*Official* First Test at the Gabba

[GotSpin]

So much relies on Ponting this series. Unbelievable pressure, especially if Clarke goes down with a back injury.

Surely if Clarke can't play they'd bring Usman in to replace him. That'd be the logical step though

 

[Ruckus]

Pretty sure we can bring in a replacement if it becomes clear that a player from the squad won't be able to play in the test.
Though I've a feeling both Bollinger and Clarke are going to rush themselves into this game, and we would be taking a huge punt if they do that, also read somewhere that Watson too isn't fully fit.
So...there you go it surely doesn't look good for us atm, unsettled team, out of form batsmen and injured key players.

Watson as well!? Where did you here that?

 

[Ruckus]

Surely if Clarke can't play they'd bring Usman in to replace him. That'd be the logical step though

Yeh but Clarke's problem will likely go right down to (and be decided) the time of the first test, in which case Smith is the only immediate backup.

 

[GotSpin]

In the case of Hussey and North it might be true, but people like Hodge, Rogers, Jacques, Dussey, McDonald would disagree with this theory.
The thing is these days favoritism plays a big part in who gets picked and who doesn't, in the Australian team. Now that's nothing new and happens everywhere around the world, but when the players you are backing aren't that good or aren't performing and the players who you are continuously ignoring are consistently doing well, then the motives of the people who are running the show certainly become questionable.
Selection should be an answerable job IMO, and like players if selectors can't do their job properly then they too should be shown the door.

Yeah the current selectors seem to have certain favourites, pointing towards 'experience' as the factor behind their continued selection, while choosing to ignore the string of failures that have accompanied said batsmen. There's really no other explanation for why Hussey and North will be lining up on Thursday

 

[GotSpin]

Yeh but Clarke's problem will likely go right down to (and be decided) the time of the first test, in which case Smith is the only immediate backup.

Surely they can fly Usman into Brisbane now on standby just in case, knowing that Clarke may be unable to play

Not that hard to do

 

[benchmark00]

Surely they can fly Usman into Brisbane now on standby just in case, knowing that Clarke may be unable to play

Not that hard to do

Mate, have you been keeping abreast with QANTAS' woes of late?

Getting a safe flight to Queensland is damn hard to do itbt.

 

[DragonPunk]

Apparently Khawaja has been flown up as backup.

 

[howardj]

This time I have a proper leak, from a real spy!

One of the financial planners at our firm went to a lunch today with Crash Craddock who said that Clarke will not play.

 

[Howe_zat]

Up on cricinfo now.

The Ashes 2010-11: Usman Khawaja called up as Michael Clarke remains uncertain for Ashes opener | Cricket News | The Ashes 2010-11 | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[Burgey]

This time I have a proper leak, from a real spy!

One of the financial planners at our firm went to a lunch today with Crash Craddock who said that Clarke will not play.

Your source is a journo then?

Well itstl.

I'd assume Hussey to four, Usman to five and North averaging sixes and sevens as usual than?

Does anyone think they haven't called up the right player as cover for Clarke?

 

[howardj]

It just gets better

I truly expected the match to be washed out, but this is actually surprisingly good considering the hosing Brisbane has copped of late.

 

[four_or_six]

They called up Khawaja? Why is Smith in the squad then?

Will be a big blow for the Aussies to lose Clarke, I think he's their best batsman. Strange parallels from last time where Clarke was the one called up as injury cover.

 

[Prince EWS]

Your source is a journo then?

Well itstl.

I'd assume Hussey to four, Usman to five and North averaging sixes and sevens as usual than?

Does anyone think they haven't called up the right player as cover for Clarke?

Well after saying I'd have dropped Mike Hussey for Khawaja, I'm going to contradict myself a bit and say I would've brought Dave Hussey in for Clarke. It makes more sense to bring Khawaja in if you're actually changing the first eleven and giving him an extended run, but if you just want someone to fill in for Test I'd go with Dave Hussey.

 

[Howe_zat]

Khawaja's call-up is pretty damning for Smith, they clearly don't rate him as a batsman.

 

[Noble One]

If he didn't have such a dismal time in Hobart, nobody would be upset by the selection of Khawaja. On numbers alone he deserves to be the backup, and it's finally the injection of quality youth that the side needs.

 

[flibbertyjibber]

Well if Clarke is out then it makes me even happier and the batting even more brittle.4,5 and 6 being a couple of players under intense pressure and a debutant is a recipe for disaster.

 

[morgieb]

Odds on, if Clarke is ruled out, that Khawaja will push Hussey out ala Damien Martyn?

 

[Nate]

Well if Clarke is out then it makes me even happier and the batting even more brittle.4,5 and 6 being a couple of players under intense pressure and a debutant is a recipe for disaster.

 

[Howe_zat]

If they were going to drop Hussey then they would have left him out of the squad.

 

[Howe_zat]

I'm less than convinced by the argument that you should never debut a player in the Ashes.