Australia in South Africa

[angryangy]

Not bad at all, now we just need a left arm swing bowler and we would have the complete package.
After seeing Bracken bowl in the VB series he should definitely be given a go in the test side. I would like to see Tait given a go but I don't mind Dizzy gettting a go ahead of him.

Interesting comment made by the commentators. If Watson was to tour for ODIs, they are saying Hussey to open and Watson at 7. Extrememly bad move imo. If Hussey, Symonds are out imagine how well our death batting will get. We had huge problems with finishing off an inns before Hussey arrived. Watson was at 7 when we had these problems.

Put it simply leave Hussey down the order, drop Martyn for Watson and bring Jaques in for Katich. Possibly give Watson a try at 4 because he isn't much use down the order to finish the inns.

Why do you people hate Marto so?

 

[Jarryd]

Wonder if the ICC'll jump up and down about racism when we cop the reception they'll give us. I'll bet they won't, ICC only protects black people from racism.

And before you rush to delete it, which is inevitable, ask yourself this. Am I wrong?

 

[aussie1st]

Why do you people hate Marto so?

It's the only way to bring in Watson. You can't drop Katich cause he keeps making runs. But I don't think he'll be dropped anyway, hes probably done just enough in the VB series. But if he has a shocker in SA he will definitely be dropped.

 

[James219]

Yeah, obviously Johnson has a yard more pace, but don't we have a good supply of left arm bowlers (of various types) these days? Bracken, Hogg, Johnson, Bollinger, Wise and Casson, to name the ones that come to mind.

Honestly, I really don't know about Johnson having a yard more pace. Bollinger is fairly tall to answer a recent question, not towering, but he is a very deceptive bowler and would definitely consider him to be quicker than Johnson. I've seen him quite alot over the years, he's more fluent than Johnson and trust me, he's got pace.
And he's been bald for quite a while, or in the process.

 

[angryangy]

It's the only way to bring in Watson. You can't drop Katich cause he keeps making runs. But I don't think he'll be dropped anyway, hes probably done just enough in the VB series. But if he has a shocker in SA he will definitely be dropped.

It's not the only way, but it is a good way to ruin the team. Work with 3 specialist pacemen and one of Hogg and Watson in the XI at no. 8, one as the sub. Perhaps it's harsh on Watson's batting, but he could handle 5 at best and the current middle order is a thousand times better than he is.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke could move to 4, Hussey at 6 and our middle order would be just fine. Watson in at 7 but with the way Hussey is going he shouldn't be needed to often. But if you are fine with Symonds as 5th bowler than there is no need to change the side.

 

[genghis_khan]

i think this could be Hogg's last tour in the ODI team...
i think 12 months from now Dan Cullen will be the frontline ODI spinner.

i wish we had a pace attack like England

 

[aussie1st]

Forget the English pace attack we could have one that matches the WI pace attack
A few years - Lee, Tait, Johnson, Bollinger/Bird, Henquries and Watson will be our pace attack.
Hogg will be in the squad to the WC, if we wanted a different spinner we would have been trying one by now.

 

[aussie1st]

SA to take the series 5-0 after looking at our squad.

Ricky Ponting (c) TAS
Adam Gilchrist (vc) WA
Nathan Bracken NSW
Michael Clarke NSW
Stuart Clark NSW
Brad Hogg WA
Michael Hussey WA
Mitchell Johnson
Simon Katich NSW
Brett Lee NSW
Mick Lewis VIC
Damien Martyn WA
Shane Watson QLD
Andrew Symonds QLD

http://cricket.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=36520

Why the hell didn't they take Tait, his ING form last season and this season is 1 million times better than Johnson. Heck even Bollinger's form in ING is better as I have shown above.

Can't believe they won't give Jaques another go

 

[adthomp]

I know agree there aussie 1st even Gallispi was having a good season but there looking for reasons not to pick guys thease days./... dont think SA will win 5-0 though

is Nel and Ntini back for SA ?? if they are could well be SA win it

 

[aussie1st]

From what I hear SA should be full strength. I don't honestly believe SA will get 5-0 just not very happy with the selections. Our batting is just fine.
Our bowling lineup is what could cost us games. We have the same 4 guys that got taken to by the Kiwis on their way to a World Record. I hope they have learnt from that because if we concede another World record our defense of the WC is looking very shakey.

Since they have taken Johnson he better get some games as our bowling attack is so weak its not funny. If Lee doesn't strike and the batters don't play stupid shots to Bracken we will concede 300+. That is where Johnson is needed, his extra pace means he will be a wicket taking option.

 

[kodos]

Lee bowled well in the VB series but didn't take wickets in the finals and shows that Ponting still relies on him too heavily. Bracken has improved drastically and is now Aus permanent 3rd seamer. Clark I don't rate too much apart from his McGrath like length, Tait is a good prospect but with his action he won't last till early 30's and also I can see him as a bowler which England and India can smack him all around the park. Even Peter Roebuck in his SMH article discussing Australia still have gaps in the bowling department and with 1 or 2 batting slots.

SA willl be at full strength and i expect them to win the ODI's 3-2 or 4-1 at best. With Kallis, Nel and Ntini back they could be a real force for the WC and could possibly even win the test series if they get the basics right such as holding on to their catches.

I also cannot believe why Jaques is not in the team. What more does he have to do??? He really should of been Aus. back up batsman for the tour if Martyn continues his poor form. If I was Jaques I would be mighty pissed and considering about playing for England as he will certainly have a better chance.

Wonder if the ICC'll jump up and down about racism when we cop the reception they'll give us. I'll bet they won't, ICC only protects black people from racism.

And before you rush to delete it, which is inevitable, ask yourself this. Am I wrong?

Well if the Aussie crowds did not commit such stupid racist actions first than you wouldn't expect the Australians to have a very bad reception. Also Jarryd if you haven't noticed no one even bothers responding to your posts because they are absolutely pathetic. All you do is criticise Murali as a chucker, saying he acts like a girl and criticise the ICC yet you don't criticse the Australian team or crowd. Grow up and stop having a whinge on the forum constantly. Post something constructive for once and no wonder you expect your posts to be deleted by mods.

 

[James219]

That's a poor team in terms of bowling. As you mentioned if they just get through Lee, which won't be that hard really considering there's no one else down the other end to keep the pressure on and dry up the runs, they should be able to post dominant totals with the back-up bowlers they've taken along. Johnson didn't deserve selection, Tait definitely did. How are they going to develop him, and they're simply ignoring the best pace bowling stocks in Australia by not picking Gillespie. He's a genuine matchwinner as opposed to some steady and defensive bowlers like Lewis and Bracken who are the same age and nowhere near Gillespie's class. Seeing as they selected Johson he really needs to be played, rather than just dragging him along for the experience. Good to see Watson back, but I really don't think there's anything to be said about how annoyed Jaques would be, they're wasting his good form by not giving him opportunities to back up his domestic performances.

 

[genghis_khan]

hopefully Watson returns well, i'd say that they will want him to be a wickettaking option, therefore he has to bowl first change behind Lee and Bracken/Johnson while the ball is fairly new. this means not giving Clark the ball...i dont even know why he is going.

and no Jaques??????????????? OMG wtf is going on here seriously its a conspiracy to keep him out of the national team!!!!!!!!!!!!

u can see the australian players trying to dictate the selections, Gilchrist hugging Katich at every opportunity, Ponting coming out and saying we want them as an opening pair...how would that make Phil Jaques feel!!!

 

[James219]

Well I'm assuming he would be regretting the decision not to be eligible for English selection. Absolutely crazy not picking him, however Katich must be feeling like someone has repaid him after the cruelty he received in the past. You're right as well about Watson, with the defensive and risky bowling options taken, Watson will really need to mature as a frontline bowler and learn from the experienced players to cement his place and basically keep the attack strong after Lee.