MadAsHell

In better news at least England are on the brink of loosing their test series against New Zealand at tea on Day 5. New Zealand 1st Innings 443 P. Fulton 136 S. Finn 6/125 England 1st Innings 204 M. Prior 73 T. Boult 6/68 New Zealand 2nd Innings 6/241dec P. Fulton 110 M. Panesar 2/53 England 2nd innings 7/237 I. Bell 75 K. Williamson 2/36 New Zealand managed to pick up Ian Bell in the last over before tea. 3 wickets needed in the final session for a historic win with only Prior and the tail (minus Finn nightwatchman) left. Come on the black caps, now my 2nd team and one who sadly seem to have a better future and better batting line up then Australia right now!

You're probably right about Doolan or Burns there Macca, either of them could get a call up in favour of Smith or Bailey. I have no doubt that Khawaja will be in the squad. I guess it depends on what way the selectors go. If they're looking at current form Doolan would have to come into calculations, although his long term First Class form isn't overly flattering, while if they look to the future Burns would be a geat pick although his summer was under par compared to what he did in the two summers previously.. Here's an article I found on Cummins http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/west/australian-bowlers-pat-cummins-eyes-a-spot-in-the-upcoming-ashes-tour/story-fngr8j33-1226580570202 If he can make that Australia A squad it would have to put him firmly in contention for the Ashes. Would love to see Pattinson and Cummins terrifying the English batsmen! We've said it a thousand times but Fawad Ahmed could be really crucial to our chances also. A good leggie who can take wickets consistenly would be the icing on the cake. The batting is obviously where we need the most work. Outside of Clarke there's 6 spots up for grabs and everyones auditioning. Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Smith, Maxwell, Wade, Henriques, Haddin, Paine, Khawaja, Rogers, Burns, Bailey, Doolan, Klinger, Hartley. You could fish any 6 of those names out of a hat and could argue that they'd do just as well as any other combination.

Everyone's XI listed above for you Nasher minus Rouge's. I'll leave it to Rouge to present it to you but in some type of what I think would be a rough batting order this is Rouge's XI so you don't have to go through the whole draft order to figure it out. Chris Gayle (WI) Taufeeq Umar (PAK) Phil Hughes (AUST) Jacques Kallis (RSA) Virat Kohli (IND) Misbah Ul-haq (PAK) Dinesh Chandimal (SL) Graeme Swann (ENG) Peter Siddle (AUST) Mark Gillespie (NZ) Kemar Roach (WI)

Well then I guess it's over to you Nasher to make your decision if Rouge's failed to present his XI.

I hear what you;re saying Jumping Jack. I actually think that one of White or Hussey may be in the firing line this off season. We've probably underachieved for a few seasons now and White's leadership and the ageing Hussey who despite just scoring a century did have a very ordinary season underperformed. McDonald or Finch (if he could score runs against the red ball) would be good options to lead the Bushrangers. With McDonald coming back into the Victorian middle order (4-7) next seson as well as Maxwell who I don't think will be a permanent member of the Aussie team, not yet anyway and whoever our keeper is (Wade, Handscomb or Carters) that leaves only one spot in the middle order between White and Hussey as neither of them will bat at 3. Rogers and Quiney will keep their spot at the top of the order with Finch, Handscomb or Hill hopefully capable of takign the no 3 spot. I can see change coming next season and it will be at the expense of one of White or Hussey in my opinion. Can't fault to much of what you said there Titan, although I think Pattinson gets a start in the first Ashes test even before Siddle does. Sadly there's no obvious answer. Warner I think has enough brownie points in the bank to excuse a poor series in India, but he'll want to play well in the Ashes. Hughes I'm now convinced just wont make it at Test level, and there's no shame in that. Michael Bevan and Nathan Bracken couldn't make it at test level but had very good ODI careers, maybe Hughes falls into that category? I think you're right about Henriques and his first class career suggests so. This is a reason why we need Watson back bowling and Mitch Marsh to come on. I don't think there's much of an international career ahead for Henriques, will probably be an Ashes squad member due to McDonald and Marsh missing most of the Shield season but beyond that I can't see much ahead. Smith I also agree, don't think he's quite a good enough batsman and certainly not a good enough bowler yet. Maxwell has his measure in both fields and I don't think Maxwell's ready yet either. I'd rather see Bailey, Burns, Voges, Klinger or Khawaja playing ahead of Smith as a batsman. We will do betetr on the bolwing front over in England then in India no doubt. I see us sending 5 fast men, Pattinson, Siddle, Cummins (If he gets through the Australia A series in the lead up), Starc and Bird over there with Harris, Hilfenhaus and Johnson coming into consideration also. Fawad Ahmed will hopefully have his citizenship by then and be over there also with Lyon as his back up. If Doherty or god help us Michael Beer make it over there then we're in serious trouble. By the First Ashes Test with any luck our XI may look something like: Chris Rogers David Warner Ed Cowan Michael Clarke George Bailey Shane Watson Matthew Wade Peter Siddle James Pattinson Patrick Cummins Fawad Ahmed Other Squad Memebrs: Usman Khawaja Steven Smith Moises Henriques Brad Haddin Jackson Bird Mitchell Starc Nathan Lyon

And good to see at least that Pattinson's taken the right approach to the whole thing and is lookign at getting on with everything. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/michael-clarke-insists-he-and-shane-watson-have-a-good-working-relationship-despite-india-tour-walkout/story-e6frfg8o-1226595856814 Quote Pattinson said the quartet deserved to be axed. And while Watson is believed to be weighing up his future, Pattinson wants the all-rounder on deck for the Ashes. "He's a fantastic guy to have around and a fantastic player," Pattinson said. "Hopefully we can see him back as soon as possible."

Well said Macca. 100% agree with all of the above.

Agree, but the punishment would fit the crime. If I didn't supply feedback to a conference I attended or have a file finalised in time I'd hear about it no doubt and read the riot act and told to lift my game. But I wouldn't have my pay garnished or sent home for a few days without pay. Clarke says there's more to it and that standards have dropped, but is that this 4 specifically, or is it an overall thing and these 4 are the sacraficial lambs? Punishment should fit the crime. What would they have done if 9 players on tour hadn't of done it? And what happenens now when there's a serious breach, like a player gets in a scuffle in a nightclub or turns up to a game/training in a hung over state? As I said, I'm all for punishment and setting standards. but they've gone over the top, you'd expect it in a highschool team, not in the Australian team.

I pray that there's a lot more to this then has come out so far, because if they are just being made an example of then this is a frace! I'm all for setting standards and fostering a good team culture and expectations, but to get dropped for not giving a presentation on time (Pattinson told Arthur he'd gie it on Monday) then that's the most stupid thing I've ever heard. They're over there representing the country to play cricket, this is a professional team, they're not there on a highschool trip. On the flip side it mightn't work out that badly, Pattinson (who's taken more then a 3rd of our wickets in the series so far) very well may have been due for a rest anyway. Watson's been underperforming, Johnson in my opinion in 7th in our pace pecking order anyway (the injured Bird, Harris & Cummins all ahead of him) but it could be reallY bad news for Khawaja. He's been trying to secure a batting spot in this line up for so long, the chance was finally there but now this! How long till his next chance??? As a result of all of this I'm predicting this 3rd test will be all over before stumps on the 3rd day, but hoping for a bit of fight come the 4th test when Pattinson's back in the team. I reckon Watson will announce his international retirement and focus on the IPL, BBL and his family. Johnson will remain a fringe player for another few years and Khawaja, who knows??? Australian XI for the 3rd Test E. Cowan D. Warner M. Clarke M. Henriques S. Smith M. Wade or B. Haddin depending on Wade's fitness. G. Maxwell P. Siddle M. Starc X. Doherty N. Lyon P. Hughes 12th man.

New Zealand have declared this morning after about 45 minutes of throwing the bat. England 167 J. Trott 45 I. Bell 24 J. Anderson 23 N. Wagner 4/42 B. Martin 4/43 T. Boult 1/32 New Zealand 9/460dec H. Rutherford 171 B. McCullum 74 P. Fulton 55 J. Anderson 4/137 S. Broad 3/118 M. Panesar 1/83 On top of Hamish Rutherford's impressive debut innings on 171, special mention should be made of the other New Zealand debutant left arm spinner Bruce Martin. Took 4/43 when bowling in the first innings and made a valuable 41 with the bat batting down at number 9 in a vital partnership with McCullum. With a first innings lead of 293, fingers crossed New Zealand can bowl England out today and wrap the match up with a day to spare.

Stumps on day 3 as bad light stops play. England 167 J. Trott 45 I. Bell 24 J. Anderson 23 N. Wagner 4/42 B. Martin 4/43 T. Boult 1/32 New Zealand 7/402 H. Rutherford 171 P. Fulton 55 B. McCullum 44* J. Anderson 4/108 S. Broad 2/89 M. Panesar 1/83 Great effort by Hamish Rutherford and New Zealands pushed their lead over 200. Lost a few quick wickets in that last session going for quick runs and I wouldn't be suprised if they declare early tomorrow once they've pushed their lead past 250 given day 1 was lost to rain, most of the last session today was lost to to bad light and there always is a bit of rain around Dunedin if you've ever been there before. The test will be if they can get another 10 wickets with only 4 bowlers and the part time spin of Williamson? And in Shield news Fawad Ahmed took 2/35 from 16 overs against NSW. Give that man his citizenship! Edit: Updated since tea.

Congratulations to Hamish Rutherford for a fine century on debut and to Peter Fulton for his first 50 since 2006 who has since been dismissed by Anderson for 55. New Zealand now 1/166 only 1 run behind on the first innings. Edit: Spelling

Stumps Day 2 (first day play) England 167 J. Trott 45 I. Bell 24 J. Anderson 23 N. Wagner 4/42 B. Martin 4/43 T. Boult 1/32 New Zealand 0/131 H. Rutherford 77* P. Fulton 46* Go the black caps!

What did Alec have to say? I thought considering he lead several abysmal English teams for a few years he'd be a bit more careful about having a go at another country while it's down? Oh and in the latest update, NZ are 0/99 in their first dig.

England bowled out for 167 by the Black Caps in only 55 overs. Why don't you go and tweet about that Vaughan!

Wagner picks up Cook & Pietersen with consecutive delivers being his 2nd & 3rd bal of the match and England are 3/18. Go you good thing!

Got him, yes! Tim Southee bowls Nick Compton for 0 and England are 1/5 in the third over on the 2nd day of the first test against New Zealand (Day 1 washed out). Sorry, but the only thing that can cheer me up from our horrible display in India so far would be to see England get creamed by the black caps.

Once Rouge has presented his XI I guess.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/current/story/623605.html Does this mean you have to pick again Macca?

Good posts above Titan and well thought out. As far as our obsession with an all rounder goes, I can understand where the selectors are coming from. The days of Warne & McGrath are gone and they're concerned about our ability to take 20 wickets and there for want a 5th bowler who can also bat in the top 6 preferably. However genuine all rounders are hard to find, I'm talking about someone with a batting average of over 35 and bowling average under 30. Watson & McDonald are the only two in the country that fit into this category, none of Henriques, Maxwell, Smith, Faulkner or Mitch Marsh are there yet so in that regard with McDonald injured and Watson unable to bowl it was probably a mistake to play an all rounder and they would have been better off playing a genuine bowler who can bat a bit at 7 like Steve O'Keefe which gives them their 2nd spinneror Micth Johnson allowing them to play 2 spinners in the bottom 4. As far as finding a suitable top 4 goes it's a hard one. I think Warner is good enough, he's just hit and miss and unfortunatly that's how he'll always be. He may struggle in the sub continent his whole career but at home and in other countries I think he'll do much better, there's always been players who struggle in certain conditions. Cowan, one of the few to show any fight in the 2nd innings, yet after only 1 century in 15 tests I think it is now the evidence is mounting that he just might not be good enough at this level. Phil Hughes likewise, he(even more so then Warner) has no idea against quality spin, whether it's ona turning track or not and the good fast bowlers have worked him out, evidence by the selectors not picking him against South Africa. I think he could be the batting equivelent of Nathan Bracken, could be a very good limited overs player but just not test standard which is a shame given his talent. Then we get to some of our other options that you mentioned Titan. Khawaja, Bailey, Doolan, White, Hussey. Usman Khawaja certainly hasn't done anything at test level yet to overly impress, although his echnique does look sound, and although he has made some runs for Queensland, he hasn't exactly been banging the door down. I think he does deserve an extended run in the team without fear of being dropped to see if he can settle in. I'd like to see the selectors put him in for the next test and give him until the end of the Ashes in Australia to cement a spot in the team, that way he certainly can't complain about not being given a chance to cement himself. George Bailey is one who I'd love to see given a shot. He has good leadership credentials and I reckon he'd kill for a chance and would really value his wicket. His form in the ODI's suggests to me that he's the type of guy who thrives at the top level as his form in the short form suggests. Alex Doolan I can see where you're coming from. I have concerns about any specialist batsman being given a run for Australia with a first class average under 40, and although he's been in good form, is it just a purple patch? I wouldn't be against him getting into a squad, but would have my concerns if he ever made our best XI. Cameron White I think just isn't good enough, end of story, his foot work leaves a lot to be desired and David Hussey picked the wrong summer to have a form slump. With his age also he may have now missed the boat which is a shame, his ability to play spin bowling would have been very handy over in India. Chris Rogers is someone who has to come into calculations for The Ashes. He's continually been racking up big runs in Shield cricket adn over in England in the county scene for years. Although he's 35 (I think) he's still making runs, is a good fielder and simply must be given a go. The lack of the development of our batsmen eg Callum Ferguson is really starting to hurt us. As I've mentioned befoer we've got to make sure that we look after and properly develop our young up and coming promising batsmen like Handscomb, Burns and Maddinson for the future.

Big changes needed on and off the field for the Ashes, might be to late to salavage anything in India. 16 man squad that I'd be looking for to send for the Ashes would be: Chris Rogers David Warner Usman Khawaja Shane Watson (All rounder, you need to bowl Shane) Michael Clarke George Bailey Matthew Wade Peter Siddle James Pattinson Mitchell Strac Fawad Ahmed Jackson Bird (reserve fast bowler) Alex Doolan (reserve batsman) Brad Haddin (reserve keeper and batsman) Moises Henriques (reserve all rounder) Nathan Lyon (reserve spin bowler) This testagainst India is turning into a nightmare. We've turned into New Zealand of the late 80's when the only two players they had were Martin Crowe and Richard Hadlee (Michael Clarke & James Pattinson). Big help is needed!

Two possible solutions that I can think of. First would be: Watson goes back to openning the batting meaning he would only bolw very rarely as a 6th bowling option, meaning we playa Maxwell, Henriques or Mitch Marsh at 7. Warner and Watson open (I think Warner is safe as he provides our batting with some x factor), Usman Khawaja gets given an extended run at 3, the whole 10 Ashes tests to settle into the spot and George Bailey comes in at 4. His ODI form has been very good and Warner got picked on the back of his short format form, Bailey might just be a guy that plays better at the highest level. Gives us: Warner Watson Khawaja Bailey Clarke Wade Menriques or M. Marsh or Maxwell Or Watson stays at 4 but he has to start bowling and being our all rounder again. Rogers comes back from the wilderness to join Warner at the top of the order. Khawaja gets given the same gig at 3 and Bailey comes in at 6. Rogers Warner Khawaja Watson Clarke Bailey Wade Not sure what people would prefer out of those two. But I see them as our best options.

Sadly I don't even think we got our squad that wrong. I posted awhile back that the only squad selections I would have made differently would have been Haddin (reserve keeper & specialist batsman) and O'Keefe instead of Cowan, Johnson, Smith & Henriques. And thank god we had Henriques in that first test. If things don't drastically improve over the next couple of tests there could be some serious questions to be answered.

Where's Ray Bright and Greg Matthews when you need them!

They need to start picking the right teams. The one thing we've got right at the moment is our pace bowling and Clarke & Warner in the batting line up, the rest need addessing. Spin bowling: Get Fawad Ahmed's citizenship through ASAP so he can be ready for the Ashes, I reckon he can be our spinner for 3-5 years which gives us time. During that period we need to get the likes of Ashton Agar, John Holland, Adam Zampa & James Muirhead into some type of boarding school spinning academy where they only get to come out during the summer to play for their states. In the mean time we get the likes of Shane Warne, Stuart MacGill, Richie Beneaud, Tim May, Ashley Mallet, Greg Matthews and even Alan Border to tutor these kids. Keeper: I think we should stick by Wade. There's not a lot of other options. I think going back to Haddin is a backwards step to a 35 year old who wasn't performing when he last played. Wade may not be our best gloveman, but he is our best keeper/batsman and we can use all the batting help we can get at the moment. I believe he has the right work ethic to improve his glovework to a top standard! Batting: Probably our most urgent area that needs addressing to nail down a solid top 5. Clarke & Warner are our most safe and I believe Watson could fall into that category if he played as an openner where his best form has been. This would mean his bowling should be reduced to happening only occasionally which I think would suit him. I just don't believe that Ed Cowan is up to it. 1 century in 15 tests isn't a great strike rate, Hodge was dropped after a double century in 5 tests! And I'm concerned about Hughes, they needed to shield him against RSA, he looks out of his depth in India. What are England going to do to him in 10 tests? It's probably time to give Usman Khawaja our most technically correct batsman an extended run at 3 and I'd like to see George Bailey given a shot at 4. I know he's only averaged 25 in Shield cricket this summer but he's been in great form in the international one day games and we saw Dave Warner get picked on his shorter format form. Another option if the selectors wanted to keep Watson at 4 would be Chris Rogers as an openner. He's had a great summer and could still offer something in the short term. Going forward I think the likes of Jo Burns, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson etc need to be encouraged and be invested in. Fast bowlers: No issue here, in fact I think we have enough depth in this department that we could comfortably field 3 attacks of 3 quality fast bowlers. Ausralia: Pattinson, Siddle, Cummins. Australia A: Harris, Bird, Starc. Australia 3rd XI: Hazlewood, Hilfenhaus, Johnson All Rounder: Even with Watson giving up bowling (short term) I think we have a bit of depth here. Moises Henriques equiped himself very well in the first test and we've got Glenn Maxwell over there also. Ontop of that there's Andrew McDonald who's very strong in Shield cricket as well as Dan Christian ans Steve Smith if he ever gets back to bowling. Coming through there's also the impressive young Mitch Marsh and although his early forms been poor I know Greg Chappell hasn't given up hope on the young Alex Keath.