both these guys are in my world X1 Demonland team.

Serious problem when a bearded Root is on the [censored] and then my opener tries to get a bearded Root with his fist.but misses.

... Warner suspended until start of Ashes

‘‘But it’s being dealt with. From my point of view [i am] disappointed. But [it’s] a very minor incident and it’s being dealt with in-house,’’ Bailey said, before adding unintentionally of Warner’s suspension: ‘‘I thought he took it on the chin and his attitude around the group today was outstanding. No pun intended.’’

... Warner suspended until start of Ashes

Should count himself lucky IMO.

both these guys are in my world X1 Demonland team.

Serious problem when a bearded Root is on the [censored] and then my opener tries to get a bearded Root with his fist.but misses.

... seriously a concern if he's chasing roots with beards... & then gets angry anderson at them...to boot.

does the boy need glasses, or is he a bit ter wisted?

I'm sick of David Warner. I want him out of the side, and I guess this is a good way to start.

Hopefully, if the selectors have any sense, they won't pick him for the first Test. To do so would be to say 'if you have talent, then it doesn't matter if you're stupid, rude, uncouth, ill-disciplined, or immature, you can still walk into the Australian side'. Moreover, he'll have had 0 warm-up games, and his recent 'form' is despicable.

Warner is not a required player. Not even close.

Rogers and Cowan to open.

Edited June 14, 201311 yr by titan_uranus

Warner missing the 2 warm up games prior to the 1st Test means he'd have to be a doubtful selection for the first 2 Tests.

Gives the selectors a chance to give Watson another chance at the top of the order. (Watson bowling again probably assures him a spot in the side)

Rogers has made 214 and 184 playing for Middlesex in the last 5 weeks so he'd have to be a real chance to get into the starting XI. Cowan could drop down to no.3 or maybe Rogers could bat at 3.

We could see a batting order going into the 1st Test as follows ...

Rogers

Watson

Cowan

Khawaja/Hughes

Clarke*

Wade

Haddin

Faulkner/Starc

Pattinson

Siddle

Lyon/Ahmed

The big concern for our bevy of left handers is Swann. He's in great form and if the wickets continue to be dry, he'll be more than a handful. Warner is not a good player of spin and I've left Hughes out for the same reason.

In an ideal world Wade would be replaced with someone like a George Bailey or an up and coming young batsman like Burns, Doolan or Maddinson. However, Matthew can bat and he's worth a go in the lower middle order. Faulkner adds a bit of X factor although he might have to bide his time. Ditto for Fawad.

*Pup might bat at no.4 and let's hope his back comes good. We're going to need him to make some big runs to have any chance.

Edited June 14, 201311 yr by Macca

I don't know what to do with the batting. It's so weak. I want to see Watson bowling - he's not good enough as a batsman only, so he has to bowl or just not play. One or the other. He should be batting lower down the order to accommodate the bowling (i.e. not 1-3).

Rogers and Cowan should open. Clarke to bat at 4. Outside of that, I don't know. Hughes is crap. Khawaja is worse. Haddin and Wade can't bat higher than 6, really. So maybe this:

Rogers

Cowan

Hughes

Clarke

Watson

Haddin

Wade

Starc

Siddle
Pattinson
Lyon

This isn't a team that is going to win the Ashes, unfortunately. We'll do OK bowling England out, but we're not going to be able to put enough runs on the board. Rogers and Clarke are the only batsmen that give me confidence; one of them has a dodgy back and the other, knowing the selectors, might not get a game in favour of the most undeserving hack in Australian cricket right now.

Also, Lyon has to start over Ahmed. Ahmed needs to find his feet at this level. Give him time to just be around the side and to get a feel for what bowling at a high level consistently is going to take. Rushing him in to an Ashes XI could break him.

Both good line ups Macca & TU considering what we have to choose from.

My XI would look something like.

1. Cowan

2. Rogers

3. Khawaja

4. Clarke*

5. Watson

6. Wade

7. +Haddin

8. Harris/Siddle/Starc???

9. Pattinson

10. Ahmed/Lyon??

11. Bird

Don't think there's anyway that Warner can play with no lead in matches to the 1st test, then when you consider his form there's no chance IMO. I would have moved him down the order personally anyway as I reckon we need to block out the new swinging duke ball. Cowan, Rogers & Khawaja up the top of the order is our best bet to do this.. I don't care if we only score 50 runs in the first session, as long as we don't have another top order collapse and Clarke for once can come in against a slightly older ball.

Clarke up to number 4 as 5 is just to low down for our best batsman in our current position.

Watson to 5. Although batting as an openner is his best position we need his bowling and by batting down the order a bit means he should be able to bowl a little more.

Wade to play as a batsman at 6 in place of Warner due to his lack of time in the middle and ahead of Hughes. I'd play Wade ahead of Hughes due to Wade ability to play spin better then what Hughes can. Although Wade's not the best player of spin I rate him ahead of Hughes, and with the English pitches drying out the way they are we need to play the best players of spin that we have.

I'm not sure who should get the first crack as our first change quick. Harris, Siddle or Starc? Pattinson's our best quick IMO and should certainly play and I reckon the conditions over there will suit Bird down to a tea and he should get the gig as our into the breeze bowler. That leaves the 3 I've mentioned for first change. I love Harris's wicket taking ability, Siddle's guts and determination and the variety that Strac offers. It's a tough one but I think I'd probably give Siddle first crack due to his credits over the last few years.

The spinners spot, as I've said previously if he comes into the squad I'd give Fawad Ahmed first crack, but if that doesn't happen then obviously Lyon to play as the spinner. Always play a specialist spinner IMO.

1. Cowan

2. Rogers

3. Khawaja

4. Clarke*

5. Watson

6. Wade

7. +Haddin

8. Harris/Siddle/Starc???

9. Pattinson

10. Ahmed/Lyon??

11. Bird

Forgot about Bird. He might get a game over Starc. But Siddle surely starts, surely. Our best and most consistent fast bowler both against India and over the summer. Also just cracked his maiden first class century.

Left field replacement for Warner in the squad = Michael Klinger who is in England playing county cricket. A little while ago he scored back to back to tons. Also is a Demon supporter which makes him a chance

Left field replacement for Warner in the squad = Michael Klinger who is in England playing county cricket. A little while ago he scored back to back to tons. Also is a Demon supporter which makes him a chance

We could certainly do worse. He's a great fieldsman also Klinger which is always a bonus.

Left field replacement for Warner in the squad = Michael Klinger who is in England playing county cricket. A little while ago he scored back to back to tons. Also is a Demon supporter which makes him a chance

How about one from the bleachers?

I'd like to see Punter have a crack...

... & warner can come back after his penance, to the mid order?

How about one from the bleachers?

I'd like to see Punter have a crack...

... & warner can come back after his penance, to the mid order?

Personally I think it was time for punter. Mike Hussey still had good cricket left in him.

I agree on Warner. When he does come back I think the number 6 role maybe his go.

We need the likes of Cowan, Rogers, Khawaja and going forward any of Hughes, Maddinson, Burns, Handscomb, Doolan, Klinger to hold up the top 3 spots

Personally I think it was time for punter. Mike Hussey still had good cricket left in him.

I agree on Warner. When he does come back I think the number 6 role maybe his go.

We need the likes of Cowan, Rogers, Khawaja and going forward any of Hughes, Maddinson, Burns, Handscomb, Doolan, Klinger to hold up the top 3 spots

I think they need some maturity to help with the teams mental stability both off & onfield.. I agree Punter looked tired & I called for him to step down 12 months before he finally did... I went too soon..

However they are going thru a leadership vacuum, like we at Melbourne have.

IMO, the exodus of AA grade players from our national team, was too quick & without a successful succession plan... So I think punter can add value, after having a rest from the side.. I reckon he's got one tour in him. especially on crumbling wickets against spin.

Edited June 21, 201311 yr by dee-luded

I think Ponting is done and retiring is the right call. There's a vast gulf between domestic cricket and Tests.

The batting line-up is going to be interesting, but so are the bowling selections - and not just the spinner's spot. If Harris is fit and bowling well then we suddenly have some interesting calls to make, especially since Bird has done so well and seems a likely sort in English conditions.

The batting line-up is going to be interesting, but so are the bowling selections - and not just the spinner's spot. If Harris is fit and bowling well then we suddenly have some interesting calls to make, especially since Bird has done so well and seems a likely sort in English conditions.

You're not wrong about Harris causing a nice problem to have. We'll be left with 5 quicks fighting it out for 3 bowling spots.

As you mention, as did I in my perdicted XI to play the 1st Test, I think Bird has to play. The conditions over there should suit him perfectly.

Personally I think Pattinson should play as I reckon he's our most dangerous bowler, especially against the top order. If you look at his career so far, the majority of his wickets are against top 6 batsman, and we really need to knock over the likes of Cook, Trott, Bell and Pietersen (if he's fit) as cheaply as possible.

That then leaves 3 bowlers for 1 spot.

Starc for mine would probably be the first that I'd rule out, despite the variation that he does offer with the left arm. Opposite to Pattinson, the majority of his wickets seem to be against the tail (as handy as that is) and he does have a habbit of leeking runs at times, although not as bad as Mitch Johnson...

So for me that then leaves it between Siddle & Harris. Siddle's last 24 months would lead you to think he'd be given the nob given he's led the attack really well and he's as fit as an ox and can run in all day compared to Harris who's only ever played back to back tests once in his career. Although Harris's record is very, very good. Maybe Rhino should be our first alternate if any of the other quicks are injured or need a rest mid tour?

It's a difficult one for the selectors....

Edit: English

Edited June 21, 201311 yr by Tall Defence

It looks like a pretty sad batting lineup but here's the way I'd go:

Rogers

Cowan

Watson

*Hughes/Khawaja or Wade (at 6; pushing 5/6 up one)

Clarke

Warner

Haddin

Pattinson

Lyon

*Bird/Harris

Siddle

*Depending on tour form

Brilliant:

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-sacks-cricket-coach-mickey-arthur-on-eve-of-ashes-20130624-2orlv.html

Mickey Arthur has just been sacked.

Also, Fawad Ahmed comes home, Steve Smith is added to the squad (what joy!), and Ashton Agar is going to stick around the squad like he did in India.

What the hell is going on over there!!!

Also, Fawad Ahmed comes home, Steve Smith is added to the squad (what joy!), and Ashton Agar is going to stick around the squad like he did in India.

What the hell is going on over there!!!

Can not believe what is happening there. Fawad being sent home for Smith in. For "strengthening the batting." Did I hear that right?!

Boof Lehmann new Australian coach.

Unbelievable.

I'm going over there - I may even get a gig, given the backflips going on.

PS. I agree with the Lehmann appointment by the way, just didn't see it coming 2 weeks before the Ashes - I don't think anyone did.

Edited June 24, 201311 yr by H_T

I agree HT, I have no issues with Boof becoming coach, in fact I think he'll be good for them bringing back a bit of old school mongrel.

It all sounds to me like Cricket Australia were loosing control of some of their players and instead of putting the foot down with them they've sacked the coach instead.

Smith into the squad would only make sense to me if they were sending Warner home (which they should do).

They need to get some professionalism into that team and stop with the individualism, I'm talking about the likes of Warner, Watson and Clarke despite how good he is who seem to think it's all about them if you believe the stories and rumors out there. But who knows?

I had high hopes of an 89' style tour coming up, but instead of I think it could be more like the 06/07 series with the roles reversed the way things are going.

Certainly an interesting development. For this to happen on the eve of the tour is a little startling. The press conference will be fascinating (has that happened yet?) Regardless, I don't reckon we're going to hear the full story.

Anyway, here is an excerpt from this story in today's Age ... Arthur made scapegoat as CA bid to stop the rot

There is a perception among those in charge - Sutherland, the board, the high-performance chief, Pat Howard - that Arthur has had 18 months to deal with the myriad internal issues dogging this Australian team and that he has not been able to do that successfully. A widening gap between players and team management was also deemed to be on an irreversible trajectory.

Lehmann might prove a good choice as his replacement. It's all happened rather quickly though.

Adding Smith* to the squad is intriguing. He batted ok a couple of times in India but his inclusion might have a lot to do with the real absence of some middle order players. Effectively having 5 openers as part of your 7 specialist batsmen was a bit of a baffling decision to start off with. And Khawaja is best suited as a no.3. At least that's where he's batted most of the time in his first class career.

Not sure what to make of the Ahmed/Agar decisions. Reading between the lines, it still looks like either may be called upon to join the squad.

*Just read that Smith is on standby for Clarke until the start of the 2nd Test. He then flies to South Africa as captain of the Australia A team. He might find himself getting a game in the early Tests anyway - especially if he makes runs in the warm up games.

Edited June 24, 201311 yr by Macca

Along with Boof they need to get a few others in there to stop the rot and get the players to STFU and fall into line and get the nationback on track.

Border batting coach.

S. Waugh fieldijg coach

Big Merv bowling coach

Surround these pretenders with people who have been there, done that and have actually achieved something at the top.

Clarke's now resigned as a selector also, fair call I reckon. Given the circumstancs and what's been going on of late resigning as captain may have been called for also IMO.

We're in desperate need of a clean out of the toxic culture that's alive in this team at the moment, Clarke's probably the only one (who I reckon is contributing to it) that you'd carry through it.

First up I'd be telling Steve Smith not to worry about joining the squad and I'd also be sending home Hughes, Khawaja, Pattinson, Wade, Warner & Watson and replacing them with Ahmed, Bailey, Burns, Klinger, McDonald & Paine. All of whom are either great leaders amongst their states, have worked their butts off to get an opportunity or in Burns case have shown a great amount of ability at a young age.

Bailey comes in as captain and Klinger vice captain. Go into the first test with an XI of:

Cowan

Rogers

Klinger

Clarke

Bailey*

McDonald

+Paine

Siddle

Harris

Lyon

Bird

Burns: reserve batsman

Faulkner: reserve all rounder

Haddin: reserve keeper

Starc: reserve quick

Ahmed: reserve spinner

That's a squad that sadly would fill me with a lot more confidence of at least putting in a real fighting effort then the mess we've got over there at the moment.

Was really looking forward to the Ashes, now it's all turning into a nightmare!