All right, then. Here is something to talk about: I don't think that Australia will win the tournament. Especially since they have players, who aren't in form. But the good thing is that Ponting, Clarke and Johnson took some rest. That may help them.
I'm not sure form is going to matter a whole heap in this tournament as the games are so short. Unless you're WHOLE team is playing badly, someone will step up in a given innings, especially with the bat. Bowling form is probably a bit more important, but I think the Aussies have pretty decent bowling form - Bracken is probably the only guy who has poor recent form.
We just have to hope the players hit form. With the form of Dussey I'm tempted to leave our Clarke to give a team of
Warner
Watson
Ponting
Dussey
Symonds
Hussey
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz/Siddle/Hilfenhaus
Johnson
Bracken
Yes Clarke definitely doesn't have the pedigree for T20 cricket. His record is poor and his batting style does not suit. But I think he could be hidden down at #6 and I'd be very surprised if he was dropped given he's the vice captain and he's been in pretty good form recently. In that case, Mike Hussey could be the unlucky dude since he doesn't bowl as well as Dave does. Would be tough on him though. Warner is the only guy who might be dropped, but I hope not because we need some explosion at the top. I like Watson and Ponting, but it would be good to have Warner as an intimidator.
For bowling it depends on Watson being fit for one thing. If he's not, then Hopes could probably come in at #7, or I could even prefer a team with a long looking tail but 5 bowlers: #7-Mitch, #8-Lee, #9-Hauritz, #10-Bracken, #11-Hilfy. Hilfenhaus has a pretty good T20 record and I'd like to see him ahead of Siddle, maybe even Lee and Bracken too as he'll be swinging it deluxe over there. I'd like to see Hauritz play too but only if we're playing enough bowlers so we can abort his spell if he gets smashed. Potentially he could be our most economical bowler.
But I'm not too fussed who we pick as the only players I don't rate here are Clarke and Hopes. As long as the selectors learn from the last T20 world cup, where the Indians cracked 50 from the 4 Symonds/Clarke overs in the semi and ended up winning by 15 runs. Play a decent bowler there instead and Australia might have won. We don't need to bat down to #8 in a 20 over match
: Stuff like selecting James Hopes at #8 with your top 7, and expecting Symonds/Hussey/Clarke bowling 4 tight overs will be fraught with danger.
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