What's Your Aussie Ashes Squad?

[vic_orthdox]

Read that Hilditch said it will be a 15 man squad, plus maybe a reserve keeper.

 

[Nate]

Exactly.

 

[andyc]

My 15 would be:
Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
McDonald
Johnson
Siddle
Clark
Lee
North
Jaques (I'm assuming he's fit, not heard anything to contrary recently)
Hilfenhaus

Reckon it'd either be this, or the same but with Symonds in for McDonald.

Edit: Wait, just realised there's no spinner, and I reckon Hauritz is definitely going. Not so sure any more, will need a think.

 

[Evilhoopler]

My 15 man squad

First 11

Phillip Hughes
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting (c)
Micheal Clarke (vc)
Brad Hodge
Marcus North
Brad Haddin (wk)
Mitchell Johnson
Jason Krejza
Peter Siddle
Nathan Bracken

On current form, Hussey is a no no

Reserves

Doug Bollinger
Nathan Hauritz
Shane Watson
David Hussey

 

[andyc]

Reckon it'll be something along these lines:

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
North
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Clark
Lee

Watson
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus
Jaques

Jaques probably the only questionable one, McDonald or Symonds might be in for him.

 

[inbox24]

To pick a decent squad, we first need to pick the people who are excluded first, otherwise we will have chaos. These guys definitely (mentioned in this thread) shouldn't go (for the tests): Krejza, Hauritz, Jaques, Rogers, Klinger, McDonald, Hartley, Manou and any other spinner or backup keeper. If Haddin is injured then fly someone over.

Now that we've established this we can pick the squad.

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Clark

Hodge
North
Symonds
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger
McGain

 

[Andre]

Jaques is unavailable, he had back surgery again and is looking to be ready for the start of next year.

If Bracken gets picked for the Test squad I will 'eat my computer'.

 

[aussie]

If Jaques is fit to go, picking him send two contrasting selectorial messages IMO.

Firstly, you are saying that you that in case Hughes gets a little trouble with the moving ball (presuming it swings this summer also). You have Jaques to come in.

Secondly, that you see Katich as a floating player. In that he can potentially drop into the middle-order if the first scenario occurs or if one of Ponting/Hussey/Clarke where to get injured. Thus picking Hodge isn't needed.

 

[howardj]

To pick a decent squad, we first need to pick the people who are excluded first, otherwise we will have chaos. These guys definitely (mentioned in this thread) shouldn't go (for the tests): Krejza, Hauritz, Jaques, Rogers, Klinger, McDonald, Hartley, Manou and any other spinner or backup keeper. If Haddin is injured then fly someone over.

Now that we've established this we can pick the squad.

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Lee
Siddle
Clark

Hodge
North
Symonds
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger
McGain

We won't be taking 9 batsmen (or four guys who can bat at six). Anyways, would much rather Ferguson go as the reserve willow weilder than any of the highlighted chappies, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30.

 

[NUFAN]

Wonder if the selectors will take note of Watson and North's performances in UAE when selecting the makeup of the Test team. I know it's a different game but I think they will.

 

[howardj]

Yep, North's an imposter.

 

[Matt79]

We won't be taking 9 batsmen (or four guys who can bat at six). Anyways, would much rather Ferguson go as the reserve willow weilder than any of the highlighted chappies, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30.

Agreed. He's only a might-be at this stage, but that better than has-been or a might-have-been.

He could be a long term element of the team, let's give him a shot and get him the experience, ahead of those guys.

Although Norths bowling could be handy - hence my inclusion in the 15. I'm ambivalent on that point.

 

[howardj]

Agreed. He's only a might-be at this stage, but that better than has-been or a might-have-been.

He could be a long term element of the team, let's give him a shot and get him the experience, ahead of those guys.

Ahead of Fergie?

But for his tonne, what has North done - for WA in recent times or for Australia?

30+ debutantes give you little but a dead-end.

Fergie has the time and scope to improve. By contrast, it's a minute to midnight for North.

 

[inbox24]

I agree with that, you only pick 30+ players (for tests) if they are absolutely brilliant like Hussey and his brother.

 

[DaRick]

Ahead of Fergie?

But for his tonne, what has North done - for WA in recent times or for Australia?

30+ debutantes give you little but a dead-end.

Fergie has the time and scope to improve. By contrast, it's a minute to midnight for North.

North is 29, FWIW.

It does seem remarkably harsh to drop someone who posted a century two Tests ago, against a marauding pace attack on a then-difficult pitch without offering a chance. Plus he can bowl some overs if need be, rather than risking stuffing Katich's or Clarke's back.

Callum Ferguson has been excellent in the ODI format, but his FC record remains moderate. As Andrew Symonds shows, a glittering ODI career doesn't necessarily equal a glittering Test career. I mean, Symonds has hardly been terrible, but he's only been brilliant on a few occassions (and other times because of inclement umpiring).

Besides, as soon as North contracted gastro before the third test, Australia's team balance was thrown out of whack - made worse by McGain's disaster of a debut.

Speaking of McGain, if it is a 'minute-to-midnight' for North, then why the hell are we considering playing a 37 year old (I don't advocate McGain's inclusion BTW, even in the 15-man squad)?

 

[Matt79]

Ahead of Fergie?

But for his tonne, what has North done - for WA in recent times or for Australia?

30+ debutantes give you little but a dead-end.

Fergie has the time and scope to improve. By contrast, it's a minute to midnight for North.

Sorry, was agreeing with you about Ferguson, not North in that post - forgot to quote. will edit my post to include the post I was quoting.

 

[Richard]

15 men will be taken on this most magnificent tour. Four months on a big bus full of piss.

My lucky 15 would be:

Hughes
Kit Kat
Ponting
Clarke
Mussey
Ferguson
Watson

Haddin
Wade

Hauritz

Clark
Hilfenhorse
Johnson
Piddle
Lee

Just spotted that you bumped this thread from 2005.

Why was that?

 

[Burgey]

Can't believe the number of people who just include Watson in the XI as soon as he's fit for one of his 3 week injury-free periods.

You'd honestly include him in a test XI over North right now? North scored a ton two tests ago against a better attack than England's, and in seam-friendly conditions. Watson's test batting record is pretty mediocre tbh, when he isn't being wheeled out to play. His best run-scoring series was in India ffs.

I'm not saying he isn't a talent and shouldn't be in the squad, but the amount of Watson love here in the test format is incredible.

 

[inbox24]

Can honestly say that North will never have even a years worth of success even at international level, that is, averaging over at least 55 for 12 months.

 

[Nate]

You have seen the future? Awesome.

Will take North averaging 54.