Should Brett Lee be selected for the Ashes?

[inbox24]

As much as the warmup is about deciding spots, it should also be about getting guys who are actually gonna play in form. Bad job resting Johnson.

 

[Burgey]

Inbox, you've probably already given your reasons, but why are you so certain Australia will lose this series?

 

[pup11]

Lee's in the first warm-up game apparently, with Johnson being rested.

Interesting, as I get the impression Johnson bowls his best with plenty of work under his belt (). Not sure if Clark is playing as well.

I read an article on cricinfo, in which it was mentioned that Clark, Siddle, Hilfenhuas and Lee are all going to play, and since Watson has been ruled out of today's practice match due to a knee problem, Hauritz too is likely to play.

As much as the warmup is about deciding spots, it should also be about getting guys who are actually gonna play in form. Bad job resting Johnson.

Today's practice game is more about giving every bloke who isn't a certainty yet to make it in the final XI for the first test, a chance to stake their claims, as Johnson is already a certainty for the 1st test, its only fair enough to rest him for this game, and let the other fight out for the remaining spots.

I am pretty sure that Australia are going to feild almost the same XI they are likely to come up with for the 1st test, in the next practice game.

 

[inbox24]

Inbox, you've probably already given your reasons, but why are you so certain Australia will lose this series?

At this stage I might take a step back and say there's way way more chance that they'll lose it than they will win it.

1. Bad selections, India-esque selections
2. Senior batting not clicking
3. Bowlers coming back from injury, and Hauritz ponderance
4. England seems to have a pretty settled lineup
5. They've unearthed quality swing and spin

 

[scorpiogal]

Today's practice game is more about giving every bloke who isn't a certainty yet to make it in the final XI for the first test, a chance to stake their claims, as Johnson is already a certainty for the 1st test, its only fair enough to rest him for this game, and let the other fight out for the remaining spots.

I am pretty sure that Australia are going to feild almost the same XI they are likely to come up with for the 1st test, in the next practice game.

Apparently there are no selectors on duty atm. Hilditch is due over there next week....so, question: who's looking at the fellas while they 'fight for their spots'? Ponting? Neilsen? Cos, by J, Ponting has his own form to worry about.

 

[Son Of Coco]

At this stage I might take a step back and say there's way way more chance that they'll lose it than they will win it.

1. Bad selections, India-esque selections
2. Senior batting not clicking
3. Bowlers coming back from injury, and Hauritz ponderance
4. England seems to have a pretty settled lineup
5. They've unearthed quality swing and spin

Think the last part's being overblown to be honest. Although Australia need to worry about unearthing some quality batting too.

 

[aussie]

1. Bad selections, India-esque selections

The bad selection have been picking McDonald instead of Hodge as a back-up batsman & Hauritz over Krejza.

Hopefully once the selection stick to rubric of 6 bats, Haddin & 4 quicks. The stupidity of those two being selected wont be exposed.

4. England seems to have a pretty settled lineup

Not totally.

Firstly look at Bopara @ 3, although he has earned his place - the STRONG possibilty still remains he could get owned by AUS.

Secondly, there is still a bit of a debate between whether Sidebottom should come right back in or Onions should keep his place. I'm in the Sidebottom camp..

Thirdly, well the unpredictability of Flintoff's fitness. Losing him during the Ashes, of course throw ENGs balance into problems.

5. They've unearthed quality swing and spin

Who are you refering to here ENG or AUS?

 

[inbox24]

Hopefully once the selection stick to rubric of 6 bats, Haddin & 4 quicks. The stupidity of those two being selected wont be exposed.

See that was the great hope once the McGrath-Warne era was over. Now we must all come to the sober conclusion that unless the selection panel is revamped (and Nielsen is deported) this will not happen. Doesn't matter how many test matches we lose in a row, as long as Hilditch is a selector, then Australia are screwed.

 

[social]

See that was the great hope once the McGrath-Warne era was over. Now we must all come to the sober conclusion that unless the selection panel is revamped (and Nielsen is deported) this will not happen. Doesn't matter how many test matches we lose in a row, as long as Hilditch is a selector, then Australia are screwed.

Correct me if I'm wrong but didnt we just beat SA in SA?

 

[Son Of Coco]

Correct me if I'm wrong but didnt we just beat SA in SA?

That was my recollection of it too.

 

[aussie]

Lets not fool ourselves, although AUS won in SA, it was as much a lucky escape - as it was the superb individual brillainces of Hughes, Johnson & Siddle.

If AUS hypotetically where to tour SA next year with that exact bowling attack. More of what happened in the 3rd test would be the trend of the series.

 

[social]

Lets not fool ourselves, although AUS won in SA, it was as much a lucky escape - as it was the superb individual brillainces of Hughes, Johnson & Siddle.

If AUS hypotetically where to tour SA next year with that exact bowling attack. More of what happened in the 3rd test would be the trend of the series.

If Siddle and Johnson keep improving at the rate they've done over the past 12 months, Oz will beat SA 9/10 series IMO

Furthermore:

Ntini - basically gone

Morkel - going backwards

Boucher - on last legs

Smith - battered by Jonhson and he's the only opener SA have at present

SA had their chance to go number 1 and came up short against a novice attack because the quality simply isnt there

 

[Burgey]

Lets not fool ourselves, although SA won in AUS, it was as much a lucky escape - as they were down and out in the first two tests but won them due to the superb individual brillainces of a few individuals and the fact Australia was playing with at least one injured quick, and the balance of their attack were novices.

If SA hypotetically where to tour AUS next year with that exact bowling attack. More of what happened in the 3rd test would be the trend of the series.

Fixed.

 

[Uppercut]

If Siddle and Johnson keep improving at the rate they've done over the past 12 months, Oz will beat SA 9/10 series IMO

Furthermore:

Ntini - basically gone

Morkel - going backwards

Boucher - on last legs

Smith - battered by Jonhson and he's the only opener SA have at present

SA had their chance to go number 1 and came up short against a novice attack because the quality simply isnt there

Wayne Parnell's ****ing good though. So is Smith tbh. Getting injured by the best fast bowler in the world doesn't change that.

Personally don't see why it wouldn't always be a close series when the two meet, the two sets of players are very much in the same class. Australia are almost expected to win all the time simply because they're Australia and everyone's used to them winning. Could be something to that, with the winning mentality they have, but it's no reason to suggest South Africa won't compete.

 

[Top_Cat]

Lets not fool ourselves, although AUS won in SA, it was as much a lucky escape - as it was the superb individual brillainces of Hughes, Johnson & Siddle.

Come on. You don't get THAT lucky for two Tests in a row against a team like SA.

 

[pup11]

Come on. You don't get THAT lucky for two Tests in a row against a team like SA.

Yeah, aussie is clearly ignoring contributions likes of McDonald, Katich, North and Hilfenhaus made, Johnson, Hughes and Siddle were obviously the main contributors, but from where I see things, every member of the Australian side contributed to the cause at one point or other, and it was this team-effort that helped Aus beat SA in their own backyard.

 

[Andre]

Any money on M Hussey losing his spot by series end?

 

[pup11]

Apparently there are no selectors on duty atm. Hilditch is due over there next week....so, question: who's looking at the fellas while they 'fight for their spots'? Ponting? Neilsen? Cos, by J, Ponting has his own form to worry about.

That's quite surprising, especially considering the final team combination is still far from settled, and therefore you would expect the selectors to keep a keen eye on the proceedings during the practice games, I guess now they would just have a look at the scorecard of the match and decide how well a bloke did.

 

[pup11]

Any money on M Hussey losing his spot by series end?

Nah, no chance, Huss is going through a bit of rough patch, but still I would back him to play out a few gritty knocks in this series.

 

[Son Of Coco]

Come on. You don't get THAT lucky for two Tests in a row against a team like SA.

Yeah exactly, unless you don't watch the game. If Australia were lucky in SA what were SA in Australia?