MadAsHell

IN: Bail, Dunn, Jetta, Tapscott OUT: Gillies, Nicholson, Sellar, Toumpas FB: Dunn, Frawley, Terlich HB: Watts, McDonald, Grimes C: M. Jones, N. Jones, Bail HF: Trengove, Garland, Tapscott FF: Howe, Clark, Byrnes FOLL: Jamar, Sylvia, Viney INT: Blease, Davey, Rodan SUB: Jetta EMERG: Evans, McKenzie, Sellar Frawley to Kennedy Dunn on Darling McDonald on the resting ruckman Grimes back to the HBF Bail back in as a midfield tagger Garland forward to help out Clark Clark to be 2nd ruck support for Jamar, when this happens Howe to FF. Trengove to play a defensive half forward role, try and make Hurn accountable and play through Trenners as much as possible. Big games for Jamar, Sylvia and Watts where if they don't perform will be Gawn! Jamar for Gawn, Sylvia for anyone and Watts for Joel MacDonald who if fit I would have played this week. Sellar & Gillies are depth players so we loose nothing with them making way. Nicholson's very much out of form and I'd like to see Toumpas have a month at Casey to gain some confidence.

Frankston are expected to improve significantly this season and I can't recall if it was The Age or Herald Suns VFL season preview they predicted that Frankston would finish higher then Casey this season. I'm just glad to hear that we had a win of some sorts.....

Haha, think I was out the night of the final and posting on it must have slipped my mind. Yes a good hard fought victory for the All Blacks and a brave effort by France. Now only 2 years till the next World Cup!

The Dawes trade was effectively. Picks 3, 13 & 45 for Hogan, Dawes & Barry. Then you can even speculate that other things were at play allowing Toumpas to slip to 4 and Viney to 27. Simply saying we paid overs for Dawes is a vert broad and not well thought out statement.

Isn't there still that rule that if you're playing against a non AFL affiliate side you can only have a total of 12 AFL listed players playing? If so that'll explain why Taggert & Tynan are named in the 2nd's.

I just want them to play the best spinner available. Whether that's Ahmed or Lyon or Agar doesn't bother me. Although personally on what I've seen I suspect it's Ahemd.

Good squad Macca and I like the idea of Cowan dropping down to number 3. I don't think it's the right spot for Clarke but also don't think it's a position we should be throwing someone new into either. Cowan's probably been around enough time now to feel somewhat comfortable enough with his game that he can make a go of turning that spot into his own. Taht then allows Clarke at 4 and Warner to open with someone like Watson (if he's not bowling) or the man I hope comes in Rogers. Smth probably will get another gig with some reasonable performances over in India, Khawaja may get his chance also. However the selectors may go back to their love child Phil Hughes or an uncapped player like Burns, Doolan or Bailey may come into the fray. I think we've mentioned the same fast men and keepers. I think Wade will need some scores and to improve his glovework within a few tests to keep any heat off him. This could be one of the weaker touring parties we ship off to England, even weaker then our 89 squad who we thought had no chance...

Recently turned 31 years of age, so a leggie who knows his trade and the reason he hasn't played more first class cricket is probably due to the threat of death by the Taliban when he was in Pakistan. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/240609.html 16 wickets in 3 shield matches this year @ 28.37 at a run rate of 3.07 to Nathan Lyon's 7 shield wickets in 5 matches @ 71.42 at a run rate of 3.78. I'm not bagging Lyon, I think he's been very servicable and right now he's the best eligable Australian spinner we have. But the second Fawad's citizenship goes through then Lyon becomes the 2nd best spinner we have. Even James Hopes said that Fawad Ahmed's the best spinner in the country at the moment and Ahemd also due a lot of praise from the Aussie players when he bolwed to them before the 1st Test of the summer in the nets at the Gabba, so if he's available he should play. As Macca said, Lyon's clearly not cemented in the team given his 2nd test dropping, and he's had 22 chances to cement himself in the team but is yet to do so. Fawad Ahme'd only 31 so could easily have 5 years of test cricket ahead of him. Enough time for Nathan Lyon to improve or a Zampa, Agar, Muirhead or Holland to come on. I'm ready to see a wrist spinner back in the Aussie team, they always look more threatening and this country has a rich history of quality wrist spinner (Warne, O'Reilly, Grimmett, Benaud, MacGill) not so much finger spinners.

Sam Blease would have to be one that Neeld's cracking of the whip's worked for and we saw Nathan Jones take his game to another level and Jack Watts improve last year. I think we'll see more improvement from more players again this season.

How do you know Neeld didn't crack the whip with him last year and just saw someone that didn't want to work hard? That would explain why he was happy to trade someone with so much talent for what most of us thought was unders and why he couldn't get a game last year.

Good squad there Django and covers all bases. It will be interesting to see what way the selectors go considering Micky Arthur made the comment that there wasn't much outside of the Indian squad that would come into the team. Faulkner's an interesting one, if he could improve his batting he'd be a very good all rounder I think, I just hope his bowling doesn't follow a similar path to Nathan Bracken in being very effective in ODI cricket but ineffective in Test matches. Matthew Wade I think if he's to survive needs to make more runs more often. He needs to keep his average around the 40 mark, because if he's only going to average around 30 you may as well go for the best gloveman in the country which is probably Paine who you have in your squad or Hartley. Don't know a lot about Sayers so I can't really comment, but those numbers are impressive.

England held on for a draw with Matt Prior doing a Faf Du Plessis. New Zealand 1st Innings 443 P. Fulton 136 S. Finn 6/125 England 1st Innings 204 M. Prior 73 T. Boult 6/68 New Zealand 2nd Innings 6/241dec P. Fulton 110 M. Panesar 2/53 England 2nd Innings 9/315 M. Prior 110* K. Williamson 4/44 Shattering for New Zealand. One must ask should New Zealand have declared a little earlier? Only 4 sides have ever chased down more then 400 to win and the record is 418. McCullum set England 481. Perhaps if only 420-450 were set then that may have been enough time for one final wicket???

One over remaining. Boult to Panesar!

Kane Williamson picks up Broad and Anderson in 3 deliveries. Monty and Prior to try and survive the last 19 deliveries!

I'm expecting a cautious approach for round 1 with our under done players in Clark, Trengove, Blease and Bail to be given another run at Casey. I reckon Dawes and McDonald will get up as I think the games they've missed have been more so do to caution then seriousness of injury. Having said that I'm expecting. FB: Garland, Frawley, Jetta HB: Watts, McDonald, Terlich C: McKenzie, N. Jones, Rodan HF: Howe, Sellar, Magner FF: Pedersen, Dawes, Byrnes FOLL: Jamar, Grimes, Viney INT: Davey, Sylvia, Toumpas SUB: Tapscott EMERG: Dunn, Gilles, Nicholson

Getting tense in Auckland now, 15 overs remain and England still have 3 wickets in hand. Broad's faced 45 deliveries without scoring!

In better news at least England are on the brink of loosing their test series against New Zealand at tea on Day 5. New Zealand 1st Innings 443 P. Fulton 136 S. Finn 6/125 England 1st Innings 204 M. Prior 73 T. Boult 6/68 New Zealand 2nd Innings 6/241dec P. Fulton 110 M. Panesar 2/53 England 2nd innings 7/237 I. Bell 75 K. Williamson 2/36 New Zealand managed to pick up Ian Bell in the last over before tea. 3 wickets needed in the final session for a historic win with only Prior and the tail (minus Finn nightwatchman) left. Come on the black caps, now my 2nd team and one who sadly seem to have a better future and better batting line up then Australia right now!

You're probably right about Doolan or Burns there Macca, either of them could get a call up in favour of Smith or Bailey. I have no doubt that Khawaja will be in the squad. I guess it depends on what way the selectors go. If they're looking at current form Doolan would have to come into calculations, although his long term First Class form isn't overly flattering, while if they look to the future Burns would be a geat pick although his summer was under par compared to what he did in the two summers previously.. Here's an article I found on Cummins http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/australian-bowlers-pat-cummins-eyes-a-spot-in-the-upcoming-ashes-tour/story-fngr8j33-1226580570202 If he can make that Australia A squad it would have to put him firmly in contention for the Ashes. Would love to see Pattinson and Cummins terrifying the English batsmen! We've said it a thousand times but Fawad Ahmed could be really crucial to our chances also. A good leggie who can take wickets consistenly would be the icing on the cake. The batting is obviously where we need the most work. Outside of Clarke there's 6 spots up for grabs and everyones auditioning. Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Smith, Maxwell, Wade, Henriques, Haddin, Paine, Khawaja, Rogers, Burns, Bailey, Doolan, Klinger, Hartley. You could fish any 6 of those names out of a hat and could argue that they'd do just as well as any other combination.

Everyone's XI listed above for you Nasher minus Rouge's. I'll leave it to Rouge to present it to you but in some type of what I think would be a rough batting order this is Rouge's XI so you don't have to go through the whole draft order to figure it out. Chris Gayle (WI) Taufeeq Umar (PAK) Phil Hughes (AUST) Jacques Kallis (RSA) Virat Kohli (IND) Misbah Ul-haq (PAK) Dinesh Chandimal (SL) Graeme Swann (ENG) Peter Siddle (AUST) Mark Gillespie (NZ) Kemar Roach (WI)

Well then I guess it's over to you Nasher to make your decision if Rouge's failed to present his XI.

I hear what you;re saying Jumping Jack. I actually think that one of White or Hussey may be in the firing line this off season. We've probably underachieved for a few seasons now and White's leadership and the ageing Hussey who despite just scoring a century did have a very ordinary season underperformed. McDonald or Finch (if he could score runs against the red ball) would be good options to lead the Bushrangers. With McDonald coming back into the Victorian middle order (4-7) next seson as well as Maxwell who I don't think will be a permanent member of the Aussie team, not yet anyway and whoever our keeper is (Wade, Handscomb or Carters) that leaves only one spot in the middle order between White and Hussey as neither of them will bat at 3. Rogers and Quiney will keep their spot at the top of the order with Finch, Handscomb or Hill hopefully capable of takign the no 3 spot. I can see change coming next season and it will be at the expense of one of White or Hussey in my opinion. Can't fault to much of what you said there Titan, although I think Pattinson gets a start in the first Ashes test even before Siddle does. Sadly there's no obvious answer. Warner I think has enough brownie points in the bank to excuse a poor series in India, but he'll want to play well in the Ashes. Hughes I'm now convinced just wont make it at Test level, and there's no shame in that. Michael Bevan and Nathan Bracken couldn't make it at test level but had very good ODI careers, maybe Hughes falls into that category? I think you're right about Henriques and his first class career suggests so. This is a reason why we need Watson back bowling and Mitch Marsh to come on. I don't think there's much of an international career ahead for Henriques, will probably be an Ashes squad member due to McDonald and Marsh missing most of the Shield season but beyond that I can't see much ahead. Smith I also agree, don't think he's quite a good enough batsman and certainly not a good enough bowler yet. Maxwell has his measure in both fields and I don't think Maxwell's ready yet either. I'd rather see Bailey, Burns, Voges, Klinger or Khawaja playing ahead of Smith as a batsman. We will do betetr on the bolwing front over in England then in India no doubt. I see us sending 5 fast men, Pattinson, Siddle, Cummins (If he gets through the Australia A series in the lead up), Starc and Bird over there with Harris, Hilfenhaus and Johnson coming into consideration also. Fawad Ahmed will hopefully have his citizenship by then and be over there also with Lyon as his back up. If Doherty or god help us Michael Beer make it over there then we're in serious trouble. By the First Ashes Test with any luck our XI may look something like: Chris Rogers David Warner Ed Cowan Michael Clarke George Bailey Shane Watson Matthew Wade Peter Siddle James Pattinson Patrick Cummins Fawad Ahmed Other Squad Memebrs: Usman Khawaja Steven Smith Moises Henriques Brad Haddin Jackson Bird Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon

And good to see at least that Pattinson's taken the right approach to the whole thing and is lookign at getting on with everything. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-insists-he-and-shane-watson-have-a-good-working-relationship-despite-india-tour-walkout/story-e6frfg8o-1226595856814 Quote Pattinson said the quartet deserved to be axed. And while Watson is believed to be weighing up his future, Pattinson wants the all-rounder on deck for the Ashes. "He's a fantastic guy to have around and a fantastic player," Pattinson said. "Hopefully we can see him back as soon as possible."

Well said Macca. 100% agree with all of the above.

Agree, but the punishment would fit the crime. If I didn't supply feedback to a conference I attended or have a file finalised in time I'd hear about it no doubt and read the riot act and told to lift my game. But I wouldn't have my pay garnished or sent home for a few days without pay. Clarke says there's more to it and that standards have dropped, but is that this 4 specifically, or is it an overall thing and these 4 are the sacraficial lambs? Punishment should fit the crime. What would they have done if 9 players on tour hadn't of done it? And what happenens now when there's a serious breach, like a player gets in a scuffle in a nightclub or turns up to a game/training in a hung over state? As I said, I'm all for punishment and setting standards. but they've gone over the top, you'd expect it in a highschool team, not in the Australian team.

I pray that there's a lot more to this then has come out so far, because if they are just being made an example of then this is a frace! I'm all for setting standards and fostering a good team culture and expectations, but to get dropped for not giving a presentation on time (Pattinson told Arthur he'd gie it on Monday) then that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard. They're over there representing the country to play cricket, this is a professional team, they're not there on a highschool trip. On the flip side it mightn't work out that badly, Pattinson (who's taken more then a 3rd of our wickets in the series so far) very well may have been due for a rest anyway. Watson's been underperforming, Johnson in my opinion in 7th in our pace pecking order anyway (the injured Bird, Harris & Cummins all ahead of him) but it could be reallY bad news for Khawaja. He's been trying to secure a batting spot in this line up for so long, the chance was finally there but now this! How long till his next chance??? As a result of all of this I'm predicting this 3rd test will be all over before stumps on the 3rd day, but hoping for a bit of fight come the 4th test when Pattinson's back in the team. I reckon Watson will announce his international retirement and focus on the IPL, BBL and his family. Johnson will remain a fringe player for another few years and Khawaja, who knows??? Australian XI for the 3rd Test E. Cowan D. Warner M. Clarke M. Henriques S. Smith M. Wade or B. Haddin depending on Wade's fitness. G. Maxwell P. Siddle M. Starc X. Doherty N. Lyon P. Hughes 12th man.