MadAsHell

Not wrong RR, that was one of the most bizzare DRS's I've ever seen. Warner copping it big time on twitter from the likes of Dean Jones and Ryan Campbell. Smith's was a waste. Rogers dismissal was a loss of concerntration however Smith's was a brain fade up there with Warne when he was on 99, although at least Warne has the excuse of being a bowler and not a batsman. 500 will put us in a real strong position and Lyon will need to bowl well, because if he struggles in his first few tests back the likes of Agar & Fawad Ahmed will be knocking on the door.

Lunch Day 2. Australia 5/392 M. Clarke 168* S. Smith 89 C. Rogers 84 G. Swann 4/103 (31) T. Bresnan 1/80 (26) J. Trott 0/6 (1) Despite the losses of Smith & Warner we're still in a pretty good position. Anytime you bat first and make 400+ it's pretty rare that you'll loose, but seeing as we're after the win lets hope Clarke, Haddin & the tale can take us to 500+ by batting into the final session. And it's nearly all over in Africa Australia A 1st Innings 146 N. Maddinson 88 B. Hendricks 5/52 (9.5) South Africa A 1st Innings 356 R. Rossouw 115* F. Ahmed 4/80 (17.4) Australia A 2nd Innings 277 N. Maddinson 90 S. Harmer 8/87 (31.1) South Africa A 2nd Innings 0/27 (Target 68) D. Elgar 15* F. Ahmed 0/6 (2) But at least Maddinson and Fawad Ahmed have kept pressure on our main squad with their performances.

Great 150 Michael Clarke, now lets keep it going! Shame Smith couldn't go on for his first 100, but it brings Warner to the crease who I reckon might start this series with a bang!

Tea on Day 1. Australia 3/180 C. Rogers 84 M. Clarke 55* S. Smith 20* G. Swann 2/37 (13) T. Bresnan 1/38 (12) S. Broad 0/50 (13) It's that time of the week night that I head to bed and hope for the best for the final session. If we can get through to stumps no more then 5 or 6 down for about 300 then I think we're in a reasonable position. Not imposing position, but it's a start. Bad luck on Chris Rogers falling short of his first test century, but good to see Clarke and Smith looking steady at the crease with the likes of Warner & Haddin still to come. Meanwhile in Africa 8 overs before stumps on Day 2. Australia A 1st Innings 146 N. Maddinson 88 C. Sayers 22 B. Hendricks 5/52 (9.5) M. De Lange 3/45 (13) South Africa A 1st Innings 356 R. Rossouw 115* D. Elgar 83 F. Ahmed 4/80 (17.4) M. Marsh 2/56 (14) Australia A 2nd Innings 2/79 A. Doolan 28* S. Marsh 24 S. Harmer 1/17 (5) K. Abbott 1/28 (6) It's a long way back for Australia A in this one. Will need to bat all day tomorrow and probably till at least lunch on Day 4 to give themselves a chance and make about 450 odd. Pat Cummins took 1/70 off 21 overs and Fawad Ahmed's now taken 15 wickets in his last 4 innings, he's certainly putting his hand up. Let's hope Nic Maddinson and Alex Doolan can make some big scores to give us some batsmen to look forward to on the horizon.

Agree TU that Bird should consider pretty unlucky, I would have had him in my XI back for the 1st Test, but I'm sure his time will come. However as for the Lyon in for Agar, I would have stuck with Ashton as I don't think Lyon adds anything to the team. As for the 1st session: Lunch Day 1 Australia 2/92 C. Rogers 67* S. Watson 19 M. Clarke 5* G. Swann 1/3 (2) T. Bresnan 1/18 (5) S. Broad 0/34 (9) A shocking call by the 3rd umpire to give Khawaja out on that review. Nothing on hotspot, the sound came early and his bat clearly hit his pad with dalight between ball and bat. If that can't get overturned by DRS then what can and there's no point having it! On a positive note though, has been great to see Rogers bat so well. Fingers crossed he can go on to make his maiden test century. Meanwhile Australia A are really struggling without David Warner against South Africa A. Midway through Day 2 Australia A 146 N. Maddinson 88 C. Sayers 22 S. Marsh 13 B. Hendricks 5/52 (9.5) M. De Lange 3/45 (13) K. Abbott 2/39 (15) South Africa A 7/321 R. Rossouw 100* D. Elgar 83 R. Hendricks 37 M. Marsh 2/49 (11) C. Sayers 2/64 (28) F. Ahmed 1/57 (14) Going to take a super effort from Australia A to get out of trouble here! Was good to see Maddinson bat so well though. He could be a bolter for a spot in our top 6 come our home summer.

Off topic, but good to see the MCG get the rights to stage the final for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket-world-cup-2015/content/current/story/656365.html Odd though that we're in the same group as New Zealand and we have to play them there! Surely they could have arranged it that we were in different groups. Aside from New Zealand we've drawn England, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and two qualifiers, usual suspects being Netherlands, Kenya, Afghanistan, Scotland, Canada etc... Big tournament for Ireland I reckon, if they can make a big showing and get through to the quarters or even semi finals they could mount a strong case for Test inclusion. They've got India & South Africa who you wouldn't think they'll push, but then they've got West Indies, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and another qualifier who they're certainly capable of beating on their day. Early prediction of our World Cup 15 man squad: David Warner Shane Watson Phil Hughes Michael Clarke* Glenn Maxwell George Bailey +Matthew Wade James Faulkner Pat Cummins Clint McKay Xavier Doherty Michael Beer Aaron Finch Mitchell Starc Adam Voges Could well be a farewell international tournament for Shane Watson before he vanishes into the world of full time T20 cricketer.

I've mentioned myself that I wouldn't be against Katich coming back as captain to lead us through the next 18 months as it's going to be a very testing one. After this Ashes leg is over we have England for 5 tests out here, then a trip to South Africa for 3 tests, then a three test series against Pakistan in a neutral venue (England or UAE no doubt) followed by a 4 test home series against India. These are all big challenges! I believe that the future of our batting is in the likes of Joe Burns, Nic Maddinson, Jordan Silk, however I don't think these next 15 test matches are the environment to debut them in. Bring Katich back for those 15 tests as captain and also bring in George Bailey or Tim Paine as Vice Captain to take over after next summer against India. He's a fighter Katich and will bring back some of the qualities we saw in Steve Waugh and AB and this could be a chance for a good legacy to be left to one of Bailey or Paine to take forward. After next summer against India it does get a bit easier. We have two tests against the West Indies in the windies. That is followed by another Ashes campaign which isn't easy, but that is then followed by 2 tests against Bangladesh in Bangladesh, 3 at home to both New Zealand and the West Indies, a 3 test tour of New Zealand, the same in Sri Lanka before the next big series, being a three test series at home v South Africa. This would allow a 2 test series against the Windies for whoever Kat's replacement is and the new captain to get their game together before an Ashes campaign. Once that Ashes campaign was over, they would then have 14 test matches against the likes of Bangladesh, New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka to establish themselves again before the next big series. These next 3 tests will tell a lot. If they can somehow turn things around a big turnover of players may not be required, but if things go as they look like they may, then starting with the 1st Ashes test out here I'd be more then keen to see Katich come back in as captain. Paine given the gloves, Faulkner replace Watson and bat at 6 and then some stabilty around the other openers spot and the number 3 and 4 spot. Khawaja, Warner, Doolan, Cosgrove, Bailey. Pick 3 of those players to play in those roles and try and leave them there for as long as possible. Once Katich's reign is at an end and our run becomes a little easier, then we can look at a rebuild with youth, who hopefully will have used these next two summers to make a truck load of runs at Shield level.

Difficut thing to do, given is it on what they're produced at test level or first class level? What they're capable of or what they're currently producing? Personally I rate them the follwoing SWING/SEAM Michael Clarke: Pretty easy, he's our best batsman by a country mile, whether it's against the quicks or spinners. David Warner: Has shown he's more then capable against the seaming ball (NZ in Hobart) when all others around him struggle and has dismantled some of the worlds best quicks all over the world. Consistency is his problem. Shane Watson: See David Warners comments. He's capable of a lot more then what he's producing. Simon Katich: Eight years ago he really struggled against the seaming ball but worked hard to fix this issue by playing the ball later. Scoring big runs over in England and could easily still be playing. Phil Hughes: Has shown at First class level that he's more then capable of handling the new ball on all kinds of surfaces from green tops at Belrieve to fast bouncy pitches in Perth. Hasn't been able to do the same at Test level, but whenever he's dropped from the test team, he scores a mountain of runs at Shield level up the top. Chris Rogers: Has been producing big numbers in First class cricket both here and in England for years now on both seaming and bouncy wickets. I'm still optimistic he could pull out some big innings over the remaining tests. Like Katich, he plays the ball late to combat the swing. Usman Khawaja: Very good technique and no obvious weaknesses in his game apart from his ability to rotate the strike. Has shown an ability to get starts which bodes well, just a matter on converting them. His move to the greener wickets at the GABBA didn't seem to effect him to much. Mark Cosgrove: Very good first class cricekter who moved from the flat road of Adelaide to the seaming wicket in Hobart and his game has improvd to go with it. Amazed that he hasn't been mentioned by selectors as far as a potential top order batsman given our issues as he has a good compact game but still with the ability to go big when needed. His fitness and fielding I believe is his biggest issue. Joe Burns: Young batsman who's been doing it tough up at the GABBA but has an average in the high 30's. Has moved around the batting line up from openning to batting down as low as 5. I think the number 3 or 4 role suits him best. Has a good technique and array of shots against the quicks. Consistency is his issue as he seems at this stage to be a bit feast or famine which does happen sometimes with the young batsmen. One worth watching. Nic Maddinson: Another young batsman with a lot of potential. Plays a bit like Matthew Hayden in that he enjoys taking it up to the quicks even on the seaming wicket. Made a century recently for Australia A on a wicket that was doing a bit in England, he does however need to learn to reign it in from time to time. SPIN Michael Clarke: No comment needed I don't beleive. His footwork is that of Dean Jones though. David Hussey: After Clarke he's easily our next best player of spin. Very quick on his feet and playing in the IPL has been good for his play against spin which was already good. At 36 has probably missed the boat and shoudl of been given a shot years ago. Simon Katich: Has played very well for Australia on tours of India & Sri Lanka. In Steve Waughs final test he scored a century on a turning SCG wicket that Anil Kumble described as one of the best he's seen. Brad Haddin: Actually plays the spinners very well when he gives himself a chance to get in and doesn't go to hard to soon. One of the best staright drivers off the spinners in world cricket. Steve Smith: I've seen him play very well against the spinners at first class level and played quite well in India, however Swann looks to have him confussed. There is some hope for Smith, it's just a question of how long we give him. Adam Voges: I've seen him take a lot of spinners apart at FC level in both Shield cricket and the shorter forms. Enjoys using his feet. Mark Cosgrove: Doesn't use his feet a lot but he knows his limitations. Plays from the crease and is generally pretty careful about what he defends and what he atatcks. If a spinner's bowling well to him however he can get bogged down. Glenn Maxwell: Very similar to Voges in the way he plays them, but he can get very reckless in his shot selection. Has the ability to become a very, very good player. but I have my doubts at Test level due to his temperment. Cameron White: Foot work isn't that great, but he has a pretty good ability like Cosgrove of picking what shots to attack and what shots to use his feet to in order to try and get on top of the spinners. Doesn't have the ability to see a spinner off over a long period though when they're playing well as he'll eventually try and play one shot to many. Aaron Finch: Very simlar to White, although he will attempt to play one scoring shot off them an over whether it's there or not.

Final scorecard from both the Australia & Australia A matches. Australia v Sussex Australia 1st Innings 5/366dec S. Smith 102* P. Hughes 84 M. Panesar 3/70 (24.4) L. Hatchett 2/38 (14.4) Sussex 1st Innings 7/368dec J. Taylor 121* R. Hamilton-Brown 73 M. Starc 2/43 (18) J. Bird 2/62 (20) Australia 2nd Innings 2/152 E. Cowan 77* P. Hughes 38 L. Hatchett 2/28 (11) C. Nash 0/10 (2) A bit disapointing to give up a 1st Innings lead in the tour match. Steve Smith dropping taylor off Bird on 23 was costly in the end. No real standouts from the bowlers. Both Lyon and Agar struggled and both Bird and Starc took 2 wickets each, although Bird should of had 3. Cowan made two 50's and Khawaja was dismissed for 40 and then 1 in his two innings. Hughes an 84 and 38 and Wade 30* in the 2nd dig. In the Australia A match. Australia A 1st Innings 5/474dec D. Warner 193 G. Maxwell 155* K. Abbott 2/83 (25) M. De Lange 2/129 (23) South Africa A 1st Innings 7/614dec D. Elgar 268 T. Tsolekile 159 F. Ahmed 3/177 (42) J. Hazlewood 1/68 (27) Australia A 2nd Innings 6/254 A. Finch 88 A. Doolan 38 M. De Lange 2/42 (15) S. Harmer 2/94 (30) Good to see the A team hang on for a draw given they spent the best part of 5 sessions in the field heading into the last day. Warner made 33 in his 2nd dig to go with his 193 in the 1st. Finch two 50's in the match (could we see a breakout season in Shield cricket for him this season?). Was also good to see Fawad Ahmed take 3 wickets on a road of a picth , toiling for an amazing 42 overs. Best figures in any innings for the match from Fawad. As for changes for the 3rd test for Australia, personally I think Bird in ahead of Starc for Pattinson given Bird's line and length. He took 4 wickets in the last tour match and should of had three in this match when the century maker Taylor was put down by Smith on 23. I think Agar will hold his spot as the spinner as Lyon didn't really impress, although could we see an 11th hour call up for Fawad Ahmed given he's taken 11 wickets in his last 3 innings bowling? As for the batting it's a real toss of the coin. I expect to see Watson keep his spot at the top of the order, Khawaja to stay at 3, Clarke at 5 and I expect to see Warner come in at 6. That leaves the other opening spot and the number 4 role. Number 4 I expect will go to one of Smith or Hughes as Wade needed a big score in the tour match to give himself a chance. Given Smith's unbeaten century, his ability to play spin better and given he's a right hander (Swann to spin into Smith, away from Hughes), I think we'll see Smith given the number 4 role. As for the other openers spot, we've got Cowan who made two 50's in the tour match and was one of our better players in India. However played two very ordinary shots in the 1st Test, only averages just over 30 in 18 test matches and has only made 1 century in all that time. Hughes who made 84 in the 1st innings in the tour match, made an impressive 81* in the 1st Innings of the first test, however nothing since, is a natural opener however and that's where he scored all his runs in the last shield season, although showed in the last series in England that he can struggled against the new ball. Or Rogers, who has waited years to add to his 1 test, has had two tets this time around and scored a 50, yet got out in two ugly fashions in the 2nd test. To be fair to him he has had two very stiff LBW decisions go against him, however he's certainly yet to demand his spot. Verdict.... Rogers for me, but only just, you could give it to any of the three and there'd be a strong argument for and against any. Time will tell I guess.

it does raise some difficult selection questions for the 3rd test. Apart from poor old Matthew Wade making a duck and kissing his chances goodbye at least for this series. The main spot up for grabs for the 3rd test for me was the number 4 spot, with Rogers and Watson to open, Khawaja at 3, Clarke at 5, Warner in at 6 and Haddin at 7 meaning one of Smith, Hughes or Wade was to bat at 4. With both Hughes and Smith making runs though they could possibly drop Rogers, open Hughes with Watson and bat Smith at 4? Watson will be safe due to his bolwing, for the rest of this series at least IMO. Meanwhile in the Australia A game at Lunch on Day 4 Australia A 1st Innings 5/474dec D. Warner 193 G. Maxwell 155* K. Abbott 2/83 (25) M. De Lange 2/129 (23) South Africa A 1st Innings 7/614dec D. Elgar 268 T. Tsolekile 159 F. Ahmed 3/177 (42) J. Hazlewood 1/68 (27) Australia A 2nd Innings 1/90 A. Finch 51* A. Doolan 20* S. Harmer 1/32 (9) K. Abbott 0/10 (6) Obviously a very flat wicket over there with 4 batsmen making over 150. A good effort from Fawad Ahmed taking 3 wickets and bowling an amazing 42 overs in obviously tough conditions for the bowlers. Hopefully Australia A can bat out the day to secure the draw. Some 2nd innings runs for both Doolan and Warner would be nice. Also worth noting Shaun Marsh who's on this tour (don't know why) made two poor scores on a complete road. How this guy is on our A tour ahead of guys like Silk, Burns, Bailey, Cosgrove, Henry, Handscomb and Lynn is a complete joke!

You make a good point there Rhino about Cowan being picked to captain the side. I would of thought they would have made Smith acting captain given he's captained NSW and Sydney Sixes at different times and if anything you'd expect he'd be more of a chance to play the 3rd test in the No 4 position then Cowan is. As for the match in Hove, can be followed here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/engine/match/566930.html Good start for Hughes up the top of the order. Would it kill them to try and go at 3 an over though?

Not a bad future line up there Macca. Fingers crossed the players can develop well, and I think part of the reason for our current state is because some of the players we expected to develop through the Shield eg. Callum Ferguson, Cameron White, Chris Lynn just haven't developed like we probably expected them to, where as someone like Mark Cosgrove although often maiing runs has fitness issues which have held him back. I wonder if he'll get an opportunity? Update of the Australia A v South Africa A match: Stumps Day 2 Australia A 5/474 dec D. Warner 193 G. Maxwell 155* A. Finch 51 K. Abbott 2/83 (25) M. De Lange 2/129 (23) S. Van Zyl 1/45 (9) South Africa A 4/276 D. Elgar 135* J. Ontong 60 R. Hendricks 47 F. Ahmed 2/81 (18) M. Henriques 1/34 (10) J. Hazlewood 1/42 (17) Looks to be a very good batting wicket but you'd have to say we're slightly in front if anything. Won't expect a result obviously, but if we can bowl them out for under our score and then make some good second innings runs then it's a good performance. Great to see Fawad grab a couple of wickets again. Going at about 4.5 an over, but considering we batted at a rate of 4.42 an over and South Africa A are going at just under 4 then it's pretty reasonable in the scheme of things. Pat Cummins not playing by the way, I'm assuming rested. If Fawad grabs 4 or 5 could we see another last minute inclusion for the 3rd test?

Good article Macca, and I am optimistic that the tide will turn. Will just take time. As has been said by many on here I think we're good for bowlers and we're even developing a few spinners also (Agar, Zampa, Muirhead). We just have to wait for the batsmen to come through to. With any luck the likes of Silk, Burns, Maddinson etc will establish themselves over the next few years.

Nice obscure one there Jazza. Didn't play enough to make a sound judgement on just how good he was. Kind of like Brad Hodge who has a test batting average in the 50's or Stuart Law who made a 50 on debut but has no test average. Just don't know how good they really would have been at that level?

This one's for you Macca 5th XI Clem Hill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5662.html Bill Woodfull* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8246.html Justin Langer http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6256.html Norm O'Neill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7015.html Dean Jones http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6044.html Warwick Armstrong http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3982.html Monty Noble http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6936.html +Bert Oldfield http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7003.html Charlie Turner http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7990.html Bill Johnston http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6041.html Jack Saunders http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7564.html Got them in an XI for you Macca, outside Langer & Jones this XI's a bit more old school. In fact on paper, this XI may actually be superior to who I had listed in my 4th XI.....

Not a bad idea Dee-luded. As Macca said, could be on the cards for the summer I reckon...

Cheers Macca, would have loved to see him live. Looks like he's exactly what I was hoping Tait would become before I and many othes were so let down.... As for the Australia A match. Stumps on Day 1 Australia A 5/399 D. Warner 193 G. Maxwell 103* A. Finch 51 K. Abbott 2/61 (19) M. De Lange 2/97 (16.4) S. Van Zyl 1/45 (9) Article on the days play here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/654857.html Great work by Warner, and you'd assume he's landed himself the number 6 spot for the 3rd test now with Wade, Hughes & Smith to battle it out for the number 4 spot. Also good to see Maxwell in the runs again after he made a 50 against Zimbabwe the other week. He to is clearly one of our best talents. I just hope he isn't limited to T20 & ODI cricket and he can learn how to harness his natural aggresive play to the longer format as he could become a valuable player going forward. Edit: Spell

Amendment: Macartney in, Jones out. Thanks for bringing him to my attention Macca! 4th XI: Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html Charlie Macartney http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6434.html +Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html

Fair call there Macca. I guess I picked Merv and Billy ahead of McKenzie due to their slightly superior strike rate and bowling average. So why then are they ahead of Thommo who had a better strike rate and average I hear you ask? Can't really answer that. I guess when I first started watching cricket I grew up watching Big Merv and Billy as our two main quicks so I've got a soft spot for the two of them. Both Noble and Armstrong are very good cricketers who you could argue should be in a team as early as the 2nd XI. For me by my final XI I went for Alderman ahead of Noble mainly due to the highlights I've seen of him and what my old man told me of him, so I have a very high opinion. Where as Armstrong you could almost say I left out due to team balance, with my weak 4th XI tale I wanted a specialist batsman instead of an allrounder. Macartney however I had forgotten about, and come to think of it I probably would have him in my 4th XI ahead of Deano. And for those of you interested Australia A currently 3/156 against South Africa A with Warner on 72* off 82 deliveries. Aaron Finch also made a 50 and Henriques is currently at the crease with Warner.

Australia A v South Africa A kicks off in about an hour. Can follow it here: http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/current/match/630760.html Likely XI for us I'd expect to be: N. Maddinson S. Marsh A. Doolan D. Warner M. Henriques G. Maxwell +T. Paine* P. Cummins C. Sayers F. Ahmed J. Hazlewood 12th - 15th Men: N. Coulter-Nile, A. Finch, M. Marsh & G. Sandhu This should give us a bit of an idea about where our depth is against that of South Africa's. Players to watch out for from their XI for me are. K. Abbott http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/297583.html R. Rossouw http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/318845.html S. Van Zyl http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/267479.html Will again be interesting to see how the likes of Warner, Cummins & Ahmed go. Further I'd love to know why neither Joe Burns or Jordan Silk are part of the squad. Surely these are two guys pressing for selection come our summer series?

Agree Jazza, for the remainder of this series they need stability and I'm hoping that the XI they pick for the 3rd test they stick with for the 4th & 5th baring the likely rest of Harris for the 4th. Rogers to stay top of the order for the last 3 tests. Watson given these last three tests as openner, pretty much playing for his future. Khawaja to stay at 3 Hughs to stay at 4, see comments re: Watson Clarke to stay at 5. No 6 spot a three way play off between Smith, Wade & Warner for mine. The warm up matches will determine, but once picked for the 3rd test, stay for last three. Haddin to keep the gloves. Agar to play the whole series pending fitness for the next test. Siddle to play the whole series. Harris, in an ideal world to play the rest of the sereis. Likely to miss the 4th test for Starc. Bird to play the remaining 3 tests. I'd be telling the likes of Bailey, Faulkner & Cosgrove to make sure they're in fine form for the start of our summer, as if things don't change over these remaining tests I can see some changes coming and although I agree that both Mike Hussey & Punters times have come and gone, I wouldn't be against a Katch come back until the end of January 2015....

Haha, cheers Macca, was fun putting it together. And don't worry I didn't forget about those names you mentioned, I just couldn't fit them all into what I'd consider our best XI of all time. Punter, S. Waugh & Grimmett I'd have in our 2nd XI. Benaud captain of our 3rd XI. Thommo, as you say although astonishingly fast I could only get into our 4th XI. 2nd XI: Matthew Hayden http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5616.html Bob Simpson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7619.html Stan McCabe http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6540.html Ricky Ponting http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7133.html Steve Waugh* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8192.html Doug Walters http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8151.html +Ian Healy http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5628.html Alan Davidson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4902.html Hugh Trumble http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7977.html Clarrie Grimmett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5443.html Fred 'The Demon' Spofforth http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7663.html 3rd XI: Bill Lawry http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6270.html Bill Ponsford http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7131.html Ian Chappell http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4560.html Neil Harvey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5603.html Sid Barnes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4098.html Michael Clarke http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4578.html +Rod Marsh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6502.html Richie Benaud* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4123.html 'Rampaging' Ray Lindwall http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6299.html Merv Hughes http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5726.html Craig McDermott http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6551.html 4th XI: Lindsay Hassett http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5607.html Mark Taylor* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7924.html David Boon http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4169.html Mark Waugh http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8189.html Michael Hussey http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5939.html Dean Jones http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6044.html +Wally Grout http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5449.html Graham McKenzie http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6576.html Jeff Thomson http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7946.html Stuart MacGill http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6441.html Terry Alderman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/3943.html Very difficult trying to fit them all in, and probably some very good players I've still forgotten. Pretty happy with all the XI's I've mentioned. Although my 4th XI has a pretty weak tail from Grout down, where as my 3rd XI has Lindwall coming in at 9 who scored 2 test centuries. Was difficuly enough thinking of an Australian XI, I'd hate to try and do a World XI.

Easy solution. Drop the whole XI, IN: Border, Bradman, G. Chappell, Gilchrist, Lillee, McGrath, K. Miller, Morris, O'Reilly, Trumper, Warne Arthur Morris http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6644.html Victor Trumper http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7980.html Don Bradman http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4188.html Greg Chappell http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4558.html Allan Border* http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4174.html Keith Miller http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6612.html +Adam Gilchrist http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/5390.html Shane Warne http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/8166.html Dennis Lillee http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6295.html Bill O'Reilly http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7020.html Glenn McGrath http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/6565.html Discover the fountain of youth, conjure up a bit of black magic through the black arts and raise the dead. A couple of simple inclusions later and we'll win the next 3 tests ina canter. I'd love to see Jimmy Anderson's reverse swing undo this batting line up or Jo Root try and play a scoop shot off these bowlers. If only it were a possability.....

Border's spot on and it's all our batsmen that must shoulder the blame. Our bolwing has been reasonable given the little amount of rest time our batters have given them and the fact they've been bowling to the likes of Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Bell and Prior all of whom are top batsmen and Root looks like he's getting ready to establish himself also. I hear what you're saying Macca about others should go before Watson, but the reason why Watson shoulders (and rightly so in my book) so much more blame is because he's had 43 test caps now and has only scored 2 centuries. Rogers is only 3 tests into his career and has received two very stiff LBW decisions and has already scored more 50's this year then Watson, Khawaja's never had a good run, Cowan's papers have now been stamped and rightly so and Warner who's played less then half the test matches Watson has already has more centuries. Hughes however I agree should be under just as much pressure as Watson. It's also worth remembering that Watson himself has stated that he doesn't like batting down the order and wants to open, his stats also back up that he scores more runs at the top. Faulkner I agree probably isn't ready as far as batting is concerned (average 29 in FC cricket) however with Watson not scoring many runs as is, one could argue that by playing Faulkner we're then not loosing anything in the batting as long as Faulkner bats to his average and then on the flip side we gain a better bowler who can bowl more overs then Watson. Faulkner's also only 23 so has improvement left in him and has a betetr bowling record then Henriques & Marsh and a better batting reord then Marsh and only slighhtly inferior to Henriques It would also mean that an experiment of Hughes in the middle order could be finished and he could move back to open where he made all his runs in the Shield last summer. But then again as I mentioned in an earlier post of mine, if we go on to loose 5-0 which is a real possability, I'd be looking at telling all of Watson, Warner and Hughes that they're now specialist ODI & T20 players and look to bring Katich back and look at the likes of Cosgrove and Bailey. We certainly need a restructure of our domestic scene. As I've said, I can see why CA want the BBL during the school holidays, but it may be more practicle if they moved it to February or had it in October as soon as the footy season finished. Edit: Spelling

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/pattinson-ruled-out-of-ashes/story-fni2fnmo-1226683490032 He can't take a trick can poor old Patto. Out till our summer! Wonder if they'll bring Pat Cummins into the squad? Personally I hope they resist that and let him have his Australia A tour, they still have Jackson Bird, Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner in the squad anyway. My only change to the XI for the 3rd test at this stage would be Bird in for Pattinson, however that would also depend on the fitness of Agar (possible inclusion of Lyon) and form of Warner in his next tour match. If we go down 3-0 that's when they should look at options such as Wade as a specialist batsman and Faulkner in for Watson with Watto test career coming to an end.