The Cricket Thread

[bomb]

Okay, who's our top eleven?

I'd select:

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
S. Smith
Hauritz
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
Mark Cameron
12th- Johnson

Still, not good enough to beat England.

[pi]

My 12, based on all players playing State cricket (in batting order):

Hughes (only because Katich is injured)
Watson
Hodge
Hussey (vc)
Clarke (c)
Ferguson
Haddin
White
Lee (opening bowler 1)
Harris
Hilfenhaus (opening bowler 2)
12th: Siddle


Good enough against England based on form. A good spinner is not needed in Perth, but Clarke, Hodge and White can all turn it a bit if needed.

And yes, I left Ponting out completely until he fixes his problems with his arrogance (tough love).

[Greatness]

@ Russ: Bollinger doesnt deserve to be there, doherty could give him a few more games but i think we're better off with hauritz for the time being, North should go he has been way too inconsistent.
Hilfenhaus, cameron, smith, ferguson all deserve a chance..
My team:
Watson
Hughes
Ponting <not sure atm especially with his form
Clarke<suprised me this test, looking better
Hussey
Ferguson
Haddin
Smith
Hauritz
Harris   -might not need both hauritz and smith
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
12th: johnson?

[Russ]

Bollinger was a surprise call up, but I disagree with the idea of bringing players in and out of the team based solely on performance in a single match. You also can't just call half a dozen new players into the team and expect them to perform well (cough world XI)

[samiira]

Bollinger was a surprise call up, but I disagree with the idea of bringing players in and out of the team based solely on performance in a single match. You also can't just call half a dozen new players into the team and expect them to perform well (cough world XI)

+1

[Greatness]

Bollinger was a surprise call up, but I disagree with the idea of bringing players in and out of the team based solely on performance in a single match. You also can't just call half a dozen new players into the team and expect them to perform well (cough world XI)

Yes i do agree that we cant make that many changes, but we are going to lose katich, i think we all agree taht north should go, you could clearly see that bollinger had a fitness problem :/ doherty might play the next game...
well lets hope the selectors can select a better side for the next test

[Ghost!]

Doherty should be in the side so he get real experience under his belt. With enough experience over the next few years he will become Australia's number one spinner.

Cameron White deserves a full time spot in the Australian team.

Ponting out, get himself sorted/possibly forever.

North out, never any good.

[eeps]

Doherty should be in the side so he get real experience under his belt. With enough experience over the next few years he will become Australia's number one spinner.

Ponting out, get himself sorted/possibly forever.

North out, never any good.

I agree with all of that, possibly bar White.

[bomb]

Experience is fine, just don't play your first game in the closest Ashes series on Australian soil in over a decade.

[Ghost!]

Experience is fine, just don't play your first game in the closest Ashes series on Australian soil in over a decade.

Wouldn't say it's been close.

[Russ]

He said closest on Australian soil

[sam.utute]

He said closest on Australian soil

That he did. Over the last decade, it's been Australia 5-0 basically every time. For England to go one up l, it definitely indicates a close series.

Btw, why does england need to win two Tests to retain the Ashes?

[Russ]

They won the last series, so if this series is drawn then they keep the urn. Since there are only 3 tests left, if they win another one then the best Australia can do is draw 2-2

[ben_ess12]

we need johnson back in. bring him in for the WACA test. i no he hasnt had any form and been shit, but its the WACA, known for pace bowlers....
i feel like our attack lacks something wihtout him.

dougy bollinger goes, johnson in and doherty out and steve smith/hauritz/white...i dont reckon we need a specialty spin bowler at the perth test, so maybe white, he can bat as well
katchi out hughes in.... (btw any remember jacques? what happened to him?)
north stays only because it is his home pitch, home crowd i reckon he can get a big one, he looked alright last innnings, still went out cheaply but so did every other aussie batter

[pi]

Doherty should be in the side so he get real experience under his belt. With enough experience over the next few years he will become Australia's number one spinner.

Cameron White deserves a full time spot in the Australian team.

Ponting out, get himself sorted/possibly forever.

North out, never any good.

I'd go with that, except that maybe in Perth a spinner isn't needed, but in the longer run, we do need Doherty