Aus squad for South Africa

I believe they are taking a squad of 14. My prediction-

Batsmen-

Ponting(c)
Clarke(vc)
Jaques
Katich
M.Hussey
Hughes

All rounder/Keeper-

McDonald
Haddin+

Bowlers-

Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus
Noffke
Hauritz

Symonds will make the ODI squad but not the test squad, with McDonald being picked in the test squad as the 'utility player'. The forgotten man of Australian cricket Ashley Noffke will make the test squad. Hauritz will be selected as the sole spinner because a) they don't trust Krejza to keep it tight, and b) Bryce McGain is too old. Ponting can at least rely on Hauritz to go at less than 4 runs per over. He's a safe choice. Chris Rogers will miss out, leading to much sooking from Victoria. He's scored heavily for a number of years in first class cricket, but Hughes has matched him for the last 2 seasons, and he's 11 years younger. Tough on Rogers, but there you go. Despite not much cricket or form behind him, Jaques will go and will start the tour as Katich's opening partner. He averages 47 and knows what opening the batting in test cricket is all about (Even though he is yet to do it against a really good attack).

Thoughts?

"Chris Rogers will miss out, leading to much sooking from Victoria."

Brad Hodge, ditto.

I see them valmorphanising in the memory to a single person, Chrab Hodgers, the most badly-done-by player in history.

No point taking Noffke and MacDonald. I think they'll take Krazy instead of Noffke but otherwise your bowlers look right (sadly).


I think they'll take Rogers over Froggy (although Froggy is obviously a better player).

Not yet sure about the All Rounder - I have a horrible feeling that they'll take Symonds but I'm not a fan of MacDonald's either.

Either way, it is going to be an underwhelming squad.

BTW, I think you are probably very close to the mark on the touring side, though I wouldn't bet the house on Symonds going at all.

McGain just got a michelle vs the Sozzies ....might be enough to get the NSP to jump back on his bandwagon

Callum Freguson and Adam Voges have just been added to the JAMODI squad so maybe Phews isn't the lock that we all think.

And Hilditch described Voges as a "promising young batsman" - isn't he 29?

I still can't see how they can take Krejza. It doesn't matter if he spins it occasionally. He goes for tons of runs every innings and the Saffas treated him with disdain. Kallis's eyes lit up like never before when he came into the attack and he started smashing sixes in the shadows of stumps in Perth.

Or we could just play Hauritz and at best hope for 3 draws.

JGK wrote:Or we could just play Hauritz and at best hope for 3 draws.

It's the lesser of two evils or :

McGain could usurp both.

McGain is 37, right?

We are so gonna get smashed.

IMO Noffke, McDonald and especially Jaques are all very unlikely to go.

skully wrote:We are so gonna get smashed.

Will that be after losing the series Skulls?

Ponting
Clarke
Rogers or Klinger
Katich
M.Hussey
Hughes

All rounder/Keeper-

Krejza
Haddin+

Bowlers-

Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger
Hilfenhaus
Bracken
Hauritz


is the team I'd like to see chosen now.

Henry wrote:The forgotten man of Australian cricket Ashley Noffke will make the test squad.

Thoughts?

It would be nice to see the ex-Middx man do well.

Steve Waugh has come out against selecting Symonds for the SA tour.

Even Langer, more recently retired, refused to endorse Symonds' selection during Grandstand commentary on the weekend.

I think Symonds has disqualified himself on every front other than that pin head sized item belonging to the captain. ................ no, his brain!

lardbucket wrote:Even Langer, more recently retired, refused to endorse Symonds' selection during Grandstand commentary on the weekend.

Punter is adamant he wants him though.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24993702-11088,00.html

You can't always get what you want.

Surely Nemo, the leading wicket taker in the Shield, and just off the back of an 11for, should get the nod...

But then I guess it's results in bullshit cricket that counts with the selectors now.

Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, M.Hussey,
Two out of Rogers, D.Hussey, McDonald
Paine
McGain, Krazy
Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Bollinger

You can have one more, Wally ... assume you'd take Haddin?

Only as a specialist batsman.