Your Squad For Sri Lanka

JLC · Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2003 11:28 am

Please dont tell me this dud is returning.

Ian Harvey has earnt his spot in the team and deserves to play ahead of Watson. Last time i sat Tassie play he wasnt even allowed to bowl yet and there is no way in hell he could be picked as a batsman alone.

jlc

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

Yes I rate Harvey and Symonds 10 times higher than Watson. I only asked because for a while there he seemed to be the selectors love child. If he returns, will Harveys place be in jepody?

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

Not long to go now people! Have your teams changed since December?

commonwombat · commonwombat Joined: 12 Jul 2003 Location: sydney/s.africa

With McGrath still injured openings still remain with the bowling. Bichel still may get a trip but Williams has done more to warrant further inclusion than Bracken. If they are going to give a younger quick a guernsey then Tait and/or Inness would be my contenders.

Lehmann being selected would be a retrograde step. Clarke has warranted a trip and Love would be along to give cover to the top order slots. Martyn may get a last chance saloon tour to save his Test carrer. Failure will be curtains to his intl career, no ifs or buts.

Would select White in front of McGill and he would get a blooding in ODI and maybe if they require a second spinner with Warne. Nothing else enthuses on the spin fron in this country. If needs be Katich can have a whirl in the Tests.

The Prototype · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:15 pm

I'd drop Martyn (on current form) and add Lehmann, if he is ready to return, maybe I would even think of taking Martin Love to Sri Lanka in case Lehmann isn't ready.

I still don't know about Warne, and McGrath, I reckon Williams will go for McGrath to come back into the side. I still don't know who they would drop for Warne when he comes back to the Test side.

JLC · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:19 pm

If Australia go in with MacGill he will get spanked. Warne if anywhere near match fit has to play.

In the batting Hayden and Katich will be the key along with Ponting if Murali is on fire.

jlc

The Prototype · Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:29 pm

I wouldn't take MacGill after the summer he has had, he really didn't say anything, any other spinners out there that are any good?

Fradam · Joined: 21 Jun 1999 Location: Bendigo, Victoria

I'm not gonna bother listing what my sqaud would be like since they wont get picked. Instead this is what I predict the Squad will be

R Ponting (c)
M Hayden
J Langer
D Martyn
M Clarke
M Love
S Katich
A Gilchrist
S Warne
B Lee
A Bichell
J Gillespie
B Williams
B Hogg
N Bracken

JLC · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 12:46 pm

The NSW publicity machine is in full swing with the return of Warne looming. Greg Matthews is in the paper today lauding praise on MacGill. MacGill will get spanked in Sri Lanka.

As for the predicted squad i think the reason Bichel would be chosen is that he must be handy with the video camera as that is all he would be doing on tour besides being a bowling machine in the lead up games.

The batting line up is interesting as its the start of a new era without the Waughs. Only Ponting and Hayden are at the top of their game with the bat in the Test Arena. The others are either out of form, question mark against spin, or inexperienced. Plenty of chances for those who are good enough to stake a claim.

I would pick a swing bowler ahead of Bracken. But Brackens left arm and his state will get him in no doubt.

Brad Hogg would be a bit of a selection gamble given that he struggles when playing for WA.

Should be a great tour which may break or make some players..

jlc

Donny · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:04 pm

"I would pick a swing bowler ahead of Bracken." ???

The one thing in Bracken's favour is he's a swing bowler. He certainly hasn't got rep games because of his blistering pace.

The best swing bowler going round is probably Matthew Inness. He's come back nicely and has a far superior first class record to Bracken.

JLC · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:07 pm

Well i didnt see much swing from Bracken this summer. If there was swing it didnt help him take wickets and not enough to categorise him as a genuine swing bowler. The reason he was picked was because of his left arm. Oh but he has been speaking to Akram.....lol

Damian Fleming was a swing bowler. Terry Alderman was a swing bowler.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:20 pm

Thanks for the history lesson, JLC.

And there was me thinking Flem and the Smiling Assassin were leg spinners. Well, learn something every day is my motto. Very Happy

So, you did notice Bracken didn't swing the ball much this summer and, consequently, hardly took a wicket. He doesn't have much to fall back on but his weapon IS swing as you would've seen if you'd witnessed his outstanding ODI series in India, recently.

Inness has been consistently taking wickets @ around 22 in Australian conditions.

Fradam · Joined: 21 Jun 1999 Location: Bendigo, Victoria

No left arm bowler will be sucessful unless he can move the ball back into right handers. Bracken doesn't do it. Anything he bowls that pitches middles & off and outside you can leave. It's too easy

JLC · Posted: Sun Feb 08, 2004 1:41 pm

As you have pointed out previously one day cricket and test match cricket are different.

jlc

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

I don't think that they should take Bracken to Sri Lanka just yet. He swins the new ball but after that, he finds it an up-hill battle. Here is my original squad with a few ajustments:
1: Hayden
2: Langer
3: Ponting (c)
4: Lehmann (vc) = (Not Vic-Captain any-more after the Hookes death)
5: Katich (vc)
6: Clarke
7: Gilchrist
8: Warne
9: Lee
10: Gilespie
11: McGrath (If fit. If not, Tait)
12: Bichel
13: Bracken = Williams (Obvious reasons)
14: Love = M.Hussey (I great form and has good 1st Class experiance)
15: MacGill = Hogg (Has a good track record against the Lankens)