What will the first test team look like?

[southerncross]

I think Hussey is slated to miss the first test this year so I have just been trying to work out what the 12 will look like.

Rogers
Hayden
Ponting
Hodge
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Tait
Clark
MacGill
12th Johnston

Obviously Jacques must be in the mix from a batting perspective and I suppose the most contentious selections are Hodge and Tait.

Anyone else have a different line-up in mind?

[Dry Rot]

What options are there instead of Hodge?

[dog town]

I think Hussey is slated to miss the first test this year so I have just been trying to work out what the 12 will look like.

Rogers
Hayden
Ponting
Hodge
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Tait
Clark
MacGill
12th Johnston

Obviously Jacques must be in the mix from a batting perspective and I suppose the most contentious selections are Hodge and Tait.

Anyone else have a different line-up in mind? I would have any of Johnson, Bracken and Hilfenhaus ahead of Tait. Not a shot at Tait but having Lee, Tait and MacGill in the same side is simply giving up too many runs. You need a better balance of guys who will dry up the runs and also I think its a good time for us to put more time into finding a bit of a different bowler. In Hilfy and Bracken we have 2 genuine swing bowlers and in Johnson we have a left armer who can bowl at pace and is improving. We know what Tait gives us and Brett Lee is already performing that role in the side. If he plays I am sure he will do well but I also think that we as a team will cough up alot of runs.

In Brisbane is their an argument for 4 quicks with Symonds and Clarke providing the spin options? It is a new era and these are all things we need to consider.

[Dogs 24/7]

In Brisbane is their an argument for 4 quicks with Symonds and Clarke providing the spin options? It is a new era and these are all things we need to consider.

I dont agree that we need four quicks on any Australian track.Symonds is good enough to bowl a few overs of medium pace but his spinners are useless as far as I am concerned.
We need a spinner and like it or not MacGill has that position sewed up.
Im not sure about Tait and think Bracken or Johnson might be better bets.

[Dry Rot]

Time to bump this - there's been a bit of cricket played lately.

Thoughts?

[Chops]

What options are there instead of Hodge?

What wrong with M Hussey? Injured?

[Billy Blogger]

It's shaping more like we will go into the game with 4 paceman and Mitch Johnson could be the sort of cricketer that progresses from promising to elite in just one summer.
He won't muscle batsman like Tait might but he will keep applying pressure with his tight line and length.
I reckon MacGill might not play enough cricket to get a go at the first test.