Australia v India, 2nd Test, Brisbane, 17-21 December, 2014

So ... on to the second test, and the second time we've tried this title.

Changes:

INDIA
Karn Sharma has to go; no point in selecting him for Brisbane ... ? replace him with Ashwin or another pacer. I suspect this will be the only change to the XI

Saha seems likely to simply make way for Dhoni, although there is a faint possibility that both might play


AUSTRALIA
Any changes made will I think depend on Clarke's fitness ... if he is not fit to play, Haddin will captain, and Shaun Marsh is most likely to come into the side, with Cowan a "smoky" because of his recent form. I suspect that Marsh/Cowan in for Clarke is the only change that will occur batting-wise if Clarke is unfit.

If Clarke is fit to play, which I doubt, the selectors might drop Rogers or Watson, although I suspect they will not, as dropping either of these players right now would be a career-ending change. I suspect they are both on 'last chances' in Brisbane. It has helped their causes that Klinger, Khawaja, Burns, and Doolan have failed to press their claims, with Ryan Carters and Cowan the only batsmen to seriously challenge this last week ... probably too early for Carters and too late for Cowan.

Either way, Siddle might stay (given his stalwart service over time) or, as I feel is more likely, be "rotated out" for Hazlewood, Hilfenhaus, or Starc. I can't see either Johnson or Harris being rested for Brisbane, barring an injury in our second Adelaide bowling innings.

expecting Hazlewood to come in for Brisbane, and Siddle to come back in the 3rd Test in Melb/

Hilfy should play in Brisbane. He is the best swing bowler in the country, he's in form & has the experience.

Sids must have eaten some bad bean curd...reports that he was crook yesterday

I thought Aust had announced the same XII.

WideWally wrote:Hilfy should play in Brisbane. He is the best swing bowler in the country, he's in form & has the experience.

Hilfy's wickets are predominately with the new ball...he is fodder after

JGK wrote:I thought Aust had announced the same XII.

That is what I thought but everyone tells me I must have misheard.

JGK wrote:I thought Aust had announced the same XII.

haven't seen it confirmed anywhere?

Usually Brisbane test matches are held before the holiday period. I'd be interested to see if crowd numbers are up this year.

Do they only play 4 day tests in Australia now?

Pup looked fine today. He'll be right for Brissy. If we are fair dinkum about the best XI then Buck and Twat should be flicked for Carters and Moo. I'm prepared to cut Cot some slack if he had a dodgy banana that explained his pissweak effort yesty. He looked better today.

vilkrang wrote:Do they only play 4 day tests in Australia now?

Eh?

skully wrote:Pup looked fine today. He'll be right for Brissy. If we are fair dinkum about the best XI then Buck and Twat should be flicked for Carters and Moo. I'm prepared to cut Cot some slack if he had a dodgy banana that explained his pissweak effort yesty. He looked better today.

Pretty well confirmed now that he'll be out. I still believe it will be Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, or Cowan in.

WideWally wrote:

JGK wrote:I thought Aust had announced the same XII.

That is what I thought but everyone tells me I must have misheard.

Looking through recent articles, it seems that the original squad was selected for both of the first two tests.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/cricket/australia-v-india-2014-michael-clarke-named-in-first-test-team-josh-hazlewood-and-shaun-marsh-left-out/story-fni2fnmo-1227148264030?nk=65cd839bf1068e36cdc6a12e8582d136

If that's true, there will only be one change - another batsman in for Clarke - unless the selectors decide to expand the squad further, which seems unlikely.

Clarke just said he was out for the series do Haddin becomes Australia's next test captain. Probably have the Marsh brothers play this first test together too.

At least one Aussie (so called) will be excited about Pup's news. It was actually a completely new injury. Right hammy - not the left nor the back.

Starc and S Marsh added to the squad.

skully wrote:At least one Aussie (so called) will be excited about Pup's news. It was actually a completely new injury. Right hammy - not the left nor the back.

Basically, his body is f*cked.

I think he's known that for a while, Trev, hence Pat Howard's long term Pup Management Plan, which is designed to look after him as best they can. Maybe he only has a few more Tests in him. Which will be a loss to Aus cricket.

JGK wrote:Starc and S Marsh added to the squad.

Starc is rubbish. Pick someone else

For Aus, likely to be Clarke and Siddle out, S.Marsh and Hazlewood in.

For India, Saha and Karn Sharma out, Dhoni and Ashwin in.

It will never happen, but Kohli should stay as captain. I think he's won a lot of respect around the world after the Adelaide test not just for his batting, but his willingness as captain to go for the target set by Aus. Under Dhoni, India would have shut up shop from the first ball of the day. There's a feeling now that Kohl's time has come.

Would make sense... as would Australia putting their faith in a young captain for the rest of the series.

So, Aus will end up with a skipper barely worth a place in the side. Sounds vaguely familiar!

As an England supporter though, I'd be much more confident about our chances if we weren't facing Haddin on the opposing side next summer. The amount of times he rescued them from not much for 5 played as big a part as anyone last winter. He's been written off many times before, and none of the potential replacements in recent years have looked up to the task.

Still think they should give Smith the rest of the series in charge though, with Haddin and others with experience there for support, and see what he's made of.