Dec 16-20: 3rd Test - Australia v England at Perth

[pcfan123]

lol Hodge doesn't even play Test cricket anymore,

Khawaja should get in for North and Hughes for Katich

 

[midgetwars]

To that guy who said Smith is not good... BETTER THAN NORTH AT LEAST

Hughes ( katich is injured)
Watson
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
JOhnson
Harris
Bollinger/Siddle
Hilf

 

[War]

As i said in the other thread. If this team is played for the remaining 3 tests, they can win or draw the Ashes. Anything else & ENG will be celebrating its first Ashes win in AUS since 86/87.

Watson
Hughes
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Ferguson/D Hussey
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Hilfy
Bollinger


D Hussey - This is my left field selection in place of North. If the selectors finally come to their senses & pick 4 quicks & drop North. D Hussey is best like-for-like replacement for North since he is batsman in the to 6 who can give you some overs of spin (which could be of use now that Katich is out & Clarke back isn't allowing him to bowl). Plus he is capable enough batsman in my view for tests & he is right handed & AUS need to try to negate Swann effect sort of by having more right handers in the top 7.

If they as i expect wont go for D Hussey. Of the two youngsters Khawaja/Ferguson who are the front runners to replace North - i'd pick the right handed Ferguson.

Would recall Johnson too. The tail is too long & if the groundsmen @ Perth can get that pitch to play anywhere close to a typical old fashin bouncy Perth deck. That would be just the kind of surface Johnson style of bowling would strive under.


Steve Smith is not good enough to play. His batting may be slightly more secure that North yea, but he unfortunately is not a test match # 6 anyway & his bowling wont be much of difference as part-timer than North if not worse. You need a solid batsman to come in @ # 6 to aid in helping to eractic AUS "collapses cancer" that has been the unfortunate hallmark of the side in this post McGrath/Warne era.

 

[ferg512]

Does anyone know if Stuart Clark is still available to play and how is he going in Shield cricket?

 

[War]

Does anyone know if Stuart Clark is still available to play and how is he going in Shield cricket?

He is avaible his is NSW captain & all.

His lack of pace & zip which caused him to be dropped after the Oval 09 is still around. So he really can't be considered.

The only quick outside the main 5 quicks that have featured in the 1st two Ashes test, that should really be considred if AUS want something new is Trent Copeland.

 

[McLOVIN]

North out, that new kid in.

 

[aussie1st]

Steve Smith is not good enough to play. His batting may be slightly more secure that North yea, but he unfortunately is not a test match # 6 anyway & his bowling wont be much of difference as part-timer than North if not worse. You need a solid batsman to come in @ # 6 to aid in helping to eractic AUS "collapses cancer" that has been the unfortunate hallmark of the side in this post McGrath/Warne era.

Coming in at 5/66 and making 59 against the English A bowling attack and then 2/14 against WA and making 70 aren't helping after a collapse? And there are a number of other examples from last season where he did likewise.

Does anyone know if Stuart Clark is still available to play and how is he going in Shield cricket?

Hes been okay but as War mentioned, he lacks that pace to cause any real problems. Would be treated like how Bollinger was, the upside with Bollinger is his pace should increase again.

 

[sifter132]

D Hussey - This is my left field selection in place of North. If the selectors finally come to their senses & pick 4 quicks & drop North. D Hussey is best like-for-like replacement for North since he is batsman in the to 6 who can give you some overs of spin (which could be of use now that Katich is out & Clarke back isn't allowing him to bowl). Plus he is capable enough batsman in my view for tests & he is right handed & AUS need to try to negate Swann effect sort of by having more right handers in the top 7.

If they as i expect wont go for D Hussey. Of the two youngsters Khawaja/Ferguson who are the front runners to replace North - i'd pick the right handed Ferguson.

Would recall Johnson too. The tail is too long & if the groundsmen @ Perth can get that pitch to play anywhere close to a typical old fashin bouncy Perth deck. That would be just the kind of surface Johnson style of bowling would strive under.


Steve Smith is not good enough to play. His batting may be slightly more secure that North yea, but he unfortunately is not a test match # 6 anyway & his bowling wont be much of difference as part-timer than North if not worse. You need a solid batsman to come in @ # 6 to aid in helping to eractic AUS "collapses cancer" that has been the unfortunate hallmark of the side in this post McGrath/Warne era.

Right with you mate. Dave Hussey would be a good option - the English would have some respect for him, unlikely he gets a run though. And Ferguson if you want a younger guy. I think Usman would get eaten for lunch by Swann at #6, opener only for him. So I'd pick whichever makes more runs out of Hughes and Usman in this current Shield match to replace Katich.

As for Smith, I think the argument for Smith is that he gives you a more viable 5th bowling option than D.Hussey/North. And at the moment Australia badly needs the extra bowling, since we need 20 wickets TWICE to get the Ashes back. D.Hussey can rattle through some cheap overs like North did, but Smith is more likely to take a wicket, even if his bowling is quite raw. That's why if Smith replaced North, I think Harris AND Hilf have to play to keep some element of control in the attack.

The other reason to take Smith is that Haddin is batting quite well at present, and should be able to handle #6 pretty well. So the perceived lack of quality in Smith's batting compared to D.Hussey/Ferguson is lessened a bit by Haddin's form. Of course if batting doesn't matter at all, pick Steve O'Keefe at #7, or if the selectors really want to go all in pick Hauritz and play 5 specialist bowlers with Johnson at #7.

So in summary I'd go:
IN
Hughes/Khawaja
Smith - would be good if he plays well v SA to make it a lock
Hilfenhaus
Mitch Johnson - good record at Perth and as a 4th quick there is less pressure on him

OUT
Katich
North
Doherty
Bollinger

Then for Melbourne, bring back Hauritz for whichever of the 4 fast bowlers does worst in Perth.

Anyone know if Marcus is going to play the Shield game on Friday? If he fails there he's definitely dropped for me. A century and I leave Smith on ice, giving North another last chance Test in Perth.

 

[midgetwars]

Why keep Siddle? He is terrible apart from that one spell hattrick which he then didn't do much in the rest of the series.

 

[woodzy]

Right with you mate. Dave Hussey would be a good option - the English would have some respect for him, unlikely he gets a run though. And Ferguson if you want a younger guy. I think Usman would get eaten for lunch by Swann at #6, opener only for him. So I'd pick whichever makes more runs out of Hughes and Usman in this current Shield match to replace Katich.

As for Smith, I think the argument for Smith is that he gives you a more viable 5th bowling option than D.Hussey/North. And at the moment Australia badly needs the extra bowling, since we need 20 wickets TWICE to get the Ashes back. D.Hussey can rattle through some cheap overs like North did, but Smith is more likely to take a wicket, even if his bowling is quite raw. That's why if Smith replaced North, I think Harris AND Hilf have to play to keep some element of control in the attack.

The other reason to take Smith is that Haddin is batting quite well at present, and should be able to handle #6 pretty well. So the perceived lack of quality in Smith's batting compared to D.Hussey/Ferguson is lessened a bit by Haddin's form. Of course if batting doesn't matter at all, pick Steve O'Keefe at #7, or if the selectors really want to go all in pick Hauritz and play 5 specialist bowlers with Johnson at #7.

So in summary I'd go:
IN
Hughes/Khawaja
Smith - would be good if he plays well v SA to make it a lock
Hilfenhaus
Mitch Johnson - good record at Perth and as a 4th quick there is less pressure on him

OUT
Katich
North
Doherty
Bollinger

Then for Melbourne, bring back Hauritz for whichever of the 4 fast bowlers does worst in Perth.

Anyone know if Marcus is going to play the Shield game on Friday? If he fails there he's definitely dropped for me. A century and I leave Smith on ice, giving North another last chance Test in Perth.

I think Marcus North is already gone for mine. Hes had enough chances. David Hussey is a good shout..his international record at one day level isnt the best but if you ask most australian first class bowlers "who is the batsman that you least like bowling to", the answer is David Hussey. Hes got an exceptional record and hes arguably the best we've got.

All this talk about Steve Smith...the guy is nowhere near international class yet...and i dont really see him becoming a test cricketer...if anything...he's something in the Cameron White mould...a hard-hitting one day batsman. His bowling is too erratic and inconsistent. Also i cant believe people want Mitchell Johnson brought back...the guy has played no first class cricket since Brisbane...so what gives people the impression that hes going to turn it around in Perth...just cause hes got a good record? it doesnt mean anything...every game is a new game!

Id like Hilfenhaus to be brought back, Harris to keep his spot, Perth doesnt play the way it used to so I think Hauritz deserves his crack at the Poms (i dont think he should ever have been dropped). Also Stuart Clark for me is someone that should seriously be considered over Peter Siddle...i think hes more consistent and looks more likely to trouble English batsmen than Siddle does...he took 6 at the Gabba...but he hasnt looked like taking a wicket since the first dig and he goes for way too many runs!

Finally, as for the opening spot...im leaning towards Phil Jacques because of his experience...he hasnt done much for NSW but neither has Phil Hughes and remember Jacques made a century in his last test so I think he could rise to the occasion!

Jacques
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
M Hussey
D Hussey
Haddin
Harris
Hauritz
Clark
Hilfenhaus

 

[midgetwars]

The reason why Hughes, Ferguson, Khawaja, Smith are brought up is beacause australia need young players and stick with them so it can be a proper rebuilding phase instead of picket 27-30 yrs olds

 

[angryangy]

You need a solid batsman to come in @ # 6 to aid in helping to eractic AUS "collapses cancer" that has been the unfortunate hallmark of the side in this post McGrath/Warne era.

I'm with you on Hussey, but Ferguson is unlikely to be the sort of player to solve this at the moment.

 

[ajdude]

Hughes just went out for 4, that won't help him...I'd actually go with Shaun Marsh, he recently made a OD ton and has made a FC ton and a couple 50s this season...even more left-field could be Aiden Blizzard, but that won't happen. Then I'd bring in Smith to bat at 7, Johnson for Bollinger, Hilfenhaus for Doherty and Copeland for Siddle, but again, that won't happen at all. While we're at it, let's move Hussey up to 4.

Watson
Marsh
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Harris
Copeland
Hilfenhaus

I can see that doing alright.

 

[midgetwars]

Just a question: What did bollinger do to make that outburst of bollinger's hilarious comments?

 

[aussie1st]

Shield game brings the following:
Copeland 1-31 off 18 overs at 1.72, essentially built the pressure up for Henriques and Smith to take their 4 fer.
Smith as mentioned 4-57, only 8 runs which was disappointing.
Hughes 4 runs, probably a lock for Katich spot anyway unless they plan on moving Khawaja there who is on 20 not out.
Ferguson 14, just hasn't stepped up since his 100 against WA, no 50s since then including playing the English twice.

So really of that lot only Smith and Khawaja have pushed their claim while Copeland showed he can put the ball on the spot which is what we are badly missing.