Bringing back Warne is a good Idea! Or was.. BUT Not as a bowler,,,BUT Rather as the skipper who can field at slip & get that side organised & playing with Spirit & confidence. He can bowl part time as required,,, but my Idea would be for him to lead & develop that side into a hard competing Unit again.

The pretty boys have lossed that sides MOJO,,, & they need to find it again. Bring back Heals &/or Tubby,, offield, to assist the direction.

Ugh! Warne no way.

And bringing him back as a skipper and not as a bowler is just daft.

The big problem with the Australian team is not the leadership. Lets focus on where the issues actually are and address them rather than being sucked in to mindless media hoopla generated about a person who's botox TV talk show is a flop. I am surprised they didnt line Warnie up with Oprah rather Liz Hurley.

Any chance we could also get Neil Harvey to bat at 3!

Australia needs to look forward and not backwards. Warne was a monkey on England's back during his playing days. I cant see why he should become one in retirement for Australia.

There's a mouth-watering Test beginning tomorrow, between two strong teams. Should be a gripping encounter.

No, it's not Australia-England, rather its South Africa-India. But instead of being played on dreary featherbeds in the subcontinent, India's actually travelling somewhere, and the pitch at Centurion is going to be fiery. Hopefully Steyn and Morkel destroy them.

Imagine that a cricket pitch that gives something early for the bowlers and has some character about it.

The ICC should snuff that out immediately.

There's a mouth-watering Test beginning tomorrow, between two strong teams. Should be a gripping encounter.

No, it's not Australia-England, rather its South Africa-India. But instead of being played on dreary featherbeds in the subcontinent, India's actually travelling somewhere, and the pitch at Centurion is going to be fiery. Hopefully Steyn and Morkel destroy them.

Agree. It will be interesting to see how India go. Tips ?

I'll tip Sth Africa at home.

Agree. It will be interesting to see how India go. Tips ?

I'll tip Sth Africa at home.

Yep, I'll go with South Africa too. Steyn and Morkel will hopefully get the edge over Gamhir and Sehwag, and with Raina and Dhoni susceptible to the extra bounce I think South Africa will fare better.

That sounds like it might be worth keeping an eye on.

Cripes, I'm dreading this next Ashes Test. Reminds me of the feeling of seeing Geelong coming up on the draw circa 2008; where not watching doesn't feel right, so all you can do is brace yourself because you know it's going to hurt. Urgh.

Cripes, I'm dreading this next Ashes Test. Reminds me of the feeling of seeing Geelong coming up on the draw circa 2008; where not watching doesn't feel right, so all you can do is brace yourself because you know it's going to hurt. Urgh.

Me too.

Partly because I honestly cannot believe they are going to drop Siddle.

And if they do drop him, let's not make a mistake, they'll be dropping him for Hilfenhaus, not Johnson.

Bollinger was brought in for Johnson to be the strike bowler, the 'golden arm'. He failed, due largely to a lack of fitness, so he must go. Whether we agree or not, Johnson has been deemed the replacement (personally I don't).

Now, Hilfenhaus was dropped because he was impotent, and Harris was brought in to do similar work (i.e. bowl with the new ball, swing it a bit, do some hard yakka when required). Siddle does a similar job. If Siddle goes, Hilfenhaus will take his spot in the order.

All this talk about Siddle vs Johnson is nonsense. It's also ludicrous that Hilfenhaus is even in the squad, let alone the XI.

Cripes, I'm dreading this next Ashes Test. Reminds me of the feeling of seeing Geelong coming up on the draw circa 2008; where not watching doesn't feel right, so all you can do is brace yourself because you know it's going to hurt. Urgh.

I think it will be interesting whatever the result.

Certainly on Christmas Day with lunch/dinner among my family it will be interesting. It's always the way that Cricket is the main topic amongst consuming some turkey, pork & crackle, etc.

If it's a draw in the 3rd Test it will be - thank god Melbourne (Boxing Day test) & Sydney tests are still alive; thank god the series is just alive; what will the selections be for the Boxing day test (how long is a piece of string ?!).

If it's a win for the Aussies in Perth - it will be the same as above...

If it's a win for England in the Third test in Perth, the conversation will be huge - topics that will be covered: Selectors, selections for the two remaining tests, Ponting's future, where's the rest of the crackle ?

It's also ludicrous that Hilfenhaus is even in the squad, let alone the XI.

I don't quite follow why you've got it in for Hilfenhaus but can't understand why Siddle is in the gun. I think your judgement has been clouded by one handy innings and a Victorian bias. In my eyes, both Siddle and Hilfenhaus are pie chuckers (at the moment, anyway) and both will get raped and pillaged by the pommy bats. It doesn't really matter which one you pick.

Either way, it is all a bit ho-hum. Bollinger, Siddle, Hilfy, Johnson - who cares, can't see any combination of those blokes taking 20 wickets, especially when coupled with Harris and the obscure Beer.

I don't quite follow why you've got it in for Hilfenhaus but can't understand why Siddle is in the gun. I think your judgement has been clouded by one handy innings and a Victorian bias. In my eyes, both Siddle and Hilfenhaus are pie chuckers (at the moment, anyway) and both will get raped and pillaged by the pommy bats. It doesn't really matter which one you pick.

Are you inferring that it's the equivalent of just moving the deck chairs, so to speak ?

Gee, you're big on the 'Victorian bias', aren't you Nasher ?

I would have thought titan has made a judgement call purely on figures and form between the two mentioned bowlers.

Either way, it is all a bit ho-hum. Bollinger, Siddle, Hilfy, Johnson - who cares, can't see any combination of those blokes taking 20 wickets, especially when coupled with Harris and the obscure Beer.

I think this is what we're all dreading.

I don't quite follow why you've got it in for Hilfenhaus but can't understand why Siddle is in the gun. I think your judgement has been clouded by one handy innings and a Victorian bias. In my eyes, both Siddle and Hilfenhaus are pie chuckers (at the moment, anyway) and both will get raped and pillaged by the pommy bats. It doesn't really matter which one you pick.

How many times has Hilfenhaus taken 5 wickets in an innings? 0. In fact, his best match bowling figures are 5/70. Siddle has three five-fors, two against England. Statistics can be used any way you like, but I think this one matters.

Furthermore, Hilfenhaus has no weapons after the shine wears off the new ball. And even then, he wasn't swinging it a lot in Brisbane.

He was dropped for a reason. I think there is a bigger difference between Siddle and Hilfenhaus than you think.

Anderson made Hilfenhaus look impotent and 2nd rate.

Anderson made Hilfenhaus look impotent and 2nd rate.

Anderson has really improved since the last time he was out here.

Btw, it's your pick RR. Other thread.

Big risk here, we've named Beer as 12th man, so we're playing all of Johnson, Siddle, Harris and Hilfenhaus, as well as Watson. So the spinning duties will be handed to Smith and Michael Clarke, if required.

I wonder if Ponting will consider bowling first if we win the toss. After all, we need 20 wickets and with four pacemen the best time to bowl might be today.

Big risk here, we've named Beer as 12th man, so we're playing all of Johnson, Siddle, Harris and Hilfenhaus, as well as Watson. So the spinning duties will be handed to Smith and Michael Clarke, if required.

I wonder if Ponting will consider bowling first if we win the toss. After all, we need 20 wickets and with four pacemen the best time to bowl might be today.

Interesting that he's been named 12th man.

England have won the toss and will bowl first. Poo.

Edit: And Ponting said he wouldn't have bowled first too if we'd won the toss.

I'm afraid we're going to get a repeat of Adelaide. Green top + a top 7 containing Phil Hughes, Steven Smith, and an out-of-form Ponting = no confidence at all.

Edited December 16, 201014 yr by titan_uranus

England have won the toss and will bowl first. Poo.

Edit: And Ponting said he wouldn't have bowled first too if we'd won the toss.

I'm afraid we're going to get a repeat of Adelaide. Green top + a top 7 containing Phil Hughes, Steven Smith, and an out-of-form Ponting = no confidence at all.

Not surprising re: Punter. Now they have to back it up. No excuses.

No Beer? thats odd lets hope we can manage 350 plus would be good

Hardly surprising to see Beer not picked.

I have grave concerns for this test.

P.S. Already a review. Watson given out caught behind but it's off thigh pad. Not out. Very sharp take by Prior.

Didn't take long.

Collingwood - what a take. There go the ashes!

Edited December 16, 201014 yr by 45HG16

3/33.

Hughes 2.

Ponting 12.

Clarke 4.

Watson out now. 4/36. Worse than Adelaide. That's the only decent ball too, the first three were crap shots. The batsmen aren't good enough but the bowlers get rotated. Smith in now. We are gone.

Is there an India/ South Africa score?

Doesnt matter whether Beer is 12th or 13th man!!!

Watson out now. 4/36. Worse than Adelaide. That's the only decent ball too, the first three were crap shots. The batsmen aren't good enough but the bowlers get rotated. Smith in now. We are gone.

I know it's early and it's probably a silly call by me, but just watching Hussey's body language, that fidgiting around like he has ants in his pants. I'm tipping he'll dig deep for us...again.

I know it's early and it's probably a silly call by me, but just watching Hussey's body language, that fidgiting around like he has ants in his pants. I'm tipping he'll dig deep for us...again.

Bet he will be lucky. He shouldnt be in the team. Its the selectors fault. Especially Greg Chappell.

Seriously all power to him. When Australia needed fortitude in this series he has delivered in spades. Its a pity others bar Haddin have not backed him up.

And is Michael Clarke our next Test Captain? I dont this so. And given his bad back, I cant see Clarke even bending down to pick up the bowling run up marker let alone bowl a ball.