Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[Ponting_14]

Hogg and McGrath will both be targeted by SA, so this will be their acid test.

Wtf? who are SA not going to "target" lol

 

[aussie1st]

It means they won't be letting McGrath have 6 runs from 6 overs or Hogg to have 1/40 from his 10 overs.

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Symonds has been deemed too risky for the SA game so he won't be playing.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21430646-5012554,00.html

Hogg and McGrath will both be targeted by SA, so this will be their acid test.

Roy is not playing tomorrow , anyway we will get him in our Super eight matches , where he will be useful and handy , good decission by Selectors and all. i hope Hodege will continue his form and tomorrow hit some crackers again , Btw is Stuart Clark playing tomorrow

 

[genghis_khan]

We can handle the saffies with no Symonds, no worries. Just means he'll be 100% for our first Super 8 encounter.

Barring injury, Stuart Clark will take no part in the tournament, same goes for Johnson.

 

[angryangy]

They way we're going, Hodge isn't the right one to drop for Symonds at all.

 

[aussie1st]

Well the merry go round continues, Symonds might be a shock inclusion in the side now after his throwing improving.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,21435397-5012554,00.html

 

[Left_Hander]

Yeah it is just to hype things up to get people excited then nothing happens. Hopefully I will be able to get up and watch my first game of this world cup from start to finish.

 

[aussie1st]

I'll definitely be watching this one, happens to be the first live game Sky Sports NZ are showing of the Aussies too

 

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Barring injury, Stuart Clark will take no part in the tournament, same goes for Johnson.

What this thing mean that stuart clark and johnson will not play a single match in World Cup

 

[aussie_ben91]

What this thing mean that stuart clark and johnson will not play a single match in World Cup

Well you saw what happened the last time Stuart Clark came across South Africa in a ODI didn't you?

 

[Kal-El]

Selectors logic in dropping Hodge:

Doctor: Symonds is fit
Selector A: Oh jolly good, who do we drop for him?
Selector B: Well we have 2 candidates, Hodge or Hayden
A: Why should we drop Hodge?
B: Well he's the batsman with the second highest average in the tournament so far and has had an average of about 80 since coming back to the team.
A: And why should we drop Hayden?
B: One good innings all ODI Summer, and that was on a postage stamp ground.
A: So it's settled then.
B: Indeed, we drop Hodge.

 

[genghis_khan]

What this thing mean that stuart clark and johnson will not play a single match in World Cup

haha don't sound so shocked!...it's a good thing

 

[aussie_ben91]

Yeah it is pretty weird that from a statistical point of view. Hodge and Hayden have been the 2nd and 3rd most successful prior to now and both the two being considered of being dropped. Wait, Hayden isn't even being considered, is he? :

 

[Kal-El]

Yeah it is pretty weird that from a statistical point of view. Hodge and Hayden have been the 2nd and 3rd most successful prior to now and both the two being considered of being dropped. Wait, Hayden isn't even being considered, is he? :

BJ Hodge: 2 innings, 152 runs @ 76, HS: 123 SR 129
ML Hayden: 2 innings, 89 @ 44, HS: 60, SR 83

Lets not let facts get in the way or anything.

 

[smssia0112]

Selectors logic in dropping Hodge:

Doctor: Symonds is fit
Selector A: Oh jolly good, who do we drop for him?
Selector B: Well we have 2 candidates, Hodge or Hayden
A: Why should we drop Hodge?
B: Well he's the batsman with the second highest average in the tournament so far and has had an average of about 80 since coming back to the team.
A: And why should we drop Hayden?
B: One good innings all ODI Summer, and that was on a postage stamp ground.
A: So it's settled then.
B: Indeed, we drop Hodge.

I still remember something the age wrote about the selector's conversation upon dropping Hodge for Martyn, it went something like this:

Trevor Hohns: Okay boys, let's talk about the team for this South Africa series, let's see, Merv start us off.
Merv Hughes: I think the team should be Jason Arnberger, Lloyd Mash, Brad Hodge, Dave Hussey, Cameron White, Nick Jewell...
TH: Okay, umm, Boony, you got anything?
David Boon: Yeah when are we going to the pub I'm thirsty?
TH: Andrew?
Andrew Hilditch: Nah, nothing.
TH: Okay, well obviously we've got the guys like Ponting, Warne, Gilchrist who are all set, but we need to replace McGrath now that he's out, David suggestions?
DB: I dunno, Michael Kasprowicz?
TH: What are you crazy? Kasprowicz? He's 35 for goodness sake, why not just bring back Damien Martyn?
DB: Yeah sounds like a good idea.
TH: What's wrong with you, we need young players not old ones. Why not just bring you back with Kaspa, Merv you fancy opening the bowling, David you can open the batting. Maybe Allan Border wants to skipper the side?
DB: Yeah whatever, I'm thristy, Merv get us a beer.
TH: Andrew, any ideas?
AH: Nah, nothing.
TH: We can't bring back Martyn, he's too old, what are we going to tell everyone, who are we going to drop, Brad Hodge?
MH: Well we convinced everyone we shouldn't play Phil Jaques because he can't field.
TH: My goodness Merv you're right, they'll believe anything! We'll just tell them, um that, Hodge isn't scoring heavily enough in the Pura Cup or something. Everyone agree?
Everyone: Umm, yeah alright.