Australia ODI side named

[aussie1st]

So will our crazy selectors spring some surprises in the shorter formats? Daniel Christian is the man of the summer so far, Hodge is trying his hardest to get back in but still unlikely. Then we go back to the debate of the summer - the spinner. Will Hauritz be picked, will Doherty be picked? Or will they just go straight to Steven Smith.

I'd definitely like to try out Christian and Smith as both could have a vital part to play next year. And Doherty should be given a few more games to show what he can do.

So my side and extras
Watson
Haddin
Ponting
Hussey (Clarke rested for his back)
White
Christian
Smith
Lee
Harris
Doherty
Bollinger

Ferguson to come in for some guys we rest, should get a couple of games at least.
McKay
Starc if fit, may as well take another look at him after his last game.
Marsh
Wade if a keeper is needed I'd try him out.
Hastings should also be there abouts.

 

[pcfan123]

is Lee fit again?

 

[aussie1st]

I believe so, hes played 5 games so far and is the leading wicket taker in the OD comp.

 

[hedger_14]

well hes playing for NSW and doing pretty well.

 

[pcfan123]

Wow great news, he might be just what the Aussie seamers need as a spearhead right now. Someone experienced to lead the way.

 

[riz7khan12]

he's supposed to play for Wellington, I haven't seen him bowl for ages so cant wait to get down to the game. How's his pace?

 

[icyman]

Whats happened to Stuart Clark ? Retired or simply not in the selector's good books ?

 

[pcfan123]

His career basically ended in the 2009 Ashes. I don't think he has been on anyones radar since he was talked up for selection at Lords

 

[angryangy]

Out of domestic performances, I would like to see Hodge, Christian and Ferguson in upcoming squads.

However, it's hard to fit them in. For example with Hodge, you can't just straight swap an opener into this side. At best you bump off a middle order player. Clarke, White and Hussey have done nothing to get dropped.

The reason why so many keepers open nowadays is because it so often suits team balance. That triple-proficiency role just frees up a specialist, maybe a big hitter or speculative pick. But while it's one thing to find another good keeper-bat, it's much more difficult to unearth a opening all-rounder. If you want to bring Hodge in and axe Watson, you really need to bring in a bowling option down the order, where it might actually hurt the batting.

So the trouble is that the structure of the side is itself highly specialised to Australia's preferred players. As good a side as it is when in form, it does not seem like all players are held to their performances equally. It's not worth dropping Watson if he's averaging 30-odd with the bat, but really an opener should only be worth their last big score.

The best ODI XI for Australia at the moment might be something like this...

Hodge
Haddin
Clarke
White
Hussey
Christian
Smith (or maybe O'Keefe)
Lee
McKay
Harris
Bollinger

There's just no hope in hell that it will play.

 

[sifter132]

Whats happened to Stuart Clark ? Retired or simply not in the selector's good books ?

Clark is still available I think, but he was never a great ODI bowler. Could bowl good nagging stuff, but didn't have much variety so if he came on with batsmen set and looking to score there wasn't much he could do to slow them. Much like James Hopes in that way.


I mentioned in on the World Cup threads, but the squad naming deadlines are going to be annoying. December 19 for the 30 man, and January 19 for the 15, which leaves Australia only 1 ODI before they have to name the final 15. It's bad because there's still plenty of questions to answer:
*Can Marsh stay fit and open with quality? Or do they need an extra opener? Maybe Ferguson is the backup for a World Cup squad with Clarke moving up to open if Haddin/Watson is injured.
*The spinner. How does Hauritz fit into the side? He was the undisputed #1 only 3 games ago, got rested, Doherty killed it in one game, and now Hauritz may have burned his bridges with the team/selectors. Does Doherty's Test failure lessen his early season achievements? Does O'Keefe enter the frame with his useful batting? Could Steve Smith play as the only spinner?
*Brett Lee. Getting good results for NSW, but given his slower pace these days can he still trouble international players? Seeing him in a few ODIs vs England, might answer that question, but he won't get that chance before the deadline.
*Brad Hodge/Dan Christian - is there a spot there for someone in irresistible form? Where would Christian play if they picked him? With Smith at 6/7 or 7/8? Or instead of Smith?
*The fast bowling puzzle - How good are Harris and Bollinger really? What about McKay or Starc? Hastings? Johnson? Siddle? Tait? Lee? Who's in form? Who might bowl best in Asian conditions?

And we've got a month to try to answer those, with very little OD cricket in that time.

 

[aussie1st]

That dam T20 is screwing us over again. We play 2 of them when we could have had 2 more ODIs. Guess the selectors will have to pick players who are potential WC members in there and then play them in the lone ODI.

 

[War]

Sifter mate where did you see/hear the world cup 15 man squad has to be named by January 19th?

 

[pcfan123]

All 14 teams participating in the tournament have to announce their preliminary line-ups by December 19, and zero in on the final fifteen before January 19 next year.

Sri Lanka news: Sanath Jayasuriya, Chaminda Vaas in preliminary World Cup squad | Cricket News | ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 | ESPN Cricinfo

 

[War]

Wow OMFG. I hope to go the BCCI had nothing to do with this. Since if they weren't this is a ridiculous decision by the ICC.

That decision will affect not only AUS WC preparation, but a few other teams as well.

 

[shaunmedrik]

In the Asses Test Cricket Austrila are not win any match but i hope that Austrila win the ODI series .Many reason about this things like good batsman in Team and also good Bowling power and fielding .Breat Lee is also Fit for the ODI so also helpful for the Team.