Group A - Australia, Netherlands, Scotland, South Africa

[angryangy]

Hilf would be a massive call up, but it seems like Clark would be the go-to man.

 

[puddleduck]

Anyone else find it slightly ironic that they gave Clark a massive central contract, and now find that he isn't actually good enough for Odi cricket

 

[aussie1st]

Hilf would be a massive call up, but it seems like Clark would be the go-to man.

Yea I know one can dream Obviously the selectors will be going for Clark given he just missed out.

Anyone else find it slightly ironic that they gave Clark a massive central contract, and now find that he isn't actually good enough for Odi cricket

Well his Test form makes up for it at least Can't believe they would have so much faith in his ODI bowling as it's never been that great.

 

[aussie_ben91]

I think theres more chance of Warne making a comeback then Hilfenhaus getting selected for the WC over Clark if any replacement is required.

I'm supprised Clark even got a shot at Test Cricket after his early ODI performances prior to his Test Debut.

Though I totally would mark out if we just made it past the group stages and Warne got so disgusted with the performances that he got on the first flight to the Carribbean, dominated the early stages and then destroyed Tendulkars chances of ever holding a WC up and completely decieved Tendulkar with a ball that spun about 2 and a half metres (ala Strauss or Gatting) and finally got a laugh over the Indians and then he got one last crack at the poms before he single handedly bowled Australia to a 3rd straight world cup victory. Not to mention a few centuries from Punter, Hayden & Huss on the way either but you get my drift.

 

[angryangy]

I don't think Hilf is a total impossibility. The selectors are smart enough to do their jobs, ie: pick the best possible team. They will know that he's going for less than 4 an over in one dayers this year. They will know he's leading the Pura Cup wickets table. They've also had two decent looks at him against international opposition and both times he looked dominant over the batsmen. They will keep an eye on him. The only thing that works against him is massive inexperience, but it's something that hasn't hampered his progress much to date.

 

[IloveGilly]

Clark will most likely get that spot. After knowing that the Australian bowling attack is in quite a bit of trouble... quite weird that after Clark got dropped Australia lost pretty much all their games.

 

[plympilgrim]

So who will the bowling line up be for the aussies then???

Mcgrath???
Johnson???
CLark???
Bracken????

Is this probably the best line-up, with Tait and Hilfenhuas as back up

 

[manee]

Tait late on against tailenders could be a very handy clean up mechanism with his 150kph pace and reverse swing.

 

[siddharth2002]

Why does everyone thinks Clark is a good bowler, he bowled well under Lee, McGrath but not by himself. Even I can pick up wickets if the opening bowlers are creating pressure and taking wickets. Look how Johnson picked up Styris first ball.

 

[sifter132]

Since his haul on Australia day Johnson has looked pretty tame and Tait surely would beat him for a spot on bowling alone. But Johnson is an excellent outfielder and better batsman than Tait, so that is something for the selectors to weigh up. Tait would be my choice, since we probably won't have Lee. When Lee plays he is our striker, but if we don't have Lee we need Tait to play that role.

In other news, Lee will be given until next Tuesday to prove his fitness, and Hayden is aiming to be fit for the first real match vs Scotland. I really hope Australia doesn't take Lee, Symonds and Gilchrist when none of those 3 will be available for the opening matches. That smacks of arrogance and over confidence. In my opinion we need 13 or 14 fit players ready to play match 1 vs Scotland - not 11 or 12 (12 if Hayden makes it).

I would replace Lee as he is the most doubtful, even though in my opinion he is the most crucial of those guys. The other guy I might replace is Gilchrist - with our injury problems, he needs to be there from Game 1 and if he doesn't want to be - replace him. Haddin is only a marginal downgrade in my opinion and we need the bodies for the opening round of the tournament.

 

[siddharth2002]

What's this replace him, replace that, the squad has already been announced and once someone gets replaced say Gilly under special permission from ICC, he can't come back again to play no matter how fit he is.

 

[aussie1st]

Forget Johnson batting and fielding if he can't do his primary well no way he should be picked. I would play Tait in front of him with or without Lee. Especially without Lee cause Johnson isn't a strike bowler just a bowler that goes for runs with a few good balls in between.

 

[siddharth2002]

Forget Johnson batting and fielding if he can't do his primary well no way he should be picked. I would play Tait in front of him with or without Lee. Especially without Lee cause Johnson isn't a strike bowler just a bowler that goes for runs with a few good balls in between.

I remember you touting him as a young Aussie rising star or something

 

[aussie1st]

TBH wasn't happy with him being picked for the ODI team with his OD record. Heck his FC record wasn't all that flash when he was picked, hes gone ok with 2 good spells but other than that hasn't looked too good especially with no swing meaning the batters know it will be angling across them.

 

[siddharth2002]

he may still do well against Asian teams though as he is quick and esp. Indians don't like quick left-armers.