Test XI Selection Thread

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How creative can we get with our line up? I wonder whether it's worth trying something different as we ease Ponting and Hussey int to retirement. Let's say Hussey goes first, what about something like...

Warner
Cowan
Watson
Ponting
Clarke (c)
Wade (wk)
Andrew McDonald/Steve Smith/Dan Christian
Pattinson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Lyon

I wouldn't mind seeing them experiment with an allrounder before the next Ashes, if Hussey/Ponting fail. There are no batsmen in the Shield smashing the door down.
 
courtjester said:
Andrew McDonald/Steve Smith/Dan Christian
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You can't be serious here? Having an all-rounder is nice but that doesn't mean you pick an ordinary player just for the sake of it. We've already Watson anyway, at some stage they might also be able to move him down the order if they think it will help to manage his workload.

Just pick the best batsman to replace Hussey, if they can bowl too then well great that's just a bonus.
 
Really, we're going down the Andrew McDonald path again? The guy is a hack plus Watson is the team's all-rounder.
 
By the way the truth has emerged in the Haddin fly home from the Windies, and if you don't feel sorry for the Haddin family then you don't have a heart in your body. :(

LAST week we mentioned our thoughts were with Brad Haddin and his family, but didn't want to say why the wicketkeeper returned from the West Indies. During the week Michael Slater explained what was wrong on his radio program, saying Haddin's toddler, Mia, was battling cancer. Here's hoping they get through these tough times. Karina Haddin is pregnant with the couple's third child.​
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http://www.smh.com.au/sport/haynes-eels-future-getting-murkier-20120331-1w53c.html

Best of luck to the Haddin family.
 
Wow that is terrible. Best of luck to the Haddin family, hopefully their little one pulls through.
 
Terrible news for the Haddin family and one can only pray for the best. Hopefully the ACB will do the right thing and stick by him in terms of his contract.

Did anyone see Warner trying to bowl those half trakkers? I thought I was watching an E Grade park cricket match. Bowled one that nearly hit his toes and the batsman promptly gets caught. Test cricket???? Should have picked Beer.Fielding atrocious and making an oridnary West Indies team look good.
 
So Cowan gets 55 in his final innings, frustrating that he hasn't gone on with it again but considering the ordinary performances from many of the batsman on the tour it's probably enough to keep him in the side.
 
It's fine to do that if the selectors think that both Haddin and Wade are in the best seven batsmen in the country. I'd be inclined to let Wade keep the gloves on through.

Haddin has shown at times what a good batsman he can be.
 
el-capitano said:
Clarke was talking about having Haddin back as keeper- but keeping Wade as a specialist batsman. :eek:
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I think Wade should definitely keep his spot in the side. Haddin is a better keeper at the moment but Wade has a lot of room for improvement and has already shown his batting potential at the top level. Haddin is not a good enough batsman to stay in the team as a batsman only player. #lookingtothefuture #hesavictorian
 
So what are everyone's thoughts on the test side? Not long to go now until the first test match and our bowling is looking good with Siddle and Pattinson destroying Queensland.

Anyone with any thoughts to team make-up etc?
 
The way Starc has been bowling, I'd put him in the side again along with Siddle and Pattinson. As far as spinners, is Haurittz back playing? Lyon would get the first spot anyway for me.
 
As far as batsmen, I'd back Khawaja to return to the side in place of someone like Warner who's only going to come off half the time in the longer format.
 
They will pick this:-
Warner - averages 22 when you take away his 2 tons, talented but I fear will get sorted by SA bowlers, if he gets cleaned up twice in first test we must switch immediately to Quiney who actually has a technique
Cowan - needs a ton in this series or discard him, like effort & patience but his type is nearly extinct
Watson - would be better at 5 but not sold on Khawaja at all yet
Ponting - no one has quite said pick me instead yet but this series will be the end of the line one way or another
Clarke - needs to be removed from selection decisions
Hussey - can carry on to away Ashes then done
Haddin (omg) - should be Wade even though his keeping has started developing some Haddinesque traits but Pup wants his mate in the team
Siddle - using rotation policy we have to start using Cummins, Siddle, Starc, Pattinson & Hilfenhaus on a horses for courses basis and spelling the one who did most of the work in the previous test when we play 2 tests with little break between.
Pattinson - a born test bowler, should be marked "never to play limited overs/T20 for Australia"
Lyon - Happy to sub Starc or Cummins in depending on conditions but having Watson eliminates that requirement
Hilfenhausn - still a bit short of tricks and if any signs that he is not on song, don't wait to make change to Starc/Cummins

Starc - developing well
 
Kram81 said:
Cowan needs a big score, he's probably lucky that Australia's batting depth is so this atm.
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Bores me rigid watching him bat and it's not down to how slowly he bats as I can watch really fine batsman like Dravid or Kallis crawl along without it worrying me at all.

If he does manages a ton, I'll probably miss his big moment as I would have passed out through the sheer tedium of it.
 
Beeswax said:
Bores me rigid watching him bat and it's not down to how slowly he bats as I can watch really fine batsman like Dravid or Kallis crawl along without it worrying me at all.

If he does manages a ton, I'll probably miss his big moment as I would have passed out through the sheer tedium of it.
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Does he bore you more than Graham Smith? hehe
 
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