Australia v England, 5th Test, Sydney, January 3-7, 2011

expect bollybogan to play...the sponsors are demanding a recall

he will replace the honest but totally unremarkable Harris

either beer or haurie will play...which means a fast bowler has to pay the penalty..

Midge of course has the famous x factor and is in a number of important tv ads..so he is a must

Milf has struggled to penetrate a wet paper bag but will maintain his spot as he swings the ball and once got Strauss out

Siddle has shown he is not a number 10, does not swing the ball and as a former woodchopper does not hold endorsements - OUT

Hmmn - the batting you ask?

well fleas is injured and is not in any ads and so cannot be selected

watto is a billy and tho playing for the dubbers is still borderline intellectually disabled - make him captain and 1st opener

poor little phews is too old and has failed to translate his shield form into the test arena (think he averages less)..he needs to make way for the young spiv - madman

madman is 2nd opener

Ricky's pinky and brain need a rest...he will be replaced at first drop by Uber Koala

Pup has many endorsements and simmo/hildy have fond thoughts about him...his continued selection is one in the eye for Fev and the AFL...besides he has many endorsements..and yes many endorsements inc from CA and the NSP...Clarke at at no. 4 and maintained as vice captain

Mr Snicket has recognised the need for renewal and will announce his retirement today in light of his declining endorsements...he will be replaced by the promising cricketer slaw who has undertaken to move to NSW...slaw at no.5

At number 6 we need a player who can capture the imagination of the kids and the media, has blondish hair and can emulate the deeds of the famous Koala snr...ie play more than 20 tests before he snags a ton...he will be good for the kfc ads and has the added bonus of being an all rounder...yes he is called Fred Nile because nothing is straighter than his wrist 'spin' and yes his batting is unlikely to be consistent - but hey this is an investment in the future and those thrilling 10s and 20s have the potential to be matchwinning...the uber SS at 6

the keeping role is vexed and controversial...yes haddit drops the odd sitter and too orften waves bye bye to the ball as it passes his gloves ...and yes he is prone to make the T sign when KP is batting...but hey he made a century when it counted once

so there you have the team for steak and kidney

Gary 111 wrote:

Henry wrote:According to Jamie Pandram, Ponting has almost certainly played his last test in this series-

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/clarke-likely-to-lead-in-sydney-20101228-199ay.html

Doubt that - think he's just after the headlines whoever he is.

Ponting is a tough cricketer, if he was fit for Melbourne he'll surely be fit for Sydney given more time for the finger to heal.

Exactly he is a nobody just trying to come up with rubbish to sell papers.

I think England will be unchanged.

Ponting will probably make it. He may even get some standing ovations from the Barmy army in this test. It will probably be his last. Hussey might move up to open. There's talk of Katich being fit, but I doubt they'll pick him unless he's 100%. Usman Khawaja and Michael Beer will make their debuts, and either Doug Bollinger or Mark Cameron could replace the hard working, but ultimately toothless Ben Hilfenhaus. Although if it's cloudy and wet (as it's forecast to be) then the conditions will be ideal for Hilfenhaus's style of bowling.

Possible Aus team-

Watson
Hussey
Ponting(c)
Clarke
Khawaja
Smith
Haddin+
Johnson
Siddle
Beer
Bollinger

horace wrote:expect bollybogan to play...the sponsors are demanding a recall

he will replace the honest but totally unremarkable Harris

either beer or haurie will play...which means a fast bowler has to pay the penalty..

Midge of course has the famous x factor and is in a number of important tv ads..so he is a must

Milf has struggled to penetrate a wet paper bag but will maintain his spot as he swings the ball and once got Strauss out

Siddle has shown he is not a number 10, does not swing the ball and as a former woodchopper does not hold endorsements - OUT

Hmmn - the batting you ask?

well fleas is injured and is not in any ads and so cannot be selected

watto is a billy and tho playing for the dubbers is still borderline intellectually disabled - make him captain and 1st opener

poor little phews is too old and has failed to translate his shield form into the test arena (think he averages less)..he needs to make way for the young spiv - madman

madman is 2nd opener

Ricky's pinky and brain need a rest...he will be replaced at first drop by Uber Koala

Pup has many endorsements and simmo/hildy have fond thoughts about him...his continued selection is one in the eye for Fev and the AFL...besides he has many endorsements..and yes many endorsements inc from CA and the NSP...Clarke at at no. 4 and maintained as vice captain

Mr Snicket has recognised the need for renewal and will announce his retirement today in light of his declining endorsements...he will be replaced by the promising cricketer slaw who has undertaken to move to NSW...slaw at no.5

At number 6 we need a player who can capture the imagination of the kids and the media, has blondish hair and can emulate the deeds of the famous Koala snr...ie play more than 20 tests before he snags a ton...he will be good for the kfc ads and has the added bonus of being an all rounder...yes he is called Fred Nile because nothing is straighter than his wrist 'spin' and yes his batting is unlikely to be consistent - but hey this is an investment in the future and those thrilling 10s and 20s have the potential to be matchwinning...the uber SS at 6

the keeping role is vexed and controversial...yes haddit drops the odd sitter and too orften waves bye bye to the ball as it passes his gloves ...and yes he is prone to make the T sign when KP is batting...but hey he made a century when it counted once

so there you have the team for steak and kidney

I have enjoyed Horrie's contributions to the forum of late.

There is talk of Ponting dropping down to number four in Sydney. Apparently Greg Chappell wanted him to do that before the ashes series started. Ponting initially rejected the idea but he is believed to be considering it as an option now, with Khawaja coming in to make his debut at three.

Henry wrote:There is talk of Ponting dropping down to number four in Sydney. Apparently Greg Chappell wanted him to do that before the ashes series started. Ponting initially rejected the idea but he is believed to be considering it as an option now, with Khawaja coming in to make his debut at three.

and dropping whom?

I don't know. Clarke's spot isn't guaranteed I don't think. Or they may drop Hughes and move Hussey up to open.

Henry wrote:Or they may drop Hughes and move Hussey up to open.

I can't see it happening

My team for Sydney -

Katich
Hughes
Khwaja
Ponting
Hussey
Watson
Haddin
Hauritz
Siddle
Swan
Butterworth

The side I would select:

Paine
Watson
Kwaja
Ponting (c)
Hussey
Haddin
Siddle
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus
Johnson/Bollinger/Cameron
Butterworth

The side that will probably be chosen:

Watson
Hughes/Katich
Ponting (c)
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Smith
Beer
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus/Bollinger/Cameron

IIRC, Cameron was 12th in NSW's last Shield game - behind Clark, Copeland, and Bollinger.

Fark Hughes and Smith off, FFS. And Beer and bring Haurie into the XI.

Shirley Bog is worth a run and Khawaja must play.

lardbucket wrote:IIRC, Cameron was 12th in NSW's last Shield game - behind Clark, Copeland, and Bollinger.

Correct...much of a muchness between Cameron/Copeland in terms of performances.

JKLever wrote:They need to find a way of getting Watson in the middle order

Why? His performances in the opening position have been excellent - one of the few positions in the batting order that has actually been apositive.

JKLever wrote:... and Smith away from no.6

.

I think he'll be fine there for NSW

JKLever wrote:It's not exactly a dead rubber is it. Providing no disaster at the MCG the next 2 days, Aus can still draw the series even if the Ashes are gone.

It's deader than the proverbial Norwegian Blue. If we draw the series 2-2 we'll all be miserably remembering Cardiff and counting the cost of that last wicket partnership as two series, the Barmy Army will still be in Ubergloat Mode, and Australian cricket fans everywhere will be ringing Phillip Nietzsche.

Bearing in mind Midge's role at the WACA and Sid's at the MCG, is there a case for the NSP saying "Horses for Courses" and choosing the NSW XI for the SCG? (and so ad infinitum ...)

PeterCS wrote:Bearing in mind Midge's role at the WACA and Sid's at the MCG, is there a case for the NSP saying "Horses for Courses" and choosing the NSW XI for the SCG? (and so ad infinitum ...)

Isn't the NSW XI the team Australia choose anyway?

Gary 111 wrote:

PeterCS wrote:Bearing in mind Midge's role at the WACA and Sid's at the MCG, is there a case for the NSP saying "Horses for Courses" and choosing the NSW XI for the SCG? (and so ad infinitum ...)

Isn't the NSW XI the team Australia choose anyway?

Nope they would be succesful otherwise.

Weather Forecast for Sydney suggests first three days at least could be affected by rain showers.

that'd be right ... it's a long way to go to sit in the rain


... with embee

Now if it started on New Year Day then surprise surprise, no rain on then
Can't see to much time being lost, just the odd shower coming off the coast by the sounds of things

5 days of rain would suit me fine.

Ponting ruled out of 5th test.

Farkin question is why did he play the 4th test which has obviously caused more damage to his finger.

Farkin numbskulls in the administration of CA.

Ponting out - i'm somewhat surprised. Don't think Steve Waugh would have missed the match, but he does seem shattered mentally as well as physically.

So its captain Clarke? If England ram home the series with another innings win we could have retired two Aus captains in one series....

Gary 111 wrote:

PeterCS wrote:Bearing in mind Midge's role at the WACA and Sid's at the MCG, is there a case for the NSP saying "Horses for Courses" and choosing the NSW XI for the SCG? (and so ad infinitum ...)

Isn't the NSW XI the team Australia choose anyway?

Assuming Katich is still injured, a full strength NSW side would be:

Hughes
Jaques
Khawaja
Clarke
Watson
Smith
Haddin (c)
Hauritz
Clark
Bollinger
Cameron

Only Khawaja and Cameron haven't played a test, and Khawaja looks likely to replace Ponting anyway. (Watson and either Jaques or Hughes would probably swap batting positions...)

Phil Jaques, whatever happened to him?