Nov 25-29: 1st Test: Australia v England at Brisbane

[Papa_Smurf]

You know this line-up would be perfect if:

- Haddin was Gilchrist/Sangakkara/Stewart like 45+ average top 6 player.

- Smith was a Vettori/Sakib Al Hasan type spin bowling all-rounder.

But obviously given that those two aren't of that quality AUS can't play this line-up for the Ashes. Maybe in the next year or two such a line-up could play if Haddin & Smith develop like that however, would give AUS so much bowling options.

From the current squad, what would be your playing xi?

 

[ferg512]

Hmmm I dont know about Haddin at 6 really. But I suppose anyone could do a better job than North, and if you were to play Smith you probably wouldn't put him in at 6.

 

[War]

Steward didn't average anything close to over 45 with the gloves though without the gloves he was amazing.

Technically no. But i reckon if Stewart had the gloves all career, as he did from 96/97 -2003 when he averaed something like 39. Instead of being constantly being rotated from opening & keeping with Russel from 1990-1996. He could have avery well & avereged 40+ with the gloves on batting in the middle-order consistently.

 

[aussie1st]

Hmmm I dont know about Haddin at 6 really. But I suppose anyone could do a better job than North, and if you were to play Smith you probably wouldn't put him in at 6.

I'm confident Smith would do the job at 6. Haddin is still a bit too hit and miss for me, never really been one of those guys that you are confident in making runs when a massive collapse has happened. Paine is one that strikes me as that sort of player and he got a very compact technique.

 

[War]

From the current squad, what would be your playing xi?

Katich, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Hilfy, Doug.

War added 1 Minutes and 48 Seconds later...

I'm confident Smith would do the job at 6. Haddin is still a bit too hit and miss for me, never really been one of those guys that you are confident in making runs when a massive collapse has happened. Paine is one that strikes me as that sort of player and he got a very compact technique.

Hmm not sure about that just yet personally. For tests or ODIs he shouldn't be batting higher than # 7 for me.

 

[aussie1st]

Clarke in doubt for first Test | Fox Sports

While I'd love to see Smith in his proper position (batting in top 7) we badly need Clarke as he's the only batsmen with any form and hes been our best batsmen in the past couple of years. Also would mean quite a reshuffle with North and Hussey moving up 1.

 

[Biggy]

I'm confident Smith would do the job at 6. Haddin is still a bit too hit and miss for me, never really been one of those guys that you are confident in making runs when a massive collapse has happened. Paine is one that strikes me as that sort of player and he got a very compact technique.

Yeah, why wouldn't you just play Smith at 6 and Haddin at 7, he is a batting all-rounder after all.

 

[barmyarmy]

Man I'm excited about this series. Expecting the eventual inevitable crushing disappointment that is part and parcel of being an England fan but riding the wave for now.
Starting to suspect it's all a hustle - Aussies in disarray, losing matches, possible injuries - just to make us feel like we have a chance. Come the first test and it will be business as usual.

 

[War]

Clarke in doubt for first Test | Fox Sports

While I'd love to see Smith in his proper position (batting in top 7) we badly need Clarke as he's the only batsmen with any form and hes been our best batsmen in the past couple of years. Also would mean quite a reshuffle with North and Hussey moving up 1.

Oh dear. I think the selectors should seriously consider recalling Hughes to open & letting Watson or Katich going into the middle-order if indeed Clarke does miss the 1st test.

Since Hussey & North batting a position higher along with Smith batting into the top 6 would give AUS the most fragile middl-order since the dark ages of the 1980s, which is not what we want.

Plus if they are worries about Bollinger & Watson. More reason why 4 seamers should play instead of Doherty.

 

[aussie1st]

Starting to suspect it's all a hustle - Aussies in disarray, losing matches, possible injuries - just to make us feel like we have a chance. Come the first test and it will be business as usual.

Would be one of the great hustle if that happens!

Oh dear. I think the selectors should seriously consider recalling Hughes to open & letting Watson or Katich going into the middle-order if indeed Clarke does miss the 1st test.

Given the selectors know about Clarke's injury and still picked Smith in the backup batsmen role they must finally have faith in his batting.

 

[lethalhughes]

If only the selectors would think like this.

War added 3 Minutes and 7 Seconds later...



You know this line-up would be perfect if:

- Haddin was Gilchrist/Sangakkara/Stewart like 45+ average top 6 player.

- Smith was a Vettori/Sakib Al Hasan type spin bowling all-rounder.

But obviously given that those two aren't of that quality AUS can't play this line-up for the Ashes. Maybe in the next year or two such a line-up could play if Haddin & Smith develop like that however, would give AUS so much bowling options.

Would be so great if that was the case.Don't see Haddin ever being this good with the bat.Smith being as good as Vettori , he still has a long long way to go bowling wise.He obviously is a better bat than Vettori imo already.

lethalhughes added 3 Minutes and 39 Seconds later...

Oh dear. I think the selectors should seriously consider recalling Hughes to open & letting Watson or Katich going into the middle-order if indeed Clarke does miss the 1st test.

Since Hussey & North batting a position higher along with Smith batting into the top 6 would give AUS the most fragile middl-order since the dark ages of the 1980s, which is not what we want.

Plus if they are worries about Bollinger & Watson. More reason why 4 seamers should play instead of Doherty.

Ofcourse Khawaja can replace Clarke.I would love to see Hughes come back in though.Would be great to have a solid Katich in the middle.No way could they bat Smith at 6 , North at 5 and Hussey at 4 to be honest.Would be suicide.

 

[aussie1st]

And Doug Bollinger's lack of bowling after breaking down in India last month is likely to cost him a place in the team, opening the door for Peter Siddle to play his first Test in almost a year after recovering from a back stress fracture.

Concerns grow over Clarke's fitness | Fox Sports

Can't say I'm surprised by reading that and as I mentioned earlier I'm expecting Siddle to take the field.

 

[War]

Would be so great if that was the case.Don't see Haddin ever being this good with the bat.Smith being as good as Vettori , he still has a long long way to go bowling wise.He obviously is a better bat than Vettori imo already.

lethalhughes added 3 Minutes and 39 Seconds later...

Indeed. Contrary to what the selectors might think. Deep down i think Smith will be another Cam White.

Ofcourse Khawaja can replace Clarke.I would love to see Hughes come back in though.Would be great to have a solid Katich in the middle.No way could they bat Smith at 6 , North at 5 and Hussey at 4 to be honest.Would be suicide.

God i hope either one of Khawaja, Hughes or Ferguson gets called up in by monday/tuesday if Clarke problem doesn't improve. The selectors really cannot be seriously considering a middle-order of Hussey/North/Smith 3-6, thats indeed suicide.

Im starting the prayers with immediate effect.

War added 5 Minutes and 45 Seconds later...

Concerns grow over Clarke's fitness | Fox Sports

Can't say I'm surprised by reading that and as I mentioned earlier I'm expecting Siddle to take the field.

They say some slight worries about Watson too.

Not too comfortable with Siddle in a 3-man pace attack. So preferably even if Bollinger is 90% fit due to not enough cricket. 4 quicks is the safer option right now we would have to say.

It would be fairly risky to play an attack of Hilfy/Siddle/Johnson/Watson/Doherty. With Doherty being a unproven tweaker, Siddle being as inconsistent as he is (which if he doesn't click could be BIG prob, especially if Johnson has a slow start) & Watson not in 100% bowling form. Poor old Hily in that attack

 

[ajdude]

Im starting the prayers with immediate effect.

And they've been answered with immediate effect.
The Ashes 2010-11: Usman Khawaja called up as Michael Clarke remains uncertain for Ashes opener | Cricket News | The Ashes 2010-11 | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[ferg512]

Just read that Johnson said he's going to target Strauss:

"He can play one that's about chest height but if you really get it right on the money, he really does struggle with it. You've got to get your bouncer high to him."

Isn't that the same with pretty much every batsman? Johnson should just concentrate on his own issues. I can't believe this guy was right up there with Steyn a couple of years ago.