1st Test: England v Australia

[Covvy]

LOL I'd be happy if Australia moves tthe first test down here.

[WORLD CHAMPIONS]

Missing Lee could be a blessing in disguise Johnson, Clark, Siddle, (Hilfy or Bollinger) is enough to rattle English batsmen. Though a spinner is required imo, but if we do lack in that sector, its always better to go with the force you have

[aussie1st]

Bollinger isn't here and Hilfy won't get a go. So all we have done is lose our best bowler in the tour games (11/218) for a guy that got 2/260. I didn't want Lee in the original side but you can't ignore the swing and reverse swing at 150km/h he got.

[nikhil_99]

Just few hours remaining for one of the most highy awaited series 'Ashes 09', will it be like 05 (In 05 matches were very close,nail biting,and very evenly poised situations)? or like 07? where Aus won very easily...Lets hope for the best...

[Howsie]

Originally Posted by Hooper

I didn't even think Lee was a shoo in for a spot, now people are claiming "England go in favourites now".

Lol.

He probably wouldn't of played anyways.

Lee would of played in the first test, no doubt about it. The reason I think England are now favourites is that Johnson, Clark and Hauritz have all been pretty poor lately whereas Lee actually looked fairly good.

[sifter132]

Originally Posted by Howsie

Lee out for the first two test matches, that is a massive blow for the Aussie's.

Hauritz would have to be playing now wouldn't he, England are now the favourites in my book.

England win, or draw.

Originally Posted by aussie1st

Bollinger isn't here and Hilfy won't get a go. So all we have done is lose our best bowler in the tour games (11/218) for a guy that got 2/260. I didn't want Lee in the original side but you can't ignore the swing and reverse swing at 150km/h he got.

I'm one of the 'Lee is a big loss' camp, so I agree with you both. He was looking good. This is the down side of the hot competition for spots, Lee pushed himself too far. Happened to Shane Watson last summer when he took that 7fer for Queensland after the selectors left him of the Adelaide Test for Symonds.

But I wouldn't count Hilfenhaus out yet. He probably would have played against the Lions if it had been 12 a side. Didn't bowl fantastically in the first warmup, but he did a pretty good job in South Africa with Mitch and Siddle. He would replace Lee as a new ball bowler who can swing it.

If England don't play Panesar and go with Onions, I would reply by playing Hilfenhaus over Hauritz and go 4 quicks.

[aussie1st]

Well I hope they play Hilfy although if he is trying to swing it half way down the pitch he isn't going to be effective over here. I think the selectors will take Hauritz extra batting ability over Hilfy. Although I wouldn't put it past the selectors to go with McDonald for his batting and tieing down ability.

[karnog]

To be honest Mcdonald's tieing down ability might be his only advantage. Wow just goes to show how the selectors screwed up with the squad selection. No spare batsman or openner and picking an injury prone player like Watson. Ridiculous. I'm guessing Johnson and Siddle will open. Clark to tie an end down and Hauritz to be useless. Hilfy is possible but he got hammered by a B grade Sussex side.

[aussie1st]

They wasted a spot on Manou, at least Dussey is playing County Cricket so he can be easily called up. Bollinger said he was trying to get a gig in England as well and with Lee out for 2 Test that could be handy although he is still in Aus playing for Aus A.

[karnog]

Well i don't think Watson or Lee are going home any time soon so the selectors can't call on any more players. Forgot about Manou. If Haddin got injured they could've called up a keeper playing in the county. Yeah i suppose he is a wasted space. I'll hold judgement on McDonald considering he performed in South Africa.

[aussie1st]

I'm sure they can call up players if needed. They had Magoffin, Geeves both called into the squad in SA even though only Bollinger left IIRC. McDonald is really only in there for his bowling, can't trust in his batting. And his bowling ain't going to win you an Ashes so if we are struggling to take 20 wickets he isn't the guy you want to be calling up to fix that.

[sifter132]

Originally Posted by aussie1st

Well I hope they play Hilfy although if he is trying to swing it half way down the pitch he isn't going to be effective over here. I think the selectors will take Hauritz extra batting ability over Hilfy. Although I wouldn't put it past the selectors to go with McDonald for his batting and tieing down ability.

Yep McDonald is right in the frame here. He and Hilfy could benefit from Lee's demise. If Australia don't play Hauritz, I think McDonald will be the selection, for a few reasons:
1a) Batting. No Lee and no Hauritz would mean a long tail: Clark, Siddle, Hilfy.
1b) Conservative selection. Worked in South Africa, playing a long tail so it is hard to lose. Australia don't want to go down 1-0, and without Lee they may opt not to lose, than go for the all out victory.
2) Quick overs. 4 fast bowlers off a long run = bad over rates. McDonald's overs are faster.
3) Containment. He would do the spinners job, bowling into the wind, stump to stump. Stuart Clark can also do this job too.

And if they go McDonald, they may opt for Hilfenhaus over Clark, as McDonald can contain like Clark but Hilfenhaus would get some much needed swing without Lee.

So it could be:
Hauritz + Clark, if spinner is played
McDonald + Hilfy/Clark, if 4 fast bowlers.

[hMarka]

Originally Posted by nikhil_99

Just few hours remaining for one of the most highy awaited series 'Ashes 09', will it be like 05 (In 05 matches were very close,nail biting,and very evenly poised situations)? or like 07? where Aus won very easily...Lets hope for the best...

it will be a much more even contest like 05

[Left_Hander]

I think I am talking myself into thinking that McDonald would be a good selection for the first Test. Jason, I agree with all of your points. McDonald isn't as out of the frame as I thought he was. The only thing that concerns me is that he didn't play in either tour match, so maybe the selectors don't rate him as a chance to play.

The batting line-up is locked in. For bowling I would go:

McDonald
Johnson
Siddle
Clark

This gives us solid batting down to 9 and Siddle and Clark can swing the willow as well.

[aussie1st]

I'm 99% sure our selectors will go with Johnson, Siddle, Clark, Hauritz. For mind the lack of match practice in England will count against McDonald. But if the 2nd Test is more a seam friendly deck it will be interesting seeing what the selectors do since Hilfy is the only one that has played a match of our bowlers. All depends on how Clark goes.