Boxing Day Test

[David]

I wouldn't pick a batsman above another if they were handy as an offspiner. It's a bonus, yes - but not a reason to choose one over another.

I have a problem with instantly, or even in general, dropping someone who is out of form as a RULE.

You are picked because you have ability - and have shown form.

Matthew Hayden's ability has not lowered, I don't beleive. He's older and maybe a few percentage points off his eye-sight and speed might have occurred but he's still the same supremely talented batsman he was.

He's out of form though, and in a rut.

[maccatak11]

Bacon, Ryan Harris could be considered to tour england next year if he keeps taking wickets, but certainly not as an all rounder. He bats at 9 or 10 for queensland, and would bat below mitchell johnson in the australian team. certainly not a consideration at 6.


What other all rounders do we have...

James hopes (has been pigeon holed as a one day player, but i think would really do well batting at 6 and bowling his medium pacers, he's certainly a better bowler that symonds imo)

Ashley noffke (bowling is much better than batting, but could probably hold down number 7 with haddin at 6, although with the way the batters are perfroming we wouldnt want to weaken the batting)

Moses henriques (would be a gamble, but definately has talent with bat and ball and is a genuine all rounder, capable of opening the bowling and bats in the top 4 in shield cricket. This may spark cries of baggy blue syndrome, but if we are picking for the future, we could do much worse than this bloke)

Cameron white (would be much handier at 6 as a batsmen and bowling a little than having to play as a front line spinner. The fact that the next game is in sydney and another spinner option would be handy, this puts him in the frame a little more i think)

Andrew mcdonald (is a youngish guy from vic who is handy with both bat and ball too, bowls seam up and bats in the middle order and may be a roughie for selction too)

Seeing as the series is now over, i would really like them to pick for the future and pick a henriques or white.

Interesting though.

[maccatak11]

Squad has just been announced for the third test. Bollinger is in for Lee as expected, and will probably play on his home deck ahead of hilfenhouse. Hayden has been retained and concerns over symonds health have meant that Andrew McDonald has been added to the squad.


McDonald, Andrew (34)
Born: June 1, 1981
Club: Melbourne
Right-hand bat
Right-arm medium
Height: 194cm Weight: 91kg
First-class debut: v TAS, 2001-02 Following an exceptional 2006-07 season in which he became just the fifth player in fi rst-class history to take at least 25 wickets and score 750 runs in a season, McDonald was selected to tour Pakistan with Australia A, but withdrew after shoulder surgery. Recovered to score 545 runs at 49.54 in the Pura Cup and made some solid contributions with the ball. The tall redhead is a genuine all-rounder with an astute cricket brain, who adds depth and variety in each form of the game. One of six VB Victorian Bushrangers to have played in all three KFC Twenty20 Big Bash titles, he got married in the off-season and will be looking to add further honours in 2008-09.


He averages 38 with the bat and 30 with the ball, not too bad really. And he's only 27 too so plenty of years ahead of him, and solves the problem of blooding a 20 y.o. like henriques who may get eaten alive.

The option might even be to play McDonald as the third seamer which would allow them to play both spinners at the SCG, but it remains to be seen as to whether they will play two offies in the same game.

It will be very interesting friday morning.

[Chelsea4thewin]

Des Beaty is in good form, u reckon he has a chance

des can u bowl?

[Des]

Des Beaty is in good form, u reckon he has a chance

des can u bowl?

Left arm orthodox.

In form with the bat, HUGELY out of form with the ball though.

3 spinners in sydney? BRING IT ON!

[Scotty]

Cameron white (would be much handier at 6 as a batsmen and bowling a little than having to play as a front line spinner. The fact that the next game is in sydney and another spinner option would be handy, this puts him in the frame a little more i think)

Cameron White would be an effective SCG spinner?

Hell, let's get Chris Harris out of retirement and across the Tasman - he'd turn the ball just as much!


And you're just backing Andrew McDonald for the obvious connection

[Chelsea4thewin]

yep macca u need a player who can spin the ball, hauritz and white both dont achieve that, anyone can be a slow bowler

Kreyja must come back in

[maccatak11]

Guys, never said that cameron white should be our first choice spinner. read it carefully.

I said if we were pcking an allrounder (and andrew mcdonald is a very good selection mind you) i would choose cameron white over someone like james hopes because its at the SCG. wouldn't you?

But very happy that they chose someone like mcdonald. its a forward thinking move, not a patch up job.

[David]

If no one is good enough to be the allrounder, don't pick one. Simple. Screw this notion that you have to have an allrounder in your side, or at least one who is labeled as such.

Six batsmen, and a keeper.
Four specialist bowlers.

We have Michael Clarke who is almost as affective as any spinner we have at the moment. We have Katich who for some reason doesn't get thrown the rock at all and others.

I love Symonds but I'm sort of glad he's injured. He was playing as a batsmen and probably isn't really good enough to be there as one.

The problem is, we shouldn't be relying on the number 7 spot (or 6, depending on how it's structured) to be making the runs and taking the wickets.

Despite losing this series, and not winning much else recently, we do have a very strong batting lineup. Hayden is out of form but is part of one of the most successful opening partnerships in Australian cricket history. Katich is as weathered and experienced as a player could be, being put in the opening spot with him. Extremely patient and no-fuss, and hard to get out. Not overly pretty to watch though.

Ponting is amazing - my favourite batsman to watch behind Lara.

Hussey is a freak also, similar to Katich in the way he plays and hard to get out (until recently) but still, I would put him there anyway, no question.

Clarke is benefiting from being an international cricketer earlier than he might have thought possible. He's becoming a rock, and a grafter which is what he needs to be if he's the next to flip the coin.

That really is a fair top 5. No question.








We just need to work out how the f**k we get 20 wickets.

[BigPete33]

Bring back Gillespie and Lehmann


All the runs you'll ever need and 20 wickets to boot