But we all know Hussey is the new Hayden…

12th: McDonald or Hauritz.

Hilfenhaus did well in England but I’d expect him to do far less well in Australian conditions (especially against good opposition). Bollinger needs to be given a belated run at Test cricket.

Michael C

Drop Haddin? You’re kidding, right?

Put Wade in instead, ahead of Manou and Paine who appear ahead of him in the pecking order?

McDonald back in?

No Watson?

4 Victorians I see?

And I thought some of my decisions were left field

Fisher Price

Rogers in instead of Watson? What exactly has Watson done to deserve being dropped?

And you’ve got Bollinger in ahead of Hilfy?

Who is 12th – surely you can’t play McDonald AND Hauritz. That leaves you with only 2 quicks at the GABBA.

The results so far this match justify my selections – ie Jaques in. At least one of you has agreed with me on that, and no one has picked Hughes!

The selectors won’t have the guts to drop Hussey and I expect they’ll leave Watson opening. It’s a shame – he’s a middle order batsman and he should be put there, with two specialist openers. Leaving him there though spares the selectors from the tough call on Hussey.

I’m a fan of the criminally-ignored Hodge but think it’s a bit late to be recalling him when the likes of North and Watson can do a good middle order job.

Ponting loves Hussey, so the latter will play, but my 12 would be:

Jaques
Rogers (Hughes as ist reserve)
Katich*
Clarke
Ponting
‘North (Watson as middle-order reserve)
Haddin
McDonald
Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
Bollinger

Jacques – has ground to make up. Ideally, Rogers should be in front of him.

S.Clark….seems a nice guy…so does Hilfy. I reckon it’d be b/w them. Siddle provides a bit of menace which is missing in the others and during the ashes was sadly lacking from Johnson. A test attack can’t be ‘nice’!!!

I’d have McDonald interchange with Hauritz, and/or North. McDonald proved such a steady bowling partner when he bowled last year. Australia played it’s best cricket last summer on those occassions. When spinners were leaking runs at the other end, Australia was unable to sustain pressure.

btw – and get rid of Haddin, he’s a wicket keeping embarrassment and his batting is too much a single gear (which means he too often get’s out when he should just be putting his head down).

Rogers
Katich
Ponting
Clarke (if fit), else Hodge (if fit)
Hussey
North
McDonald
Wade
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus

12th Hauritz

I know it won’t happen.

I’m no spin bowling expert but how can he be this far along his career with such apparently obvious technical flaws?

Murali has a longer run I think, and he’s done OK. I don’t think there’s one way to bowl off spin – the main thing is that the important bits are doing the right thing at the right time.

Krejza didn’t bowl many loose ones and got terrific grip on his stock ball, as he usually does.

We’ll have to agree to disagree on that one, though I must concede I want to see more of him.

In short he is not the finished article and a Test match is not a finishing school.

Jaques? Yes, a little from left field, but he’s only been out for the last year because he’s been injured. I know Hughes is supposed to be the long term option but his feet are all over the place and his head moves too much as he plays the shot. Jaques is back looking solid as a rock and cracking the ball.

Tough on Hussey as he’s been doing well in the one-dayers, but he was doing well in them when his test form suffered in the last 12 months. I’d rather have Jaques opening and Watson in the middle order than Watson opening and Hussey in the middle order. As well as he did opening, Watson is a middle order batsman.

Siddle still isn’t quite there. He’s had bouts of inspiring and courageous bowling. Hilfy didn’t do a lot wrong in England. I think that Clarke and Johnson have to be the first quicks picked though, which only leaves one more spot. The selectors don’t get how useful Clark is. They didn’t get it in the Ashes when it was thrown in their faces.

Krejza – as Warney alwas says, you get most of your wickets from your stock ball, and Krejza’s stock ball is better than Haury’s. I think it’s time to give Krejza a run of a few tests, let him settle in and make the spot his own. I think Haury’s done a great job but Krejza’s the better option, now and in the future. Krejza’s form for Australia A was excellent earlier this year and he’s bowled well for Tassie this year too. He’s tightened up now and he’s more of a wicket-taking option. At 9 he’s a very good batsman too.

The toughest choice is two of Siddle, Hilfy and Clark. I won’t get the chance to watch them bowl this week! I could live with going for Sids and Hilfy, but I’d rather Clark. I could live with a horses for courses and at the WACA I’d probably pick all three and make Crazy 12th.

Jaques back???

Hussey missing out???

Siddle only half a chance????

Krejza back in????

S.Clark in????

Interesting.

Unless Lee does something drastic in that Shield game, I wouldn’t bother with him. He’s no use bowling in the high 130s and they’d be better off with Bolly or Stuey Clark (the obvious one), if they want to go with 4 quicks. Krejza bowled well again and I’ve always thought of him as a better test option than Haury (and someone who should be given a go as a wicket-taker in one-dayers too).

Clarke really scratched around, but it’s different with tests. With one-dayers you are forced to push the pace and if you’re slightly off with your timing, you’ll struggle. With tests the run scoring pressure’s off.

I thought Hughes struggled too and Jaques must be some chance – he’s outbatted Hughes twice now. I’d still drop Hussey unless Clarke is injured. Taking in 4 specialist quicks with Watson just seems inherently wrong.

I’d go with this team for the first test

Katich
Jaques
Ponting
MClarke (Hussey if unfit)
Watson
North
Haddin
Johnson
Krejza
SClark (the others bowl better when he’s there)
Hilfenhaus/Siddle

There’s a surprise.

Still, missing out on another ’selection trial’ allows him to further the myth that he’d actually be an awesome Test bowler if it.