POWERFUL look again , Kasper selection isn't a surprise but it could be the end of Dizzy but he is still fairly young so maybe he can come back in the future over because i would hate to think this is the end of him.

Watson should have been picked over Symonds, but hopefully sooner or later (before the ashes) the selectors will realise that Watson is the better option. Its kinda odd that Bracken missed out TBH i thought he could have been given this chance with McGrath out to get a chance to prove himself, but i've been saying all along that i didn't think Bracken would be such a effective test bowler the selectos seem to have the same view. Clark has been given a chance it will have to do well or else Dizzy will get the recall

Overall i'm satisfied with the squad but if Watson & Dizzy were their it would be just right i'd say..

They say the 1st test at Capetwon will turn so i'll make a guess what the team might be:

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Kasprowicz
MacGill/Tait - selection depends on conditions

 

[Dasa]

Interesting squad....disappointing not to see Watson or Gillespie in there. With Tait in the squad, I really hope he plays in the Tests over Clark.

 

[howardj]

They say the 1st test at Capetwon will turn so i'll make a guess what the team might be:

Langer
Hayden
Ponting
Martyn
Hussey
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Lee
Kasprowicz
MacGill/Tait - selection depends on conditions

I have a sinking feeling that Stuart Clark will play, as the 2nd of two quicks.

 

[aussie]

I have a sinking feeling that Stuart Clark will play, as the 2nd of two quicks.

well they have done most things right so far in selectiong a close to perfect squad, they seem to be talking up Kasper & Tait(especially) so at this stage i'm well 75% sure that both Kasper and Tait would play over Clark.

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Here's hoping Clarke plays ahead of Symonds!

 

[age_master]

Very happy that Clarke and Martyn got recalled, and that Watson was left out!

Not so happy that Stuart Clark and Tait are there ahead of Dizzy though.

Clarke / Symonds for number 6 will probably go Symonds way as he will be the 3rd seamer.

 

[Demolition Man]

It's called stubborness, and a complete inability to admit that they're wrong. It's like our only hope of chasing or setting the 280+ totals that will be required on the small grounds and flat wickets of the Carribean (WC2007) will be if Katich is dismissed early.

LOL, its true.

 

[Demolition Man]

Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey and Clarke - at least the best six batsmen in the country are in the squad. Looks like, with the recall of Martyn, the selectors have one eye on the Ashes, and are out to assemble the best batting line-up in the country, regardless of age. Hodge, in my view, never really looked the part - just looked out of place.

Agreed, his 200 in perth saved him and people used that as an excuse to not contemplate dropping him.

technically speaking If all the batsmen in Australia were in-form, those 6 you named would be in the test side.
Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey and Clarke

 

[Demolition Man]

Very dissapointed to see trevor name his lovechild kasper in the squad. Playing him would be a step backwards. Even at his very best he will not be good enough to test the english batsmen in the Ashes, so IMHO is a waste of a spot.

Dizzy at his best could tear through the Poms.

Kasper is a wate of a selection, he may pick up a few wickets with his slinging pies but he does not worry good batsmen.

 

[aussie]

mate when was Kasper at his best during the ashes?, Dizzy hit rock bottom while Kasper wasn't in the same form that made him so successful in 2004. Both admitedly had a chance to make this tour, i would have gone for Dizzy but the selectors went for Kasper now so we'll see how he goes, if he doesn't come up to scrath Dizzy should return no doubt since he is younger & still cant offer more to the test side in the next 2-3 years.

 

[Demolition Man]

My best 11 with the ashes in mind

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Symonds/Clarke (Symonds must be atleast 12th man for his fielding)
7. Gilchrist
8. Warne (batting above Lee because of his peformances V poms)
9. Lee
10 Tait/Dizzy/MacGill (With McGrath in the side Dizzys experience is less required, MacGill depending on wicket)
11 McGrath

 

[Demolition Man]

He was not, but Dizzy was at his worst. Dizzy has destroyed some of the best attacks in the world (at his best) , Kasper has never been as good as dizzy.

I will add but if every pitch in the world was identical to the GABBA then yes kasper should be in the side.

 

[aussie]

My best 11 with the ashes in mind

1. Langer
2. Hayden
3. Ponting
4. Martyn
5. Hussey
6. Symonds/Clarke (Symonds must be atleast 12th man for his fielding)
7. Gilchrist
8. Warne (batting above Lee because of his peformances V poms)
9. Lee
10 Tait/Dizzy (With McGrath in the side Dizzys experience is less required)
11 McGrath

spot on, if Australia could get some real consistency out of a 4-man attack of McGrath/Lee/Tait & Warne then the big fuss over the all-rounder positon wont be much needed just for now IMO. Also it will give Australia a chance to get a than powerful top 6 which looks real good for combating england pace attack this time around.

 

[Demolition Man]

Kasper is also useless with the bat, while dizzy can actually do a job.

 

[Demolition Man]

spot on, if Australia could get some real consistency out of a 4-man attack of McGrath/Lee/Tait & Warne then the big fuss over the all-rounder positon wont be much needed just for now IMO. Also it will give Australia a chance to get a than powerful top 6 which looks real good for combating england pace attack this time around.

If In form that side would be unstoppable on australian soil.

 

[Simon]

excellent decision to recall Martyn, i know his form hasnt been great but it seems the selectors have realised they need to pick the best players available, not the players who might be good in the future...
i would have liked to see Watson in the squad for Symonds and Gillespie in there for Kasper, but im not too disapointed that Kasper is there, hes had a great season and is deserving of his spot...
Watson should consider himself pretty unlucky, Symonds was only in the side cause Watto was injured in the first place and given Symonds recent injury its pretty brave to pick him without playing a game on tour yet...
i hope Tait is given a chance in the test series too, imo he should have been on the plane to South Africa on the night of the ING Cup final...

 

[aussie]

Kasper is also useless with the bat, while dizzy can actually do a job.

come on man, Dizzy is a very capable lower -order batsman, but Kasper can bat you forgeting the last day at edgbaston already?