H_T

Man of the Match !

Saw the highlights last night. Well done to Martin. Surely a day to remember. Laxman still in, they'll be celebrating if they get him out early. Re: Aussies. Perform well when the pressure is off.

I know. What an absolute joke. How must Doherty be feeling after taking 4 wickets ? Talk about confusion.

Try out !? Ah, I think I'm past that stage. Certianly fit enough to watch it though. I'm keen on most sports, contests that involve physically competing.

The red tape will be eventually cut. Hell, we have everything else down here being the sporting capital. We'd be a laughing stock if the world were to know how popular we were by having UFC illegal. It's probably the one and only thing Sydney has over Melbourne. UFC - who would have thought !

Relax. We've got my man Matthew Wade.

I heard (can't confirm which radio station) this morning that Haddin will get the nod for Test selection. Can anyone confirm this ? Can't find any confirmation online. Meanwhile Doherty gets a call up to spin against Sri Lanka edit: {from article}: Three match limited over series see's Haddin replace Tim Paine. - This might be about what I heard earlier this morning. Doesn't refer to the Test series, but it could be a sign for Haddin to get the nod. Callum Ferguson and David Warner make way for Shane Watson & Ricky Ponting.

The VICS may have lost the return bout to WA at the G last night. But my man Wade scored a scintillating century for the VICS. Keep an eye out for this kid. His form continues where it left off last season. Unreal with the bat in hand. edit: I agree with Rogue, Haddin should be very worried re: his test spot for the first Test of the Ashes. Paine might be kept in, the openers to remain the same.

Yeah, Clarke & Hussey weren't in the best form heading into the ODI's, they did well to scratch around and recover. But I see what you mean re: Clarke's strike rate. He plays safe. And he takes up alot of balls to a certain degree. If there was a bit more "wriggle on" it could have been more early before White unleashed.

That's unbelievable !

City, Real Madrid or Barcelona.

England's tour matches include: v WA 5th-7th Nov WACA (3 days) v SA 11-13th Nov Adelaide (3 days) v AUST XI - Bellerive; 17-20th Nov (4 days)* * looks like another drinking session for Nasher if he can get away

England has done their homework. They've got a good preparation leading in. Where do they play Australia A ?

Tried searching for that answer yesterday, no luck as yet. Couldn't find it on CricketInfo.com. Anyone else know when the last time Punter represented Tassy in Sheffield Shield ?

Yeah, I'm not sure where Haddin is at with the injury sustained. Is he back to full fitness yet ? I haven't read anything on him other than his rehabilitation a little while back. Because of that, I left Paine in. Who is doing a fine job, mind you. edit: Did a search, he is back playing....here is some articles: - http://www.cricinfo.com/australia/content/story/479371.html He is currently 10 not out representing NSW (opening the bat) against WA in the Ryobi One dayer in Sydney. Guess that means he is back. Will he have enough cricket for a return for the Gabba Test though ??? edit: make that 23 off 30 balls. Smashed a six. Batting with Khawaja. your man.

140 (not out) off 121 balls. Sensational innings. All too familiar. Hodgy loves the Gabba. He was dropped on 15. Still waiting WYL .... My side for the Ashes: Katich Watson Ponting Clarke Hussey McDonald Paine Hauritz Johnson Hilfenhaus Bollinger *McDonald for North. Despite North scoring a century in the last test v India, I think McDonald can provide with the bat where North has failed on more occassions than not. McDonald also provides the Captain a bit with the ball, changes up the speed as a medium pace bowler that can create a bit of swing/drift and keep it tight, whereas I don't think North is anywhere near as potent, nor can he hold up an end like the Captain might want. Hauritz for mine can stay in for now. Probably the best option at the moment as a spinner. Smith whilst great with the bat, needs to improve with the ball in the longer version. More consistency required. Hussey safe for now, not sure I want to disrupt coming into the Ashes now. Besides, no one in particular jumps out as a replacement, even though there may be some candidates. Trying times for the Aussies this Summer, facing a calm and in form English line up. Test record against top eight teams since Jan 2008 Team .............. Tests ..Won ..Lost ... W/L ratio India ..................... 28 ... 13 .. 6 ..... 2.16 South Africa ......... 24 ... 12 .. 7 ..... 1.71 England ................ 32 ... 13 .. 8 ..... 1.62 Sri Lanka ............... 18 ... 8 .. 5 ..... 1.60 Australia ............... 35 ... 17 ..11 ..... 1.54 Pakistan ................ 17 ... 3 ..10 ..... 0.30 West Indies ........... 22 ... 2 ..11 ..... 0.18 New Zealand ......... 20 ... 2 ..12 ..... 0.16 *Australia's fall from first to fifth

Crikey WYL, good for you. You've actually said something of substance. Pop the champagne ! I'm tipping you're from the milky way. PS. Still waiting on who you would replace for Hussey. And your own Australian XI side. You're awfully selective on what you intend to reply to. I won't say too much more because I really want you to focus on this task I'm setting you. If time permits give good reason as to "why" for your replacement with maybe some stats to support this. Cheers. In the meantime, I'll do mine and get back soon enough.

So you've got White for North ? Is that right ? Smith for Hauritz ? Still waiting for your replacement on "list clogger" Hussey ? This will be interesting... better still name your starting Australian XI for us ?

No, I'm not. You're conveniently trying to twist things around and put words in my mouth. I've said previously at different times that these 3 guys might becoming to the end of their tether through poor form. Particularly North, quite a few times. When I have stated this I have put forward a possible replacement or different alternative line-up at different instances. On the flipside you really haven't. (Apart from the Smith-Hauritz case). So fess up and provide your solutions (name replacements) and give your reasoning. Ask your buddy Chappell. According to you, he's been in the hotseat long enough, hasn't he ?

You provide as much spin as Warne did with his flipper. You can call them list cloggers if you want. But when they're taking wickets or making runs they're contributing. List cloggers I presume are ones who can't get a look in the senior side, yet take spots on the list. My point is that if you're selected in the Australian XI you're not a list clogger, you're doing a job and contributing with bat or ball. In this case in India they haven't (or in Hauritz's case anyway), but they are a part of a team. Guys like Daniel Bell of Melbourne, couldn't get a game, yet remained on the list. See the difference hotshot ? I really don't want to spoon feed again. Ok precious ? WYL, you still haven't answered RR's question^. I'm not surprised. We're all used to it. You've named Smith for Hauritz but that is it. As 45HG16 stated, how about a little research to support your call for these "list cloggers" of yours.... As for your reference to people on this thread being a little precious re: the Australian XI..I think there is plenty of examples on this thread of 39 pages to argue that. I'll let you read.

You'd know. "List cloggers"....FMD. They're not playing at Casey WYL. They're representing Australia. This on the back of your statement in another thread that Davey is "now a senior player." The mind boggles. You are in fine form, aren't you...or I should say true to form. Ricky Ponting needs to take at least some ownership as captain on the back of his reply to the criticism from Warnie's 'tweet' re: field placings for Hauritz's bowling. Ponting claimed that Hauritz sets the field to his own bowling and that Warne should get his facts right. Maybe Warne was speaking out of school. But I reckon as a spin bowler with the record he has got, he must know something. Captains should be liasing with their bowler's and help setting the field. I would be surprised, very surprised, if Ricky didn't have one say or one contribution re: the field placings for Nathan Hauritz's bowling. And staggered, that Hauritz would bowl to his own set fields without any input from Ricky. I think as a captain, you need to know plans (field placings) for certain batsmen for all of your bowlers. Sure, we're not part of the inner sanctum and it may well be that Hauritz can do whatever he pleases. But I would be absolutely dumb founded if that were in fact the case. That said, after Hauritz got pummelled, Ricky did the right thing in taking him off. And Warne should keep things like that to himself or speak to Ricky behind the scenes and not air them publicly if he had any concern. It's the last thing Ricky needs. Poor form by Warnie, and it's pleasing to see Warne still making yards with his phone (iphone ?).

Bullsh!t WYL. You said "so much for GS Chappell making a difference !" You make silly statements, get caught out, and then try and talk your way out of it with petty diversional garbage.

Stop talking such utter tripe WYL. The side was already selected for India. GS Chappelli has just come in. The ink has barely dried, and you're trash talking him ! Give him a break.

The ink is still drying FCS.

Just prolongs the pain and puts off the development of other(s) on the international stage within the Test arena.