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

So the fact that they've delayed announcing the team until 5.30 must suggest there's huge debate going on. The selectors could be divided as they were in the case of Adelaide.

Gary 111 wrote:Phil Jaques, whatever happened to him?

He lost his Test place after he injured his back, since returning to 1st class level he is yet to impress.

Now that Ponting's been ruled out it makes selecting the team a little easier - not that I expect the selectors to agree with me.

1. Hussey
2. Hughes
3. Khawaja
4. Watson
5. Clarke
6. White (c)
7. Haddin (w/k)
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Siddle
11. Hilfenhaus

As far as I know Katich still isn't fit, otherwise Hughes would be out of there.

I'd like Watson to be able to bowl more regularly, hence the swap with Hussey (who I still think is the best opener in the country).

Clarke stays in the batting line-up by default, but there's no way in hell I'd have him as captain.

Can we have a serious line up?

Paul Keating wrote:Can we have a serious line up?

I don't think it's possible to pick one.

I mean one with out Horros and YT.

You know the selectors will not cave in and admit they are wrong.

OK. Well, I expect they will keep Smith at 6 and bring in Beer for the injured Harris. They'll probably make Clarke captain as well - although there is a slim chance they could give it to Haddin or Hussey.

I expect Greg Chappell wants wholesale changes, while Hilditch will be trying to defend his past actions. I've got no idea what Boonie and Jamie Cox are thinking.

Can someone explain why we don't have at least one bowler on the selection panel?

The mail I was getting since the Test finished was that Katich is fit - if so he captains, unless Aunt Hilda caves in over White (as likely as Warnie's comeback)..

Anybody but Clarke....just for the 'kick in the arse'' factor, any long-term outcome is good, either he wakes (and grows) up or he does a Deano and shows himself to be no loss whatever.

hmmn...posts about Ksnr always seem to provoke a negative post about Jones...

The 'bowler on the selection panel' is bor4derline relevant at best - good ex-Test batsmen remember what kind of bowling was good enough to get good Test batsmen out.

Sod it all, what's to lose. make it a power struggle, Find out which player Aunt Hilda rates the least and say he plays or we all resign - don't GAF if it's Johnny Watkins....

in essence I do not gove two hoots about Clarke as a person...he could have attitudes of Attilla the Hun or Zimmi for all I care - but to be the next captain he needed to be scoring runs and be obviously fighting in the trenches in this series and against the Bannies...he failed on these counts

Fred Nerk wrote:The 'bowler on the selection panel' is bor4derline relevant at best - good ex-Test batsmen remember what kind of bowling was good enough to get good Test batsmen out.

Sod it all, what's to lose. make it a power struggle, Find out which player Aunt Hilda rates the least and say he plays or we all resign - don't GAF if it's Johnny Watkins....

ROFL...Johnny W could find a way to knock off the Poms more easily than he could find the pitch

"he could have attitudes of Attilla the Hun or Zimmi for all I care"

I dunno if I'd care enough to notice a difference between the two = but otherwise OTM. Clarke's game is nowhere near the level needed ATM, to play let alone captain foir the first time, and he shouldn't play in Sydney at all.

(Ian Chappell's highest Test score in 7 Tests from Jan 1970 to two Tests before becoming captain was 59. First innings in Melb (day before Lawry declared with Marsh on 92) he was, in the view of every cricket scribe in the country, playing for his spot in the side. He made 110 and followed up with another, slower century to save Adelaide the next week. Form can turn quickly. We know what Chappell had under his shirt - how about Clarke?)

Clarke allowed Swan to absolutely dominate him. He appeared to be timid and lacking confidence at the crease. He needed to show the type of ticker that Haddin and Siddle did to inspire confidence as a leader.

He's had a very poor twelve months - poor last summer apart from the dead rubber test in Hobart - poor in England against Pakistan - poor in India - poor in the Ashes. When is he going to play the big imperious innings under duress that oozes authority?

Two seasons ago he seemed to change his approach to batting and it worked - he made a near-ton on a juicy pitch in Brisbane without which Australia would have been lucky to get far past 150, then he played a good 'two-half' innings in Melbourne where he defended for two hours one evening then attacked the next morning, then he played second-fiddle to a rampant Haddin in Sydney, and he went on to a good Ashes 09. .But now he seems to be guessing what tempo to play at.

Frinstance, if he'd played on Tuesday like he played second innings in Adelaide he may have got the same ball at the same time, and even if he hadn't been able to play it any better he would have left with a lot more than 13 runs in his pocket. Or he might played it better with the greater confidence that comes with more runs. The problem was, he'd tried the same thing in Perth and played a dreadfol shot and paid the price. His head is all over the joint. He has to go, at least in the short term, maybe forever..

Red wrote:So the fact that they've delayed announcing the team until 5.30 must suggest there's huge debate going on. The selectors could be divided as they were in the case of Adelaide.

I think the CA Board needs to ratify a decision to make someone captain.

] North [

Huh?

just me being more paranoid than usual...Surely Simmo/Hildy wont pull the ultimate rabbit (north) out of the NSP hat


aaaiiieee

The SMH is reporting that Clarke and Khawaja will speak to the media at the SCG this afternoon. That would seem to confirm the most likely outcome of Clarke as captain and Khawaja to debut.

Clutch wrote:The SMH is reporting that Clarke and Khawaja will speak to the media at the SCG this afternoon. That would seem to confirm the most likely outcome of Clarke as captain and Khawaja to debut.

I guess it wont be clarke announcing his retirement

England unchanged.

Aus-

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke(c)
Hussey
Smith
Haddin+
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Beer

Khawaja's debut is the most exciting and anticipated Australian debut since Brett Lee was selected for the 1999 Boxing Day test against India.

Clarke's position has been saved by Ponting's injury. If Ponting had been fit to play, you'd hope that Clarke would have got the arse.

Probably just the two changes to the 12, then ... Quodger for Ponting and Hauritz for Harris. Unless Katich is fit, in which case I hope they show Hughes the door, with instructions not to let the door bang his arse on the way out. Probable last lifelines for Hughes and Clarke.

If that Henry-posted squad's official, we can pencil in 3-1 now. I really thought the NSP would be above trying to justify their previous selections, and that they would have aimed for 2-2.

Henry wrote:England unchanged.

Aus-

Watson
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke(c)
Hussey
Smith
Haddin+
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Beer

Khawaja's debut is the most exciting and anticipated Australian debut since Brett Lee was selected for the 1999 Boxing Day test against India.

worst fears .... Trev - do not put the curse of a bung career on a promising kid