Anyone for cricket?

[jazza 1,323]

Warners issues are Warners and Clarke should not have to be his wet nurse the same goes for Watson.

Mitch Johnson is a perennial head case that has been countless opportunities to perform at Test level and failed. He was dropped from the Ashes Tests because he repeatedly bowled poorly.

All you have done is tried to smear Clarke with innuendo and hearsay and dressed it up as "LEADERSHIP" yet given no plausible or informed argument as to why Clarke has failed.

I agree on the long rebuild.

ok rhino last crack

Clarke defused his own situation by using selectors to get rid of symonds and then katich

interesting after 3 years people want katich him back and as captain, because he stands up and LEADS

this has been the mark against MC from the start. after his blue with katich he made sure he was dropped although he was the best performed batsman in world cricket for the 2 previous years.

MC couldn't get over the personal dustup and have katich in the team, fact this has caused a major problem because when change room decisions are made you want a reliable back up to support your ideas, katich would have

unfortunately without a strong personality to back you up. iekatich.the bully bros, Watson warner walk all over aleaderless team and do what they want, hence we lack LEADERSHIP

and last but not least google, katich, bingle, symonds

not looking for a fight , just explaining what lack of leadership does in the team enviroment

Edited July 23, 2013 by jazza

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Easy solution.

Drop the whole XI,

IN: Border, Bradman, G. Chappell, Gilchrist, Lillee, McGrath, K. Miller, Morris, O'Reilly, Trumper, Warne

Arthur Morris http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6644.html

Victor Trumper http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7980.html

Don Bradman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4188.html

Greg Chappell http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4558.html

Allan Border* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4174.html

Keith Miller http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6612.html

+Adam Gilchrist http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5390.html

Shane Warne http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8166.html

Dennis Lillee http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6295.html

Bill O'Reilly http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7020.html

Glenn McGrath http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6565.html

Discover the fountain of youth, conjure up a bit of black magic through the black arts and raise the dead. A couple of simple inclusions later and we'll win the next 3 tests ina canter. I'd love to see Jimmy Anderson's reverse swing undo this batting line up or Jo Root try and play a scoop shot off these bowlers. If only it were a possability.....

[dee-luded 2,959]

If Watson goes then 4 or 5 should go before him. Faulkner can't bat in the top 6 and Watson will probably stay because of his bowling. I agree that Watson should go but right now, he is better value (all round) than Rogers, Hughes, Khawaja, Smith, Cowan and Warner (none of whom bowl ... Smith bowls occasionally but is a real part timer)

With Patto out we will need Watson's bowling even more so. Watson should drop down to no.6 for now as he's not an opener and we could replace him with Henriques or Mitch Marsh (but probably not whilst we're in England)

How the other batsmen escape the same scrutiny is astonishing. It's a team game and it's never one persons fault when a team is playing as diabolically bad as our team. I'm not excusing Watson as he should be dropped but so should all the batsmen (bar Clarke)

We've got far bigger fish to fry. Rogers adds nothing and is too old, Cowan the same, Hughes is back to his non productive ways, Warner should have been sent home, Smith isn't up to it and Khawaja can't go on with it.

If Watson goes, so should the lot of them. Sacking Watson on his own won't solve anything and we'll be down to 4 bowlers (without a strike bowler - Patto) Faulkner is a no.7 or no.8. He is not a test standard batsman.

can't you see it Macca, grab a mirror & hold it in front of your face & peer over your shoulder.... now think about the Watson, or is it the Clarke issue?

I see this,,,, the whole team is struggling & off balance, since Clarke took the captaincy... he's the only one performing,,, other than when Warner was as well, & the rest of the Squad is flailing in Clarke's environs... what is the common theme here?

... since punter went on the skids & handed over its all turned to shyte except for party boy. & the teams renowned Grit has gone out the window with Katich & Punter & Hussey... & I'd bet Hussey could still play at this level as well.. I wonder why he left so suddenly,,, I don't believe the public excuse.

... the changing of the leadership batten has been diabolical.

Edited July 24, 2013 by dee-luded

[Macca 16,972]

can't you see it Macca, grab a mirror & hold it in front of your face & peer over your shoulder.... now think about the Watson, or is it the Clarke issue?

I see this,,,, the whole team is struggling & off balance, since Clarke took the captaincy... he's the only one performing,,, other than when Warner was as well, & the rest of the Squad is flailing in Clarke's environs... what is the common theme here?

... since punter went on the skids & handed over its all turned to shyte except for party boy. & the teams renowned Grit has gone out the window with Katich & Punter & Hussey... & I'd bet Hussey could still play at this level as well.. I wonder why her left so suddenly,,, I don't believe the public excuse.

... the changing of the leadership batten has been diabolical.

Yeah well I grabbed that mirror, peered over my shoulder and all I could see was the towel rack!

Seriously, all that back room stuff doesn't really interest me. We've no idea what's really going on anyway. Everything we hear about is 2nd and 3rd hand news so what are we supposed to believe or not believe? There's a lot of rumour and innuendo and I don't give it a lot of credence.

The easiest way to judge things is to simply comment on what we see out on the ground. We're not much chop and that can't be disputed. All the selectors can do is to give others a chance and see what they come up with.

It's my belief that we need to rebuild with youth (21 - 26 year olds) but I wouldn't be against a short term rescue plan with a couple of wise heads so that we can at least be competitive. But talk of bringing back retired greats comes with it's own issues. They've had their time.

It won't be getting any easier any time soon. After England visit our shores we embark on a tour of South Africa to face Steyn, Morkel and Philander. I wonder if the selectors will go outside the squad to strengthen the current team? Obviously the Australian A team who are playing in South Africa could offer up some candidates.

But in reference to the captain and coach, every player is responsible for his own actions. Batting, bowling or fielding for the team still remains an individual act in this sport. There's very little a coach or captain can do once you're in the moment.

Oh and TD, I like that team! You had to leave out a few champs ... Punter, S Waugh, Grimmett, Benaud amongst them. Thommo 'live' was astonishingly fast. He was a freak with an almost perfect high release. Scary quick and at his best, was almost unplayable.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Yeah well I grabbed that mirror, peered over my shoulder and all I could see was the towel rack!

Seriously, all that back room stuff doesn't really interest me. We've no idea what's really going on anyway. Everything we hear about is 2nd and 3rd hand news so what are we supposed to believe or not believe? There's a lot of rumour and innuendo and I don't give it a lot of credence.

The easiest way to judge things is to simply comment on what we see out on the ground. We're not much chop and that can't be disputed. All the selectors can do is to give others a chance and see what they come up with.

It's my belief that we need to rebuild with youth (21 - 26 year olds) but I wouldn't be against a short term rescue plan with a couple of wise heads so that we can at least be competitive. But talk of bringing back retired greats comes with it's own issues. They've had their time.

It won't be getting any easier any time soon. After England visit our shores we embark on a tour of South Africa to face Steyn, Morkel and Philander. I wonder if the selectors will go outside the squad to strengthen the current team? Obviously the Australian A team who are playing in South Africa could offer up some candidates.

But in reference to the captain and coach, every player is responsible for his own actions. Batting, bowling or fielding for the team still remains an individual act in this sport. There's very little a coach or captain can do once you're in the moment.

Oh and TD, I like that team! You had to leave out a few champs ... Punter, S Waugh, Grimmett, Benaud amongst them. Thommo 'live' was astonishingly fast. He was a freak with an almost perfect high release. Scary quick and at his best, was almost unplayable.

... but you can see actual results and analyze them in your head.. just like looking at the sky & reading the clouds & the likely weather coming your way. it becomes second nature... intuitive

if all these poor results were only rarely circumstantial, then we would just disregard, but so many things have happened around the the umbrella of Clark, its just Too crazy to ignore, just because he's getting runs & everyone else is useless.

how many Aus players have to fall out with this guy, before people put the magnifying glass over him??? runs isn't everything... team harmony & laughter is crucial @ the senior international level.

# just thinking about the game results in isolation, is unfair to the players who may be struggling in an environment that just does not suit them, & this sort of judgement is done without understanding of the personalities that go to making up the team environment.

If it was one square peg then I'd say the problem was with the one, but too many have fallen out & the whole test team has gone sour. more sour than their talents.

I think part of it was Arthur, but I think sutherland must have had a hand in trying to shake out our blue collar Aussie playing ways, & add pup to that trio, & voila.

.. for mine we need to get back to some dirt under the fingernails type players, who play just for the baggy green, instead of the fist full of dollars... if we didn't have a player of the Ilk of Siddle over the last few years, we would be totally stuffed.

... we have to get rid of the pompous self loving types, from the leadership, & Re-start with some Grit.

Edited July 23, 2013 by dee-luded

[Macca 16,972]

... but you can see actual results and analyze them in your head.. just like looking at the sky & reading the clouds & the likely weather coming your way. it becomes second nature... intuitive

if all these poor results were only rarely circumstantial, then we would just disregard, but so many things have happened around the the umbrella of Clark, its just Too crazy to ignore, just because he's getting runs & everyone else is useless.

how many Aus players have to fall out with this guy, before people put the magnifying glass over him??? runs isn't everything... team harmony & laughter is crucial @ the senior international level.

Tactically, Clarke is excellent. As a batsman, he's world class.

As for leadership, it's so hard to know. He cannot be blamed for our current state. If you're representing your country, you've got to be naturally motivated and if you let the backroom stuff distract you, you probably shouldn't be there.

Character comes from within. Our lack of performance with the bat is part technical and part temperament. The rest of it is up to the player himself and there are no excuses.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Tactically, Clarke is excellent. As a batsman, he's world class.

As for leadership, it's so hard to know. He cannot be blamed for our current state. If you're representing your country, you've got to be naturally motivated and if you let the backroom stuff distract you, you probably shouldn't be there.

Character comes from within. Our lack of performance with the bat is part technical and part temperament. The rest of it is up to the player himself and there are no excuses.

of course character comes from within, but so does happiness, & happiness/harmony is crucial to get the best out of people.

if your tearing a bad losing type culture apart to rebuild,,, then its OK temporarily to make 'some unhappy', for the bigger picture, but we are talking about the highest Senior Elite Test level... not a young rebuilding AFL side thats been Off for a decade.

... we need players as leaders who've been built out of grit, & mature fatherly disciplinary skills. Mark Taylor had them, as did Tugga Waugh,,, no frills there, but all class & guts.

[Macca 16,972]

of course character comes from within, but so does happiness, & happiness/harmony is crucial to get the best out of people.

if your tearing a bad losing type culture apart to rebuild,,, then its OK temporarily to make 'some unhappy', for the bigger picture, but we are talking about the highest Senior Elite Test level... not a young rebuilding AFL side thats been Off for a decade.

... we need players as leaders who've been built out of grit, & mature fatherly disciplinary skills. Mark Taylor had them, as did Tugga Waugh,,, no frills there, but all class & guts.

If you look at our team, we don't seem to have a lot of natural leaders. We are coming off a hugely successful era filled with strong characters and self starters. The last few years and probably the next couple of years are very similar to that '83 to '88 era.

Even though I'm generally against picking older blokes, I think we could do a lot worse than to bring George Bailey into the side. If we were to revisit a past player, Marcus North might also be a good fit for what we need right now. Both Bailey and North are highly regarded for their leadership which is what we so badly need. Clarke would have a couple of 'Go to' men along with Haddin. It's time we got a couple of new young batsmen into the side as well. We've got to bite the bullet at some stage.

Of the current 8 batsmen in England, only Clarke and possibly Khawaja have long term futures. The others have huge question marks over them. Many of them have had enough chances (Rogers excluded) and it's time to move them on. Our current batsmen's ability to play spin is diabolical. We're tentative, there's a lack of footwork and we're missing too many straight balls.

Katich is about to turn 38 and along with Punter and Hussey, he's had his time. Wouldn't surprise me if they called on him though. North is still only 33 and bowls reasonable off spin. Bailey is 30.

[dee-luded 2,959]

If you look at our team, we don't seem to have a lot of natural leaders. We are coming off a hugely successful era filled with strong characters and self starters. The last few years and probably the next couple of years are very similar to that '83 to '88 era.

Even though I'm generally against picking older blokes, I think we could do a lot worse than to bring George Bailey into the side. If we were to revisit a past player, Marcus North might also be a good fit for what we need right now. Both Bailey and North are highly regarded for their leadership which is what we so badly need. Clarke would have a couple of 'Go to' men along with Haddin. It's time we got a couple of new young batsmen into the side as well. We've got to bite the bullet at some stage.

Of the current 8 batsmen in England, only Clarke and possibly Khawaja have long term futures. The others have huge question marks over them. Many of them have had enough chances (Rogers excluded) and it's time to move them on. Our current batsmen's ability to play spin is diabolical. We're tentative, there's a lack of footwork and we're missing too many straight balls.

Katich is about to turn 38 and along with Punter and Hussey, he's had his time. Wouldn't surprise me if they called on him though. North is still only 33 and bowls reasonable off spin. Bailey is 30.

yeah I know, were in a leadership vacuum, but picking the most talented player is usually not the best skipper... see Selwood at the cats, great leader amongst other better players.

IMO the best leaders are nearly always the grittiest gnarliest players, who succeeded thru sheer determination when less talented.

... too often the most skilful don't understand the lesser mortals & just don't get It... Punter was a 50/50 in my book with greats around him.

Clark is Too 'self' for me, to succeed in a less talented outfit, in a weaker Australian Test Cricket Era.

..... we need to do a 'Bobby Simpson' rebuild... bring in someone to put Pup out of his predicament... & let him just Bat. clark would be a good lieutenant

in the slips, tactically. But I think thats his limit.... he just doesn't have the maturity & manliness to truly lead.... & I wonder if THIS is why we have so many issues with him... maybe he wants to lead, but no one wants to follow him.

... to me there is One thing worse than no leader,,,, a poor one that no-one wants to follow.

[jazza 1,323]

agree with you macca, its very early 80s this batting line up

they really have no choice but remain with the current, so who do they pick?

stability is needed for the remaining 3 tests, and see if they can get something going in the right direction

Clarke 5

smith6

kulwaja4

watson1

cowan , was opening and doing the dirty work. id give him the last 3 tests

1st drop. don't know. do we try hughes AGAIN

glad a bowler is injured. it gives chance for bird and leg spinner.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Oh and TD, I like that team! You had to leave out a few champs ... Punter, S Waugh, Grimmett, Benaud amongst them. Thommo 'live' was astonishingly fast. He was a freak with an almost perfect high release. Scary quick and at his best, was almost unplayable.

Haha, cheers Macca, was fun putting it together. And don't worry I didn't forget about those names you mentioned, I just couldn't fit them all into what I'd consider our best XI of all time.

Punter, S. Waugh & Grimmett I'd have in our 2nd XI.

Benaud captain of our 3rd XI.

Thommo, as you say although astonishingly fast I could only get into our 4th XI.

2nd XI:

Matthew Hayden http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5616.html

Bob Simpson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7619.html

Stan McCabe http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6540.html

Ricky Ponting http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7133.html

Steve Waugh* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8192.html

Doug Walters http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8151.html

+Ian Healy http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5628.html

Alan Davidson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4902.html

Hugh Trumble http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7977.html

Clarrie Grimmett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5443.html

Fred 'The Demon' Spofforth http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7663.html

3rd XI:

Bill Lawry http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6270.html

Bill Ponsford http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7131.html

Ian Chappell http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4560.html

Neil Harvey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5603.html

Sid Barnes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4098.html

Michael Clarke http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4578.html

+Rod Marsh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6502.html

Richie Benaud* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4123.html

'Rampaging' Ray Lindwall http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6299.html

Merv Hughes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5726.html

Craig McDermott http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6551.html

4th XI:

Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html

Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html

David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html

Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html

Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html

Dean Jones http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6044.html

+Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html

Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html

Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html

Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html

Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html

Very difficult trying to fit them all in, and probably some very good players I've still forgotten. Pretty happy with all the XI's I've mentioned. Although my 4th XI has a pretty weak tail from Grout down, where as my 3rd XI has Lindwall coming in at 9 who scored 2 test centuries.

Was difficuly enough thinking of an Australian XI, I'd hate to try and do a World XI.

Edited July 24, 2013 by Tall Defence

[MadAsHell 4,212]

agree with you macca, its very early 80s this batting line up

they really have no choice but remain with the current, so who do they pick?

stability is needed for the remaining 3 tests, and see if they can get something going in the right direction

Clarke 5

smith6

kulwaja4

watson1

cowan , was opening and doing the dirty work. id give him the last 3 tests

1st drop. don't know. do we try hughes AGAIN

glad a bowler is injured. it gives chance for bird and leg spinner.

Agree Jazza, for the remainder of this series they need stability and I'm hoping that the XI they pick for the 3rd test they stick with for the 4th & 5th baring the likely rest of Harris for the 4th.

Rogers to stay top of the order for the last 3 tests.

Watson given these last three tests as openner, pretty much playing for his future.

Khawaja to stay at 3

Hughs to stay at 4, see comments re: Watson

Clarke to stay at 5.

No 6 spot a three way play off between Smith, Wade & Warner for mine. The warm up matches will determine, but once picked for the 3rd test, stay for last three.

Haddin to keep the gloves.

Agar to play the whole series pending fitness for the next test.

Siddle to play the whole series.

Harris, in an ideal world to play the rest of the sereis. Likely to miss the 4th test for Starc.

Bird to play the remaining 3 tests.

I'd be telling the likes of Bailey, Faulkner & Cosgrove to make sure they're in fine form for the start of our summer, as if things don't change over these remaining tests I can see some changes coming and although I agree that both Mike Hussey & Punters times have come and gone, I wouldn't be against a Katch come back until the end of January 2015....

[jazza 1,323]

have you googled

katichbinglesymonds

its worth the laugh just to see greg Mathews comments

funny. mo Mathews katich,g Lawson,and stuey McGill, all from NSW and don't like MC

Edited July 25, 2013 by jazza

[dee-luded 2,959]

DEELUDED

it did start about then,ponting as good as he was didn't want to play in a losing team, when gilly retired he wouldn't accept a wicketkeeper. he plumped for another batsmen and was happy with backstop that could make a few runs. instead of rebuilding

then hayden was kept on for 10 tests to many and a young player couldn't get those early experiences under his belt.

and when the end was close, instead of spending the last 3 years at no 6 and ushering in yet another cadet, oh no ricky wants to stay at 3 and ruin the chances of the younger player fitting in. it was debated by ex players in the press that he was ruining the end of a great career,by the time he retired there was no plan in place, he did state at one stage that if dropped I will play ipl and get a million dollars

it was a threat that ca panicked about and did what the players wanted

TD, I think they might try a soccer thing in the shield and make it compulsory to have 2 players under a certain age

read my other post about katich re clarke

http://www.womensagenda.com.au/talking-about/top-stories/jacquie-hey-on-her-first-day-as-cricket-australias-first-female-board-member/20121028982

http://www.cricket.com.au/about-us/the-board

Article in the Age finally putting the blame for our demise on the head of CA.

BBL,IPL,the weakening of Club and state cricket and the chasing of quick bucks.

Ten years with Sutherland have overseen this .

I once loved cricket with a passion.

Not now-I would rather play park cricket or watch some mates play.

They wrecked it.

Fkn Sports administrators.

slapdash, or slapstick ?

.... maybe depends on if your Australian, Or English... they'd be 'Laugh-In' loudest !

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Australia A v South Africa A kicks off in about an hour. Can follow it here:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/630760.html

Likely XI for us I'd expect to be:

N. Maddinson

S. Marsh

A. Doolan

D. Warner

M. Henriques

G. Maxwell

+T. Paine*

P. Cummins

C. Sayers

F. Ahmed

J. Hazlewood

12th - 15th Men: N. Coulter-Nile, A. Finch, M. Marsh & G. Sandhu

This should give us a bit of an idea about where our depth is against that of South Africa's. Players to watch out for from their XI for me are.

K. Abbott http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/297583.html

R. Rossouw http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/318845.html

S. Van Zyl http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/267479.html

Will again be interesting to see how the likes of Warner, Cummins & Ahmed go.

Further I'd love to know why neither Joe Burns or Jordan Silk are part of the squad. Surely these are two guys pressing for selection come our summer series?

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

ok rhino last crackClarke defused his own situation by using selectors to get rid of symonds and then katichinteresting after 3 years people want katich him back and as captain, because he stands up and LEADSthis has been the mark against MC from the start. after his blue with katich he made sure he was dropped although he was the best performed batsman in world cricket for the 2 previous years.MC couldn't get over the personal dustup and have katich in the team, fact this has caused a major problem because when change room decisions are made you want a reliable back up to support your ideas, katich would haveunfortunately without a strong personality to back you up. iekatich.the bully bros, Watson warner walk all over aleaderless team and do what they want, hence we lack LEADERSHIPand last but not least google, katich, bingle, symondsnot looking for a fight , just explaining what lack of leadership does in the team enviroment

Symonds got rid of himself. His form dropped away and his personal problems also came to the fore.

Katich's demise could also focus on form. His last 10 Test innings yielded around 240 runs at around 20 a piece. And I am not sure where you pull "the best batsman in the world for the previous 2 seasons". But it sure is a nice bit of hoopla. Well done.

And it's hardly Clarke's fault that neither Watson nor Warner can behave like responsible human beings.

You have a naive and self serving view of LEADERSHiP.

You have carried ad nauseam about it but given nothing but your personal grudge and an unsubstantiated conspiracy theory.

Don't get me wrong I love a good conspiracy theory. I just prefer them with a few facts and evidence.

[Macca 16,972]

Haha, cheers Macca, was fun putting it together. And don't worry I didn't forget about those names you mentioned, I just couldn't fit them all into what I'd consider our best XI of all time.

Punter, S. Waugh & Grimmett I'd have in our 2nd XI.

Benaud captain of our 3rd XI.

Thommo, as you say although astonishingly fast I could only get into our 4th XI.

2nd XI:

Matthew Hayden http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5616.html

Bob Simpson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7619.html

Stan McCabe http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6540.html

Ricky Ponting http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7133.html

Steve Waugh* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8192.html

Doug Walters http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8151.html

+Ian Healy http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5628.html

Alan Davidson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4902.html

Hugh Trumble http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7977.html

Clarrie Grimmett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5443.html

Fred 'The Demon' Spofforth http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7663.html

3rd XI:

Bill Lawry http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6270.html

Bill Ponsford http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7131.html

Ian Chappell http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4560.html

Neil Harvey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5603.html

Sid Barnes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4098.html

Michael Clarke http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4578.html

+Rod Marsh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6502.html

Richie Benaud* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4123.html

'Rampaging' Ray Lindwall http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6299.html

Merv Hughes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5726.html

Craig McDermott http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6551.html

4th XI:

Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html

Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html

David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html

Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html

Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html

Dean Jones http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6044.html

+Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html

Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html

Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html

Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html

Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html

Very difficult trying to fit them all in, and probably some very good players I've still forgotten. Pretty happy with all the XI's I've mentioned. Although my 4th XI has a pretty weak tail from Grout down, where as my 3rd XI has Lindwall coming in at 9 who scored 2 test centuries.

Was difficuly enough thinking of an Australian XI, I'd hate to try and do a World XI.

Yeah, some excellent teams there TD. I'd only make a few changes with the bowling (Thommo and Garth to swap with Merv and Billy) but you've done well with the rest of the line-ups. Monty Noble and 'The Big ship' Warwick Armstrong would find their way into my XI's as well. Charlie Macartney was another player with strong claims.

You'll be giving HT some more ideas about 'Best XI's ! (which passes the time nicely in the Holiday period whilst we're all watching the 'Big Bash' )

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Yeah, some excellent teams there TD. I'd only make a few changes with the bowling (Thommo and Garth to swap with Merv and Billy) but you've done well with the rest of the line-ups. Monty Noble and 'The Big ship' Warwick Armstrong would find their way into my XI's as well. Charlie Macartney was another player with strong claims.

You'll be giving HT some more ideas about 'Best XI's ! (which passes the time nicely in the Holiday period whilst we're all watching the 'Big Bash' )

Fair call there Macca. I guess I picked Merv and Billy ahead of McKenzie due to their slightly superior strike rate and bowling average.

So why then are they ahead of Thommo who had a better strike rate and average I hear you ask? Can't really answer that. I guess when I first started watching cricket I grew up watching Big Merv and Billy as our two main quicks so I've got a soft spot for the two of them.

Both Noble and Armstrong are very good cricketers who you could argue should be in a team as early as the 2nd XI. For me by my final XI I went for Alderman ahead of Noble mainly due to the highlights I've seen of him and what my old man told me of him, so I have a very high opinion. Where as Armstrong you could almost say I left out due to team balance, with my weak 4th XI tale I wanted a specialist batsman instead of an allrounder.

Macartney however I had forgotten about, and come to think of it I probably would have him in my 4th XI ahead of Deano.

And for those of you interested Australia A currently 3/156 against South Africa A with Warner on 72* off 82 deliveries. Aaron Finch also made a 50 and Henriques is currently at the crease with Warner.

[MadAsHell 4,212]

4th XI:

Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html

Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html

David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html

Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html

Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html

Dean Jones http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6044.html

+Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html

Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html

Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html

Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html

Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html

Amendment: Macartney in, Jones out. Thanks for bringing him to my attention Macca!

4th XI:

Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html

Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html

David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html

Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html

Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html

Charlie Macartney http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6434.html

+Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html

Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html

Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html

Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html

Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html

[Macca 16,972]

Fair call there Macca. I guess I picked Merv and Billy ahead of McKenzie due to their slightly superior strike rate and bowling average.

So why then are they ahead of Thommo who had a better strike rate and average I hear you ask? Can't really answer that. I guess when I first started watching cricket I grew up watching Big Merv and Billy as our two main quicks so I've got a soft spot for the two of them.

Both Noble and Armstrong are very good cricketers who you could argue should be in a team as early as the 2nd XI. For me by my final XI I went for Alderman ahead of Noble mainly due to the highlights I've seen of him and what my old man told me of him, so I have a very high opinion. Where as Armstrong you could almost say I left out due to team balance, with my weak 4th XI tale I wanted a specialist batsman instead of an allrounder.

Macartney however I had forgotten about, and come to think of it I probably would have him in my 4th XI ahead of Deano.

And for those of you interested Australia A currently 3/156 against South Africa A with Warner on 72* off 82 deliveries. Aaron Finch also made a 50 and Henriques is currently at the crease with Warner.

Here's a bit of Thommo for ya TD! It's a pity he hurt his shoulder a couple of times as he could have gone down as one of the all time greats. As it was he certainly left a lasting impression. We were a good side prior to the 74/75 season but with Thomson added to the mix, we became a great one.

Btw, Dave Warner is now 110 not out. You'd reckon with that knock he might get a recall.

[dee-luded 2,959]

Yeah, some excellent teams there TD. I'd only make a few changes with the bowling (Thommo and Garth to swap with Merv and Billy) but you've done well with the rest of the line-ups. Monty Noble and 'The Big ship' Warwick Armstrong would find their way into my XI's as well. Charlie Macartney was another player with strong claims.

You'll be giving HT some more ideas about 'Best XI's ! (which passes the time nicely in the Holiday period whilst we're all watching the 'Big Bash' )

... maybe you guys should just do a First, & a Second 12,,, but done in batting order....

best No 1, & 2nd No 1

best No 2, & 2nd No 2

best @ 3, 4, 5, wicket keeper, bowlers..

If you do them seperately, then some discussion can be made about each positional selection.

[Macca 16,972]

... maybe you guys should just do a First, & a Second 12,,, but done in batting order....

best No 1, & 2nd No 1

best No 2, & 2nd No 2

best @ 3, 4, 5, wicket keeper, bowlers..

If you do them seperately, then some discussion can be made about each positional selection.

Yeah, picking that best XI was good fun. Doing it over January was ideal as well.

The BBC lads along with Jim Maxwell picked a best Ashes XI and this is what they came up with (in batting order)

Jack Hobbs

Len Hutton

Don Bradman

Wally Hammond

Allan Border

Ian Botham

Adam Gilchrist

Shane Warne

Harold Larwood

Dennis Lillee

Glenn McGrath

12th Keith Miller

I would have had to have found a spot in the XI for Miller but who do you leave out?

Here's the write-up ... The greatest Ashes XI

[dee-luded 2,959]

Here's a bit of Thommo for ya TD! It's a pity he hurt his shoulder a couple of times as he could have gone down as one of the all time greats. As it was he certainly left a lasting impression. We were a good side prior to the 74/75 season but with Thomson added to the mix, we became a great one.

Btw, Dave Warner is now 110 not out. You'd reckon with that knock he might get a recall.

[dee-luded 2,959]

[MadAsHell 4,212]

Here's a bit of Thommo for ya TD! It's a pity he hurt his shoulder a couple of times as he could have gone down as one of the all time greats. As it was he certainly left a lasting impression. We were a good side prior to the 74/75 season but with Thomson added to the mix, we became a great one.

Btw, Dave Warner is now 110 not out. You'd reckon with that knock he might get a recall.

Cheers Macca, would have loved to see him live. Looks like he's exactly what I was hoping Tait would become before I and many othes were so let down....

As for the Australia A match. Stumps on Day 1

Australia A 5/399

D. Warner 193

G. Maxwell 103*

A. Finch 51

K. Abbott 2/61 (19)

M. De Lange 2/97 (16.4)

S. Van Zyl 1/45 (9)

Article on the days play here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/654857.html

Great work by Warner, and you'd assume he's landed himself the number 6 spot for the 3rd test now with Wade, Hughes & Smith to battle it out for the number 4 spot. Also good to see Maxwell in the runs again after he made a 50 against Zimbabwe the other week. He to is clearly one of our best talents. I just hope he isn't limited to T20 & ODI cricket and he can learn how to harness his natural aggresive play to the longer format as he could become a valuable player going forward.

Edit: Spell

Edited July 24, 2013 by Tall Defence