Australia vs South Africa

[GVGjr]

The Test squad will be announced today and while the media has been speculating that the 3rd quicks spot is a race between Siddle and Bird, Joe Mennie has apparently been included. Huge series for us.

[Axe Man]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Also Shaun Marsh, Khawaja and Burns competing for 2 spots. Looking like Burns will miss out.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

The 12 are

Josh Hazlewood
Usman Khawaja
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Joe Mennie
Peter Nevill
Peter Siddle
Steve Smith (C)
Mitchell Starc
Adam Voges
David Warner

Still sticking with Mitch Marsh. He needs to lift his batting a fair bit.

[comrade]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Geez, that team does nothing for me. Once upon a time, a series against the Saffers would have me frothing at the bit. Not so much this time around.

Test cricket is quickly moving into irrelevancy in my household.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Geez, that team does nothing for me. Once upon a time, a series against the Saffers would have me frothing at the bit. Not so much this time around.

Test cricket is quickly moving into irrelevancy in my household.

Ditto, that's as an average starting test summer team that we've fielded in a very long time. The Marsh boys have consistently done very little over a long period and still are first picked.

[Bornadog]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Hope Starc is fit

[Axe Man]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Mitch Marsh averaging 24 and Nevill averaging 21 means our tail starts at number 6. I don't care how good a keeper Nevill is, if he can't make more runs he has to go. Same with Marsh, don't play an all rounder if there isn't one good enough.

[GVGjr]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Mitch Marsh averaging 24 and Nevill averaging 21 means our tail starts at number 6. I don't care how good a keeper Nevill is, if he can't make more runs he has to go. Same with Marsh, don't play an all rounder if there isn't one good enough.

This is my issue, you might be able to carry one of them but two is a reach. Rod Marsh said he had a talk to Jackson Bird and said that it was his batting that kept him out of the team. I'd suggest that if both Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill were averaging in the mid 30's we wouldn't be too concerned if bowlers can bat.

I know we desperately want to maintain that 5th bowling option and Marsh is pretty good at that but I doubt he is regarded as being in the top 12 batsman in the country. He needs to make plenty of runs this summer.

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Agree that Mitch Marsh is on a hiding to nothing. His first class batting average is on the verge of tipping under 30.

When did the all rounder become a cemented part of our cricket side? Are we still hanging onto what Flintoff did in the 2005 Ashes?

Runs are going to be at a premium this series. Both sides have pretty weak top 7s. Any logic would dictate picking your best 6 batsman

[lemmon]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Makes no sense that Bird misses the XI, let alone the squad. He took a 5fer in his last test and continues to dominate the Shield.

Well done to Mennie on putting together a good campaign last year, but he took 50 wickets without a five wicket haul and is still regarded as the number 2 man in South Australia behind Chad Sayers. For those that havent seen Mennie, he's a nippy outswing bowler. Best comparison is Ben Hilfenhaus without the really prodigious bend

[comrade]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

For those that havent seen Mennie, he's a nippy outswing bowler. Best comparison is Ben Hilfenhaus without the really prodigious bend

Cheers, never seen him.

Hilfenhaus without the big swing sounds pretty underwhelming.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Cheers, never seen him.

Hilfenhaus without the big swing sounds pretty underwhelming.

Sounds like me. Maybe I should get on to Cricket Australia.

[hujsh]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Sounds like me. Maybe I should get on to Cricket Australia.

Can you bat a bit. Your chances will go up by 150% if you can bat a little

[Axe Man]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

This looks much better:

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Australia vs South Africa

Can you bat a bit. Your chances will go up by 150% if you can bat a little

I did score to 20's with forced retirement in under 11's. So on current standards, I guess you could call me an all rounder.