Aus v Sri Lanka, 1st Test, Brisbane, 8-12th Nov

At this stage, a few Australian selections are still unclear. David Hussey is putting in a strong early bid for the vacant middle order slot.

Thoughts?

My own first choice XI is listed below, with the main 'shadow' players bracketed.



Hayden
Rogers (Jaques)(Mike Hussey)
Ponting
Clarke
Mike Hussey (David Hussey)(Katich)(Hodge)
Symonds (David Hussey)(Katich)(Hodge)(Watson)(White)(Voges)(Birt)
Gilchrist (Haddin)(Ronchi)
Lee
Bracken (Hilfenhaus)(Johnson)(Noffke)(Dorey)(Gillespie)
Clark (Griffith)(Dorey)(Noffke)(Gillespie)
Hogg (MacGill)(Cullen)


A few others with rough/outside chances:

Bailey (Tas) and Bailey (SA), North, Magoffin, Nicholson, Hopes, Edmondson, Bichel, Casson, Cosgrove.


I wouldn't write Katich off yet, even though he currently has no contract. He and David Hussey are probably high in the selectors' minds, this year in particular, because of their skills v spin.

Tait?

I think they might go with Midge instead of Ferny.

Given how Hoggy!!! has bowled in the current ODI series, he's a huge chance to get a shot at the Lankans (who he has an excellent record against in ODI cricket).

Invader Zim wrote:Given how Hoggy!!! has bowled in the current ODI series, he's a huge chance to get a shot at the Lankans (who he has an excellent record against in ODI cricket).

Aww, Timmy using ODIs to vindicate a Test selection. Must be desperate...

Hogg does bowl well when he gets the chance.

What other form of cricket does Hoggy!!! play Sri Lanka in

That's the same as you admonishing Bung for having a top ODI record and people using it as a reason for him to be in the Test side. I mean, what other form of cricket does Bung play England bar Tests?

Well, no it isn't, but don't let that worry you.

Invader Zim wrote:Well, no it isn't, but don't let that worry you.

Well it is. Some young Aussie/other keenos, pre-Ashes 2005, were all "Ohh Bung's gotta play, he's been ripping them up in the ODI" and you were all "WTF has ODIs got to do with it, phurt, blah blah".

And don't ye forget it.

The Batstink has got ya, zimmy . . .

What? Lee has been given a free run for 5 or 6 years even tho he's averaged 35+ in Tests...Hogg gets a hand full of Tests and is always in danger of being dropped from the ODI side even tho he's a consistant performer.

Yeah. I see the link. No, really. QED.

In general I think Danny is right that ODI form is a very poor guide to Test performances.

For example, Lee usually does bowl OK in ODIs. And when he does bowl crap, it's only for 10 overs, or less. When he bowls crap in Tests, he can single-handedly cede the advantage to the opposition, by leaking runs at 5 rpo for 20+ overs.

Hogg is a bit different. He plays little FC cricket because he's always around the Australian ODI squad, or left out of the WA side because the WACA wicket takes little spin. His last few WA FC appearances have actually been OK, if I recall correctly. They just don't come around very often.

Anyway, Hoggy usually only gets seen in ODIs, and if a wrist-spinner can bowl this well in ODIs, it's likely he'll bowl well in Tests as well ... at least in Tests that aren't played on absolute roads.

I'd love to see him given a go on a wicket that isn't an absolute shirt-front.

Like the Gabba?

That'd do. Would have to be better than his introduction to Test cricket or that later match v the West Indies.

And too be frank, I'd rather see Hoggy facing the Lankans and Indians, than some green offie or leggie...

Hogg doesnt even have a very good first class record. The leg spinner, wrong un, leg spinner, wrong un combination doesnt work as well in tests where run rates arent as big an issue.

He'll probably get picked for the first test, though. For whatever reason, Macgill has been left out by NSW today.

Disciplinary reasons, I believe. Had yet another psychotic blow-up.

Far out, surely his file must be stamped pretty soon, NTPFAA.

FFS, Macgill is finished then. I believe he was on his last warning from the Australian selectors about 3 on field incidents ago.

Proof positive (if it were needed) that MacGill is a complete Nutjob - with a place going begging in the test side, he cops a ban. You've got to laugh.

doremi wrote:Tait?

Who?

Australia-

Jaques
Hayden
Ponting(c)
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist+
Hogg
Lee
Johnson
Clark

Sri Lanka-

Tharanga
Someoneawardene
Sangakkara
M.Jayawardene(c)
Silva
Dilshan
H.Jayawardene+
Vaas
Malinga
Fernando
Muralitharan

Until I see Hoggy!!! walking out as part of a Test XI, I won't beleive he'll ever play Test cricket again.

Seems the main toss-ups are Rogers v Jaques, Bracken v Johnson, and Hogg v MacGill.

Suspect a squad of 13 may be announced with all bar one of those openers in it ...