Australia sans specialist spinner for first test.

Obviously reprising the modus operandi so characteristic of the Indian tour.

Australia goes into first Test against South Africa without spinners




February 25, 2009 05:25pm


AUSTRALIA has left out spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain from tomorrow's first Test against South Africa at Wanderers Stadium.
Captain Ricky Ponting will have a last look at the pitch before a decision is made on the 12th man.
The match is due to start at 6.30pm Brisbane time.
Three members of the 12-man side are yet to play a Test - West Australian middle-order batsman Marcus North, Tasmanian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus and NSW opening batsman Phil Hughes.
Team: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.

You'd hope Bollinger might be 12th ... we don't need two purveyors of wide left arm fastish filth

Might just work well for Australia.

Katich
Hughes
* Ponting
M Hussey
M Clarke
M North
+ Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
Bollinger

Is Haddin still in the team?



Good for Saffas....




Just the antidote Saffies need to counter having Bucknor as an umpire!

No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Aye...has to be Bollinger

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Please.

That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

Batman wrote:Is Haddin still in the team?



Good for Saffas....




Just the antidote Saffies need to counter having Bucknor as an umpire!

They'll also have referrals in this series though!

Bucknor's incompetence is beyond reproach.

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

Chandan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

He didn't.

Red wrote:

Chandan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

He didn't.

Is Ponting a tour selector? IF so, he is more farked in the head than even I ever imagined. MacDonald at 8 is about as shitty a selection as we have had since Shaun Young.

taipan wrote:

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Please.

Thanks RP.

Jackman said the pitch looks a really good batting one and he expected whoever won the toss to take first strike.

The evidence is suggesting Jackman doesn't know WTF he is talking about.

MacDonald at 8 is about as shitty a selection as we have had since Shaun Young.

Sage to the power of infinity.

aa

MacDonald at 8 is about as shitty a selection as we have had since Shaun Young.

shouldn't have too much trouble contributing more than Young though

Australia in South Africa 2009

McGain should be testing South Africa - Warne

Alex Brown

February 27, 2009



Shane Warne says Ricky Ponting's captaincy has improved, but has called on him to use more imagination Getty Images





Shane Warne has expressed disappointment at the omission of Bryce McGain for the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg, and implored Australia's selectors to show more patience with their slow bowlers in future. The Australians have trialled six specialist spinners in the 19 Tests since Warne's retirement and, of those, only Cameron White has managed more than three consecutive appearances.

Warne, like many pundits, expected McGain to debut on Thursday, but a green Wanderers pitch convinced the selectors to field an all-seam attack for the crucial series opener. The move will presumably do little for the already fragile confidence of Australia's emerging spinners, although they can take heart from the fact that, with Warne signing on to commentate the Ashes for Sky Sports, they no longer need look over their shoulders in fear of a comeback.

Warne believes the time has arrived for Andrew Hilditch's panel to show faith in McGain. "Bryce McGain is clearly the best spinner in Australia," Warne said. "I was disappointed that he was not picked for the first Test in South Africa. The South Africans don't play wristies well.

"The hardest thing is that when you're losing and the spinners are not having a big impact, they can be made the scapegoat. If they were winning they probably could have carried a McGain or a Casson or a Krejza. It's a tough situation for the spinners. I would stick with one [spinner] ... and that would be Bryce McGain."

Warne believes that bowling will prove the key issue for both Australia and England throughout the Ashes. Australia's difficulties in taking 20 wickets were well documented throughout 2008, and England's spin concerns have been highlighted with the recent omission of Monty Panesar, of whom so much has been expected since his debut in 2006, in preference to the Nottinghamshire offspinner Graeme Swann.

"I'm disappointed with where Monty is," Warne said. "He has all the attributes to be a good spin bowler ... but he has not adapted to different conditions. I've not seen much of an improvement in Monty."

Though still a supporter of Michael Vaughan, Warne approved of the appointment of Andrew Strauss to the England captaincy following the damaging fall-out from the Pietersen-Moores split. He also complimented Ricky Ponting on his leadership through this period of team transition, but hinted that his former team-mate lacks adventure in his decision-making.

"He's improved," Warne said of Ponting. "It's a very tough time to be captain at the moment. I'd like to see Ricky put guys in situations to try a few different things ... and maybe show more imagination at times. But on the whole he is doing a good job."

Alex Brown is deputy editor of Cricinfo

Cricinfo