Rhino Richards

Over the six test in 12 innings Hussey made 219. Johnson in 11 innings made 401. A number of Johnson's innings reflected a situation of running out of partners. Awesome effort by the Queenslander.

Given McDonalds docile performance on good batting strip with the ball, I think the selectors will risk it against Peterson and Flintoff on small grounds. If they take S Clark then they have no requirement for McDonalds height. Was that after the finish of the Test? The commentary box (Maxwell, Roebuck and Coward) were gobsmacked that Katich was not bowled until the death against SA. His shoulder must still be an issue. 219 at 19.72 against SA in six tests. His only score over 50 was one of the most scratchy performances you could see. He is one more poor Test away from oblivion. He batted well in the 2005 ODI in England so I will give him some rope. Hodge and Klinger should fight the spot out. If North had been fit then McDonald would have been out of the side. His bowling was lacklustre against SA and on good decks he is too easily pulled apart. An all rounder needs to justify himself as either a bowler or batsman if not both with the other skills being competent enough to carry him through. In my mind he does not have either skill strength at a sufficient levels. He's a luxury in this side. Give you that. Klinger would be a better choice.

A great knock on a good batting strip by Mitchell Johnson who has definitely stamped himself as a world class bowling all-rounder. His performances make McDonald's role redundant and embarrasses some of the top order batsman. Mr Hussey.... the clock is ticking. Its a good point about contrasting Harris and McGain. Harris only reinforces the important of having Test standard competent spinner. Harris is not a great spin bowler and has been subject to some surprising attacks on these forums. Not every spinner is as good as Warne. He is a capable and competent spinner who will have his day out and get 5 or 6 once in a long stretch but will normally chime in 1 or 2 valuable scalps. Australia going into the Ashes without a front line spinner is going in very exposed. We will indeed be fortunate if the hole can be covered by Katich, North and Clarke. My touring team for the Ashes Tests (15 man squad). Hughes, Katich, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, North, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, S Clarke, I would add: Nannes- My comments above. I think he might have pipped Greeves and Magoffin. Wade - Second keeper Hodge- Form with the bat and prior English experience. Bollinger- Another left armer for variety. Would have chosen a spinner here but why waste the spot. On the outer: McDonald - Not strong enough as a bowler and/or batsman. No place if we are play 4 front line quicks. McGain - Enough said. Watson- Injury prone and the same as McDonald Lee- No form in England. Lost mojo and at 32 I think Australia should prefer others. Hauritz- Went to SA but was not used for any game. Shown that at best he can dry up runs but not take wickets. I doubt they will waste a tour spot on him. Smoky: David Hussey to replace his brother in the side.... OK. I did say it was a smoky! I would not put money on it but if it does come off, I will claim "I picked this"!! :D

Didn't Bollinger come into the picture when Nannes was injured. Nannes has finished the season like a steam train. If they decide not to take a front line spinner, Nannes might be closer than you think. I think they will take Stuart Clarke to England as well if fit. He offers good variation on the others. I think Lee is finished. His last tour of England was mediocre and they want bowlers who can strike. His pilot light blew out 12 months ago. Once it is gone, it does not come back. I dont want to see another Jason Gillespie episode in England. I hope so. Correct. I dont think McDonald will go to England It will be interesting to find out why Katich did not bowl until there were 600 runs on the board. Surely after McGains murdering on the 2nd day, he should have been bowled. What's the story with Clarkes back? He seems restricted batting and I am not sure he is fit to bowl ATM. There will be a 2nd innings for the SA batsman!

The fact is we werent so you are fussing over little and the also that North went down at the 11 hour. How many should we have on tour? I'm not sure if its decent but it may have to do. As a consequence we may have to play a 4th quick.

Aust 2/102 in the 2nd. SA - 450 in front on the 1st dig.De Villiers sensational against some pretty feeble bowling at times. Siddle an exception. Hussey and McDonald are playing for Test spots. Hussey does not want too many more failures. McDonald is average with the ball and non existent with the bat. He is no Test all rounder. McGain has lost his Test spot. At least he joins a number of players who at least have worn the baggy green..... once. We need to find a spinner. However I dont know who that will be....Beau Casson??

Nothing like hyperbole. Its been disappointing but to go from 0/50 to all out 209 on a good wicket just hands the game to the opposition. It didn't so more hyperbole. We were 2-0 coming into this game. North went down at the last moment with gastro. We were forced to play McDonald. The original squad with two spinners was reasonable particularly given McGains horror day. He has got the 3rd day to redeem himself but the damage has been done. McGain came to the Test side with a modest Shield record but was seen as our best spinning hope. Australia has a real problem then. I felt for McGain, coming on with 209 on the board to defend and two SA batsman on top. But he melted and was terrible. At the moment, none of McGann, Hauritz or Krejza are Test spinners. If they are not good enough then dont play them. I would not play a spinner for the sake of it. I'd play four quicks with North, Katich rolling the arms over. Australia has some real problems..... 1. No spinner. Really tough outlook for the Ashes coming up. 2. Hussey continues his poor form. We cant afford to have Ponting and Clarke both making ducks. One of them must fire every time 3. Alot is resting on the shoulders of Johnson, Siddle and Hilf. They need support.

My thoughts...... Aust SA India Sri Lanka Pakistan England West Indies New Zealand Daylight Bangladesh Zimbabwe

Agree on both fronts Monty. Gilly was a freak because he was such a devastating batsman. He was also a very good but not brillliant keeper. There were days when Gilly was just ordinary with the gloves. Haddin came in with big shoes to fill. He was rusty early but has more than justified his selection. McGain absolutely has to play in the 3rd test. It a perfect chance to see his credentials and Test capabilities ahead of the Ashes in England. And yes both Mitch and Siddle have been outstanding. Steyn may have been the bowler of 2008 ahead of an emerging Johnson but Johnson is taking it to another level. Siddle's improvement and effort in the past six months has been outstanding. Hilf could come into his own in England if he can move the ball away from the right hander at pace.

......And if we only had a capable spinner

I think your missing the point by a fair margin. Neither Pakistan or India can guarantee nor provide any reliable basis of security to the cricketers from terrorists who have both the intent, the record and the infrastructure to access major targets and the weaponry in those countries. This is not the case with England Unfortunately the issues of Pakistan are very much intertwined with India. The outcomes are the same and that is the issue.

I think you are spot on the money Graz. It sort of kills 20/20 tournaments in India too.

The second article negates the first article. Before we troll through history aside from India and Australia who else has played at Durban since 2002 2002 - Pakistan - Saqlain (4 wickets in one innings bowl) - SA no spinner 2003 - WI - no spinner - SA - no spinner 2004 - England - Giles ( no wicket) - SA Boje (= no spinner <_< ) (3 wickets) 2006 -Aust - Warne ( 8 wickets) - SA Boje (1 wicket in one innings) 2007 - India - Kumble (4 wickets) - SA - No spinner 2008 - WI - No Spinner - SA - No Spinner Effectively neither the WI or SA have had a competent spinner to select in that period. Giles falls into the same very ordinary bucket. Both successful bowlers quoted in the article were wrist spinners. McGain is a wrist spinner. There is nothing to suggest that Durban is a spinners graveyard. Up until the injury scare the maintenance of the same team seemed likely. Not so now. Agree no certainties on McGain.

Crikey! Siddle and Hilf I doubt for Durban. That makes Bollinger, Clark , Lee and these two. http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus200...ory/393329.html

If Australia was due to tour India and/or Sri Lanka sometime in 2009.....do you think the team should go?

And they were encouraging ICC nations to tour Pakistan again...... http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/pakvsl/con...ory/393212.html I think Pakistan will be off the cricket map for some years yet. Shocking incident.

McDonald has been chosen as an all rounder. However his batting is not up to standard. Would you pick him as a bowler alone? In most situations no. The benefit of tieing down an end is only of value if you have bowlers at the other end taking the wickets. McDonald bowled tightly in conditions that suit to allow others to break through. He had Mitch, Siddle and Hilf on song. I am not sure he is more a capable on your day bowler. In different conditions, the lack of a capable spinner will crucify Australia as it did back home. If the selectors have an eye to the Ashes, they should be getting McGain playing. I wouldn't bother with Hauritz.

Exactly. That what you want. Nothing puts pressure on batsmen more than if wickets are falling. Run Rate is irrelevant if you are getting 10 wickets before they get the runs. We have a real 4th innings weakness to take wickets. We were lucky the pitch still had something in it for the bowlers. Thats not the case normally. Nevertheless, South Africa's 291 is still a credible score in a run chase.

We had a number of elements do very well for us. Johnson and North particularly. However, going in with 3 specialist bowlers was a real gamble. It paid off here. But unless we have similar conditinos to this Test we would be monkeys not to take a fourth specialist (a spinner) into the next Test. We are going to have to play really well the rest of the series to beat Sth Africa . No room for complacency. In McGain Out McDonald. And Hussey needs to get some runs...quick. His form is horrible.

At 2/170, he was right to bat on. I always thought 450 would have been the target anyway. Its a pity the middle order did not do likewise. Its going to be an intriguing final day. Does this Test match highlight that Michael Hussey is running out of "lives" at Test Level? After a poor summer in Australia, he needs to fire on this tour. His English experience when in form will be invaluable. Having only 3 specialist bowlers will really test us. I can only hope McDonald and North chip in. But Hilf, Mitch and Siddle must strike in the first hour and the first session. The first session will be vital. If we win it will be one of the most audacious victories Australia has had in a long time. Three debutants, North, Hughes and Hilf. Two others with less than six tests, McDonald and Siddle and Haddin, Johnson and Katich have only really stepped into the Australian side in the past 12 months or so. http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/rsavaus200...ory/392926.html Now Bollinger out...Brett Geeves to replace him in the touring team. Geez, we have had an appalling time with injuries.

North looks composed at 6. Good bye Andrew Symonds. I will be interested to see how Hughes goes today. I hope he get amongst it. Johnson is really developing quickly into an elite cricketer as a bowling all rounder batting 8 in the mould of Hadlee and Imran. There is no excuse for us not playing 4 specialist bowlers. We have been lucky playing 3 specialist plus McDonald and North this time. We have lost 2 hours play and may lose more due to weather. Lets hope we can seal it. Its been a fantastic performance all round given we were 3/38 on a green top. A win is a huge scoring punch against the SA on their home turf.

Its like comparing the NAB Cup to an AFL Flag. Shield for mine.

About time CA moved on Symonds. http://www.theage.com.au/news/sport/cricke...3423210593.html Dean Jones has a better chance of selection now. While people respect the X factor Roy can bring with bat ball and in the field, he is long long way off that now. Its a pity because with the collapse of Lee, Hussey and Hayden, the backbone of last years team, we really needed Roy to step up. He didn't Roy has burnt too many bridges now. That said I hope he gets his act together off the field. Its not surprising he is in rehabilation.

I am measuring the standard of tennis over a longer period of time. You asked the difference between Williams/Safina and Nadal/Verdasco. I gave it. The standard of tennis and entertainment is miles ahead in mens tennis now and has been for some time. And because one Spaniard has a brain fade does not condemn the whole of men's tennis. Dokic was only entertainment for Australian audiences because of the rampant jingoism that Australia has in claiming everyone who might have the slightest connection to Australian as their own. If she had played for her country of birth then she would have been snubbed by Australians and media for not choosing Australia. Outside Australia, no one would give a stuff about a has been with a ranking of 100. Players should be rewarded according to the money they generate in an entertainment business. Its as simple as that They dont when it comes to the sources of the revenue. It should be divided based on who provides the most entertainment like all other sports. Does men's golf, soccer, basketball subsidise the women's alternatives? Surely they must because their costs are the same. Sorry I dont think so. Should all AFL footballers get the same money as each other? They all have the same costs. I dont think so Tennis gets sources of revenue through providing entertainment. The revenue should be cut on the proportional basis of the entertainment provided. And for some time, the men's tour has subsidised the women's tour.

Dont tell me we now have women playing in the AFL?