South African Tour

[Bornadog]

GEORGE Bailey has been dropped from Australia's Test squad for the tour of South Africa, with Shaun Marsh and Alex Doolan both earning call-ups.

Australia Test squad: Michael Clarke (c), Brad Haddin (vc), Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson

[lemmon]

Re: South African Tour

The love affair with Shaun continues, has as much talent as anyone but mentally its just not there. Looks like its a battle between Doolan and Marsh for 3, Watson to 6 I imagine

[Bornadog]

Re: South African Tour

The love affair with Shaun continues, has as much talent as anyone but mentally its just not there. Looks like its a battle between Doolan and Marsh for 3, Watson to 6 I imagine

and no Hughes, over Shaun.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: South African Tour

Hughes must have grabbed a player around the throat too or failed in a small run chase at the SCG to be banished again. Dead set snub to a player that could really be something. Bad, bad decision.

[anfo27]

Re: South African Tour

I guess i'm in the minority here but I can't see anyone better suited to bat at number 3 than Shaun Marsh. I like the selection & hopefully he gets an opportunity over in South Africa to bat at 3.

[GVGjr]

Re: South African Tour

6 quicks and Watson is an overkill.

I think a 14 man squad would have been more than enough.

[GVGjr]

Re: South African Tour

I guess i'm in the minority here but I can't see anyone better suited to bat at number 3 than Shaun Marsh. I like the selection & hopefully he gets an opportunity over in South Africa to bat at 3.

The problem with Marsh is there is a big difference between his best and an average performance. He made a century (141) and an 80 in his first two tests but after 7 test matches and 11 innings he only had 300 test runs to his name.

He looks like a good player but his performances are nothing to get excited about. I would have preferred Hughes

[DOG GOD]

Re: South African Tour

Interesting stat here....from Adam white twitter

@White_Adam: Sheffield Shield runs this season: Selected: Marsh 248 @ 31, Doolan 391 @ 39. Not selected: North 593 @ 99, Hughes 549 @ 61, White 556 @ 51

[bulldogtragic]

Re: South African Tour

Interesting stat here....from Adam white twitter

@White_Adam: Sheffield Shield runs this season: Selected: Marsh 248 @ 31, Doolan 391 @ 39. Not selected: North 593 @ 99, Hughes 549 @ 61, White 556 @ 51

Interesting stats!

[Go_Dogs]

Re: South African Tour

Hughes must be pretty gutted. Has played well this summer, was a bit unlucky to get dropped over in England too. Just got to keep making runs and putting numbers on the board.

Overall it looks like a good squad.

I wonder if we have some concerns over the durability of the pace attack and hence the inclusion of a number of reserves?

[lemmon]

Re: South African Tour

Interesting that Inverarity said that they believe Hughes is best suited to a 'top order position', didn't specify if that was opening or number 3. Perhaps number 6 is the spot they've pigeon holed for Doolan or Marsh.

[Mantis]

Re: South African Tour

Interesting stat here....from Adam white twitter

@White_Adam: Sheffield Shield runs this season: Selected: Marsh 248 @ 31, Doolan 391 @ 39. Not selected: North 593 @ 99, Hughes 549 @ 61, White 556 @ 51

Just follows on from Bailey making 256 @ 18 in the 12/13 SS season and getting in the team on the back of white ball form.. Not sure when they are going to pick players who have good red ball cricket form, but the fact that it's been 4-6 weeks since shield cricket was played makes it tough.

Agree with GVG with regard to taking 2 extra quicks + Faulkner.. Doesn't make sense for a 3 test series, surely if we get an injury we can fly over a replacement?

[azabob]

Re: South African Tour

Interesting that Inverarity said that they believe Hughes is best suited to a 'top order position', didn't specify if that was opening or number 3. Perhaps number 6 is the spot they've pigeon holed for Doolan or Marsh.

I vaguely recall Ed Cowan (I think) saying they see (selectors) see Hughes as an opener and opener only.

I guess with party boy Rogers making runs has kind of thrown the cat amongst the pigeons for Hughes.

[GVGjr]

Re: South African Tour

Based on the selection of the squad I think our bowlers are going to have to dominate for us to be a competitive side because we have too many batsman with poor averages to really dominate unless Clarke and Warner have a great series.

When you hear Inverarity say that Marsh "is in a good space" it just gives me the impression that he is searching for positives to support the decision.

[anfo27]

Re: South African Tour

Based on the selection of the squad I think our bowlers are going to have to dominate for us to be a competitive side because we have too many batsman with poor averages to really dominate unless Clarke and Warner have a great series.

When you hear Inverarity say that Marsh "is in a good space" it just gives me the impression that he is searching for positives to support the decision.

Maybe but Marsh is clearly more talented than the list of names that should of been picked ahead of him. The only thing thats been holding him back from reaching his potential has been mental issues & if Marsh as Inverarity put it "is in a good space" then we could have a very dangerous batsman on our hands. Has the game to be a perfect number 3. Would certainly rather have him there than Watson.