Australia's Test future looking bright

Points noted. I hadnt mentioned the bowlers because their perfromances have been self evident. The big success stories of this cricket summer have been the new fast bowling finds in Cummins, Pattinsn and Stark,the rejuvuenation of Siddle and Hifenhaus, the successful return from inujry ofHarris and the surprisingly competent performnce of Lyon. Excellent showings though we wait to see them on overseas grounds. Mcdermott deserves congratulations for melding this group into such a formidable unit. Also encouraging is the retrun to form of Ponting and Hussey, though against talented but illdisciplined Indian bolwers. The other plus has been the emergence of Warner who seems potentially a stand out opener....just needs to be a little more patient early in his innings. But we should be thankful for Clark, Ponting and Hussey because I dont think the younger bats are quite ready to explode onto the international stage. Khawaja, Hughes, Burns, Lynn, Maddinson etc are outstanding but still need a little time to develop. Khawaja is the only one at present I think can manage test level, even possibly as an opening wich he has handled well in the past.

Still not sure if this article was written tongue-in-cheek. No passengers??? Haddin is past it, Marsh can't buy a run, Cowen has looked ok at times but is not test level, and Hussey and Ponting are close to the end of their careers. Not sure we would have beaten England or South Africa over 4 tests on these pitches.

Yep. thems the two...and Maddinson and and and that Penrith Pup Pattinson also look interesting. Couple of years from now they'll be saying Marsh who, Cowen who....though I think young Mitch Marsh may have some potential

The success of our bowlers and our experienced batsmen has papered over some serious issues we have with our younger batsmen. Without the excellent batting of Clarke And Ponting, this series could have gone in a completely different direction. Marsh just looks as though he doesn't believe he belongs there, mind you it's a bit hard to tell because he is only at the crease for a handful of deliveries, Warner is either Hot or not and Cowan looks a bit like a timid puppy. God help us against a decent, bowling attack, consistently applying pressure. There are alarm bells ringing over our present top order and any plans for Ponting to retire at the end of this series (if there are any) must surely be cancelled. There are promising signs for the future however, with the superb captaincy of Clarke and our fast bowlers, who are all top class performers but the top order of our batting lineup needs corrective surgery imo.

Burns and Lynn are the Qlders, and add in Maddinson.

Marsh a work in progress? Extraordinary you give Clark a begruding 'pretty good' and Ponting and Hussey need to improve their defensive techniques while suggesting all Marsh and to a lesser extent Cowen, just need time in the middle. Who spiked your drink. Clarke's captaincy of late could barely be faultered and he led from the from with his batting averaging on 140 an innings in this test series. Ponting has been the most consistent of the bats averaging over 100 and Hussey was somewhere in the 70's...not bad for players you suggested are 'pretty good' and need defensive improvement. Not saying improvement isn't important...all players need to improve...but it was hardly an issue this test series for those players. And what of Warner, Cowen and Marsh. Well Warner will take time to settle before scoring big more often than once every four innings but he's averaging mid 40's and that aint bad and his fielding is outstanding. yeh time in the middle will benefit him. Cowen is just a pass even though he's averaging under 30 and is pedestrian slow. I see him as a short term opening solution until a better option (maybe a more technically sound Hughes) comes along. But he'll never be a world beater. Marsh is obviously a better player than his averages in this test series, 2.8 runs per innings, suggest. But a future test player he aint and time in the middle isnt going to make him a plus 40 average test batsman. Good T20 player but he doesnt have the discipline or the technique to be a top test batsman and being almost 29 he has already reached hs best years (unlike Hughes at 24-25 and Khawaja at 25-26 who are still in the formative and improving stages). For me the batting 'works in progress' are players like Khawaja, Hughes, Warner, a couple of young Queenslanders whose names have slipped my mind etc...not a middle aged Cowen and Marsh. Haddin's keeping has been at best a pass recently, not better than or have you not noticed the number of fumbles and missed catches lately. He was a top batsman-wicketkeeper but he's on the wane. His batting in this series was well less than 20. Wade averages 40 in first class cricket and has improved his keeping markedly and is only in his mid twneties. he should be blooded now. As for bringing back Warne and Hauritz. I'm sure Benaud would like another crack at it also. He was a pretty good spinner and batsman I hear.

Three promising successors to Haddin. Nevill appears to be a superior gloveman to Wade (as far as I could tell from watching both in the BBL), and has a FC average of 50 - and a Shield average of 60 this season. I'd argue that logically, Nevill should be ahead of Wade in the queue. I think our squad for the WIndies is easy to pick. Dump Marsh and add Wason and Khawaja, take all 6 quicks if fit (Pattinson, Harris, Siddle, Hilfy, Cummins and Starc), and Lyon as spinner and Nevill as keeper. That's 15. If you take one less, I guess you lose a quickie.

Indeed. Until yesterday when Clarke got a bit defensive with 300 odd in the bank, he's been more attacking than not and keen to make changes where required. And compared to what we got last year...

Khawaja will be fine - he just needs to be shown some faith by the selectors. Why on earth he was dumped for the not fit and out of form Marsh is beyond me. Bizarre statement about recalling Warne and Hauritz though... Lyon is fine - not a world beater like Warne, but he's the best option for the forseeable future. Australia's strength is in the quicks at the moment - Harris, Siddle, Hilfenhaus and backed up by Starc, Pattinson and Cummins. Assuming Paine can recover from his finger injury we have two very promising successors to Haddin as wicketkeeper. Warner and Cowan should be shown some faith as openers - they won't succeed all the time, but they look a good fit.

And field placements have been more than a pass mark.

"Backup"!!! Maybe in the quicks, with Cummins and Starc, but Beer, Doran, Warne?? The batting!! Our number 3 has scored about 10 runs in 8 digs and I don't see anyone demanding selection. Watson can come back but probably not as a 3. Really, you should put a bit more logic into it Art.

Kids today. Such poor attention span they can't even type out a full sentence before falling asleep.

its not that bad turbodewd. sooner or later Australia will be strong in the batting, India will find youngsters and progress, Pakistan is making a fight of it against England, while South Africa are a good side. What do people want? Australia losing three tests by an innings. It seems as though, people get their kicks when Australia lose rather when they win.

Yes, Brad Haddin was not bad, mind you this is test cricket we are talking about. Gosh I feel sleepy now...te-est...cri..cri..cricket....can't...stay...awake.....zzzzzzzz......

Michael Beer!