West Indies tour of Australia, November-December 2009

[Dare]

too bad Fidel isn't there to test the chin of Hughes if he plays.

 

[WestIndian]

too bad Fidel isn't there to test the chin of Hughes if he plays.

Yes am feeling that lost already, and not just Hughes, there are others that are already familiar with his chin music, they have Johnnyboy and Lee, I just hope Roach and if Tonge gets in they can bring a little balance to the whole thing!!!

 

[aussie1st]

Ponting said he rather have Hussey than Hughes, ouch!

Interesting, a few weeks ago he was backing Hughes saying he was impressed with how determined he is and how much he has improved since being dropped.

 

[TumTum]

Interesting, a few weeks ago he was backing Hughes saying he was impressed with how determined he is and how much he has improved since being dropped.

In any case, Hughes and Hussey are much better batsmen than North (who is only there to fill the temporary void) :doh

 

[aussie1st]

North hasn't done anything wrong so far and he offers Ponting a spinner option which will be valuable since Clarke more than likely won't bowl and Katich doesn't like to bowl. Hussey while in good ODI form and appears to have fixed his technique problem, the true test will come in a Test match.

 

[age of the fall]

In any case, Hughes and Hussey are much better batsmen than North (who is only there to fill the temporary void) :doh

3 centuries in 7 tests anybody? I think it would be incredibly harsh to drop North for Hughes.

 

[piriyanth]

Lee faces uphill battle for Test spot | Cricket News | Australia v West Indies 2009/10 | Cricinfo.com

Selectors,thinks that Lee will struggle to get back on the test side.

 

[TumTum]

Lee faces uphill battle for Test spot | Cricket News | Australia v West Indies 2009/10 | Cricinfo.com

Selectors,thinks that Lee will struggle to get back on the test side.

They must have got their heads blown off, because Lee is a much better bowler than Hilfy.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

Playing Lee right now would be going backwards, it's difficult to tell how much cricket he has left in him but given his age and injuries, as a fast bowler even a year seems optimistic.

I don't think australia will struggle for wickets against the windies or pakistan so why bother eeking out his career. Having him miss the first few tests due to recovery is good sense anyway, at least they'll get another look at their fast bowling options and if they are struggling they can bring him in.

Also worth remembering it's been over 10 months since he played test cricket, missing the tour of south africa and the ashes, the tour games before the ashes (where he was injured) was his last FC cricket, there is no way he's going to be ready for a full test series.

 

[aussie1st]

Hilfy has been good in the Test arena so I wouldn't let his ODI performances change the opinion on him in the Test team.

 

[sifter132]

Can't see many potential surprises for the Aussie squad, it should be a 14 manner, with a spare batsman and two spare quicks.

So for all the talk, I think Hughes, Hussey and North will all be in the squad for the 1st Test, just in case Michael Clarke's back flares up and one of them needs to step in.

Same for the bowlers, Brett Lee should there along with the 3 younger quicks (Mitch, Siddle, Hilfy). Maybe even Stuart Clark too, just to make up the squad.

 

[TumTum]

Can't see many potential surprises for the Aussie squad, it should be a 14 manner, with a spare batsman and two spare quicks.

So for all the talk, I think Hughes, Hussey and North will all be in the squad for the 1st Test, just in case Michael Clarke's back flares up and one of them needs to step in.

Same for the bowlers, Brett Lee should there along with the 3 younger quicks (Mitch, Siddle, Hilfy). Maybe even Stuart Clark too, just to make up the squad.

Picking the XI is much harder.

 

[Dare]

Hughes
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Watson
North
Haddin
Johnson
Hauritz
Siddle
Hilfenhaus


If Clarke is not fit this would be the team I would select. Once he is fit well then Australia can figure out what they want to do.
I would prefer Clark over Hilfenhaus but since Hillfy will probably be the one in the starting XI i threw him in my XI too.

 

[Robelinda]

You know, I really like Hussey, but there is never going to be a better chance against two teams that are in a complete rabble, to get Hughes back in. Hussey is great, but they have the future of our batting staring them right in the face, Hughes has to play. Watson will be fine at 6. However, i'm sure everyone here knows that Hussey will actually play, now he's being rested from the Shield match.So it looks like Hughes will end up being 12th man. What irks me is that Hussey could hang on for 2 more years and deprive Hughes of some astounding experience for someone so young. Maybe Katich will have a bad summer, he didnt do that well in the Ashes after that 1st test, very loose batting.

 

[aussie1st]

Hauritz is all but confirmed for the Gabba match now. It probably would be best if Clarke missed the 1st Test to give Hughes one last chance to fight for a spot.

"I think it's going to be extremely rare that we go into a Test without a spinner," Hilditch said, praising the improvement of Hauritz.

"As far as Nathan's concerned we've been really impressed with his progress.

"He's bowling a lot better now than even during the Ashes. It's been a pretty steep learning curve."

Test stars ordered to rest - Cricket - Fox Sports