MadAsHell

DELIST: Cross Jamar McKenzie Bail Riley Terlich (re-rookied) PROMOTE OFF ROOKIE LIST: Vandenberg Harmes RETAIN AS ROOKIES: King White MOVE OUT THROUGH FREE AGENCY: Garland TRADE OUT: Howe Grimes Dawes Fitzpatrick TRADE IN: Daniel Gorringe Aaron Hall Patrick Karnezis David MacKay Josh Walker DELISTED FREE AGENT: Daniel Markworth NATIONAL DRAFT: Three selections in top 30. 1st & 2nd round picks plus Garland compo. ROOKIE DRAFT: First round pick only.

Heard from a good source that he'll be gone at years end.

Nice win by the Aussies in the end to finish off a disapointing series. Very odd way the whole thing played out, we had the two leading run scorers and thre eof the top 4 wicket takers for the series, yet loose the Ashes? Haddin's drop of Root on the first morning could wel have been the critical point of the whole series. New era under Smith will begin now starting with the tour of Bangladesh. So will be interesting to see what the makeup of the team will be? Think it may be along the lines of: Cameron Bancroft (seems a lock to make his debut) David Warner (vice captain) Joe Burns/Usman Khawaja (not sure which will get the nod. Personally I think Burns has a better game/balance between defence & attack.) Steve Smith (captain, number 4 suits better.) Adam Voges/Peter Handscomb (Voges saved his spot for now with two half centuries in his last two innings. Poor series in Bangladesh will see Handscomb debut IMO.) Mitch Marsh/Glenn Maxwell (All rounder spot should become rotatable I reckon. Seaming wicket Marsh, spinning wicket Maxwell. So in Australia, England. South Africa, New Zeland - Marsh, Asia & Windies Maxwell) Peter Nevill (will be given a run as keeper, although I'm not convinced yet. Wade & Ludeman breathing down his neck.) Mitchell Johnson (lead the attack. Eye should be on 2017/18 Ashes swansong. Starc as the standbye Mitch.) Pat Cummins/James Pattinson (whichever is fit at the time. Will be good to see Cummins.) Peter Siddle (I'd have him as a lock in the XI for his control. Hazlewood & Sandhu should keep the heat on, but Sidds has it for now.) Nathan Lyon (easily our best spinner. Agar, Zampa & Muirhead need to show something.)

I know we're right on top. But Mitchell Starc's bowling today has been concerning. He's all over the place at the moment. I suspect this may be the last time they play the two left arm quicks together (baring injuries). Better balance may be Johnson, Siddle, Cummins.

And now the other retiree Rogers has dropped Bell also. Much harder chance, but this is getting a joke. But thankfully now Bell is out anyway caught by Clarke. Odd last 20min!

Clarke drops one in his final test. Hope it isn't costly....

Siddle gets the 1st wicket of the 2nd innings. I'm telling you, he's back!

Looks like Clarke is enforcing the follow on for the first time. Rogers & Warner not racing off at the end of the innings as per usual. We may not see Clarke or Rogers bat again....

I said this after the 3rd test I think, but with Harris having retired, Siddle is now very important for the team balance. He not as exciting or as dangerous as a Pattinson, Cummins, Hazlewood, Strac etc but he's a very important role player. If Siddle's in the team bowling line & length it allows Johnson & our other quick (suspect it will be Cummins in Bangladesh) to attack thanks to the pressure being built at the other end. Hazlewood on the other hand in the first 4 tests who was suppose to be playing that role was leaking runs. Personally, I think Siddle is an automatic selection until Hazlewood can do it consistently at Shield level (which he pretty much does already) but also try and do a similar think in the ODI's with Starc & Faulkner.

Could be on the money there Macca. Can see Bancroft opening with one of Khawaja or Burns at 3. Mitch Marsh really has struggled this series with the bat. Given the next series is in Bangladesh, I wonder if the selectors decide to go horses for courses and select Glenn Maxwell in the all rounders role. Not only for his spin bowling, but he's also a very good player of spin.

Had been a good session up until that last over. 4/89 in a session, but we're just about at 400 on a track that's going to turn. Lets hope Smith & the tail can add a few and get us into a strong position.

Another low score for Mitch Marsh, but great patient 100 for Smith. Dead rubber, but good to see him make a ton just before he's due to take over the captaincy.

76 for Voges, out to a ball that kept low, and it's only Day 2! Wonder if that score is enough to hold his spot for Bangladesh?

Been a good day so far from the Aussies. Shame Warner couldn't get 100, but if we were offered 2/184 at Tea on Day 1 after being sent in, you'd take it every day of the week! Clarke looking solid so far also. Lets hope we can convert this start into a score of 400+ and at least try and finish this horror of a series off with a win.

Yes, finally got my way Macca. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big wrap for Hazlewood, but just feel that Siddle's control with the ball is something that's been lacking. No doubt Hazlewood will provide that control eventually, but Siddle's there already. Given we're going to have a very inexperienced batting line up, I figure an experienced bowling line up could be the way to go forward. Johnson, Siddle, Lyon & one of Pattinson or Cummins for me. Starc to become a regular once Johnson's time is up, which likely won't be to far away. Think he's said himself that he's got Lillee's wicket tally in his sights, and once that's achieved it could be it.

Nice to see some old school batting from the Australian's so far tonight. I feel like I've gone back in time to 1992 and it's Mark Taylor & David Boon opening the batting!

C. Dawes to Brisbane S. Martin to Bulldogs N. Hrovat to Demons J. Toumpas to Crows T. Lynch to Demons J. Howe, J. Grimes & Pick 6 to Gold Coast H. Bennell, D. Gorringe & late pick to Demons Sign M. Suckling as URFA Trade in S. Grimley on the cheap Upgrade A. Vandenberg & J. Harmes Allow C. Garland to walk as Free Agent (use the cap space) Delist: M. Jamar, J. McKenzie, R. Bail, V. Michie, A. Riley 2016 - MELBOURNE 22 FB: Dunn, T. McDonald, Jetta HB: Lumumba, Frost, Suckling C: Bennell, N. Jones, Tyson HF: Vandenberg, Hogan, Kent FF: Lynch, Grimley, Garlett FOLL: Gawn, Vince, Viney INT: Brayshaw, Petracca, Salem, Watts 2016 - CASEY 22 FB: ?*, O. McDonald, Terlich HB: Cross, Fitzpatrick, White* C: M. Jones, Neal-Bullen, Newton HF: Trengove, Pedersen, Hunt FF: ?*, King*, Kennedy-Harris FOLL: Spencer, ?, Hrovat INT: Gorringe, Harmes, Stretch, ? * Equals rookie Gives us two live picks at the National Draft, plus the two rookie upgrades and then two picks at the rookie draft. I'd be giving 1 year contract extentions to Cross, Pedersen, Hunt, Fitzpatrick and the two rookies King & White. Couple that with M. Jones, Terlich OOC at the end of 2016, we'll have plenty more players available for the chop in 12 months time also.

While I agree about his handling/involvement re the Katich situation I couldn't disagree more with you Biffen. Like him or not, Clarke will go down as one of Australia's all time great batsmen. * He's made triple & double centuries. 28 Centuries in total. * Batting average just shy of 50. * Captained winning tours of South Africa, Sri Lanka, New Zealand and the West Indies * Captained a 5-0 Ashes whitewash victory. * Was a member of our 2004 winning touring party of India. * Has taken over 30 Test wickets. He's played some great innings along the way. Made two personal favourites being his debut ton v India in Bangalore in 2004. Coming in at a difficult time with us 4/140 odd batting first on a turner. Then two great partnerships, first with Katich and then with Gilchrist on his way to 151 saw us make a big total and go on to win that series. I remember the ball turning sideways with Anil Kumble bowling round the wicket and Clarke just dancing down to hit him straight back over his head for 6. Knew he was going to be something special from then, His other great innings IMO was his 27th ton v South Africa in the 3rd & final test of the 2014 tour in Cape Town. Series locked at 1-1 and Clarke in f form slump, he was on the end of one of the more brutal work overs I've ever witnessed by Morne Morkel. Got hit multiple times and alegedly received a fractured shoulder as a result. However he got through it and went on to make a brilliant ton and set up was was a memorable win. If you haven't witnessed it, you should! And that's only a sample! Him loosing the captaincy was always coming and rightly so, as sweeping changes should be made following this embarrasment! But I thought Clarke should stay on and bat at number 5 to provide some support for Smith/Warner going forward. I hope he does well at The Oval, and given the series is lost I actually hope all he, Haddin, Watson & Rogers all play (Rogers obviously will) and can bow out together with a win.. As for an XI going forward. I like the look of something like: Cameron Bancroft David Warner (vc) Joe Burns Steve Smith* Peter Handscomb Mitch Marsh +Tim Ludeman Mitchell Johnson Mitchell Starc/James Pattinson/Pat Cummins Peter Siddle Nathan Lyon *Bancroft is very young and has shown a lot of promise in the recent Shield season. He also recently made a patient 133 v India A in Chennai off about 295 balls I believe, so he can grind out an innings on difficult wickets. *Burns I think has the right balance of attack and defence to bat at number 3. It's why I'd probably favour him to giving the nod to Khawaja. *Handscomb I'm a big fan of. Very good player of spin and improving against pace. Was the leading run scorer in Shield cricket after the first 4 rounds until injury struck. Came back and batted well, but just not in quite the same form. Also made a 91 v India A. He can also keep, which would be handy for slecting a touring squad not having to worry about back up keepers. *While Mitch Marsh I think should be the main all rounder, I think that number 6 spot should become somewhat rotatable if we end up playing on raging turners, and this is where I think the Big Show Glenn Maxwell could find his niche. He could become a overseas tour player only just about in India, UAE, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh. He's also a very good player of spin bowling which could be handy. *For the keeper, I think it's time we went old school and just picked the best gloveman. After Nevill's scratchy glove skills and Haddin's drop of Root in the first test possibly being a series defining moment, I think we should just focus during this rebuilding phase of just having a keeper who takes every chance that comes his way and any runs he makes being a bonus. So this is where Ludeman comes into the picture for me. *Siddle should come into the XI once more IMO with the retirement of Harris. His control and experience will be valuable not just for the team, but especially Johnson. I don't think Mitch could be as effective during this series as his fellow bowlers (although not as bad as the batsmen) leaked to many runs due to lack of control. This is where Siddle should come into his own. *Final quick bowlers spot I'd give to whoever was in form/fit between Starc, Pattinson & Cummins. At the moment that would obviously be Starc. Other players to keep an eye on would be Usman Khawaja, Nic Maddinson, Jordan Silk & Travis Head as far as batsmen go. Marcus Stoinis would be the next seam bowling all rounder I'd be looking to after Mitch Marsh. Sam Whiteman is a distant future keeper to watch, similar to Ashton Agar as a spin bowler. While the likes of Josh Hazlewood & Nathan Coulter-Nile are by no means forgotten. When Suddle's time is up Hazlewood would be an obvious replacement. Sad series and a sad end for not just Pup, but several other Aussie players. After The Oval I don't expect to see and of Clarke, Watson, Haddin, Rogers, Voges, Shaun Marsh or Fawad Ahmed near an Aussie Test XI again.

Another collapse. 4 wickets in 20 minutes! Rogers going to hard at a swinging ball just outside off stump, Warner playing a stupid cross bat shot, Marsh waving his bat outside the line of 6th/7th stump as usual & Smith having no regard for the situation. Would have hoped we'd learnt from the 1st Innings & Edgbaston, but obviously not!

And now Rogers is out!

Showing some fight so far today. Lets see how long it lasts....

If it is, then they've got no respect for themselves or the baggy green!

Well the Ashes defence is as good as over. Already more then 200 behind after Day 1 and England still have 6 wickets in hand. This has been a more meek performance then anything i can ever remember England dishing up during their horrendous era of the late 80's to early 2000's. Heads will roll no doubt and i think it's time we did away of this obsession of picking batsmen to debut in their mid 30's. It's time we unearthed some young batting talent. I also think it's time to go back to Siddle with Harris having retired. Hazlewood & Starc control has been left wanting this series, so Siddle's experience will be key. I also think it's time to take the captaincy off Clarke and give it to Smith. Lets just tell Clarke to bat at 5 and concentrate on making runs. I also think as far as the keeper goes that we should go old school and just pick the best gloveman. I like Nevill, but during this rebuild i think we should focus on a keeper who takes all opportunities rather then runs. So for The Oval I'd drop Shaun Marsh and Voges as neither are the future. I'd also drop Hazlewood and Starc as i think they're both spent and have struggled for consistency. And i'd also drop Nevill. Bring in Watson and Haddin to join Rogers in a farewell game, Mitch Marsh to get more cricket into him. The long awaited return of Cummins and old reliable Siddle. After the Ashes I can see a rough XI of: Khawaja Warner (vc) Smith* Handscomb Clarke M. Marsh +Hartley or Ludeman Johnson Siddle Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson or Starc Lyon But that will be one for the selectors.

I agree our batting depth has been an issue for awhile. I think it's time that we identified some youngsters with good technique and give them 15-20 Tests before making a call on them. Two batsmen who spring to mind are Usman Khawaja & Peter Handscomb. Khawaja because of technique and Handscomb his ability to play against spin. There's a two test series v Bangladesh before our home summer. I'd be happy to see them partenr Khawaja with Warner at the top of the order and Handscomb bat at 4 and give them the series plus the home summer and then some. We all know how much Steve Waugh & Matthew Hayden struggled early in their careers.

In relation to not being able to bowl the ball in the right spot.