Who should Australia leave out for 1st Test vs NZ?

[gwo]

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Haddin
Lee
Johnson
Clark

 

[four_or_six]

Fully expect Watto to miss out. Didn't do anywhere near enough with the bat to keep his spot at 6 in front of Symonds and all the press is about how welcomed Symonds has been, hard to believe we'd be hearing all that for him to miss out. Although he bowled well at times, an attack of Johnson, Clark and Lee seems like we have enough seamers to do the job. Need to be able to pick Watto top-6 or not at all, I reckon.

He'll get his chance. He'll just have to beat out one of the top-6 to do it and he hasn't yet; for all his improvement, one 50 and associated mid-20's average on what were very flat decks is pretty dismal for a Test number 6. No-one accepted it from Freddie, neither should we from Watto. A player that good, in fact, we should be demanding more from.

Yep, probably true. If it was a debut series and there was no-one else to come in I reckon he'd keep his spot. As it is, he probably won't because they quite clearly want Symonds back in. But if that's the case, I don't understand why they haven't sent him back so he can play for Qld tomorrow.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yep, probably true. If it was a debut series and there was no-one else to come in I reckon he'd keep his spot. As it is, he probably won't because they quite clearly want Symonds back in. But if that's the case, I don't understand why they haven't sent him back so he can play for Qld tomorrow.

He'll be 12th, I'd imagine and that's surely the only reason why. Agreed though, should be finding form with the Maroons. Hope he doesn't get treated like Andy Bichel; perennial 12th, barely played for QLD so couldn't find any form to force his way in and when he did get a place, was short of a gallop. Watto needs runs if he's going to force his way back in.

 

[four_or_six]

He'll be 12th, I'd imagine and that's surely the only reason why. Agreed though, should be finding form with the Maroons. Hope he doesn't get treated like Andy Bichel; perennial 12th, barely played for QLD so couldn't find any form to force his way in and when he did get a place, was short of a gallop. Watto needs runs if he's going to force his way back in.

Well I'm not too worried if he misses out I guess. And neither does he seem to be from the stuff I've read, so that's definitely a good sign.

I still don't think Symonds has done enough domestically to get back in, and if I was Watson I'd be a bit sick of hearing how wonderful Symonds is to be around, how much he adds to the team off the field and how much they missed that when he wasn't there. But hopefully it's not something he'd take to heart.

 

[Uppercut]

Of course Symonds will play, they would not have picked him if they had no intention of playing him. Krejza for me.

If they've already decided what team they want they might have picked him in the squad because he's the ultimate twelfth man.

 

[Top_Cat]

Well I'm not too worried if he misses out I guess. And neither does he seem to be from the stuff I've read, so that's definitely a good sign.

I still don't think Symonds has done enough domestically to get back in, and if I was Watson I'd be a bit sick of hearing how wonderful Symonds is to be around, how much he adds to the team off the field and how much they missed that when he wasn't there. But hopefully it's not something he'd take to heart.

I know what you're saying but I'd imagine the selectors would have been looking for stuff like what was plain for all to see in the Twenty20; Symonds, irrespective of domestic form, just looked like he belonged in the team when he was batting. Even in a Twenty20 hit-a-thon.

Let's face it, selection of Symonds in Aussie sides has never been about domestic form; he's never had the consistent numbers a bloke like a Hussey (either of them!) or Hodge has (has he ever averaged 50 in a domestic season for QLD?). He's a big match player and rises for the occasion, has proven it time and again and looked like he wanted it the other night. That and if he has been making the right noises at training, etc. was always going to be enough to get him back in the side.

Watto should take heart from what he did in India, though. Like I said, he's definitely in the frame for a recall soon enough.

 

[four_or_six]

I know what you're saying but I'd imagine the selectors would have been looking for stuff like what was plain for all to see in the Twenty20; Symonds, irrespective of domestic form, just looked like he belonged in the team when he was batting. Even in a Twenty20 hit-a-thon.

Let's face it, selection of Symonds in Aussie sides has never been about domestic form; he's never had the consistent numbers a bloke like a Hussey (either of them!) or Hodge has (has he ever averaged 50 in a domestic season for QLD?). He's a big match player and rises for the occasion, has proven it time and again and looked like he wanted it the other night. That and if he has been making the right noises at training, etc. was always going to be enough to get him back in the side.

Watto should take heart from what he did in India, though. Like I said, he's definitely in the frame for a recall soon enough.

Yup, agree with what you say about Symonds. I can understand why Hodge was so frustrated. The younger guys shouldn't be too stressed out at all given the age of the Aussie team, it's more DHussey and Hodge who are the unlucky ones.

 

[IndGunner]

Oh bugger... i picked wrong one i didnt see johnson there.

 

[Rant0r]

Not really. The batting is a closed shop because incumbants are performing, and the only person to break into it in the last year had come off a record-breaking domestic season.

And the only bowlers being left-out in error are Noffke and Bollinger. Hardly "so many".

And on the subject of the thread - all I'll say is if Clark misses-out I might be tempted to firebomb the offices of CA. And Matt of '79 - the Flintoff poll was merged into the England vs SA thread last summer, so I see no reason for precedent not to be followed.

all the incumbents were below career average in india, other than katich, in case you weren't watching, not that i want a change, but my idea of performing and your idea or performing alters depending on 'guesswork'

oh yeah, and clarke was picked for the test team on a state average of 37

throw tait, magoffin, hilfenhaus, bracken, heal, casson, among others to that list, none would be undeserving of a place.

 

[pasag]

They won't go all seam because Ponting doesn't want to get banned. Don't like the idea of 3 bowlers + Watto and Haddin at 8 either.

 

[Rant0r]

They won't go all seam because Ponting doesn't want to get banned. Don't like the idea of 3 bowlers + Watto and Haddin at 8 either.

i think haddin will be glad to see some australian pitches to keep on, he was made to look a little silly at times over there, poor bloke, it's a tough gig, but he has to learn, and he has 2 big pairs of shoes to fill, his batting looks a little confused as well, wants to attack, but gets stuck in a rut then lashes out, india sorted him out, but he'll be back.

actually being a one eyed west australian, i hope he's not back and ronchi is in

 

[gwo]

I know what you're saying but I'd imagine the selectors would have been looking for stuff like what was plain for all to see in the Twenty20; Symonds, irrespective of domestic form, just looked like he belonged in the team when he was batting. Even in a Twenty20 hit-a-thon.

Let's face it, selection of Symonds in Aussie sides has never been about domestic form; he's never had the consistent numbers a bloke like a Hussey (either of them!) or Hodge has (has he ever averaged 50 in a domestic season for QLD?). He's a big match player and rises for the occasion, has proven it time and again and looked like he wanted it the other night. That and if he has been making the right noises at training, etc. was always going to be enough to get him back in the side.

Watto should take heart from what he did in India, though. Like I said, he's definitely in the frame for a recall soon enough.

99/00

Averaged 59.16

Thats about it.

 

[GIMH]

Hayden, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Lee and Clark.

I wouldn't pick Krezja, for reasons stated already, if the pitch isn't going to aid spin then don't waste a pick on a spinner, Symonds & Clarke can take care of it, etc

 

[four_or_six]

I reckon this is probably the answer. Hilditch appears to be saying Watson and Siddle will go home from the 13. And, perhaps, that if Krejza doesn't play it would be Siddle rather than Watson.

 

[Matt79]

From that article, from Hilditch:
"Whether they play in the same side or not isn't clear yet, but for us the simple formula is to pick our best six batters and our best four bowlers."

Now that is such bull**** - it's like the line that Merv pulled out about Symonds a couple of years back, that he was selected on the basis of his batting alone. How the selectors can honestly expect anyone to believe that either Symonds or Watson are selected on the basis of being one of the best 6 batsmen in the country, when blokes like Hodge, D. Hussey, and for much of the period one or the other has been in the team, Katich, can't get a go, is bewildering.

 

[Rant0r]

agreed, neither of them are in the top 12 let alone the top6, if they want 5 batsmen and an allrounder they should just say so.


symonds will get the nod, he ads versatility to an attack who get through the overs like a bunch of geriatrics on a flower tour, look for watto to make his mark in the next couple of years, and i'm a huge critic of his, the india tour is a turning point

 

[four_or_six]

From that article, from Hilditch:
"Whether they play in the same side or not isn't clear yet, but for us the simple formula is to pick our best six batters and our best four bowlers."

Now that is such bull**** - it's like the line that Merv pulled out about Symonds a couple of years back, that he was selected on the basis of his batting alone. How the selectors can honestly expect anyone to believe that either Symonds or Watson are selected on the basis of being one of the best 6 batsmen in the country, when blokes like Hodge, D. Hussey, and for much of the period one or the other has been in the team, Katich, can't get a go, is bewildering.

Yeah, I don't get that. Why not just say you're picking your best all-rounder? What's so wrong about picking an all-rounder anyway?

 

[mantu]

leave out in 1st test aus-nz series

Separate from the main thread for the purpose of allowing the poll - modz plz dn't merge omgz thx!!

Who should be the unlucky one to miss out in Brisbane. It seems certain selectors want to bring back Symonds, and early betting was on Watto unfairly missing. Now with the weather in Brisbane, the money has moved somewhat for Krejza, with the more unlikely scenario being that one of the three quicks makes way, with Haddin dropping down to 8.

I say Krejza should miss - while there should be some extra bounce for him in Brisbane, and spinners have got results there, it should be more helpful for the quicks, and they're all better bowlers than Jason, his debut notwithstanding. Krejza did enough to merit first go when a specialist spinner is selected, in this case however, I think we're better going with Symonds/Clarke/Katich to bowl spin if necessary. Doubt we'll be in the field for a whole day at any time anyway, so the overrate thing becomes a bit moot.

If it were one of the quicks, I'd guess it would be Clark on the pecking order that was established in India, although dropping him to accomodate a spinner with a FC average of 50, and one test, and an average of 30 would be a baffling decision IMO - on the proviso he's fully fit.

i think ponting & haidenn out 1st test match

 

[Matt79]

Pretty sure Haidenn is not playing. Not sure who out of Hayden, Katich, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, or Symonds/Watson you'd leave out to make room for him really.

 

[Richard]

all the incumbents were below career average in india, other than katich, in case you weren't watching, not that i want a change, but my idea of performing and your idea or performing alters depending on 'guesswork'

You don't drop players because of one bad series (and it'd be stretching it in the extreme to call Hussey's a bad series even if it wasn't up to his career numbers) in my book.

oh yeah, and clarke was picked for the test team on a state average of 37

4 whole years ago now. That hardly fits the "recent selections" pattern does it?

throw tait, magoffin, hilfenhaus, bracken, heal, casson, among others to that list, none would be undeserving of a place.

Heal and Magoffin haven't played a Test, nor got anywhere near doing so. Hilfenhaus hasn't played yet either and in fact has been handled with unusual sense.

Tait was taken on the tour he played his only Test on with the intention of experience, not playing, and though that was short-sighted at least he'd had a record-breaking season the previous year.

Bracken in 2005/06 was indisputably putting in the state numbers to merit selection; and 2003/04 was a long time ago as well now so like Clarke it hardly fits the "recent selections" pattern.

Casson and Krejza were clearly picked because of the "you must have a spinner" crap. Who are these others then?