Warne-Muralidaran Trophy (Australia in Sri Lanka) Aug-Sep 2011

[aussie1st]

Only one more day left before our test squad is named.

Possible squad Michael Clarke (capt), Shane Watson (vice-capt), Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin (wk), Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, Michael Beer or Jason Krejza, Mitchell Starc.

Australia in Sri Lanka 2011: Ryan Harris key to Australia's attack - Bayliss | Cricket News | Australia v Sri Lanka | ESPN Cricinfo

Would like to see Copeland in there, at the very least it would be good to have that option to go to him.

 

[War]

At least Bayliss recognises the importance of Harris, one cannot be sure that the selectors do however given that he was not picked for the limited overs leg of this tour.

Also surely Katich still has to be picked regardless of the stupidity of not giving him a contract.

While it will be beyond ludicrous if Smith is anywhere near the test squad.

 

[War]

http://cricket.com.au/news-display/Test-squad-for-VB-Tour-of-Sri-Lanka/25232

http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-australia-2011/content/current/story/524758.html

Ok so the Hiditch idiot crew have managed to make a combination of smart and dumb selection at the same time.

- Dropping Smith is very good. It would been inconceivable for them to continue with that useless experiment.

- Picking young Pattinson over Bollinger like WTF??...."Doug Bollinger has been left out of the Test squad. The NSP feels he needs to improve his ability to bowl spells at full intensity and maintain it over the course of a match, particularly in these days of back-to-back Tests.

When has Bollinger ever struggled to do this in tests career except for that one Ashes test in Adelaide when he ran out of puff after bowling 30 odd over on a flat deck, when it was selection blunder to pick him soon after coming off the injury he suffered during the tour to India???. Did they just forget about all the good work he did from late 2009 to India 2010, when he lead the AUS pace attack???? Oh the ignoranceee

- Although its great relief to see Harris in the test squad. I'm skeptical as to what makes them so sure that his body is going to be fit for 5-day cricket, after they did not include him in the ODI squad.

- Leaving out Katich is ridiculous

- They continue to play musical chairs with the spinners. I wouldn't even comment on that, since those fools dont know anything about spin bowling. JESUS...cant wait for Sanga & co to hit Beer or Lyon into oblivion

Its Ashes 2010/11 dumb selection all over again & SRI Lanka are going to win. We need to get rid of these blithering idiots who call themselves selectors, since every thing Hilditch and co keeps saying when they give reasons for picking teams is utter codswallop.

Quality players remain throughout the AUS ranks, but clearly the best combination will never be picked once the selection panel isn't changed.

 

[age of the fall]

Yet another spinner averaging 40 in FC instead of O'Keefe.

Is there something deceiving about his figures or something? Is he actually terrible despite his FC stats saying otherwise?

 

[Cricketman]

They picked this guy?? Nathan Lyon | Australia Cricket | Cricket Players and Officials | ESPN Cricinfo

4 FC games averaging 43... the hell?

 

[aussie1st]

Not too fussed about him being picked seems to have more potential than Beer but wtf did O'Keefe do. Seriously how does he keep getting overlooked.

Great to see Copeland there, that is the big one for me now an attack of Harris, Johnson and Copeland would make me happy with the selectors for once. Don't get the need for Pattinson with Siddle and Harris in the side, I'm guessing it's more experience.

 

[Biggy]

Yet another spinner averaging 40 in FC instead of O'Keefe.

Is there something deceiving about his figures or something? Is he actually terrible despite his FC stats saying otherwise?

THIS. If anyone deserves the 23rd crack at the spinners' spot it's him.

 

[angryangy]

I think it's a good squad. The three main quicks are more or less what we would've expected, but the two backups are an interesting statement.

The batting presents a focus on young top order players, perhaps emphasising how they are expecting batsmen to bat.

Not unlike Cummins, Lyon has been an exquisite bowler to watch in a short career and I'm not going to credit any statistical barrages against him. That fact is why he even got to play first class cricket at all.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I think it's a good squad. The three main quicks are more or less what we would've expected, but the two backups are an interesting statement.

The batting presents a focus on young top order players, perhaps emphasising how they are expecting batsmen to bat.

Not unlike Cummins, Lyon has been an exquisite bowler to watch in a short career and I'm not going to credit any statistical barrages against him. That fact is why he even got to play first class cricket at all.

I haven't seen much of Lyon but what I've seen he looks like a proper spin bowler. Which I am afraid I can't define and it is far too early for him to be picked, but at least, he'll make the batsmen think a bit. And even if he gets caned in Sri Lanka they should persist with him as he'll probably be as nervous as hell with this level of catapaulting.

 

[Shagger]

So happy to see Lyon and Copeland in the squad. Copeland has been dominant over his first 2 domestic seasons and Lyon has shown plenty of promise in his short career. Good to see Marsh's excellent Sheffield Shield Season being acknowledged by the selectors too.

 

[angryangy]

Marsh has been pretty good over a considerable time, barring injury. As a pure top order player there are more consistent scorers of hundreds and that might have stopped him from working into the Test squad sooner, but I think he's a good fit for the middle order. At best, he can provide exactly the sort of stroke play that Tests should feature.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

I see the Australian spin cycle continues. Wow.

Copeland too...Cricinfo said he's more suited for the shorter formats but the Aussie fans here say it's otherwise? Anyways, interesting move. PK has shown you don't need pace to be effective, I'd like to see Copeland do well.

 

[Biggy]

I see the Australian spin cycle continues. Wow.

Copeland too...Cricinfo said he's more suited for the shorter formats but the Aussie fans here say it's otherwise? Anyways, interesting move. PK has shown you don't need pace to be effective, I'd like to see Copeland do well.

They have got to be kidding.

 

[angryangy]

Actually Brettig had a big rant on cricinfo about how long-form specialists lose out compared to limited overs players.

 

[ZoraxDoom]

They have got to be kidding.

I misread, soz.

Like Michael Beer and Nathan Lyon, Copeland earned Test selection for next month's tour of Sri Lanka from outside the list of 25 contracted players named by Hilditch last month. However as a medium pace bowler equipped far better for the long forms of the game than the shorter ones, Copeland has been unable to join them in securing a Big Bash League Twenty20 contract.

Australia in Sri Lanka 2011: Cut price Trent Copeland shows Tests are cheapened | Cricket News | Global | ESPN Cricinfo