The Gabba Test match cannot come soon enough. The sporting ‘black hole’ between the football and cricket seasons is enough to send any true Aussie sports fan around the bend.
Sorry, but the A-League and a Bledisloe Cup dead rubber simply do not suffice.
To pass the time, I’m sure that many of you kept an interest in the T20 World Cup, and the opening rounds of the Sheffield Shield and domestic one day season.
Perhaps you made mental notes of the eleven cricketers who you think should don the Baggy Green for the opening Test on November 9? Well I did, and here is my Australian XI:
1. David Warner
It will be fascinating to see how Warner fares when he meets Steyn, Morkel and Philander for the first time in the Test arena. Had success against the Indians last summer, but their bowlers were flat and lacked heart. The Proteas’ pace trio will be a massive test of character for the nuggetty New South Welshman.
2. Ed Cowan
Foot to the ball, elbow up, full face – Ed Cowan’s controlled demeanour at the crease provides a perfect balance to the audacious stroke play of companion David Warner. But with Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja nipping at his heels, a few low scores could see his days numbered.
3. Shane Watson
His class is unquestionable. However, his 35 Test matches have only produced two centuries. This home series Watson will undoubtedly be out to convert starts into big scores. While it should be used sparingly, his wicket-to-wicket bowling will also be a huge asset for the Aussies.
4. Michael Clarke
A wow of a summer in 11/12 saw Pup take home the Allan Border Medal. At four, he is the heartbeat of the Australian line-up. The captain may also be needed for some left-arm offies, but the Gabba deck is hardly a spinner’s paradise.
5. Ricky Ponting
Ahh Rick Ponting. Who can forget his defying, gritty, ungraceful (more adjectives please) century in the Sydney Test last summer? If he can score big runs early against the Proteas, then who knows, perhaps England 2013 isn’t too much to ask. If not, the knives will be out yet again.
6. Michael Hussey
Hussey is best suited to the number six position. He is an excellent player of spin, and seems to bring the best out of Australia’s tail order. Like Ponting, he will need to get among the runs at the Gabba and in Adelaide to keep the pressure off.
7. Matthew Wade
Wade or Haddin? Tough question, but I think Wade’s form and youth will see him named for the first Test.
8. Peter Siddle
Siddle’s ability to make the batsman play has been a key element of his game. I watched him play the Bulls at the Gabba earlier in the week, and a line-up that included Khawaja and Forrest could barely get him away. While he has given up meat, that hopefully won’t curb his hunger for South African scalps.
9. James Patterson
If he can stay fit, Patterson could be the Aussies’ most deadly weapon for the Test series. The confident Victorian will not be afraid to dig in the short stuff to Kallis, Smith and Amla alike. The Indian series also showed he does not mind a bit of verbal banter as well.
10. Ben Hilfenhaus
Hilfy and the young Patterson will take the new ball for the Aussies at the Gabba. The Tasmanian was a stand-out last summer. What he lacks in pace, he redeems with uncanny accuracy and movement in the air. He is the backbone of the Australian attack.
11. Mitch Starc
Starc pips Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the final spot. He is in good form, and his left-arm option adds some variety to the pace attack. However, he cannot afford a bad showing, as Aussie quicks are queuing up for miles.
Kristin Carville
Roar Rookie
Think you have pretty much got it spot on there Smithha, I would only see one positional change and one player change from your list. I think that Clarke will remain at 5 and Ponting at 4, they are unliklely to change that in a hurry. Larke is comfortable at 5 and has had wonderful success there compared to at 4. Only personnel change would be Lyon in. I dont think they will take 4 seamers in, unless it is as green as that pitch we had at Headingly a few years ago when Pakistan rolled us for 88. Who to drop would be the question though? I do like th variety Starc offers as a left armer, and Pattinson has beenin great form - but also very hard to drop Siddle or Hilfy! I guess all will be revealed on November 9!
lolly
Guest
I don't want Steve Smith in the test team, he's not up to it, but he's still young. There is no need for people to keep denigrating him the way they do.
Nick
Roar Guru
While I agree with you on most of your assessments on Michael Clarke, saying he is not a 'great' batsman simply because he hasn't scored runs in Ashes games is a slight on the pre-requisites for greatness. Your definition completely rubbishes all the other test nations that play Australia and also shamelessly elevates the status of Ashes games as above regular test matches. Anyhow, Michael Clarke has indeed scored key runs against England when it counted (Adelaide 2006, and held his own fairly well in the 05 series). People who score 700 runs in 4 test series deserve to not have their claim being 'good' or 'great' defined simply by Ashes performances. Ricky Ponting never scored a hundred (or fifty) at Lords, should he therefore be seen as a player who didn't stand up when required? Of course not. People need to stop falling into this jingoistic sphere of Ashes reverence. People seem to blindly follow the marketing and planning strategies of Cricket Australia: that the number one priority is the Ashes and all cricket is in Australia is played to win them back. Utter nonsense. Ashes series are not the be all and end all of cricket. Australian cricket should be planning for the next test, in this case against South Africa, the number one team. If CA treat South Africa and Sri Lanka this summer as a testing bed for the next Ashes series, we will get thumped and the public will feel rightly aggrieved they paid good money to see an experimental side. Who gives a right thought about who the next English Ashes squad is? You shouldn't be picking an 11 based on the opposition, you pick an 11 that you believe is the best chance of winning a test match. No way should Australia be starting as favourites against South Africa. SA have the best bowling attack in the world. Steyn and Philander could still smash people bowling with just one leg. Smith, Amla, Kallis, De Villliers are frightenly good attack weapons in the batting line up. All are good and most importantly, reliable. Australia does not have that. Warner is as reliable as a poorly built f1 car: Fantastic when working, awful when not. Watson is good for 50 before he loses concentration. Ponting is past it, Hussey is past it. The keeper has not been sorted. Cowan still needs to find his groove. The bowling is a real plus for Australia, but still not in the same class as SA...yet. Hopefully CA properly manage the bowlers cause they really are a talented bunch. If they arent in the test team, they need to be plying their trade in Sheffield Shield to get some match fitness in....they cant be 'rested' fullstop.
Disco
Roar Guru
What on earth is a "keyboard warrior"?
Oracle
Guest
There is no way known that Haddin should be selected. Wade's 80 in Brisbane and 100 in his last Test, plus he is 10 years younger, and Haddin drops catches, it's a no-brainer. Just because he is a NSW team mate of Clarke's should not justify Haddin getting a game. The ABC guy backing Haddin was most likely the NSW-centric Jim Maxwell anyhow.
Michael
Guest
Sorry to disappoint you Your Holiness. I wish I was a highly paid Test cricket champion and captain of a national team. Instead I have to occupy my time bowling modest medium pacers on Saturdays. That's not the first time someone has said that though. Common name I guess.
Disco
Roar Guru
Well, only, Warner is under 30, so I don't think it'd be blooding for the sake of it - the batting lineup is worryingly old. Khawaja did better than Ponting when he was in the side and yet the older, out of form player was retained for the Indian series following the Hobart capitulation. The younger players won't be able to establish themselves if they're not give proper opportunity. I also feel that the wicket of Ponting gives opponents a massive boost and, the Indian series, he's been far too obliging in the past couple of years; whilst he remains on the side on past glories, and garnering incessant media speculation, this is a weakness in my opinion.
cantab
Guest
lol, sorry MrKistic, never been to NSW in my life, but I do support any team playing them.
cantab
Guest
because he can bat(almost) and both will be as ineffective as each other with the ball (not that Clark is likely to use either of them). Pick four quick's IMO is the best option.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Clarke is building a what now?? Don't we already have a number of cricket academies??
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I think Michael is actually Michael Clarke.
Don Corleone
Guest
Agreed Michael. Clarke is the captain of the Australian Cricket Team, has a brilliant record as a player and captain, has a test 300, earns $6 million a year, has purchased a sprawling property in the Southern Highland where he's establishing a cricket academy and is married to a stunningly beautiful woman. I doubt whether he loses sleep at night that he doesn't live up to the expectations of a bunch of keyboard warriors.
Tobes
Guest
I would much rather string Ponting out a few extra series than blood someone for the sake of blooding someone. Hughes, Khwaja, Marsh all had opportunities and not taken them. Cowan and Warner need big summers to cement there spot. I'm sure Ponting will continue to be picked until we can get a lock on 4 of the 6 batting spots and right now i don't think we can do that with any of the next generation. Clarke and Watson would be the only 2 you could guarantee through to the end of the double Ashes series. While it is only 2 consistent performers i would rather have 2 experienced guys who have been there done that and 2 guys finding there way than 4 guys finding there way.
smithha
Roar Pro
By all means play Lyon in Adelaide and Sydney. The fact is though, look at every Test playing nation in the world- They have a spin bowler who is a genuine strike bowler. Look at Lyon's Test scalps and you'll find that a fair percentage of them are tail enders who are out having a slog. He simply does not demand the respect of the world class batsman like other spinners - Vettori, Swan, Mendis etc
DingoGray
Guest
Who's this James Patterson you talk about? I would not completely right off Mitchell "Syndrome" Johnson getting a start against the SAFFA's just on the back of a few match winning performances against them in the past. As for a spinner at the Gabba....Lyon is a lock and bloody should be! Done the job for the Aussies. Cowan will open with Warner, but I think he wanted fine some form pretty quickly! Ponting is a lock as well! The mention of Steve Smith in our test team is absolutely laughable! You blokes should be doing stand up!
Jamie
Guest
I think that the forgotten man in this list is Ryan Harris. He offers a bit of experience to anotherwise young attack (which otherwise would rely on Siddle as the sole steadying head) and hasn't dnoe anything to disappoint in any of the games he's played. To fair, there's at least a 50% chance he's injured at any given time, so that could also be the reason for his absence!
Disco
Roar Guru
I agree that is the likely team. Dropping Wade for Haddin though, will be a disgrace.
jameswm
Guest
The first test team will be the same old same old. Top 6 set, Haddin to keep, Pattinson, Sids, Hilfy and Lyon as bowlers. Khawaja and Hughes have had pretty good starts to the Shield season but need to really kick on into consistent big scores. Cowan could easily stumble and you want to be at the front of the queue when that happens. Of course, Skinny Cosgrove could sneak past them all the way he's going. Bowling wise Cummins and Starc to keep pushing, I'd rather Cummins just play a season of Shield cricket. And someone iron out that flaw, where he leans inside his action. Sids and Pattinson have both had strong starts to the season, so the top 3 quicks are picking themselves at the moment.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
You're right. Unless you're prepared to shave the skin off your own face, you're not fit to be Australian captain!
Michael
Guest
Clarke's record against England: 1365 runs at an average of 45.50 with four 100s and six 50s. Furthermore, he averages 48.93 in England. So he's already scored four centuries in the intensity of Ashes matches. What more does he need to do? Average 150? Sorry everyone, I couldn't resist responding to this.