Ashes - Second Test

[GVGjr]

It starts this Friday so what changes would you make to the side and what changes do you think the selectors will make?
Can we persevere with Johnson and North and does Clarke get a rest because it would appear his injury concerns are inhibiting him?

[lemmon]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Time to swing the axe regarding the bowler, 11 wickets a test isnt good enough and thats not going to impove on the flat Adelaide pitch. Johnson strikes me as a similiar character to Harmison, untouchable for a period but became erratic and the team and his captain has lost all faith in him. He simply cant be kept, Bollingers the next in line but I prefer Harris who has been doing good things for the Bulls. I would be seriously considering a North for Smith swap because we need the bowling options and I dont think Hilf is or will ever be fully over his tendonitis, looked pedestrian at the Gabba and the ball wont swing at the Adelaide oval so he makes way for Bollinger. I dont believe Hauritz should have been dropped in the first place so my lineup is:
Katich
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Huss
Haddin
Smith
Hauritz
Harris
Siddle
Bollinger :
If theres a place we're we can take the risk of weakinging the batting its Adelaide in reality I think the only change the selectors will make is for Johnson to make way for Bollinger.

[Mantis]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

4 changes lemmon?... You're dreaming.

They will be lucky to make 1 change.

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

So selectors have added Bollinger and Ryan Harris to make up a squad of 13 for the next test.
North survives, due to the fact none of the contenders have put their hand up I guess. He really needs to repay the selectors faith in a big way.

Personally I would've liked to have seen Peter George come in instead of Harris.
Harris is a good honest bloke, but at 31 years old his time unfortunately is nearing the end. He only has 3 hauls of 5 wickets in his entire first class career, at a touch over 30.

George 3 five wickets hauls already, and has just come off a match winning 5/28.
Perfect chance gone missing to get him in for his home test this Friday.

Doherty is very lucky too. I just don't think his bowling average in first class cricket lies. 48 runs per wicket is not the sort of average that says this guy is going to rip through a line up. Hauritz is a better bowler, and should've had first shot.
However the selectors have made a rod for themselves, and now will give Doherty another shot, lest they seem too impetuous.

[Go_Dogs]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Personally I would've liked to have seen Peter George come in instead of Harris.
Harris is a good honest bloke, but at 31 years old his time unfortunately is nearing the end. He only has 3 hauls of 5 wickets in his entire first class career, at a touch over 30.

George 3 five wickets hauls already, and has just come off a match winning 5/28.
Perfect chance gone missing to get him in for his home test this Friday.

Hard to disagree with your logic here, but it was always very unlikely to occur given there are still quite a few ahead of him.


On that note though, how did SA win a 4 day game after making 55 in the first dig?? Got to be some kind of record!

[Yankee Hotel Foxtrot]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Hard to disagree with your logic here, but it was always very unlikely to occur given there are still quite a few ahead of him.


On that note though, how did SA win a 4 day game after making 55 in the first dig?? Got to be some kind of record!

I know, it was a bizarre turnaround, Tassie would be gutted.

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

I know, it was a bizarre turnaround, Tassie would be gutted.

Can you imagine the speculation in the cricket world if somehow Pakistan had lost a game after dismissing a side for 55?

[GVGjr]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

If I had the selection power I would go with:

Katich, Watson
Ponting, Clarke (only if 100% certain he was fit, Khawaja on standby)
Hussey, White
Haddin
O'Keefe, Harris
Siddle, Bollinger

I'm hoping that Harris is a better prospect on the SA pitch than Hilfenhaus.
I'd bring in White because we need to score a bit quicker and I agree with Lemmon that if we were to take a chance on Smith this would be the test.
I think O'Keefe is a better spinner than Doherty and he has a bit of potential with the bat as well.

McDonald would be right in the mix if he was fit enough

[hujsh]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Definitely would go with White over North or Smith. North needs to go and while Smith is probably a better bowler than White (though looking at the stats he's heading down the same path as White did in becoming a part timer) we're still too fragile to go in with the 5 specialist batsmen and Haddin.

[chef]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

My team

Watson
Katich
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Smith or Khawaja(I'm a fan of both and hopefully they'll both be in the team within 12 months)
Haddin
Doherty(I would prefer O'Keefe but they'll keep him for at least another test)
Harris
Siddle
Bollinger

White on standby for Clarke if he's not 100%(which I'm sure he won't be but he'll play anyway)

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Out: Hilditch, Cox, Boon
In: Somebody else

[chef]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

If I had the selection power I would go with:

Katich, Watson
Ponting, Clarke (only if 100% certain he was fit, Khawaja on standby)
Hussey, White
Haddin
O'Keefe, Harris
Siddle, Bollinger

I'm hoping that Harris is a better prospect on the SA pitch than Hilfenhaus.
I'd bring in White because we need to score a bit quicker and I agree with Lemmon that if we were to take a chance on Smith this would be the test.
I think O'Keefe is a better spinner than Doherty and he has a bit of potential with the bat as well.

McDonald would be right in the mix if he was fit enough

Probable the best spinner in the country yet can't get a game for his state, same applies to Cameron would be not far off getting a game for Australia too. .

[Bornadog]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

Johnson out Bolinger in.

I would personally drop North and bring White in but it won't happen.

[KT31]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

If I had the selection power I would go with:

Katich, Watson
Ponting, Clarke (only if 100% certain he was fit, Khawaja on standby)
Hussey, White
Haddin
O'Keefe, Harris
Siddle, Bollinger

I'm hoping that Harris is a better prospect on the SA pitch than Hilfenhaus.
I'd bring in White because we need to score a bit quicker and I agree with Lemmon that if we were to take a chance on Smith this would be the test.
I think O'Keefe is a better spinner than Doherty and he has a bit of potential with the bat as well.

McDonald would be right in the mix if he was fit enough

IMO needs to be left out until completely fit.
Johnson - Gone (until his Mum and Girlfriend patch up and he can get his mind right.)
In - any bowler smart enough to work out if i bowl wide outside off stump , the Poms will leave it .(unless cutable)
Mcdonald if fit should definatly be considered.

[Mantis]

Re: Ashes - Second Test

IMO needs to be left out until completely fit.
Johnson - Gone (until his Mum and Girlfriend patch up and he can get his mind right.)
In - any bowler smart enough to work out if i bowl wide outside off stump , the Poms will leave it .(unless cutable)
Mcdonald if fit should definatly be considered.

And this will help us take 20 wickets how?

We bore them to death....