howardj
International Coach
Mate, I concur. Particularly given his limp form this Summer.
However,he will get picked for the tour.
Of that there is little doubt.
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What's Your Aussie Ashes Squad?
- Thread starter howardj
- Start date
However,he will get picked for the tour.
Of that there is little doubt.
gettingbetter
State Vice-Captain
Yeah, I think he will get picked and more than likely play. Barring anything amazing in the first 2-3 Tests, I think he may get the Dizzt treatment and sit out of the last games.
Julian87
State Captain
15 hey. Well, here goes.
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Watson
Hodge
McGain
(Manou)
I don't see the negative in taking 15, plus the backup keeper in case Haddin goes down very late and we need someone within the day type of event. Are there any First Class Aussie Keepers playing in England this season?
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Watson
Hodge
McGain
(Manou)
I don't see the negative in taking 15, plus the backup keeper in case Haddin goes down very late and we need someone within the day type of event. Are there any First Class Aussie Keepers playing in England this season?
Evermind
International Debutant
Would replace Hodge with Symonds. Otherwise, good squad and final XI.
Julian87
State Captain
Because a batsman won't be dropped, so I want an experienced and cool head like Brad Hodge there to cover any middle or top order injuries. The other option is Chris Rogers covering the openers, which would mean Katich would slip down the order if a middle order batsman was injured. Watson would always bat top 6 as well though IMO. Especially with Johnson at 8 and Lee, 9.
Andre
International Regular
Roughly I reckon this is the squad which the selectors will take in starting XI.
Hughes
Katich
Ponting (c)
Clarke
M. Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Siddle
Symonds
McDonald
Hilfenhaus
McGain
Manou.
There are a few things I would like to see in this squad. however. For starters, you can't tell me Brad Hodge isn't in the best 7 batsmen in Australia and doesn't deserve to be on the trip, but seemingly his cards have been marked and he has missed the boat IMO. Not convinced there is a lot of love between him and Punter from what I've heard.
Symonds as reserve batsman is an interesting one - I think he might just edge out Watson for that spot but it depends what he does on the drink between now and then. Ponting has a lot of sway over the side that he gets and he will be pushing for Roy if he is in a decent state - that is a huge if though at the moment I reckon. If not, Watson tours, but that also depends on how he comes back from his injury - his bowling was coming good but it will take time to get it back on track. Plus, his batting hasn't looked too adaptable at Test level.
I don't think Rogers will be named in the squad but I fully expect him to be called up if there is an injury to an opening bat - he will be captaining Derbyshire anyway, so there isn't a heck of a lot of point picking him unless he is going to be the reserve batsman as he will already be in England anyway, and I don't see him filling a middle order role. Katich could bump down the order, but he's made a pretty good fist of opening and I wouldn't change that just yet.
Stuart Clark is a must - he will fill the breach on containing bowler, someone who we missed until McDonald stepped up and did a job, but obviously there is a huge difference in class between the two as strike options in particular.
Brett Lee will get picked, even though I don't nessesarially think he should be. As a Test bowler who's been around for 10 years now, he's probably struggled for 7 of them at that level - I'd be prepared to argue his bumper summer in 2007/08 was the exception rather than the norm. There is also no way he should bat ahead of Johnson if he plays.
Bryce McGain deserves selection IMO - I just really hope he can get a short-term county gig before the tour to get some good quality bowling in. He's pretty comfortably the best spinner we've got even though he had a shocker of EPIC proportions in the 3rd Test vs South Africa. To me, he looked really short of a gallop - he was landing some ok, but he just looked a bit tentative, the follow through wasn't there and he wasn't getting much body into it, hence no fizz. That's pretty natural coming back from the injury he had, he just needs some bowling between now and then and I'm confident we can squeeze 18 months out of him in the hope that someone else might come along and step up (Jon Holland and Steve Smith look a chance to step up in that sort of timeframe IMO). Nathan Hauritz was servicable and is an option if Stuart Clark doesn't tour as a containing option, but he's best served in the one day squad I reckon. Can't see him taking a bagful at any time soon. Probably a poor mans Brad Hogg type of thing. Jason Krejza is little better than first class standard and won't tour anywhere in the world that isn't the sub continent so I don't think he is really in the frame.
Hilfenhaus has Bollinger covered for the reserve fast bowlers spot. Bollinger looks like a good domestic bowler but not much more than that for mine. Some bowlers can do the job at domestic level and step up into Test cricket pretty comfortably (eg. Siddle), for others it looks like a bridge too far (think Jo Angel). I think that might be his lot I'm afraid.
I'd like to see Graham Manou get taken as the reserve keeper if they take one, and I also wouldn't be too upset to hear Michael Klinger's name when the squad is named, but as highly as I rate him, he's been around 10 years and only really had 1 bumper summer. Another huge summer and he will be really close, but I can't see him getting picked for now. I'd be happy to see Callum Ferguson in the frame to tour but I don't think he will either, but watch for him over the next few seasons to emerge as a genuine Test contender.
Also a cosmetic thing, but I'd like to see Michael Clarke step up to number 4 and Mike Hussey to drop down to 5. To be honest, I think Hussey is a player on the slide now a bit, and although he might squeeze out some gutsy runs over the next 12 months, I can't see him going much further than that before players like Ferguson and George Bailey bash the door down.
Hughes
Katich
Ponting (c)
Clarke
M. Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Clark
Siddle
Symonds
McDonald
Hilfenhaus
McGain
Manou.
There are a few things I would like to see in this squad. however. For starters, you can't tell me Brad Hodge isn't in the best 7 batsmen in Australia and doesn't deserve to be on the trip, but seemingly his cards have been marked and he has missed the boat IMO. Not convinced there is a lot of love between him and Punter from what I've heard.
Symonds as reserve batsman is an interesting one - I think he might just edge out Watson for that spot but it depends what he does on the drink between now and then. Ponting has a lot of sway over the side that he gets and he will be pushing for Roy if he is in a decent state - that is a huge if though at the moment I reckon. If not, Watson tours, but that also depends on how he comes back from his injury - his bowling was coming good but it will take time to get it back on track. Plus, his batting hasn't looked too adaptable at Test level.
I don't think Rogers will be named in the squad but I fully expect him to be called up if there is an injury to an opening bat - he will be captaining Derbyshire anyway, so there isn't a heck of a lot of point picking him unless he is going to be the reserve batsman as he will already be in England anyway, and I don't see him filling a middle order role. Katich could bump down the order, but he's made a pretty good fist of opening and I wouldn't change that just yet.
Stuart Clark is a must - he will fill the breach on containing bowler, someone who we missed until McDonald stepped up and did a job, but obviously there is a huge difference in class between the two as strike options in particular.
Brett Lee will get picked, even though I don't nessesarially think he should be. As a Test bowler who's been around for 10 years now, he's probably struggled for 7 of them at that level - I'd be prepared to argue his bumper summer in 2007/08 was the exception rather than the norm. There is also no way he should bat ahead of Johnson if he plays.
Bryce McGain deserves selection IMO - I just really hope he can get a short-term county gig before the tour to get some good quality bowling in. He's pretty comfortably the best spinner we've got even though he had a shocker of EPIC proportions in the 3rd Test vs South Africa. To me, he looked really short of a gallop - he was landing some ok, but he just looked a bit tentative, the follow through wasn't there and he wasn't getting much body into it, hence no fizz. That's pretty natural coming back from the injury he had, he just needs some bowling between now and then and I'm confident we can squeeze 18 months out of him in the hope that someone else might come along and step up (Jon Holland and Steve Smith look a chance to step up in that sort of timeframe IMO). Nathan Hauritz was servicable and is an option if Stuart Clark doesn't tour as a containing option, but he's best served in the one day squad I reckon. Can't see him taking a bagful at any time soon. Probably a poor mans Brad Hogg type of thing. Jason Krejza is little better than first class standard and won't tour anywhere in the world that isn't the sub continent so I don't think he is really in the frame.
Hilfenhaus has Bollinger covered for the reserve fast bowlers spot. Bollinger looks like a good domestic bowler but not much more than that for mine. Some bowlers can do the job at domestic level and step up into Test cricket pretty comfortably (eg. Siddle), for others it looks like a bridge too far (think Jo Angel). I think that might be his lot I'm afraid.
I'd like to see Graham Manou get taken as the reserve keeper if they take one, and I also wouldn't be too upset to hear Michael Klinger's name when the squad is named, but as highly as I rate him, he's been around 10 years and only really had 1 bumper summer. Another huge summer and he will be really close, but I can't see him getting picked for now. I'd be happy to see Callum Ferguson in the frame to tour but I don't think he will either, but watch for him over the next few seasons to emerge as a genuine Test contender.
Also a cosmetic thing, but I'd like to see Michael Clarke step up to number 4 and Mike Hussey to drop down to 5. To be honest, I think Hussey is a player on the slide now a bit, and although he might squeeze out some gutsy runs over the next 12 months, I can't see him going much further than that before players like Ferguson and George Bailey bash the door down.
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howardj
International Coach
My 15 man Ashes Squad
7 batsmen
5 quicks
1 token tweaker
1 keeper
1 allrounder
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Mussey
Watson (would rather him than North batting at six)
Ferguson (this guy is a future star and would benefit enormously by going along for the experience)
Clark
Hilfenhaus
Johnson
Siddle
Lee
Hauritz
Haddin
MacDonald (did a serviceable job in South Africa, and could be handy with the Duke ball over there).
7 batsmen
5 quicks
1 token tweaker
1 keeper
1 allrounder
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Mussey
Watson (would rather him than North batting at six)
Ferguson (this guy is a future star and would benefit enormously by going along for the experience)
Clark
Hilfenhaus
Johnson
Siddle
Lee
Hauritz
Haddin
MacDonald (did a serviceable job in South Africa, and could be handy with the Duke ball over there).
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Agree with the make-up of the squad, but if Watson can bowl they'll take him over and probably leave McDonald at home, thus taking North and Watson.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
Seeing McDonald, why not pick Hopes in the test set-up as well???. Fact is he should not be in the Ashes squad.
The best XI is clear really, from the team that played in SA just replace McDonald, Hilfenhaus. With Lee, Clark. So since 16-man squad is going to be picked, the debate really is in the other 5 players, who i reckon (subject to fitness):
Hodge: He should go in case lets say one of Ponting/Hussey/Clark gets injured.
Hilfenhaus: Some weren't too convinced about his performances in SA. But i dont see the problem, Australia's hoggard in every sense, a must pick.
Manou: Haddin will need rest in those warm-up games...
Watson: Once fit a must pick, if not the squad should be a 15-man one.
Hauritz/McGain/Krejza: Having just seen the spanking McGain got in the last test, its hard to say anything good about him TBH. Even though its clear based on form he was the best FC spinner in Australia (hell Warne rates him).
But given that pace-battery is going to be main source of wickets over here clearly, the spinner spot is really token spot.
So i'd say if the selectors end up playing 4 quicks with North @ 6, Hauritz should be selected because that sends a clear message @ spinner really isn't seen as major wicket-taking option for the series.
But if Watson can bowl & is chosen ahead of North for the # 6 spot. Krejza/McGain should be picked (Krejza more so), although he delivered alot of loose stuff in a 5-man attack i think he can be very dangerous...
The best XI is clear really, from the team that played in SA just replace McDonald, Hilfenhaus. With Lee, Clark. So since 16-man squad is going to be picked, the debate really is in the other 5 players, who i reckon (subject to fitness):
Hodge: He should go in case lets say one of Ponting/Hussey/Clark gets injured.
Hilfenhaus: Some weren't too convinced about his performances in SA. But i dont see the problem, Australia's hoggard in every sense, a must pick.
Manou: Haddin will need rest in those warm-up games...
Watson: Once fit a must pick, if not the squad should be a 15-man one.
Hauritz/McGain/Krejza: Having just seen the spanking McGain got in the last test, its hard to say anything good about him TBH. Even though its clear based on form he was the best FC spinner in Australia (hell Warne rates him).
But given that pace-battery is going to be main source of wickets over here clearly, the spinner spot is really token spot.
So i'd say if the selectors end up playing 4 quicks with North @ 6, Hauritz should be selected because that sends a clear message @ spinner really isn't seen as major wicket-taking option for the series.
But if Watson can bowl & is chosen ahead of North for the # 6 spot. Krejza/McGain should be picked (Krejza more so), although he delivered alot of loose stuff in a 5-man attack i think he can be very dangerous...
pasag
RTDAS
Why would you rest Haddin in the warm-up games? Will need all the practice with the gloves and bat he can get.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
With the amount of cricket he is playing ATM, i dont think he needs FC warm-up. Dont want him to get injured before any test, so the keeper is basically being picked play those county matches.
pasag
RTDAS
Then rest him from the other stuff. Keeping in England for the first time isn't easy (and neither is batting) and you want as much practice as you can before the first Test.
aussie
Hall of Fame Member
For real, but TBH only Boucher in 98 & Akmal in 06 i can recall having real problems on their first tours here with the duke ball. (Ratra 2002 for India i think also but he wasn't anything special).
Looking @ the fixtures also, after the T20 WC. Sussex & the ENG Lions before the 1st test, so i guess he would only play in 1. Then Kent between the 4th & the 5th test, surely he would be resting then.
rivera213
U19 Vice-Captain
I think Australia should open with Tait and Stuart Clark, drop Ponting, Hussey and Johnson and have Rolf Harris as the spinner. (We may win then).
-----------------------------------
Starting XI:
Hughes
Katich
Ponting (C)
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds (ahead of Marcus North cos his bowling is much better and is an awesome fielder)
Haddin (WK)
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Clark
SQUAD:
Marcus North (direct replacement for Symonds)
Jason Krejza (in case they require a genuine spinner)
Brett Lee (injury permitting)
Replacement WK (not up on my Aussie WK's tbh)
If 1 of the batsmen get injured, I'd fly out Brad Hodge.
-----------------------------------
Starting XI:
Hughes
Katich
Ponting (C)
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds (ahead of Marcus North cos his bowling is much better and is an awesome fielder)
Haddin (WK)
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Clark
SQUAD:
Marcus North (direct replacement for Symonds)
Jason Krejza (in case they require a genuine spinner)
Brett Lee (injury permitting)
Replacement WK (not up on my Aussie WK's tbh)
If 1 of the batsmen get injured, I'd fly out Brad Hodge.
Nate
You'll Never Walk Alone
Would probably have
Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Stuart Clark
Peter Siddle
as the starting XI with
Shane Watson
Andrew Symonds
Jason Krezja
Nathan Bracken
Chris Hartley
as the reserves.
Phil Hughes
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Stuart Clark
Peter Siddle
as the starting XI with
Shane Watson
Andrew Symonds
Jason Krezja
Nathan Bracken
Chris Hartley
as the reserves.