Rogue

Pick 32 - Kemar Roach (WI) I almost took Roach at #17, so I'm very happy to see he slipped to #32. Pick 33 - Chris Gayle (WI)

I see his current predicament as being similar to someone who has been out with an injury. He's back playing for NZ in a side versus England in the lead-up to the Tests and wouldn't be surprised if he's selected for the upcoming series.

I'll hold off on my picks until this is resolved. Fwiw, I was about to pick Taylor. Talking of NZers, it's interesting to see how far Vettori's stocks have fallen in the Best XI game.

Hah, nice.

Round 2 - Pick 16: Swann (Eng) Round 3 - Pick 17: Siddle (Aus) Swann probably isn't the 16th best cricketer in the world, but I'm not sure there are too many top-class spinners left. PS. Sorry about the delay, I didn't expect we'd move so quickly.

Good stuff, HT. Round 1 - Pick no.1 #1 - Kallis (SA). I can't go past him. There are still plenty of stars you just can't say no to, but it'll be interesting to see who's left by the time my next pick comes around. All yours, thepassenger.

Yeah, it's a real shame the old thread has disappeared. Everyone would have recognised that I am the reigning champ

I'm hopeful Ryan Harris is still on the radar.

One swallow. Sri Lanka have been awful and Johnson was Player of the Series in 2008/09 vs South Africa. That said, if he was playing as a bowling all-rounder that might help because I think he's a confidence player and he may feel less pressure when bowling. I'm not convinced his batting is going to be consistently good enough, but I wouldn't be shocked. Guys who can bowl some very good bowls, but also bowl plenty of rubbish, often get talked up as very talented - albeit wayward or whatever - but I think that bowling talent involves having the ball go where you want to. If you're too often not able to land the thing where you want I reckon that's a big black mark on your talent assessment. Ponting was done. I really liked Hussey so I'll be disappointed to see him missing. However, the wheel turns. I'd love if he retired now in the hope that his brother would get a gig.

Is an average of 36 good enough for a batting all-rounder? He's not actually that talented; he bowls lots of rubbish. Even when his mind is in a good place he's still going to lack control.

Even with South Africa, cricket was struggling. Fwiw, someone wrote an article in The Age recently along the same lines as WYL's comment.

HT, you should get in on the action! The independent judge part is of little importance IMO; if we don't have one we can all debate which team is better come the end of the game (which we'll do anyway, right?)

Pick me, pick me.

Batting averages in the last three series' he's played in: 17, 24 and 32. If he's in the top six, it's a sad indictment on our batting stocks.

Demonology lives on. EDIT: I see RobbieF got in first:

...except it wouldn't be a Demon flag, i'd be a Hawks flag. Absolutely,

Not that I'm using an appeal to authority, but Richard Hinds' article in The Age today mirrors my feelings on Clarke's comments: http://www.theage.co...l#ixzz1txyQEQSa I also agree with Hinds' comments on Clarke as captain.

Good to hear he's playing some cricket.

Indeed. The next Test isn't for yonks, so - particularly given the circumstances, but even under under normal cases - there's no need to say he's done, even if you'd made that decision.

That's exactly how I read Clarke's comments; backing the incumbent teammate, like Aus captains always do. They even back the guys that have been dropped! Just google comments about Mitch Johnson being a matchwinner who is important, will no doubt be back to his best soon as he has a role to play, blah blah I don't think Wade has 'set the world on fire', but his batting average - which you suggested was low - is higher than the batting average of Haddin and Paine... 'If it's allowed'?

I think that's a bit inaccurate; Michael Clarke's ODI strike rate is 79, while Wade's strike rate is currently 74. Anyhow, I imagine Wade's strike rate will increase, given his domestic strike rate is above 80, as Wade gets used to international cricket and is able to settle in a particular batting position. An average of 40 is pretty respectable, and the fact he attained it on pitches difficult for batting makes it even better. Brad Haddin's career test average is 36. Fwiw, Paine averaged 36 in his four Tests and averages 32 at first-class level; Wade averages 40 at domestic level. What do you mean by that? Clarke's hardly going to sack his mate via the press, while he's the incumbent MIA because his daughter has cancer. I wouldn't read too much into Clarke giving his good mate and NSW teammate Brad Haddin some encouragement in the press.

No mention of Wade's 100? Haddin's return becomes increasingly unlikely... On that note, anyone know what the 'personal issues' are that mean he's not playing at the moment?

Definitely a stellar win, and you'd have to say it was an inspired declaration from Clarke. Yeah, I thought about that when I read that the tail wagged furiously in this game.

Absolutely.

I enjoyed the ODI series and it was good to see a relatively tense finish. On the final, I'm not sure what Watson was thinking when, with 10 overs to go, he and Christian had both only bowled 5 overs each for less than 2 RPO and yet Watson continued with Doherty, who was going at 5-6 RPO.