Pick the line up for the first Test

JLC · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 8:07 pm

I will have a go at the team that i would select

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Katich
Gilchrist
Symonds
Lee
Warne
Kasprowicz
Gillespie
Williams

I have stacked up with an extra bowler. However the selectors will probably drop one bowler and play Martyn and find room for Lehmann.

jlc

Donny · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 8:48 pm

Mate, there's no way they'll pick 4 quicks. It is in Sri Lanka. Not Perth. But fair enough, you're never short of an opinion.

My XI:

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Lehmann
Symonds
Gilchrist
Hogg
Warne
Gillespie
Lee

I don't know if Hogg has stayed over there for the Tests so if not, I'd play MacGill at 11 instead of Hogg at 8.

Katich would be unlucky to miss out after his last Test and could well be picked.

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

Lehmann, INHO, would be extremely fortunate to walk straight into the Test side when he was not an assured selection prior to his injury.

Hogg has gone back to Australia with the other one-day players. Katich, to my mind, should be in the side with both Martyn and Lehmann being more under threat.

Symonds does have a case for selection, but maybe people are overstating it at the moment. He'd be my 12th man for this one. Am not convinced of the merits of a Warne/McGill combo but the liability might luck himself at least 1 more match.

JLC · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:28 pm

The theory is the Sri Lankan batting line up may be susceptible to quality fast bowling. Kasper could sneak in as he provides some nice swing. Williams could be the brides maid yet again......lol

It will be interesting as Ponting thinks they have worked out Murali. If that was the case you would think the Aussies would strengthen their bowling line up as the batting line up would be strong enough.

Its a big call for the selectors as there are many variations available. Australia will have a strong team no matter what combination is chosen but the question is will it be a winning one??

jlc

Donny · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 9:34 pm

So, wombat, what's your team ?

The Prototype · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 10:14 pm

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Katich
Gilchrist
Symonds
Lee
Warne
Kasprowicz
Gillespie
MacGill (or Hogg)

I'd like to have Symonds in, but I think he probably won't be added come the First Test.

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

Jeez, what have I done wrong this time, Donny ???

OK, the 1st Test team as selected by the transgressing wombat.

Hayden
B.N Gnome
Ponting
Martyn
Lehmann
Katich
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Lee
Kasprowicz
12th: Symonds

No McGill; batting and fielding are complete liabilities and his poor control counters the occaisional lethal delivery. Lehmann and Katich can provide the extra spin component.

Martyn needs to perform on this tour to ensure an intl future and the circumstances do not warrant a Symonds experiment YET. Failure in the middle order and/or injury may then warrant giving him a run in a later match, his fielding earns him 12th man duties.

Sultan of spin · Joined: 31 Aug 2003 Location: Burnley

Didn't we take a back up batsman? I know Symo is there but he isn't a specialist bat. It will be interesting to see if MacGill is retained, Personally I think Symons would be a better option.

Donny · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 1:09 pm

This is the squad, SoS.

Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Lehmann
Katich
Symonds
Gilchrist
Warne
Gillespie
Lee
Williams
Kasprowicz
MacGill
Seccombe

What team would you pick for the first Test ?

pies4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Location: rosebud,vic,australia

ive picked my test side,

hayden
langer
punter
martyn
boof
gilchrist
warne
dizzy
lee
kaspa
symonds.

cheers bryan..!!

cheers bryan..!!

Donny · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 3:44 pm

The wicket will have some say in the make up of the XI.

If it's like the ones we've seen so far (in the one dayers) the temptation will be to go with just the 2 quicks (Gillespie & Lee) and use Symonds as the first change seamer and an offie later on, freeing up one spot for another specialist spinner.

If it looks like there's a bit of life in it, then they'll probably play Williams or Kaspa as the 3rd. quick and just go with Warne and use either of Symonds or Katich and Lehmann as back up spinners.

Johnson#26 · Joined: 18 Dec 2003

My 1st XI:

1: Hayden
2: Langer
3: Ponting
4: Martyn
5: Lehmann
6: Katich
7: Gilchrist
8: Warne
9: Kasprowicz
10: Gilespie
11: Williams
12: Symonds

couragous cloke · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 9:36 pm

My 1st XI:

1: Hayden
2: Langer
3: Ponting
4: Martyn
5: Symonds
6: Katich
7: Gilchrist
8: Warne
9: Lee
10:Gilespie
11:McGill

12: Hogg

JLC · Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2004 10:13 pm

Classic - Martyn is being rested from the tour game. One would have thought that Martyns spot was under pressure. Obviously not. Unbelievable.

Katich more than likely will miss out due to Martyn. That is a travisty of justice after Katich scored a century and a 70 not out in his last test. Katich can bowl as well.

jlc

London Dave · Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:25 am

I've layed off this one, but fueled by a few looseners of the tongue screw (see cheersquad forum) I'll go with this...

Langer. (no opposition for spot)
Hayden (no opposition for spot)
Ponting (no opposition for spot)
Martyn (no opposition for spot, though I'm not sure why, JLC???)
Lehman (ton seals it)
Katich (ton seals it, perhaps*)
Gilchrist (no opposition for spot)
Warne (world's media demands his inclusion)
Lee (to piss off JLC)
Dizzy(no opposition for spot)
MacGill(*)

That's the XI I reckon. Unless it's a 'seamer' (as unlikely as Blions reducing their cap, and Akermanis saying "I am a loudmothed dork"). Then Kasprowicz (sic) would be in instead of MacGill.

my * is two out of Katich, MacGill and Symonds. I think MacGill will get the nod for the first test, but if he gets flogged, he's history, unless Warne bowls absoute toilet and relinquishes his place thru his own ineptitude, and on how Katich's bowling is percieved by the powers that be.Katich & Symondsa or Katich & MacGill is perhaps the options.