Why are Clarke and Ponting not facing the axe?

Can not sack the captain during a series that is why. Clarke should not be in the next line up though.

it's about time that the selectors work up to themselves and get rid of Ponting and Clark they have contributed very little to retain their places in the team, selectors were keen to get rid of Johnson when he wasn't preforming to well and also Hussey but they keep the other two why the rest of the team carry the in matches

Solid innings but the greatest player of spin in the Australian side fell on the last ball of the day to a part time spinner, to a ball he should have shouldered arms to when it turned so much. Hitting him in the midriff would have been better than what resulted. He won't and shouldn't be dropped. But he needs a strong reminder of his role in the team and that one innings isn't enough to maintain his spot.

Colin N, there was no way in the world that either Clarke or Punter was in jeopardy. That's just people shooting the breeze. I'm not even sure that North is in that much danger, especially if Kat is not able to play at Perth.

The Aussies have had a lot of trouble keeping bowlers on the park. How many different bowlers have been used since the Ashes and not by choice? It's hard to really know what the no 1 attack is in that case.

From an outsiders viewpoint, I believe if you're going to make wholesale (not that it's something I particularly agree anyway), it should have been done before the series. You've already dropped Johnson and Hilfenhaus. Dropping Ponting and Clarke after this test, I think, would make things worse in terms of the team dynamics. As an England fan, I would be delighted if that happened. Both are off-form (although Clarke may have played himself back in to form), but both are equally top class batsmen. To bring in the likes of Ferguson, Hughes etc would put massive pressure on them. And in regards to Hughes, the mistake with him, was the selectors dropped him far too early. He looked okay in his brief stint in England. Was out twice in unfortunate circumstances, one where he nibbled one down the legside, and the other, a debatable catch by Strauss.

Jason - I don't understand your point. You can't take out a large score made in a set of numbers over a year - that's what people do when they are trying to support an argument that isn't backed up by the stats.

Katich is a bit of a myth as well. A stack of 80 to 100s last year but never got a realy big one. In the last few tests those 80- to 100s have become 40-60s. Not that I'm complaining about his form mind you, it's just that there is no point expecting him to bat all day because he's never really ever done it.

Clarke's batting record over the last 12 months is actually pretty good, despite what I and most others thought. scores were v Pakistan in Au 3,21,166 (came in at 3/71) v NZ in NZ 128, (came in 3/115) 28, 63 v Pak in UK 47, 12, 3, 77, (came in 2/55) v India in India 14,4,14,3 v Eng in Aus 9, 2, 80 10 Test matches, 3 centuries, 3 half centuries, one 40. On the face of it not that bad a year, but then most cricket these days is played late at night on pay TV and is out of site, so no one remembers what happened other than the last innings. I don't love Clarke by any means, but that is a pretty good year in test cricket. I am unsure of who is the batsmen that will replace him, who is actually better than him, any ideas??

Symonds was a valuable test cricketer who could turn the course of a game by himself, so how do you come to that conclusion? Also I would much rather have him in the team than North.

Guys, lots of complex issues have been raised but the two needing further examination surround Planning. 1. Australia's lead up schedule to this Summer series involved a long tour of Indian ending in a drawn out series of ODI's, some of which were washed out, then a repeat of ODI's against Sri Lanka. Couple that schedule to what appeared to be reluctance to make changes to the Team, denied several young players the opportunities for game time over at least two months. There is something clearly wrong in the Ivory Towers of CA where they are focused only on Revenue, rather than looking at investing on improving the Operational performance of what guarantees the delivery of that Revenue. 2. Succession Planning involves exactly that, planning for the future of the Team for not just the next match, but next Series and future Series. Our poor Schedule and lack of on-field preparation or match-hardening a Squad of Players for the next 12 months has lead us to where we are today. Again, look to Ivory Towers of CA and then the lack of Vision our current Coaching and Player Management Group. Both share responsibility for the results that come from failures in Planning but neither accept it. Sorry to say it, but the Poms are beating us at our own game. They have invested heavily to plan to the nth detail, prepared a Squad that has turned up fit, hungry and match-hardened. We cannot turn this around overnight.

Only because Clarke was batting for his career. Like North and Langer and Mark Waugh, always pull out a big one when you are on the verge of being axed.

" I’d consider today one of the few times he has posted a decent total when it was really required." And I would agree with this statement. Today is the first time I have seen him make runs when Australia was on the ropes. This is what a Captain of Australia does.

I think Symonds is the exemption to be honest, he made the side in the first place because he brought 'something' to the team. No doubt though you have to be in the buddy boys club, Michael Conn alluded to that when talking about Hodge when he was dropped for Martyn

Look at what Cook has done in 2 tests..235 and 148, Watson can make strong 50's but doesnt and cant go on. To be honest I think hughes is very similar as well, we need someone like Katich (who wont be around next ashes) who can bat all day for us.

Why do people still talk about moving Watson down the order? He is a good opener, why not look to replace the players in the positions who aren't performing? As for all this Clarke love, where does this come from? All those years of coming in behind Langer, Hayden, Ponting and Hussey batting out the innings preserving his average? I'd consider today one of the few times he has posted a decent total when it was really required.

Hells bells what a negative crew!! It is a given that Australia is going through a dark period, however Ponting is still without question one of the best batsmen in Australia at this point in time. So is Clarke, despite his appalling self indulgence in declaring himself fit for the Gabba. As mentioned above the last thing we need to be doing is sacking the captain and vice captain after 9 days of an Ashes series. If the punters had their way before the series started Hussey wouldn't be in the team now, and Australia would be suffering even more heavily. The young batsmen everyone mentions are not exactly setting the shield ablaze, and that is despite the Shield comp containing bowlers of a lesser standard than the line-up of first change bowlers that is our current pace attack. Australia will have to do what happened in the late 80s early 90s identify their top 17-20 players and stick with them. In that lot I would include Krezja, Hauritz, David Hussey, Steve Smith, Kawaja, the misfiring Mitchell Johnson, either Peter George or Trent Cameron from NSW and maybe Hughes. I would remove Doherty and North from the existing squad. On another note it will be interesting to see what happens if Katich is unfit for Perth. Will the selectors use this opportunity to play two new openers and move Watson down to 6 to make his workload more manageable? Or will they stick with Watson at opener and pick a genuine batsmen at 6? After all if our 4 best bowlers can't get 20 wickets it is no point weakening the batting by loading the team up with two all rounders.

Which is a big part in our decline in the test rankings. Why is it that we have a mad rush to finish the test series by New Year to embark on a series of totally meaningless, boring 50 over games that no body can remember 2 weeks later. I see everybody recalling every detail of the 70-71 or 06-07 ashes, but who can recall last summers ODI's? The sooner 50 over cricket dies the better. Then our players can start and finish each summer sharpening themselves in a proper test of their skills- The Sheffield Shield.