Ashes 2009

[rcon]

Touring squad has been announced, Watson in, Symonds out.

Thoughts? Not sure about the spin department myself!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 80,00.html

# Ricky Ponting (captain)
# Michael Clarke (vice-captain)
# Stuart Clark
# Brad Haddin
# Nathan Hauritz
# Ben Hilfenhaus
# Phillip Hughes
# Michael Hussey
# Mitchell Johnson
# Simon Katich
# Brett Lee
# Graham Manou
# Andrew McDonald
# Marcus North
# Peter Siddle
# Shane Watson, subject to fitness

[Nevah play JJ]

What happened to Andrew Symonds?

[rcon]

What happened to Andrew Symonds?

I guess you could say he did. His off-field performances have been more note worthy than on, of late. Given his last effort in the UK where he turned up drunk for an ODI, and he doesn't really seem to have moved on (1 step forward, 1 back), I can't say I blame the selectors. I personally would like to have seen him in, but only for the ODIs.

[Ashley Higgins]

clearly the selectors should have symonds in the team before that mcdonald fella cos he is useless

[David]

Congrats Manou..
Ferguson unlucky but it's not a huge squad and no Symonds.

[Nevah play JJ]

That explains that. I am disappointed for him, I think he is a wonderful player and certainly a character, but I guess the selectors had to draw the line somewhere.

How do you think the Aussies will do in the Ashes?

[bennymacca]

as far as i know, this is only the test squad

symonds, fergie etc will go over when the 1 dayers start as far as i know.

may be wrong though

[maccatak11]

This is just the test squad. Replacements will fly over for the one dayers, and Symonds and Fergy will be among those.

Well done to Graham Manou in getting picked, awesome performance from the SA keeper who is getting better with age.

I don't mind the squad actually. We are thin on spin as someone suggested, but we shouldn't pick two spinners in a squad just because it has been done that way in the past.

Balance in the attack is good, but getting 20 wickets is the main issue.

It will be interesting to see the make-up of the final XI. My feeling is that you will see an increased bowling load by Michael Clarke, Simon Katich and Marcus North (who will prob bat at 6) and australia will enter the first test with 4 pace bowlers in the attack (depending on pitch conditions obviously).

But even if they do that it will be interesting to see which pace bowlers they actually pick.


I think mitchell johnson and peter siddle are the obvious choices due to great form in south africa, which leaves 2 spots in the side for stuart clark, ben hilfenhouse, brett lee, and andrew mcdonald (i think the number 6 spot will be taken by northm or watson if fit).

Will be interesting. Should be a great series and im looking forward to it.

[David]

I know it's only the test squad - I'm not that silly.

I just think Callum is a very exciting prospect and would have been on the cusp of that trip.

[maccatak11]

yeah, at least hodge didnt get picked. Even picking watson as the back-up batsmen as they seem to have done is a move for the future, not the past. Not a bad squad.