MadAsHell

Thanks for the clarification. I thought we might not get to pick our 2nd player from a nation until Round 9. Cheers.

Round 2, Pick 11 Morne Morkel. (RSA) http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/player/46538.html H_T I thought you'd already used your South African pick in round 1 or have I misread the structure? Edit: Player bio

Sorry for my delay everyone. Round 1, Pick 6. Alastair Cook (England) http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/11728.html Edit: Player bio

I share your concerns about Watson and Cowan RR, where are they both at and how long do we carry them for? Clarke, Hussey and Warner are the only automatic selections for mine in the batting order. If Hughes continues to bat like the way he did yesterday, then he'd be able to make it also, but then what? If Watson is only going to average 30 odd then he has to bat at 6 and bowl more. Batting 4, 3 or openning is just to high. Then we have to find someone else to either open or bat at 3. Cowan's there at the moment, our only other options for mine would be Khawaja, Joe Burns, Rob Quiney, Alex Doolan or Callum Ferguson. Problems I have with Quiney, Doolan and Ferguson is that they all average under 40 at first class level. Whatever the answer is, I just hope someone stands up to demand a spot and soon!

After his effort last friday night with 0/41 from 2 overs and a simple dropped catch I reckon he might shelve any thought there may have been of that happening. Still wouldn't suprise me if he came out in his next match and took 4/10, but it was tough seeing him like that. I love Warnie, but he went out on such a great note I'd hate to see him do a Plugger, come back and be a shell of what he used to be. I was there on Boxing Day 2006 when he bowled Strauss through the gate to be the first man to take 700 wickets in what was his second last test and my last chance to see the great man play. I'll always have that memory and I'd hate to see it ruined. Edit: Spelling

Doubt it will happen, just some publicity before the Big Bash. Sadly I reckon he'd still be our best bowler.

Mark Neeld for sure. With the changes that have been made, and in particular the talent comin through, you cam see where the improvement's going to come. For Mickey Arthur however the depth that we once had seems to have gone. Here's what I reckon our best Under 30's team who are all yet to debut would look like. Peter Handscomb Nic Maddinson Joe Burns Alex Doolan Callum Ferguson Mitchell Marsh Glenn Maxwell Peter Neville Nathan Coulter-Nile Josh Hazlewood Alaister McDermott If you ask me, the talents just not there that we once had.

Sounds pretty good to me HT. I'm in.

I thought at the start of this summer that Clarke should bat at 3 or at least no 4, however cleary for one reason or another he doesn't seem to want to move which is odd. Doolan is a possability, however I'm reluctant to play someone who has a first class batting average under 40. Last person we picked to be at no 3 with a first class average under 40 was Quiney and look how that went. Khawaja I think is probably the best prospect at number 3. Another option is playing Hughes as an openner and moving Cowan down to number 3. I say that because Hughes has made more runs than anyone else so probably deserves the call up before anyone else. Lyon did have an ordinary test, however Perth's always a tough place for the spinners, even Warne struggled there compared to other venues. As you siad though where else do we go if Lyon struggles? There's the injury prone John Holland, or if you ask me there's a young leg spinner for St Kilda who's yet to play a first class match yet who looks the goods by the name of James Muirhead. In his last district match he bowled 21 overs and took 7/26 and then on the weekend in a 20/Twenty match he bowled 4 overs and took 2/11. He's one certainly worth keeping an eye on. The other option, and one that I think is worth looking at is taking a leaf out of the West Indies of the 80's/90's book and playing 4 quicks and an all round spinner. Pattinson, Cummins, Siddle, Hilfenhaus (Ambrose, Walsh, Holding & Marshall) & either Glenn Maxwell or Steven Smith (Viv Richards/Carl Hooper). With our brittle batting line up I don't think either of Maxwell or Smith could do much worse then others are doing.

Goodbye Ponting, the timing was certainly right!

I thought that McDermott walked because of the tough travelling schedual and this way he can take smaller term roles as he pleases, I could be wrong though? Why they didn't hire Waqar Younis as his replacement though I have no idea? I wouldn't at all be suprised if they all went and Jackson Bird made his debut on his home turf. Mitchell Starc has talent but he doesn't have the control yet. It showed during this test that he's not quiteat the same place as Pattinson and Cummins. Despite his 6 wickets, I thought it was one of the more unimpressive 6 wicket hauls that you're likely to see. I thought Johnson was better then Starc, but he was still far to short for someone who has as good a record at that ground as he does. Playing both lefties didn't work for me and is the reason why I was more keen on Hazlewood to play ahead of either Stac or Johnson. Hastings battled hard but he probably falls into the Nathan Bracken category in that he's probably just not quite fast enough to be a top line Test bowler. One dayers might be more his go. His batting is handy! Jackson Bird on his hometrack could be a real handful. I'd be more then happy for us to have Bird & Hilfenhaus share the new ball for the remaining tests with Sids at first change for the rest of the summer. Once Pattinson & Cummins are up and going then there's a good chance we'll see the last of Hilfenhaus. I am HT, although loosing a wicket 2nd ball of the day wasn't the start I was hoping for. Just a lazy 214 runs more then any other team has ever chased to win a game ever. But I tell you what, if ever it could happen, the WACA with Clarke & Hussey in the form that they've been in with 2 days to go is the place for it to happen. I think it may be a dissapointing end to the series though unfortunatly.

I hope Hastings does play. I reckon with the Fremantle doctor his swing will be very handy and I think he's a better swing bolwing prospect then Hilfenhaus personally. He'd also be a handy no 8, although I think Hazlewood could be useful on this wicket also. I hope we go with Hastings, Hazlewood & either of Johnson or Starc. Siddle will be gutted I reckon, I'm gutted for him!

Truely has been a wonderful career. While personally I have Border and Greg Chappell ahead of him (along with the Don of course) when I think about what Australia's greatest XI woild look like, he clearly be the next best there's ever been for mine! I'll never forget his 156 against England on Day 5 of the 3rd Test against England during the Ashes to save the game. The next highest run getter for us had 39! Came in during the first over of day 5 and was dismissed with 25 balls left in the day. Luckily Lee & McGrath were able to bat out to save the match. An all time great and he's gone out at the right time, allowing whoever his replacement is to have a home series against Sri Lanka to try and settle into the team before tough tasks with tours of India and England, followed by a home Ashes series.

You're preaching to the converted Nasher. I was just playing Devils Advocate and simply giving an opinion as to why he may not have been picked, if I was the selector he would have been in the squad for sure. As I mentioned in another comment though, I think there's a very good chance that he may debut in the first test against Sri Lanka in Hobart. If he performs well there, then he may find himself play out the series ahead of Hilfenhaus.

RR is right. Bellerive is a graveyard. I know Bird can't help but play half his games there, but selectors do take their home ground into account. It's like years back when the same venue was a batsmen's paradise and Jamie Cox mad a mountain of runs but never got a look in ahaead of guys like Elliott and Blewett. I would have gone for Bird personally over Hazlewood, although Hazlewood does have a bright future. We do need a bowler in the McGrath mode which is exactly what Hazlewood is. Hastings would be useful with his swing bowling into the breeze if Hilfenhaus doesn't get up IMO, but I expect Siddle, Hilfenhaus & Johnson to play given it's The Grand Final as the media are putting it and I think the selectors will want seasoned bowlers out there. Come the first test against Sri Lanka, given the work load Siddle & Hilfenhaus would have endured, I wouldn't at all be suprised to see our bolwing line up consist of Starc, Hazlewood, Bird & Lyon once Johnson puts in an ordinary performance against RSA.

Qestion is who plays in Perth? Will both Siddle and Hilfenhaus be up to it, or after their big workload, will we see whole sale changes to the quicks so we have fresh bowlers with the short turn around? Then there's the question of Pattinson's replacement? Do we go with Strac who's carried the drinks for the first two tests and probably deserves the call up? Or do we go a horses for courses approach and pick Mitchell Johnson who;s a WACA specialist who took an 8 for last time he played against RSA at that ground and also had that blistering spell against England in the Ashes? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd actually go with Johnson for the reasons above. Seasoned bowler, and if he fails to deliver then he can be stamped with the 'Never pick again' stamp. My XI would be: E. Cowan D. Warner S. Watson R. Ponting (possibly last test) M. Clarke M. Hussey M. Wade M. Johnson P. Siddle (if unfit replace with Hazlewood) B. Hilfenhaus (if unfit replace with Hastings) N. Lyon 12th Man: M. Starc

Essendon supporter mate reckons the best they could offer is Gumbleton and a 2nd round pick. Having said that he doubts they'd let Gumbleton go. Reckon we're in a good position with pick 13 and maybe Petterd.

2nd Test team should be interesting. Of all the players out injured I think Cummins is the only one likely to be fit for Hobart, straight swap for Starc you'd assume? Warner & Khawaja are probably in a bat off to see who survives when Watson & Marsh come back for Boxing Day. Surely Hughes will be one of the 2 to be dropped. I'm expecting the team for the 1st test v India to look like: Khawaja Marsh Ponting Watson Clarke Hussey Haddin Pattinson Siddle Cummins Lyon Warner/Starc 12th man As for NZ I'm not sure what changes they can make, they only have 2 other players in their squad. Maybe Trent Boult in for Bracewell? NZ really need a good pace bowler. Last summer I remember seeing one in a 20/20 match NZ played called Adam Milne but haven't seen or heard of him since. They do have some good batsmen (despite today's efforts), they just need a quality pace bowler and they have the makings of a good team. Edit: End bit about the black caps.

Surely Ponting and Haddin have to make way for Marsh and Wade for the first test against New Zealand now. And unless Johnson can take some wickets without going for 4.5+ runs an over he should get lost also!

Agreed! Reckon Hussey & Marsh are the way to go at the top of the order for now. But no doubt they'll stick with Hughes for awhile now with his Marcus North impression. Some other names to consider for the openning position though are Ed Cowan and Nic Maddinson a little further down the track. Both have very good techniques.

Spot on there TU! I hope we give Lyon time. I do like the look of him. He has truggled since the 1 st test but I reckon he's the best we've got at the moment. I'd like to give him the whole summer to try and settle in, may turn out to be no good but a bit of faith could bring he rewards. Trent Copeland has the potential to be a McGrath clone but I agree his lack of pace is a worry. Personally for our line & length bowler I'd have both Josh Hazelwood (always injured) and Clint McKay ahead of him. McKay could consider himself unlucky. He's far from express also, but I reckon he does have a bit moer on it then Copeland does. Siddle as you said is ok but that's it. With Harris injured I can understand why he's getting a game but as soon as Harris is right to go again I'd bring him in. I reckon James Pattinson would be a better option then Siddle also. Different type of bolwer being a swing bowler but has a lot more upside then Siddle. Johnson is the most annoying bolwe going around. Has the ability to be one of the best but is mentally fragile. I'd like to see Mitchell Starc have a good domestic summe to start putting some pressure on Johnson. And as far as our batting goes some serious changes need to be made. Watson needs to drop down to at least number 4. His batting's suffering cause of the extra bowling we need him to do I reckon so the sooner we drop him down the order like RSA did with Kallis the better. Hussey with his technique should move to open the innings IMO along with Marsh. Khalwaja is probably our best option at number 3 seeing as Ponting hasn't passed 50 in his last 9 innings! Clarke to number 5 cause he has to bat somewhere even though he isn't doing it well and Ferguson should bat at 6 I reckon. There's a lot of issues with the Australian side at the moment. They were unlucky with the weather in the 2nd test but certain areas still need to be addressed.

Hate to be a negative Nancy, even though it was a great effort by Lleyton. But if Hewitt can't beat Wawrinka on grass (Wawrinka's worst surface & Hewitt's best) at home then surely the end is coming. Maybe an Australian Open farewell tournament for Lleyton. Should play in the singles and would also be nice to see him play in the doubles at the Aussie Open with Tomic, changing of the guard if you will. And the mixed doubles with Sam Stosur as she like Hewitt has been our most succesful womens player in the last 30 years. Hewitt, Tomic & Stosur would have to all be willing to do this but it would be a nice way to go out IMO.

Well done on the US Open win Sammy Stosur, first Aussie woman to win a Grand Slam title in 38 years! Suprise, suprise to see another Serena Williams blow up, can't stand that woman! Hopefully she can bring her winning form to the Australian Open in the new year.

Trying to play one day/twenty/20 cricket in a test match. Dilshan's not the sort of person that should be their captain and his batting far to ill disciplined and hardly sets a good example for his team mates. Really like the look of Lyon & Copeland, lets hope they're given a good run at it. Wonder what this means for Siddle?

Anyone watch that Stosur-v-Kirilenko match the other day? Would have to be the best womens match I've ever seen. And I hate womens tennis! Anyone reckon she can take out the open? I reckon she can as long as someone else beats Williams before the final.