Australian Squad: 1st Test vs the Windies

baggy_blogger · 19th November 2009, 01:22 PM

Australia squad
Ricky Ponting (TAS, Captain)
Michael Clarke (NSW, Vice-Captain)
Simon Katich (NSW)
Shane Watson (NSW)
Michael Hussey (WA)
Marcus North (WA)
Brad Haddin (NSW, W/K)
Mitchell Johnson (WA)
Nathan Hauritz (NSW)
Peter Siddle (VIC)
Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS)
Doug Bollinger (NSW)

So what do you all make of this squad?
I am not surprised that neither Phil Jaques, Phillip Hughes nor Chris Rogers were selected. I think the NSP wants to trial the Katich/Watson duo a bit longer, but in the next 4 years someone will be stepping in when Katich retires.
Doug Bollinger was always going to be in competition with Stuart Clark.
I have often compared Clark to Brad Hodge, who is with no doubt the unluckiest Australian cricketer in recent years. He had a few blunders but continued to play better than any other player at Domestic level who had represented Australia. Simon Katich had a similar fate but worked his way back into the team with a monstrous season which resulted in a call-up to play the Windies in 2008, where Hodge made his last Test appearance too in Michael Clarke's absence. But the Victorian has been overlooked many times, and now it is Clark's turn. But it is the shape of things to come as I often state.
Clark has played a fine game for NSW recently, with a fine performance to back his cause, but that is a story similar to Hodge.
The great aspect about Bollinger is that he can generate good pace off the wicket, with really awkward bounce angled up at the batsman, which is a useful tactic in Test cricket. But, we will see how/if he is used.
Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus retain their spots.
I am excited to see Ben Hilfenhaus make his first possible Test appearance on Australian soil. I think many people have forgotten what a big role he played in the Ashes. It wasn't Hilfenhaus who underperformed to what the media expected from him, he also didn't lose his entire rythm due to issues beyond his control, and he also didn't bowl when we were looking for that final wicket in the 1st Test at Cardiff.
This isn't a blame statement I am making, but more a realistic statement and that people ought to give the bloke a chance before dismissing him as a dull swing bowler.
He has alot too offer, but this isn't meant to impose negativity on what I believe Johnson and Siddle bring to the side, which has been more noticeable. Not to mention they both received well deserved ICC awards this year! Think of the flack Peter Siddle was given when he started? In fact, I was one of them.
If Mitchell is confident going into this Test series and gets off to a flyer as a genuine match winner, it will have a strong, positive effect on both Hilfy and Siddle. I just hope Siddle runs in with that aggressive ambition again, because the Windies love a bit of that!
The question here is will it be a four paceman attack? To toss in the Hauritz factor? And where will Bollinger slot in?

The other talk has been over Nathan Hauritz and Jason Krejza. There have been a few spinners who have come and gone with the NSP and their panic tactics, but there is definite talk out there as to whether Krejza, who is an attacking guy with no fear to toss it up and risk being smacked for plenty runs to get the wickets, or whether Hauritz will play. Hauritz has been dubbed a more defensive bowler and he got wind of this, and notably in his ODI game you can see the difference in not only the better turn he generates but the risk factor he has added to his game.
While he may be more defensive than Krejza, he holds the run-rate back a bit, and can bat a bit too. Hauritz will still be playing knowing a few guys are hot on his heels although his improvement is evident.

Otherwise the batting was predictable, and while there are contenders on the side line (as there are for the bowling too) the experience factor is the great point to emphasise on here.
Michael Hussey has held his spot, largely owing to his awesome performances in the ODI squad which have really been solid. But this is his final Test opportunity and I hope he can hold his head up high and not let the confidence nail him if a few things go sour. Hopefully after regaining better form away from Australia, he will be more at ease in familiar grounds.
Brad Haddin makes his return, and that is a certain watch and see how he goes scenario, although his recovery seems to have been a smooth one.
All the other guys on that list have been in top form, with Clarke getting better assurance after scoring a century for NSW in their Sheffield match vs Tasmania.

Now we wait for the 1st Test. After the 1st Test the feeling out there is that immediate assessment will be dealt with.
And what outstanding English statements, metaphors, similies and adjectives has Mark Nicholas been putting together in his time off?

aussie1st · 19th November 2009, 07:44 PM

Only surprise was not going with the 13 man squad but it seems the selectors are still undecided on the backup batsmen. Hauritz definitely deserved to stay in the side with his performances lately. I am interested in seeing how he goes back in Australia, this is his chance to cement a spot.

Bluebagger · 20th November 2009, 07:33 AM

What difference does a 13 man squad make as opposed to a 12 man squad? If they need backup they can pluck any batsman they like from around the country within hours.

Watson and Hussey will be able to solidify their spots against pedestrial bowling this summer, I can't see too many changes in the batting outside of injury replacements.

baggy_blogger · 20th November 2009, 07:37 AM

That is the benefit as the selectors, if it is a case a reassessing things, can just pull whoever is capable from the State circuit.
At the same time, this is a big positive with the 13 man squad as not only does it leave places up for uncertainty, but with this series and the Pakistan series to follow it will leave time to analyse the performances of the respective squad.

aussie1st · 20th November 2009, 07:45 AM

13 man squad covers the possibility of last minute injuries. With Clarke and North having injuries recently, there is no harm in bringing the extra batter to cover them just in case they pull out on game day which would leave us with only Bollinger to take their spot.

AshesXII · 20th November 2009, 08:50 PM

how come no ferguson and hodge in the squad? hes playing very well in recent times
and clark is better than bollinger and they dropped him

*WORLD CHAMPIONS* · 20th November 2009, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AshesXII

how come no ferguson and hodge in the squad? hes playing very well in recent times
and clark is better than bollinger and they dropped him

Ferguson is out for 6 months atleast, when you did saw Ferguson last ??

baggy_blogger · 21st November 2009, 08:26 AM

Ferguson will be out till next season most certainly, while Brad Hodge is dealing with a minor injury at the moment. Even if Hodgey wasn't injured, the NSP would still overlook him due to the history there. Hodgey's case is one I can no longer promote.

This an old bit of info on an article I wrote regarding Callum's injury (with a source from cricinfo):
'Fergal will be operated on his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), which is the knee ligament that is most common for injury occurences. With a bit of further reading on the matter the 'tearing' is caused by (according to Wikipedia's 80% trustworthy sources); 'sudden dislocation, torsion, or hyperextension of the knee'.
People who experience this can often hear a 'popping' sound when the injury occurs.[/I]'
'As Fergal stated, "As soon as it happened I felt a good, decent tear and heard it as well, so that wasn't a good sign, and the physio wasn't too confident either."(Source cricinfo.com)'

Howsie · 22nd November 2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluebagger

What difference does a 13 man squad make as opposed to a 12 man squad? If they need backup they can pluck any batsman they like from around the country within hours.

Watson and Hussey will be able to solidify their spots against pedestrial bowling this summer, I can't see too many changes in the batting outside of injury replacements.

Considering Pakistan have one of the better bowling attacks going around...

Gazza · 22nd November 2009, 12:49 AM

The NSP being undecided on the back-up bat doesn't really do much for Phillip Hughes' confidence.....

OffCutters · 22nd November 2009, 12:52 AM

Wtf, wheres Phillip Hughes!? Jesus Christ give him bloody match experience FFS..

Howsie · 22nd November 2009, 01:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OffCutters

Wtf, wheres Phillip Hughes!? Jesus Christ give him bloody match experience FFS..

Test match cricket is hardly the place to gain cricketing experience, not when your country is Australia anyway.

TumTum · 22nd November 2009, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazza_11

The NSP being undecided on the back-up bat doesn't really do much for Phillip Hughes' confidence.....

Surely Hughes is the back-up bat?

1) Middle order batsmen injured - Move Watson down, Hughes opens
2) Opener injured - Hughes gets to open

If he isn't, he has a chance to prove it in the upcoming domestic games.

aussie1st · 22nd November 2009, 01:08 AM

Well hes the only one that is in the frame. Jaques is looking in good touch but the selectors will want him to continue this form and prove his fitness over an extended period.

john91 · 27th November 2009, 07:45 AM

Hello everyone, I am new here.

Hughes needs to churn out the runs at domestic level before he comes back to Tests matches, he was very unlucky but the selectors wont bring him back for a while now they have dropped him. They recognize it is a mistake, but will not admit that to the public by selecting him again for a while now.