An alternate Test line-up

[GVGjr]

With the power of hindsight, who would have you selected for the test squad for this series against India?

For me, players who should have been considered are:
Adam Voges, Marcus North, Luke Ronchi and Ashley Noffke along with at least one of the following spinners, Hauritz, Smith and Cullen. I would probably lean towards Cullen even though he hasn't been playing much.

Hodge and DHussey are unlucky.

Can anyone come up with some alternative names?

[hujsh]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Maybe Pommers.

Rogers though 4 openers may be too much.

Magoffin and Hilfy are in good form though if we brought the latter he may not have found that form.

[GVGjr]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Maybe Pommers.

Rogers though 4 openers may be too much.

Magoffin and Hilfy are in good form though if we brought the latter he may not have found that form.

Pomerbasch for who?

I don't think either Hillfenhaus or Magoffin would be effective on the Indian tracks we have seen.

If we had a decent wicket taking spinner then it would fix a few problems but I don't think Watson being used primarily as the 4 bowler will win us many test matches. It will be interesting to see if Symonds with his few misdemeanors and below average form can push Watson form the side.

I wonder if Voges could have been used as the 5th bowler?

[hujsh]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Pomerbasch for who?

I don't know. Same person Voges or North would replace.

I don't think either Hillfenhaus or Magoffin would be effective on the Indian tracks we have seen.

As opposed to Lee and Clark? (rough on Clark but them's the breaks)

Though you are right they probably wouldn't be much better. I think experience in India is the best asset a pace bowler can have when there.

[mjp]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

I will show my bias!

Ronchi is a better bet in test cricket than Hadden (but Hadden has been OK).
I would play Pomersbach and play him NOW. Watson has been good, but I would drop him to make way. Pomersbach can change the course of a match in 60 mins in the way a young Gilchrist could. Whether he can get his 10cent head under control is the question!

Cullen is struggling GVGjr - Hauritz for me - ahead of White.
Noffke ahead of Siddle as Clark's backup. Again, Siddle was good, but Noffke is just more likely to bowl that unplayable one that jags a wicket.

It is funny though - going through those names I really haven't changed the guys who have been terrible. That said - as I posted last week - the first test was our best chance for a win and gutless batting/captaincy on the 4th day cost us. I really expect a 3-0 defeat now because I cannot see us getting 20 wickets at the remaining venues.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

It's all shuffling deckchairs on the Titanic.

None of the players mentioned would make a significant difference to the team. The Indian bats have made mincemeat out of White and Krejza and they would of Hauritz, Cullen or any other pie throwing spinner in the country.

The players in the side are the best we have, they just have to play better - and I don't think that will even be close to being good enough.

The single biggest issue in the first two tests has been the complete inability of Brett Lee to bowl anything like his best. We know he's the best quick bowler we have, if he could have them 2-20 instead of 2-200 that would help a lot.

[Mantis]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Hauritz hardly plays for NSW in the longer version of the game so he can't be selected.

mjp you say that Pommersbach can change the course of the game in 60min, D.Hussey can do that in 20 min. By weight of runs he simply has to be the next batsman selected.

Hayden has had his time in the sun and must be replaced by Marsh.

As SS explained unless you get early wickets in India you are going to struggle. The best spin bowler in the history of the game struggled against set batsmen. The spinners we have are no where there that level and the results are there for us to see.

[Twodogs]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

I'd like us to pick a 'kepper who can keep. You know catch it when the batsmen edges it, stop the ball going for byes and that sort of thing. The wicketkeeper sets the tone in the field. If he's on top of his game then the rest of the side field better. Gilchrist was a top of the line keeper whos talent behind the stumps was vastly underrated because of his sublime batting skills. Anyone who could stand up to the best spinner the world's seen and not make mistakes too often is a very, very good 'keeper. Haddin is not even in the same class. we need to pick keepers for their skill with the gloves first and foremost-I dont care if he bats at #11.


Katich must never play for Australia again. He is too poor a fieldsman. By the time you add up all the dropped catches, the balls that go between his legs and his lousy throwing arm then he is 50 runs a match behind the 8 ball. He needs to make at least 51 runs a match to put him back in positive territory-he doesnt so the dream is over for him. Marsh takes his spot


Siddle stays. Anyone who hits the opposing opening bat on the helmet with his first delivery in test cricket stays. He's got the **** in him that fast bowlers need.


Watson goes-his 72 in the 2nd innings was a NathanEagleton15touchesinthelastquartertokeepmyplacenextweek eventhoughwelostby10goalseffort. Doesnt have the mental capacity to play cricket well at park level let alone test level. Lee should have been developed as an all rounder form the year dot. He has a terrific batting technique and Australia really erred not setting him up as an all rounder.



I disagree that Hillfenhaus wouldnt do well in India. He swings the ball prodigiously and that's exactly the sort of bowler we need.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Watson should only play if we use two spinners and as we don't actually have any at all, I'd say he's in trouble.

I'd trust him to bowl 1st change and keep things tight until until the spinners get on or to take up some overs to give others a rest but I wouldn't expect him tpo take too many wickets.

The rest is spot on. I hate Katich.

[hujsh]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

A guy here could be handy in India. Has all the right assets

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australiandomestic/engine/match/361284.html

5-27 is a great comeback and that ball was swinging.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

A guy here could be handy in India. Has all the right assets

http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/australiandomestic/engine/match/361284.html

5-27 is a great comeback and that ball was swinging.

In India?

Pfft. It would get too hard for him and he'd have a cry.

[hujsh]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

In India?

Pfft. It would get too hard for him and he'd have a cry.

And that's the question mark.

But potentially he could be the guy that makes the team one that takes 20 wickets.

[ledge]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

I have a bigger question, what has the AIS been doing for the last 5 years knowing Warne was retiring and not teaching or preparing another spinner?
Havent even got an off spinner of any note coming through.
You need spinners in India, look at who got all the wickets for them.
You can have 3 Brett Lees in the side, fact is its a spinners country.
Other point is the aussies couldnt score a run the same day the Indians were massacreing them.
Hayden i think is 1 tour past it, Ponting who in my opinion is a great bat but his captaincy leaves me wondering at times, all those years of having so many match winners, now its more important than ever he sets his fields right.

[GVGjr]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

Simply speaking they put all their eggs in the MacGill basket who then slipped out of form and fitness all too quickly. McGain would have been a decent prospect on that track as well. They tried to groom Casson but after his series in the WI they believed that his bowling wasn't suited to the Indian pitches.

[Happy Days]

Re: An alternate Test line-up

I will show my bias!

Ronchi is a better bet in test cricket than Hadden (but Hadden has been OK).
I would play Pomersbach and play him NOW. Watson has been good, but I would drop him to make way. Pomersbach can change the course of a match in 60 mins in the way a young Gilchrist could. Whether he can get his 10cent head under control is the question!

Cullen is struggling GVGjr - Hauritz for me - ahead of White.

I'm firmly with you on Ronchi. Probably the better batsman but definitely the better keeper...20+ byes at international level is simply unacceptable.

As far as the spinners are concerned, they're all poo...at least White can bat a bit, even if he hasn't shown it this series thus far.