*Official* Third Test at the WACA

[howardj]

Yep, Johnson will play

Siddle will carry the drinks, and then will probably return for the Boxing Day Test.

 

[Burgey]

Yep, Johnson will play

Siddle will carry the drinks, and then will probably return for the Boxing Day Test.

No, I think it will be Dougeh's turn on the roundabout as he's out of the squad, you see. Sid will be back for Sidney

 

[vicleggie]

The point was that in the next 2-3 years, Jaques will likely to be able to pressure Hughes' spot in the team. That is a good thing IMO (tbh, I'd love for both to be in form and at the top of the order together).

absolutely
if hussey retires anytime soon (not suggesting that he should, just that hes35)

a good lineup would be

hughes
jacques
ponting
clarke
watson
khwaja/smith
haddin

would be good for hughes development to have an experienced pro like jacques partnered withhim at the top

however i think the unimaginative selectors will still persevere with watson at the top of the order, when its clear he would serve the team far better as a number 4-6 and a genuine 1st change bowler.

 

[Pothas]

however i think the unimaginative selectors will still persevere with watson at the top of the order, when its clear he would serve the team far better as a number 4-6 and a genuine 1st change bowler.

Problem is that Watson does not see himself as that, think you should go with what you have with Watson which is a very decent oppening bat who can make a usefull contribution with the ball.

 

[irfan]

Beer???? He'll need a few after copping an absolute pasting (if selected) from the Poms in-form top 7.

 

[GotSpin]

absolutely
if hussey retires anytime soon (not suggesting that he should, just that hes35)

a good lineup would be

hughes
jacques
ponting
clarke
watson
khwaja/smith
haddin

would be good for hughes development to have an experienced pro like jacques partnered withhim at the top

however i think the unimaginative selectors will still persevere with watson at the top of the order, when its clear he would serve the team far better as a number 4-6 and a genuine 1st change bowler.

Not having Khawaja in there as a definite lock in is a farce

 

[howardj]

absolutely
if hussey retires anytime soon (not suggesting that he should, just that hes35)

a good lineup would be

hughes
jacques.

 

[morgieb]

The point was that in the next 2-3 years, Jaques will likely to be able to pressure Hughes' spot in the team. That is a good thing IMO (tbh, I'd love for both to be in form and at the top of the order together).

Can't really see it happening. He's finished in my eyes.

 

[GotSpin]

Old mate Phil is potentially finished - his career over. No need for Watson to move down unless his work load becomes unbearable. Can't stress this enough, but Watson should not be coming in against spin

 

[stephen]

Nah, but a 42 year old Kallis might be a bit far gone, given he'd have to spend 4 years in Australia to qualify.

 

[Mike5181]

absolutely
if hussey retires anytime soon (not suggesting that he should, just that hes35)

a good lineup would be

hughes
jacques
ponting
clarke
watson
khwaja/smith
haddin

would be good for hughes development to have an experienced pro like jacques partnered withhim at the top

however i think the unimaginative selectors will still persevere with watson at the top of the order, when its clear he would serve the team far better as a number 4-6 and a genuine 1st change bowler.

I doubt Ponting will be around after Hussey retires to be honest especially if he loses the ashes (which seems pretty likely at this stage). I agree with Jaques as well. The guy is 31 not 37 there is still potential for him to be around for 3 years or so much like Katich did.

I have a feeling you will be seeing a lot of the below names in the next 5 or so years

Phillip Hughes
Phil Jaques
Michael Clarke (c)
Usman Khawaja
Shane Watson
Brad Haddin (wk)
Cameron White (only 27 now)
Shaun Marsh
Callum Ferguson
Trent Copeland
Steve O'Keefe
Peter George
Tim Paine (wk)
Peter Neville (wk)
David Warner
Steve Smith
Mitchell Starc

There are others around the domestic scene in Australia though and more will be discovered in the future that will be in contention for the national team.

 

[howardj]

Old mate Phil is potentially finished - his career over. No need for Watson to move down unless his work load becomes unbearable. Can't stress this enough, but Watson should not be coming in against spin

Absolutely. Watson clearly likes starting against pace. Moreover, I don't see how it exhausts him more, makes him more vulnerable to injury, if he opens than if he bats in the middle order. His injuries always seem to come through his bowling or fielding, not through having to go straight back out and bat after a stint in the field. By opening, he actually gets a bigger break before having to go back out and field.

 

[Mike5181]

Absolutely. Watson clearly likes starting against pace. Moreover, I don't see how it exhausts him more, makes him more vulnerable to injury, if he opens than if he bats in the middle order. His injuries always seem to come through his bowling or fielding, not through having to go straight back out and bat after a stint in the field. By opening, he actually gets a bigger break before having to go back out and field.

With this in mind you also have an opener that consistently performs with at this time a fragile middle order which contains out of form Ponting, Clarke and a just back into form player in Hussey. To put a new player in the openers role could expose these players early on and that's the last thing Australia want at this stage.

 

[social]

Again, thats the exact link i posted. Am i invisible on this forum?

Warne rates Tremlett, end of story.

You seem to think that net form equates to match performance

If that were the case, according to Nasser Hussain, Tim Bresan would be the world's best bowler

Unfortunately for the 2 Tims, the fact is that it doesnt and Warne is very clear in saying that Tremlett DOES NOT perform the same way in matches as he does in the nets (i.e. he does not do justice to his talent because of a perceived mental weakness)

Clark said the same thing as have plenty of other critics

The guy is obviously talented (and no-one disputes that) but until he actually proves that he can perform in test matches consistently, he'll continue to rate pretty low on the Respectometer

 

[Mike5181]

Warne rates Michael Beer as well.

 

[Burgey]

Warne rates Michael Beer as well.

Wait til Beer and Tremlett take 10 each for the match. Then every bastard on here (me included) will bow down to Warne for his great judgment.

 

[stephen]

We also cannot forget that players' fitness is not 100% guaranteed either.

 

[howardj]

Beer's selection, after a modest five FC games, just doesn't pass the pub test.

 

[Mike5181]

Wait til Beer and Tremlett take 10 each for the match. Then every bastard on here (me included) will bow down to Warne for his great judgment.

Lol i will join twitter and "Follow" him if that happens

 

[superkingdave]

Australia pretty good value at 7/4 for this test imo. Sneaky suspicion we will be heading to Melbourne all square.