Australia tour of New Zealand 2010

[Biggy]

Well Clarke not being there gives North an extra chance. Smith should get a shot without Clarke there.

perhaps,

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
North
Smith
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
McKay/Harris (I would go Harris over McKay)
Bollinger

 

[Robelinda]

Clarke is named so he's there. Smith or North it seems, and no point in taking North and not playing him so it looks like he's a cert for the first test, with Smith the reserve middle order bat, and Hughes the reserve opener. Great to see Hughes get the nod, even if he is on the bench.

So, probably Smith McKay and Hughes will be left out of the 1st test.

 

[aussie1st]

Hmmm maybe need to hope Clarke ain't there for the 1st Test just so Smith can make his debut

 

[TumTum]

Hmmm maybe need to hope Clarke ain't there for the 1st Test just so Smith can make his debut

Hughes > Smith

 

[War]

“Steve Smith has had an excellent Shield season, including a big century against Tasmania recently, and of course has already demonstrated his ability to cope with the pressure of international cricket. He adds great flexibility to the squad with his exciting stroke-play, leg-spin bowling and gifted fielding.”

:laugh. I cannot believe the selectors actually rate his bowling as potential test quality at all at this stage. . Talk about knee-jerk selections, it makes no sense to involve Smith in the test set-up right now.

Plus whats the sense in recalling Hughes but persisting with North?.. Although i'll admit deep down i sort do hope North can regain some his form, since it increases the chances of Hauritz getting dropped.

 

[Howsie]

Have to agree with that, Steve Smith's selection is ridiculous AFAIC.

 

[Robelinda]

Pretty insane indeed to rate Smith's bowling, its miles from even FC standard at this stage. If he is selected on his batting, then makes more sense, but why pick Hughes as well? We arent going to need that much batting cover for a short tour across the pond.

North must be safe for the two tests, no point in giving him one test- if his future is based upon succeeding in ONE test then thats harsh.

 

[aussie1st]

Well at least he mentioned his batting this time. We all know the selectors see him as the backup spinner so we have to get use to that.

 

[drainpipe32]

fearsome tweak! You have got to be kidding me, no Cameron White!

North in The selectors can go blow themselves.

 

[irottev]

Have to agree with that, Steve Smith's selection is ridiculous AFAIC.

It is only us. Our test ranking is pretty horrid plus we've not been the best players of leg spin over the years. He's worth the shot for Australia.

 

[sifter132]

Hughes > Smith

Agree. Hughes funnily enough is currently underrated big time in favour of golden boy Smith. He only made 17 today, but I'd be picking him for the 1st Test with or without M.Clarke.

Have to agree with that, Steve Smith's selection is ridiculous AFAIC.

Steve Smith is the 14th man - the work experience kid selection. He'll get a call if Hauritz'z groin tweaks up or will be a chance if Clarke stays home, but I can't think he can leapfrog North and Smith for a spot. I really think the selectors just want to get him involved and give him confidence that he's close to the Aussie side.

Pretty insane indeed to rate Smith's bowling, its miles from even FC standard at this stage. If he is selected on his batting, then makes more sense, but why pick Hughes as well? We arent going to need that much batting cover for a short tour across the pond.

Again, Steve Smith is most likely the 14th man - the work experience kid selection. The good thing about Hughes is that he's also a viable backup keeper if Haddin goes down with a broken finger at the 11th hour.

flip! You have got to be kidding me, no Cameron White!

North in The selectors can go blow themselves.

That was my first reaction. What's so special about Marcus North that he deserves to be carried? He's certainly no Mike Hussey - a man who dominated world cricket for a couple of years. Northy's made 3 centuries and 3 50s but everything else has been a failure in his 21 knocks. The ONLY reason Marcus has been retained is because he's the incumbent. He's done very little to deserve the vote of confidence he's been given.

That said, I wouldn't have minded picking him IF there was a warmup game or 2. That way you are saying, hey Marcus we like you but at the same time you are really telling him that if he can't impress early in the tour he's gonna get canned. But with no warmup game it looks like he'll be there at #6 for the 1st Test and I think that's a terrible call.

 

[drainpipe32]

Hughes keeping ability definitely helps him a bit, on booking flights. But yeah, Marcus North is very, very lucky.

And Ryan Harris has done everything to deserve this break, well done. He's been great in the ODIs, and now he's in the test side.

Who would have gone if he hadn't?

 

[irottev]

Must say if that happens Ingram has been harshly treated.

No more than Michael Papps and a handful of others. I feel Ingram should be given the series but sadly we're in the situation now where we simply need an extra bowling option so one of the batsmen has to go. It should be Broom over Ingram. If Broom plays and Ingram doesn't i'll be furious. As much as I wanna see Stewart we need another bowling option so so long as Franklin can bowl then i'd pick him first. N McCullum second.

 

[Ari]

Franklin was bowling in the warmups at Seddon park so he can't be far away from being ready.

 

[TumTum]

If they pick Smith ahead of Hughes, selectors should hang themselves.

I mean Smith has never played a Test match, and yet they pick him in an all-rounder position when we already have Watson and 4 bowlers. This would just mean we lose a "more" reliable batsmen. I would keep North instead of Smith in any event.

I know it would be a gamble picking Hughes at 6, but at least he has some Test experience and I can't see why he can't score heavily down there.

But in all likeliness North will keep his spot and Clarke will play.

Shane Watson
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Micheal Hussey
Micheal Clarke
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Hauritz
Ryan Harris (debut)
Dougie Bollinger