The team I'd pick and The team they'll pick

[rogernumber10]

Move the test to Perth and bounce them silly with five quicks

[Rik E Boy]

Move the test to Perth and bounce them silly with five quicks

Jayasuriya, Jawardene and Sangakarra would enjoy that I reckon. No, variety is what wins test matches and has done so for the last 12 years.

regards,

REB

[Pup]

A lot of posters have been quick to point out that the Lankans are 'good at playing spin' but it's not India we are playing here. Hogg caused the Lankans problems during recent one dayers and can do so again in the creams in my view.

regards,

REB

That is one thing i agree with you on. I recall a couple of the Sri Lankans having trouble picking up his Variety balls (Wrong Un and Top Spinner). Be interesting to see which way the selectors go.

[Rik E Boy]

Not happy. Someone agrees with me. That's just not on.

regards,

REB

[Hondo]

If you line up MacGill's test record v Hogg's you should have your answer, assuming both are fit

To me, Hogg is like Peter Taylor. Very good in the one-day game but just not penetrating enough at test level where the quality batsman handle him easily. At least MacGill on his day can really trouble the elite batsmen.

Having said that, if MacGill is not fit, then I would go with Hogg. Anyone one else concerned that our only 2 options for the spinner's spot turn 37 next February?????

[Pup]

If you line up MacGill's test record v Hogg's you should have your answer, assuming both are fit

To me, Hogg is like Peter Taylor. Very good in the one-day game but just not penetrating enough at test level where the quality batsman handle him easily. At least MacGill on his day can really trouble the elite batsmen.

Having said that, if MacGill is not fit, then I would go with Hogg. Anyone one else concerned that our only 2 options for the spinner's spot turn 37 next February?????

Yes worries me a lot.

Then you look at the second stringers.

Bailey, Cullen, Heal, White, McGain, Doherty, Casson, Hauritz, Mangan (Rookie),

Does not look brilliant for the future IMO. I hope i am wrong.

[Rik E Boy]

If you line up MacGill's test record v Hogg's you should have your answer, assuming both are fit

To me, Hogg is like Peter Taylor. Very good in the one-day game but just not penetrating enough at test level where the quality batsman handle him easily. At least MacGill on his day can really trouble the elite batsmen.

Having said that, if MacGill is not fit, then I would go with Hogg. Anyone one else concerned that our only 2 options for the spinner's spot turn 37 next February?????

Hogg has far more tricks than Peter Taylor ever had. It's pretty hard to get a decent test record when you are up against Magill and Warne too just quietly (not the SAFOOTY.net poster LOL). Magill is struggling and Warne has retired. The time for Hogg is now. The other spin options are nowhere near it yet and Mitchell Johnson is likewise a bit raw IMO.

regards,

REB

[Killa]

If you line up MacGill's test record v Hogg's you should have your answer, assuming both are fit

To me, Hogg is like Peter Taylor. Very good in the one-day game but just not penetrating enough at test level where the quality batsman handle him easily. At least MacGill on his day can really trouble the elite batsmen.

Having said that, if MacGill is not fit, then I would go with Hogg. Anyone one else concerned that our only 2 options for the spinner's spot turn 37 next February?????

Yes worries me a lot.

Then you look at the second stringers.

Bailey, Cullen, Heal, White, McGain, Doherty, Casson, Hauritz, Mangan (Rookie),

Does not look brilliant for the future IMO. I hope i am wrong.

Dosen't look great I would look to play bailey before all them because can bat. White will play Test cricket soon as a middle order batsman, even could be a darkhorse for a test spot this summer in the middle order by playing 4 fast bowlers and 3 spinners. Cullen is only a one day bowler at the moment, its scary for him. Casson is another bowler with great future.

At the moment Bailey and Cullen are the next behind MacGill and Hogg.

[rod_rooster]

White will play Test cricket soon as a middle order batsman, even could be a darkhorse for a test spot this summer in the middle order by playing 4 fast bowlers and 3 spinners.

I hope not. There is no way he is good enough to justify a place a batsman and he simply can't bowl. Seriously he hardly even gives himself a bowl for Victoria and as a batsman he is a long long way down the list. There would be at least half a dozen guys not in line to play in the first test that would get picked as a batsman ahead of White.

He's a handy one day cricketer but a test player he will never be.

[locky801]

Evidently Michael Clarke has a hamstring injury, unknown how bad at this stage but is causing a bit of grief to selectors according to the news

[GWW]

9 McGain (Young spinner reminds me of a younger Warne but MacGill probably be picked)

Is that the Vic spinner?? if so he is well into his 30's. A late bloomer i suppose.

That's what I thought too LBT, but I didn't know enough to query it! So I checked it out for myself:

According to cricinfo.org McGain is nearly 36![/quote]

I'd rather bring back Peter Taylor

[the joker]

Evidently Michael Clarke has a hamstring injury, unknown how bad at this stage but is causing a bit of grief to selectors according to the news

he is in huge doubt. if he does not play it will give a Katich one more chance at the test side

[brod]

Well, this could make these discussions a little less interesting..

[GWW]

So with Michael Clark probably being out, who will get the second spare batting position?

Maybe David Hussey??

Could we line up like this..??

Katich/Jacques
Hayden
Ponting
M Hussey
D Hussey
Symonds
Gilchrist
Hogg
Lee
S Clarke
Tait

[brod]

Katich bats in the middle order for NSW, so could do the same job for Aus and have Jaques at the top

[Pup]

Dosen't look great I would look to play bailey before all them because can bat. White will play Test cricket soon as a middle order batsman, even could be a darkhorse for a test spot this summer in the middle order by playing 4 fast bowlers and 3 spinners. Cullen is only a one day bowler at the moment, its scary for him. Casson is another bowler with great future.

At the moment Bailey and Cullen are the next behind MacGill and Hogg.

Just a couple of points on your post

* You would not even consider Bailey at the moment, it honestly looks like he has forgotten to bowl, the amount of long hops and full stuff he is dishing up is terrible. Does not matter how he bats at the moment. Needs a lot of work, probably has the most upside but is still a long way away IMO.

* White wont play Test cricket as a middle order batsmen, and is not any where near selection at the moment. He barely bowls himself at State level (He is the second spinner for Vic). There would also be 6-8 batsmen ahead of him maybe more.

* What scares Cullen?

* Casson looked the goods early but his record is not good and his average is rising as we speak. He averages an ordinary 43 and left WA to play second/third string behind MacGill and a couple other spinners. Needs a lot of work.

I hope one of the young spinners can develop enough before MacGill and Hogg retire.

[carey]

So do you play white and have 8 batsman. He needs to bowl more than he will inprove.

Hello boys we may have a Victorian in our midst

BATTING

KATICH 356 @ 178.00> D HUSSEY 255 @ 62.50
KATICH 356 @ 178.00>> WHITE 170 @ 42.50

KATICH 30 fours 9 sixes. Boring cnut!

BOWLING

HOGG 8 wkts @ 10.37 > WHITE 3 wkts @ 29.33
HOGG 8 wkts @ 10.37 >>> MCGAIN 5 wkts @ 45.00

BOWLERS BATTING AVERAGE

HOGG 58 @ 58.00 > WHITE 170 @ 42.50

NEWSFLASH:

1. White can't bowl for 5hit. He's bowled plenty of overs for the Vics and still gets carted at Internation level.
2. Hussey can bat but others are better.
3. **** who? Fair dinkum!
4. HOGG got his figures against Victoria.
5. The Bushrangers have had the benefit of the bye (i.e. the Redbacks)

Time to round up this Bushranger! No frontrunners in the Baggy Green please.

regards,

REB

that newsflash is pure gold reb pure gold

[Rik E Boy]

The team they'll pick

HAYDEN
JAQUES
PONTING
M HUSSEY
CLARKE (will come up IMO)
SYMONDS
GILCHRIST
LEE
JOHNSON
CLARK
MAGILL

HOGG should be picked. Pick guys on form, not on what they did against England years ago. Hogg is making it talk at the moment. He bowled beautifully again last night against the Bushrangers, picking up four wickets.

JOHNSON is a one day bowler at the moment and I'd plump for TAIT.

Not that unhappy with JAQUES getting picked, KATICH can then bully bowling attacks all summer long, although Justin LANGER may rival the Kat in terms of runs by the time the years' end and defy that newbie 'Mallys' prediction.

regards,

REB

[Blue Boy]

I cant see them playing Lee and Tait in the same side - both to offensive !!!

[Pup]

I cant see them playing Lee and Tait in the same side - both to offensive !!!

You could probably say the same about Johnson as well though?

In the near future maybe if the selectors want to play 4 paceman maybe they should look at a more balanced attack with 2 of Lee, Tait and Johnson and then Clark and Noffke as well?