MadAsHell

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.