MadAsHell

Thankfully I decided to bring round 1 in with Casey-v-Williamstown. Gave the Swans-v-GWS match a miss, although I would of liked to have seen how Junior went.

Went out to Casey last night, and while Watts didn't play the classic CHF game he was still clearly the most influential player out there. Kicked 2 2nd half goals when it really mattered, gave off numerous goal assists, a couple from some clean gathers near the boundry, beating more then one opponent and finding a team mate when the ball looked certain to go out. Oh and he kicked probably the greatest point you'll ever see from a snap over his shoulder in the last quarter which if it had of gone through would have put Casey in front at that point in time. He took on some responsability tonight to make things happen, and was good to see him back himself on occassion instead of looking to give it off everytime. Was a very good standard match and I'm very glad I went along to Casey instead of watching the Sydney-v-GWS match.

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!

Absolutely love this kid. Jack Watts will become at least equal if not better then Nick Riewoldt.

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.

Don't like our chances of landing Boak. I'd give Morton for Kane Cornes happily though. Reckon it would be a win win for both clubs and Cornes would have a role to play with us for a few years in the midfield. He'd be good with the clearances and it's always handy to have a tagger in the team despite the press making it harder for them.

I agree that there was no way that many changes were going to be made. It's just what I was hoping to see, CA basically saying enough is enough and we're not going to accept mediocrity anymore. Bailey while not the best batsman in the world I have no doubt could do a better job then what Ponting & Clarke have produced recently, and unlike Clarke, Bailey has actually shown he can leade a side. O'Keefe I agree with you, however I don't think we have any spinners who are good enough at the moment, although I'd back O'Keefe in over Beer every day of the week. Disagree about Marsh being better then Cowan sorry. Over the course of their careers Cowan's first class recrd is pretty much equal of Marsh's, however IMO Cowan is a more technically correct batsman which is what you want at the top of the order when facing the new ball. Siddle right now might be better then Pattinson, but in the long run Pattinson will be a lot better then Siddle and will benefit more from being played now. Siddle is a great battler and gives it his all but will never be a great bowler. As for Johnson until he can learn how to play with some form of consistency and get his head right I don't want to see him in the team. He can go a spend a year playing Shield & County cricket to learn how to do that as far as I'm concerned, don't want to see players coasting by on what they can produce once every 10 tests. (Yes I'm talking about you Michael Clarke!)

Not a big fan of the squad myself, I was hoping to see more radical changes personally, I was being very optimistic and looking to see. E. Cowan M. Hussey U. Khawaja S. Watson (vc) G. Bailey © C. Ferguson B. Haddin S. O'Keefe M. Starc N. Lyon J. Pattinson S. Marsh (back up opener/batsmen) T. Paine (back up keeper) P. Siddle (back up fast bowler) S. Smith (back up spinner/all rounder) Cowan & Hussey opening would of been great, 2 technically correct batsmen who can take the shine off the ball and wont loom to hit out in the openning overs. Watson can move down to 4, allowing him more of a rest and the chance to bowl more at first change. Bailey in as captain (great state captain) and good middle order batsmen along with Ferguson who should be great at 6. Two spinners needed in Sri Lanka and O'Keefe & Lyon are the best we've got. And they can actually spin the ball unlike Beer! Starc & Pattinson will be good opening bowlers, Starc the left arm quick with genuine pace & Pattinson who can actually swing the ball, our first proper swing bowler since Fleming! The other 4 players I selected would of covered all areas needed to be covered in case of last minute injury. And how Ponting & Clarke can continue to get games is beyond me??? They've been terrible for some time and aren't being held accountable, instead they've actually received pay rises! Edit: Replce Hughes with Marsh Edit: Swapped Haddin & Paine around, looking back Haddin doesn't deserve to be demoted yet.

Ok, maybe I've been watching far to much of the World Cup and am sleep deprived and that's why I've come up with this crazy (possibly stupid idea) on how to improve the development of other countries in test match cricket. An EPL style division system where countries can be promoted and relegated from one division to another after a three year period of solid or poor performances. This idea has come about mainly because of Ireland's impressive first 2 performances of this World Cup & the last also. In 2007 they had victories over Pakistan & Bangladesh and drew with Zimbabwe, while in this World Cup they've already beaten England and should of beaten Bangladesh in their first match if it weren't for loosing their last 5 wickets for about 20 runs when they only needed another 50 to win. I had also been impressed with Zimbabwe's openning performances, although they were pretty ordinary last night against New Zealand to be honest. So the way my idea works is the top 7 nations form say the premier division. This being India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, England, Australia, Pakistan & New Zealand. These nations over a three year period must play a home & an away test series against one another. Usual min of 2 tests, max of 5. Where as the current 8th & 9th ranked nations West Indies & Bangladesh form a secondary division along with at first Zimbabwe & Ireland where all of these nations must play a home & away test series against one another over a three year period. These should probably all be 5 test series as there's only 4 teams in this secondary division. The second division counts as a test match and all records, wickets & runs would count towards test match averages and stats. After the initial 3 year period the bottom 2 nations from the premier division are relegated to the 2nd division, the top nation from the 2nd division is promoted to the premier division. Then to try and even everything out, the next highest ranked minow country in the Intercontinental Cup (not sure how many people know about this comp) can also be promoted to test status and start playing in the 2nd division. (This would probably be Afghanistan if anyone's been watching their improvement in the last few years, they're the most improved country by a long way and are reguly beating higher ranked countries like Kenya, Scotland etc). So this way after the initial 3 years there would be 6 countries in the premire division, 6 countries in the 2nd division, and then every 3 years the top 2 teams from 2nd division are promoted while the bottom 2 from premier are demoted. The reason why I like this idea is because it serves a couple of important issues in World cricket. 1: It means the higher ranked countries get to play more often only against the other top countries. Australia wouldn't of had to worry about this series against Bangladesh after the World Cup for example or any of those top end series as there's less countries to play against. Also it means because we have to play everyone inside 3 years it means the headline touring nation from year to year goes England, India & South Africa, and then starts again whith no lull year. 2: It allows Ireland, Zimbabwe & possibly Afghanistan eventually to gain test experience against decent opposition like the West Indies & Bangladesh. They get to play against them more often allowing their skills and experience to improve also. And while many may feel it does little for the likes of the West Indies & Bangladesh, it does give them the chance to create a winning culture, and after 3 years they will have the opportunity to take that culture in against more hardened opposition. 3: The relegation & demotion system would mean that it wont always be the same countries stuck in one division all the time as every 3 years they have the oppotunity to swap over if their performances have warranted it. So I'm curious as to people's thoughts. Obviously I don't expect everyone to love it, and I'm sure there are holes in it. But I just thought I'd see what everyone's thoughts are on expanding the game to include other countries??? Edit: Changed Ireland beating Ireland, to Ireland beating England.

Ok I'm going to talk about the elephant in the room in Marcus North, another duck! Shouldering arms to a quick who's getting the ball to reverse, what a ........... If the selectors are looking for someone to make a string if low scores while getting handsomely paid and traveling the globe I'm willing to my hand up! How long are we going to carry this guy? Had a nice start but disapointing end to the day. Hopefully Watson, Paine & the tail can make a good fist of it and get us to at least 350 so we're right in the match. Really hope we can get a series win here although I highly doubt it.

Your right RR, I know the NSW bias goes back to Trevor Hohns or whoever it was and possibly even further back and it did serve us well when we had once in a generation type players all playing in the same team at the same time such as Warne, McGrath & Gilchrist. However times have changed and the selectors need to get with the times. White did have an ordinary tour of India last time your right however he was picked and really played as a bowler when we all know he's really a batsman who can bowl some handy leggies. He's been in fantstic form in the shorter format of the game for a good 18 months now and I would have thought with North struggling now would be the perfect time to slot C. White into no:6 in the batting line up. Plus he's an excellent captain prospect, or maybe that's why the selectors don't want him in so M. Clarke's toes aren't stepped on??? Your right about S. Smith he's a very good prospect but I probably haven't seen enough of him myself to judge exactly what sort of player he is. Is he a genuine all rounder or is he a bowler who bats very well ala Danile Vettori? Or is he the other way round ala Chris Cairns? One thing's for sure he has a bright future. I have heard good wraps on Hazelwood although is India the place where you want to blood a raw fast bowler if one of the senior bowlers gets injured? India's the sort of place where I think experience and maturity is very important and that's why I would have thought McKay would have been a shoe in for this tour. It's a very delicate time in Australian Cricket with their rebuilding of the side. I just hope the selctors are able to make the tough and right decissions at the right time. I hate to think of the fall out if we loose the Ashes this summer.

And isn't it fantastic to see that the selectors are still handing out the baggy green cap in a paper bag when NSW players receive their baggy blue cap. How on earth did Hazlewood make the squad??? George I'm, suprised by also, especially when you look at McKay's last domestic season. I also would have thought that James Pattinson's the most promising young fast bowler coming through. And North still in the squad but no Cameron White!!! Once we loose this test series 2-0 with North and Hussey scoring a combined total of less then 150 runs will Hilditch finally be held accountable?

Your right RR, that's why although it's something I'd like to see I'm well aware that it wont happen. There just seems to be no end in sight the this great game spiraling down the sink while India holds a monopoly over everyone else.

Stephen, 27 years and live in Eastern suburbs & getting married (to a St. Kilda supporter) in November which is exciting. Work with Department of Justice in the Magistrates' Court and been a Melbourne supporter for my whole life apart from a brief 6 season stint from 1992 - 1997 when my Grandad brainwashed me into going for Carlton sorry to all, but I eventually saw the light. Been a member every year since 2001 and am really excited about the direction the club is heading. Favourite memory was the 98 finals series when Melbourne smashed Adelaide & St. Kidal the previous years Grand Finalists. Favourite Players: Rivers, Grimes, Jurrah

It wont happen but I'd love to see Australia and England make a huge stand and try and take the game back World Series Cricket style. Australia, England & New Zealand should dispand from the ICC, try and bring South Africa & West Indies across with them and intergrate Ireland to International status in their own 6 nations comp (Ireland dominate all the lower ranked countries in all forms of the game.) They could start their own 6 nations International cricket commitee and start taking the game in the right direction. Hopefully in time Sri Lanka & Bangladesh may even come across and the game can rid itself of the cancer that is Indian and Pakistani cricket that is a huge blight on the game!

Had just been doing some research on our current dismal batting performances. So far in Marcus North's 15+ test career he's averaging about 37 with the bat, Hussey has been averaging 38 in his last 25 test matches and even Ponting is only averaging 41 in his last 25 tests. This is simply not good enough and the fact that the selectors have allowed this to run for so long is not good enough, especially considering Brad Hodge was dropped with a batting average in the high 40's or even low 50's after 5 tests.

Lets face it the teams been in decline for the last 5 years and the selectors have done little to nothing about it. Continuing to play their favourites and not giving players who could become stars of the future a decent run when they hit the slightest form slump. Hussey & Ponting are well and truely past their best, I can understand why Ponting just holds his spot but there's no excuse for Hussey. For those who will remind me of Hussey's century at the SCG and the last Ashes series, they're his only two decent scores in about 30-40 innings, you give any first class batsmen that amount of innings and they should be able to score 2 centuries at least. Then when it comes to Marcus North the less said the better IMO. Phil Hughes needs to be given much more of a run as should Cameron White in the middle order. He averages over 40 with the bat at state level, can bowl handy leggies and IMO is our best suited player to becoming captain (probably reason why they don't play him so Clarke can get the job). I believe Ponting & Hussey should be given this years Ashes as farwell series and thenm look to replace them with White and maybe Callum Ferguson who I believe has the goods. As for North I'd be dropping him imediatley for Hughes. Here's what I believe is Australia's best XII post this years coming Ashes. P. Hughes S. Katich C. Ferguson M. Clarke (vc) C. White © S. Watson B. Haddin M. Johnson N. Hauritz B. Hilfenhaus D. Bollinger 12th Man P. Siddle

Great win by Hewitt over night in Halle, any win over Federer is a good win and it reminded me of his famous Davis Cup win over Federer in Melbourne back in 2003. Question is how far can he go at Wimbledon? While I don't think he can beat Federer there I don't think there's anyone else on tour that he isn't capable of beating on grass. Other peoples thoughts?

1. G. Lyon - Although as a little tacker the first players number I had on my back was 45 (Ricky Jackson) Lyon was my first fav player that I remember. Could play anywhere aand skills and leadership were second to none. Best Melbourne player I've seen. 2. A. Jackovich - Absolute freak. Could kick goals from anywhere and turn a match in a second. Remeber seeing him kick 4.10 out at Waverley one day against the Hawks and he dominated although didn't kick straight. Also saw him kick one of the best goals I've ever seen from the boundary line that day. 3. J. Farmer - Like Jackovich an absolute freak who could turn a game in 10 min and the crowd was always excited whenever he went anywhere near the ball. Went to the QB game in 2000 where he kicked 9 in a quarter and a half after not getting a kick in the first half. Whether in the air or on the ground he was a very strong player. Was never the same when he went to Fremantle. 4. D. Schwarz - One of the most unlucky players to play the game as he would have been even better then Carey if it weren't for his injuries. Remeber the 94 finals series where he dominated and set up many goals while kicking a few himself. Credit has to be given to him for still becoming a very good player despite the 3 knee recos and he had do adopt a different style of game. 5. D. Neitz - Legend of the club as we all know, whether at FF or CHB he was just a great leader and competitor. Shame we couldn't wina premiership for him, he deserved it as much as anyone. Special mentions also to J. Stynes, T. Viney, A. Ingerson, A. Yze & S. Tingay who would probably make up my top 10.