A possible Ashes squad

[GVGjr]

Just giving some thought to the likely Ashes squad. Assuming a 16 man squad is all that's required how is this one?

Openers
Jacques, Katich and Hughes (all lefties)
Middle order
Ponting, Clarke, MHussey and ????
Wicket Keepers
Haddin and Ronchi
Spinners
McGain and Krejza
Pace bowlers
Johnson, Siddle, Lee, Bollinger and Hillfenhaus

This leaves one middle order spot up for grabs and I think it's a requirement that we need a batting all-rounder for it but that might not be set in stone.

The candidates would come from - Symonds, McDonald, White, Marsh, North, Klinger, Watson and DHussey.

As much as Symonds would suit us, I can't select him.
McDonald's test level batting concerns me.
White could be a chance but batting at number 8 in India he didn't really take his chance.
Marsh is a versatile type and young but we are stacked for left handers. Marsh can't bowl.
North is no sure thing for higher honors although his bowling would be handy. He is another leftie with the bat though.
Klinger is having a great season and could bat anywhere. Does not bowl.
Watson fits the bill but can his fitness be trusted?
David Hussey is experienced and can bowl some handy tweakers but his age might work against him.

I guess it's Watson if he is fit or McDonald. My guess is that the selectors might take Symonds
Thoughts?

Will Lee be given another chance? Should Clark be included in his spot?

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

I can't believe you would select Jaques. he hasn't played in a year and wasn't really that good when he was there. For Jaques to be selected, IMO, he has 4 shield games left and would have to make 500 runs.

I'm rushing back McGain, though. I know I'm contradicting myself but we have serious quality alternatives for opening bats, the spinning cupboard is bare.

Lee is left out, he's finished. I've selected 4 quicks and McDonald.

Ronchi is nothing more than a slogger who (very occassionally) hits a few. Don't rate him at all and I only think we is being talked up because fans think he's exciting when he slogs. He can stay in the T20 or ODI sides, just never give him a test cap.




Katich
Rogers
Hughes

Ponting
M. Hussey
Clarke
Klinger

McDonald

Haddin
Paine

McGain
Krejza

Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Bollinger

[GVGjr]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

SS, you have pretty much gone with the extra batsman over the 5th pace bowler and your squad looks OK.
I have no problems with Paine over Ronchi but I think Jacques despite him injury would be ahead of Rogers.

McDonald batting in the top 6 is a concern to me. He bats behind White and of course Hodge and Hussey at number 6 for the Vics and before that, he mainly batted at 7. I don't mind his bowling but we are putting a lot of faith in Hussey to get back to his best and Haddin at 7 if McDonald at 6 is the plan.
Watson is a far better prospect in my opinion.

[ledge]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

I think your pretty spot on Sockeye except for Klinger, no reason for him not going, just he has never have been noticed by the selectors, I would swap him for D.Hussey.

I am feeling sorry for a kid called Wade here who oozes talent but because of Crossthwaite cannot get a game in all forms of the game in state cricket and be seen more often than not.
I mention him because of his age being young and settling a keeper in for years not months.

McGain sadly is only a quick fix, we just dont have any young spinners coming through and this baffles me with every child in the last 10-15 years being exposed to Shane Warne.

Bollinger in the UK is interesting, one minute they say he cant swing the ball, the next minute he can, you need swing bowlers over there.
The other 3 you mention will be fine.

Mc Donald should be a certainty, you dont drop players after one test and he did hold his own, being a medium pacer allows more swing so he is a good choice.

[hujsh]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Interesting that you say Ronchi isn't consistent enough yet has a higher average than the backup picked. No wicketkeeper apart from Haddin really makes consistent scores at Shield level. I agree though that Ronchi is somewhat overrated because of the way he bats however.


Jaques
Katich
Hughes

Ponting
Hussey
Clarke

Symonds
Watson

Haddin
Ronchi

Johnson
Siddle
Lee
Clark
Hilfy

Krezja/Hauritz

For the most part I'm the same as GVJr. Rogers is a bit old to be playing his second test with the team in the state it's in. Selectors will want Symonds while I've given up on him. Can't see Lee being dumped by this group of selectors in the one series before the Ashes though i have a feeling he will be the Gillespie(05 edition) of the tour. Clark i think can come back though i can't comment on his injury and the lasting effects of it.

They'll probably only want one spinner as i think Ponting likes to have his battery of quicks vailable. Hauritz depending on his tour of SA and how quickly they want Krezja back if at all (certainly wasn't smashed in the 20/20s which is what they were looking for)

[hujsh]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

I am feeling sorry for a kid called Wade here who oozes talent but because of Crossthwaite cannot get a game in all forms of the game in state cricket and be seen more often than not.
I mention him because of his age being young and settling a keeper in for years not months.

Have you seen him bat much? I've only heard of his U-19 record to encourage me.

I've only heard people complain that Crosthwaite should play instead of Wade so it's interesting to hear the opposite.

[GVGjr]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Am I reading yours right hujsh, only one spinner?

[GVGjr]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Have you seen him bat much? I've only heard of his U-19 record to encourage me.

I've only heard people complain that Crosthwaite should play instead of Wade so it's interesting to hear the opposite.

Wade is the better prospect than Crosthwaite. Crosthwaite only gets a run in the limited over games.

[hujsh]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Am I reading yours right hujsh, only one spinner?

Yeah. Chances are they'll just load up on fast bowers. If there's an injury they can call someone else in.

Might as well have a fast bowler on standby as opposed to White as a bowler like in India.

[hujsh]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Wade is the better prospect than Crosthwaite. Crosthwaite only gets a run in the limited over games.

I'm glad it wasn't in my head that this kid should have a higher potential.

These people want the Vics to win not to create Australia cricketers.

[ledge]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Wade is a better long game keeper and bat but as far as Crosthwaite is concerned the Vics have no choice but to pick him in shorter versions, he is a fantastic hitter and shot maker.
Both in my opinion should get a gig for Australia in different versions.
Just to show what the Vics think of both keepers, they played them both in the one game the other day.

[GVGjr]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Wade is a better long game keeper and bat but as far as Crosthwaite is concerned the Vics have no choice but to pick him in shorter versions, he is a fantastic hitter and shot maker.
Both in my opinion should get a gig for Australia in different versions.
Just to show what the Vics think of both keepers, they played them both in the one game the other day.

Crosthwaite pre-conceives his shots in the limited over games too often and is very much a hit-n-miss type. Too often the ball gets through to the keeper when he is batting while he fresh airs a shot. At the moment he is still a better limited over batsman than Wade.

I can't agree than Crosthwaite could be picked for higher honors Ledge.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Jaques
Katich
Hughes

Ponting
Hussey
Clarke

Symonds
Watson

Haddin
Ronchi

Johnson
Siddle
Lee
Clark
Hilfy

Krezja/Hauritz

I agree for the most part. I would add DHuss and North if the batting continues to falter. I think we need two spinners, McGain if fit is one, i would select Krejza but they seem to like Hauritz for some reason.

I would also like to throw the cat amongst the pigeons by saying Nathan Bracken. On inside cricket Bob Willis (who i respect) was saying it wont be spin, speed or the depth of batting which will win the series, it will be swing bowling and having bowlers that can bowl it. He expects movement like last time and he criticised Lee who didn't move it (and went at 40) and aging players who got in on their name (i.e Gillespie). Johnson is every bit as quick as what Lee is now, so we have some speed. Siddle is just about there too. Then we have to look at Clark's form, or whether we look for a specialist swing bowler like Hilfy of Bracken.

Bracken is the best ODI bowler, has honed his craft and swings the new and old ball. I'd like to think Nathan would be looked at closely. Lee and Clark should be in red hot form and fully fit to keep him out.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Crosthwaite pre-conceives his shots in the limited over games too often and is very much a hit-n-miss type. Too often the ball gets through to the keeper when he is batting while he fresh airs a shot. At the moment he is still a better limited over batsman than Wade.

I can't agree than Crosthwaite could be picked for higher honors Ledge.

Agree, he is no different to Manou who can be a decent hitter every now and then. Also i would like a keeper than can run out a batsman going for a bye from 10 metres away to tie a final. Ronchi has got to be pretty safe as 2IC i would have thought.

[lemmon]

Re: A possible Ashes squad

Wade really needs a big score to cement himself, he's a great gloveman and talented with the bat but is only averaging around the 25 mark in first class cricket. Keepers now really need to average 30+ to get a look in.