Only two certainties in line-up for Brisbane

Is November 2011 the month of the debutants? Cummins, Ashwin and Patterson.

Chris, Not a bad side - considering what subsequently happened. Only Siddle for Copeland and you've nailed it (I'm giving you Warner over Katich as your suspicion was always more likely).

Not surprised though by Copeland. He's not quick enough to be able to get the selector's excited about him - the way they can rave about a young quick no matter how unwarranted - and he hasn't taken many wickets lately in first class cricket. It will be very interesting to see who carries drinks. I'll say... Cutting.

Rugby Reg, you almost hit the jackpot. Only Copeland's name is missing from your predicted list. I'm also disappointed with his omission. Official Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (vice-capt & WK), Peter Siddle, Ben Cutting, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson. Who will carry the drinks, I wonder?

So here is the squad for the Brisbane Test, just announced: Test squad: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (vice-capt & WK), Peter Siddle, Ben Cutting, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson. Who will carry drinks, I wonder? Disappointed that Copeland has missed out again.

And for good measure Bollinger

How often does Siddle take wickets ??? Stats say not enough for a strike bowler, just like Johnson,

We live in interesting times, Aussie captains that play on well after their useby date, so called strike bowlers that don't strike that often..hmm .My Brisbane lineup Warner Hughs Khawaja Ferguson Clarke Hussey Haddin Harris if he is fit or Patterson Cummins Copeland Lyon I'd prefer Hauritz Smith then pick a 12th man. Sorry Punter it IS time to go so we can remember you how you were.

would like to get your thoughts on a possible side for the gabba if watson was fit [found out today hes not so maybe a side for bellrieve? ] , its very left field but it makes us a powerhouse batting unit but still some handy options with the ball -, 1warner/kawaga 2 hughes 3 ponting 4 clarke 5 hussey 6 watson 7 wade 8 G. Maxwell 9 M.Marsh 10 J.faulkner/L Butterworth 11 B. Cutting - guessing the last 4 guys are a bit of a suprise so ill explain while they're there - Glen Maxwell - coming in my team at 8 he averages 60 with the bat in shield cricket [same as dave warner - not bad for a no.8!] and has a bowling ave of 41, [nathan lyon FC average of 42, beeer of 47] .At the gabba i dont think you need a genuine spinner [aka nathan lyon - he bowled 3 overs in the whole test in cape town - brisbane is similair conditions] so if our spinner is only there 'as an option to mix it up from the pace' then why pick one whos gonna bowl 5 overs and cant bat? Mitch MArsh - youngest ever player to debut for WA in shield cricket and debuted as an opening batsmen, so he can bat, obviously. and he comes in at 9! but in his last 4 first class games has taken 19 wickets, pretty stunning stuff for a guy who came into shield cricket as an opening batsmen at 17, this kid is so remarkably similiar to shane watson its not even funny, agrressive batsmen but more so with his bowling and we know how important watto is with his bowling, marsh bowls very very straight and just has that bit of wobble both ways in the air and off the pitch, like a watson/copeland/philander [the dude who dominated us for RSA in the 2 tests - not much pace, just moved the ball enough] mitch marsh does it perfectly! James Faulkner/Luke Butterworth - Both average 30 with the bat. Last year J.Faulkner took 35 wickets at 17 and L.Butterworth 45 wckts at 23[leading wicketaker with T.Copeland]. both have taken 12 wickets this year and have been usefull with bat in hand - both really stiff to miss out on Aussie A selection, in particular Faulkner Ben CUtting - averages 23 with the ball 20 with the bat, big hitting lower order batsmen.In the mould of a mitch johnson - not quite an all rounder but still real useful with the blade and i would rate a slightly better bat then johnson, and this guys your number 11! bats all the way down to 11, still have 5 good options with the ball, 2 genuine seamers in faulkner and cutting [to be replaced by cummins &harris], 2 guys who bowl stump to stump and move it both ways in watson and marsh [marsh is really no different to copeland but far more accomplished with the bat and a bit quicker] and your spinner maxwell [play lyon anywhere else he might bowl more overs eg syd,melb,adel] anyway thoughts?

FP thats because ponting has achieved everything, hes just had a 2nd kid, forms been poor and hes 37 so there is lots of speculation as to where punters at with his career and he is simply demonstrating that he is 100% committed to playing on for the baggy green as long as his form warrents it, i think you will generally find thats what happens with most players? they play until the bodies not up to it and they lose that mental and physical drive, so they generally decide to retire, your just making negative assumptions

Like Ponting, Haddin will soon come out and say something along the lines of "If I didn't feel I had the drive to play on and improve, I'd give it away, but I do have that drive, so I want to go on." This seems to be standard response for aging players under pressure and/or a ready-made excuse once they've received the tap on the shoulder (prime example being Haydos who apparently lost the drive after a second miserable run of form - as long as went out true to the Hayden Way, I guess). Drive's not the issue - perfomances and selectors' making strong decisions are, so the faltering incumbents shouldn't themselves have any decision to make.

Well Wade is at 10* at stumps, if he gets himself to 100 before the selectors convene they may boot Haddin.

If Australia had fast bowlers like Lillee, Thomson and Pascoe with fast-medium like Max Walker and Glenn McGrath then having four quickies would be justified. But as we don't, Lyon should be persevered with against New Zealand in the Brisbane Test.

That XI looks a bit short on test wickets. The six batsman look set as does the love affair with Haddin. I agree Rugby's XI will be the team picked except Australian cricket loves conservatism so maybe Pattinson will have to wait and they will pick Hilfenhaus, but I predict the 10 above plus Siddle.

Reg & Brett - is the bowling balance right with 3 quicks and 1 spinner on a pace/swing friendly pitch? Different story if your spinner's name happens to be S Warne. In last years 1st test, Doherty bowled OK but was really not a factor (and nor was Swann for the Poms)

probably Siddle, Reg. I put the point up earlier in the week that if even if Harris played, one of Siddle and Johnson should still probably play. And Pattinson's probably got his head in front, for sure, but I think they all need a better effort with the ball in NZ's second dig..

thats got to get warner and pattison over the line? Thats: Hughes Warner Kawaja Ponting Clarke Hussey Copeland Pattison Lyon Haddin ????????? who is the last siddle , starc or cutting

Pattinson was the "destroyer" in the end for Australia A at the AB Field in Brissie, finishing with 4/96 (from 19ov) in NZs innings of 423. Starc finished with 3/88 (17), Cutting 1/89 (19), Hilfenhaus 1/86 (18), and Beer 0/44 (19). Warner's just out for 65 (off 90 balls), caught behind off Bracewell. Aust A 1/95, Cowan 21* Maddinson 4*

This will be the proof that Australian Cricket is in dire straits because NZ are going to win this in a cake walk and not because of any improved pedigree on their part, but due to our lack thereof.

Yeah I'd like to see Haddin and Siddle gone as well but the selectors, justifiably, won't want to make that many changes. Cuttings main problem is that he isn't a new ball bowler so he is really competing for the one "back-up" bowler spot that Siddle is in right now and, as you said, they won't pick 3 inexperienced quicks. If Wade performs well in the A match and Harris/Cummins are fit for Hobart then they both might be gone by then.