Drop Siddle for the Hyderabad Test

He did bowl over 40 overs, how many runs do people normally get hit for after bowling 40 overs. Because the average score in a 50 over game is about 250

John, Pitch doctoring? The Chennai pitch had runs for those who were good enough, and provided a result early on day 5. A sporting pitch, by any measure. Pattinson and Jimmy Anderson showed us that pacers, too, could prosper if good enough. I don't buy the theory that sub continental pitches are dodgy. Just different. Would you say growing a bit of grass on the pitch is 'doctoring'? Surely not. PS - Unbiased Indian/Aussie supporter here.

Ur squads good but I feel cowan really toiled hard in d second innings facin 97 deliveries nd dats not a joke!!!! My 11 wud be Cowan Warner Watson Clarke Haddin Henriques Smith Pattinson Lyon Doherty Siddle. Playin siddle d reason is he deserves some faith nd support keepin in mind his previous performances......

Though India won the first test comfortably on a sub-standard pitch, we need to look at the positives which were few but notable like debutant Henriques batting, showing great temperament & technique along with Pattinsons lion-hearted bowling performance. If such pitches are the sign of things to come, then its extremely vital for us that we bat extremely well in the first innings, their batsmen need to come good, produce big scores if they seek to remain competitive ahead in the series, For India, the attacking brilliant century by captain Dhoni was the turning point as that innings took the game away from the Aussies. Such a thing never happened against England because their quality attack never allowed the Indian batsmen to score freely with their tight bowling.Big mistake not to include Khawaja in the first test and we need to get him in for the rest of the series either for Cowan or Hughes, i would lean towards dropping Cowan as that allows Watson to move to opener.

It's funny. Hughes looks completely at sea against quality spin and also completely at sea against quality pace bowling (if we class Chris Martin as quality anyway). I'd love to see him have a fantastic career, but at this point I think he is more likely to struggle through India and then get caught in the slips in the Ashes until he is dropped. Hope that I am wrong.

Boris, think it shows the selectors have this short term memory syndrome. They can recall Starc doing OK in a few Odis and 20/20s so he should be in the test team. Same as what happened with marsh.

"The age-old success mantra for Aussies on the sub-continent of one spinner and three quicks, doesn’t seem to work" Success? depends on how you define successful. In the "age" of the Border Gavaskar trophy from 96 on there have been 6 Australian tours of India not including the current tour, with a return of 1 series victory in 04-05.

Is thsi a joke? you said "We need two front line spinners" and then state Lyon for one of our spins? -3/200 That is not a front line spinner. That is rubbish.

Cowan has outscored Watson in this match, and has exactly the same bowling figures: 0 overs, 0 maidens, 0-0. Hughes looks completely at sea against quality spin, and for my mind I think he should make way for UTK. 3 openers should be enough. Bird isn't even in the country anymore (flew home yesterday with back pain) but if he was he should definitely be in the side. It's a shame O'Keefe isn't there because he's a decent bowler who would strengthen a very fragile looking batting line-up, but I agree Doherty has to play if they have to bowl a spinner for 47 overs an innings. My ideal 11 would be: Warner, Cowan, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques, Wade, O'Keefe, Pattinson, Lyon, Bird. Of the touring party currently there: Warner, Cowan, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques, Wade, Pattinson, Siddle, Lyon, Doherty

We need two front line spinners. Whilst I don't think Xavier is the man he is the first cab off the depleted rank in India so he gets the nod. I would drop Sids for him. Siddle looked rusty and his style of hitting the deck in India was less than helpful. Should have played Sheidl Sids! Starc was average so bring in the X factor Johnson. You then have Pattinson, Johnson and Henriques for your quicks, Lyon and Xavier for spin with a little back up from Clarke and co. Khawaja should be in the team so I would make room for him too. Our batting against spin was awful aside from Clarke and the gutsy Henriques.

Didn't Siddle not play Shield after the Sri Lanka series so he could he get some training in the gym in before heading off to India? You should have played Shield Sids! Match fitness is different to gym fitness as Shane Warne mentioned yesterday.

Siddle was in phenomanal form, The NSP rested him for awhile (I don't think he played the warm ups, I could be wrong) and he has lost his rhythem and form. Saying that he is a hit the deck bowler which the chennai conditions don't help. Usually though his constant tight line and length still work but he hasn't bowled consistantly so far.

Cowan does, but he gets himself 30 pretty much regardless of whatever else is going on - he may find himself still in favour because of that.

My mistake re: balanced. It's reasonable to a degree. Seems to be rooted in perceptions formed in 2009. If I was England I would be least concerned with: Cowan: I'd use Shane Warne adage don't worry trying to get him out; he does it himself and doesn't bother the score book too much anyway. Watson: Was a big fan, but seems to have lost his way a bit now. Smith: I'm not sure will get an Ashes gig.

I don't see how this team has more of a chance of taking 20 wickets than the first test team. All you have done is remove one option. don't forget we did score 380 in the first innings and 200+ on Day 4 is actually not too bad. BUT India score 570 and this is not acceptable. So someone has to come in if you are dropping Siddle, whether it is Doherty, Johnson or Maxwell. I would drop Siddle and Star and bring in Johnson and Doherty. Leave the batting order as is for one more test. Watson goes home after tha anyqay and Khawaja will come in.

As opposed to the ABC radio, Channel Nine and Gideon Haigh? It balances their commentary nicely, I didn't say it was 'balanced' in and of itself. Their criticism of most of our batting lineup however is reasonable.

I don't know how that is balanced perspective. It's reeks of English cheerleading before the Ashes.

Last time Australia were in india, Bollinger, hilfenhaus and Johnson all got wickets and hauritz the spinner was thrashed . I don't think the selectors have made a diabolical mistake because Australia's major strength right now is pace bowling. During the final frontier series in 2004, McGrath gillespie and kasprowicz all had brilliant series whilst Warne other than.the 6fer to took, didn't take many big hauls. You cannot drop siddle from the side. I think if one had to be dropped it'd be starc because his action.is.more suited for bouncier and seam friendly pitches whilst Johnson's slingy round arm naturally allows reverse swing. If there was a series for Doherty then it'd be now. Maybe the second allrounder is needed in smith or Maxwell though both aren't real potential wicket takers

I like that line up Sydney kiwi...only problem is Bird has flown back home with back problems. I get the feeling he would have had success if he played.

Smith in for Cowan, nice one ;p Siddle could do with a break (drop, rest, rotation, whatever you call it) - he seems to have dropped off form over the ODI / 20/20 games. Doherty in. Cowan surely needs to go now, its a pity as he showed some backbone in the prelims. He will be back in once Watson leaves so he still has some chances. Starc will be a tough call as I love having the L/H option but looks to be drier still in Hydrabad he may stay but I say give Bird a go as he can tighten it up for the spinners at the other end. Interesting to see some opinions outside of Australia. I agree a little with Hughes being very predictable but he is mentally strong. So lineup- Watson, Warner, Hughes, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques( has done enough to move up), Wade (up one less pressure), Patterson, Doherty, Lyon,Bird. That leaves us a quick, two fast mediums with Bird being the stock bowler. Two off side spinners, Two leg side spinners in Warner and Clarke. This side should be more stable and get more runs with more support for Clarke. And also another spinner to share the load with Lyon.