titan_uranus

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.

Hutchy and Geelong? Really?

Crazy game. Victoria batted most of its bowlers instead of White and Hussey, and England bowled their batsmen to ensure a declaration was reached. It ended up with McKay and Herrick taking 80 runs in 19 minutes off Strauss and Morgan! Now Clint McKay is sticking it up the selectors by taking English wickets! 3/36.

Not really. Again, as you seem to have missed the point, this thread is about identifying which players will be the ones people turn into scapegoats when things aren't going well. The easy targets. Unfortunately you seem to be unable to grasp the notion that this thread is not about bagging players.

In your opinion, maybe. In mine, Maric has done nothing to warrant any real optimism, and those who still harbour high hopes for him are conveniently ignoring his poor performances when selected. Yes, it's harsh, and yes, I could well be proved utterly wrong. But that's where Maric stands for me. Really? If we win 8.5 games next year, with the draw we have, you'd be happy? I certainly wouldn't. We don't necessarily have to make the finals, but I want us to at least look like we could.

You put forward your arguments well AoB. I know Smith is a batsman who bowls, not a bowler who bats. With that in mind, I still don't rate his batting at Test level. Hughes is not in any form at all, and it's a slap in the face to players like Shaun Marsh who are plugging away at Shield level for no reward. I also disagree with your statement that the Ashes are gone. Yes, England is in the box seat, but for mine whilst the series is still alive I'd like to see us at least try. We have Bangladesh next year, that can be where we begin to experiment for the future. Right now, we ought to be picking the best batsmen and bowlers in the country.

Tell you what, the sub-editors are going to have a field day writing headlines.

Agree with that.

It certainly does. I'd much prefer him in the side at 7 than Smith. We still play 3 quicks and a spinner with McDonald as the fourth seamer. His form with both bat and ball should have got him into that initial 17-man squad. Travesty that he missed out, and borderline tragedy that he broke his hand when he did. The thing about Hauritz vs Beer is that Hauritz has at least put in some decent Shield efforts this season. He hit back with a 5-for after being dropped, then obviously made a ton yesterday (not that the runs count). Beer's best haul this season is 3/39. Hardly match-winning. Or even competent, tbh. Even Doherty had a 5-for before he played.

To be fair, there was one game this year where he did look lazy and/or disinterested (the Brisbane game at the Gabba from memory). The reaction might have been OTT but the basis was justified IMO. Not a long term issue by any means, but at the time it didn't look nice.

Honestly don't think this topic is that bad. It's not like it's inviting people to say 'Who's our worst player?' or 'Which Melbourne player really sucks?' (although I didn't help with my above post re: Maric). It's asking who we think will be the guy people complain about no matter what. Which player will cop the flak, deserved or otherwise? PJ, Bell and Bruce copped a hell of a lot over the years.

And yet some on here think he's the bees knees. He hasn't played one good AFL game.

Yes, I would have gone with Hauritz. Really, if it's down to him and Beer, Hauritz wins in a canter. I'm not saying Hauritz can win us the Ashes, because he can't, but Beer isn't deserving of a baggy green. David Hussey made something of a plea to selectors yesterday to stop giving baggy greens to players who hadn't earned one, and look to rewarding those who perform for their state instead. Beer certaintly doesn't deserve a Test call up. Again, with Hughes, you've got to earn your spot. He's riding on credits from 18 months ago, just like Mitchell Johnson was. His form over the last 12 months has been poor, it's not just his last two innings. His Shield average this season is around 20. Bollinger had to go. Cameron, Copeland or McKay should have been his replacement.

Maric.

Well the squad for Perth has been named. Not happy Jan. Doherty dropped after two Tests. Well fine. But his replacement is Michael Beer. Who gets a game because apparently the WACA is his home ground. But he's only played three games there. Hauritz has played three. Beer is young 26, he's only played a handful of first class games (5 games for 16 wickets at 39.93). Bad move. North dropped. Good. About time. His replacement? The wunderkind, Steve Smith. Who can't bat, yet will have to bat at either 6 or 7. Even 7, IMO, is too high for him. I don't rate him, but now that he's in, I hope he stays there. Give him an extended shot at it. Katich's replacement is the other wunderkind, Hughes. Who, upon hearing the news, walked out to bat for NSW, and added to his first innings 4 with a second innings duck. Off a full toss. He's in no form at all. Meanwhile Shaun Marsh sits around waiting. David Hussey is on 30* off 45. Naming the team now doesn't give him any chance to prove himself. He might make a century here, against the English, but won't get a look in. Deserves a chance, he'll never get it. We drop Johnson and Hilfenhaus for poor bowling in Brisbane, but recall them straight away after Adelaide. Neither has played a game since. What the hell was the point? Sure, Bollinger's injured/crap, but how is returning to the two guys who couldn't peform in Brisbane, and who haven't performed in any game since, a solution? With all of Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, and Harris in the squad, and with Hilditch virtually confirming Beer's spot, I fear for Siddle. Hopefully he gets the nod over Hilfenhaus, who adds nothing and is less dangerous than Boycott's grandmother. Hilditch's words suggest only one of Johnson and Hilfenhaus will play though. Squad: Watson, Hughes, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Beer, Harris, Hilfenhaus.

I wouldn't. That's not to say Renouf's not crap, because he is. But I'd take any moving ruckman over PJ. Including Mark Blake. There, I said it.

Quality Bhima. Thanks. I'm taking the optimistic view that Cook's 'breakdown' was mental, not physical. Just part and parcel of the adjustment in his life. As opposed to a bad injury. We don't need Cook to go down the Blease/Tapscott route. Speaking of which, I am getting increasingly excited about seeing Blease and Tapscott out there in 2011. Can't exactly think of whose spots they'll take but can't wait nonetheless.

I'm just getting into NFL at the moment. Rules are a bit of a killer working out what's going on and what the heck a down is, but I'm getting there. It's good fun. Someone tell me which team to follow.

Peter Roebuck's article today is very, very good: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-pays-high-price-for-focusing-on-youth-20101208-18psn.html Basically says that Hughes, Smith, Khawaja and Ferguson are being touted as the next big things in Australian cricket, but none of them are in any sort of form nor do they have the figures to back up their selection. The main reason their names are being floated is because they're young. Which isn't an automatic selection. In contrast, David Hussey, White and McDonald have the experience, the credentials, and the form to warrant selection (despite McDonald's broken hand). But few want to talk about them.

Hauritz has made a century batting as a nightwatchman for NSW. Currently 103*. His first first-class century too. That can't hurt.

Just thinking over some selection issues: 1) Who replaces Katich? The obvious choice is Hughes, but his form this year hasn't been great (highest first class score this season is 81*). Jaques hasn't set the world on fire either (in fact his 40 yesterday is his top score). Shaun Marsh might be one from left-field. He's doing really well for WA in the Shield, averaging 84.75. 2) Which 4 bowlers? Ryan Harris keeps his spot but the other three (Doherty, Bollinger and Siddle) were virtually useless and aren't certain starters. I'd keep Siddle there as I think he bowled the best of that lot, he had a few chances put down and/or referred and overturned, and I still think he does the job. I'd drop Bollinger, maybe for Mark Cameron or Trent Copeland, for someone new, or Johnson, which I don't think is the best option but he does bowl well in Perth. I don't know what to do with Doherty. If it's not him, it's Hauritz, but he's not exactly superb, or Smith, who I don't rate half as much as the general public. I don't think Smith can be the number 1 spinner in three Ashes Tests. 3) What do we do with the batting? Watson and Hussey stay for obvious reasons, as does Ponting, who needs runs desperately. Clarke stays too, and hopefully we see more of that form through the series. Which leaves North, who goes. I'd play David Hussey but there are other options out there. Khawaja is currently in the 40s for NSW. A big score today will help him immensely. Some will say Smith should bat at 7 and Haddin at 6, but I don't think Smith's good enough for that yet, and Haddin needs to bat as low as possible. For mine a long term solution does not involve Haddin at 6. Which makes my team: Watson, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, M. Hussey, D. Hussey, Haddin, Harris, Hauritz, Siddle, Cameron.

I think this is key. We knew with Bruce gone that his veteran spot was going to be available for any rookie to play from Round 1. But since most rookies aren't ready for Round 1 of their first year, it opened the door for us to break with our youth driven recruitment policy and look to a mature-aged player who might be able to play straight away. Robert Campbell, at full fitness, is the second best ruckman on our list.

ODI performances shouldn't come into consideration when picking the Test side. If he's the best batsman in the Shield (which I believe he is) then he should come in for North. Smith can't bat btw. Not yet. Agree with that. Jaques made 40 yesterday for NSW whilst Hughes made 4. Jaques was solid when he played for Australia. If he makes 100 and Hughes makes a duck in the second innings you'd feel sorry for Jaques if Hughes gets the nod. However I'm sure Hughes will play regardless. It's a tough one. Dropping him shows a complete lack of faith in a man who's had three innings to have a go. He obviously hasn't done any good, but is three innings enough to pass judgement. I mean, Hauritz had two years to settle, and never quite did. Twice in the Ashes too. Once against India in 2008. Can't remember the fourth one. Was it against NZ in Brisbane in 2008, where he got bowled by Ryder? I don't think that was the last over though...

However, Campbell can play CHB or FB. He did so many times for Hawthorn. He's not a forward so those figures are clearly going to make him seem crap, which he is. But he can help out in defence. Let's not get carried away, he's on the rookie list for a reason. Martin, Spencer and Gawn are on the senior list.

Does that really solve anything? Smith's batting is not top-7 material at the moment. Playing him just because he bowls is not the answer. David Hussey is a much better batsman who has the record to back it up. He's in form for Victoria, he can bat from 3-6, and to top it off he bowls off spin just as well as North does.