3RD ASHES TEST EG V AU EDGBASTON 2009

[The Cadet]

Where the hell is Phil Jaques?

All this talk about that MUG Rogers, when Jaques has PROVEN himself at TEST LEVEL.

Was injured nearly all last season, Rogers made a over a 1000 runs, but hopefully Jaques can be back for the Australian Summer.

[silicone skyline]

Where the hell is Phil Jaques?

All this talk about that MUG Rogers, when Jaques has PROVEN himself at TEST LEVEL.

Was injured nearly all last season, Rogers made a over a 1000 runs, but hopefully Jaques can be back for the Australian Summer.

Any move to install Watson as Australia's new opener would also come as a surprise, given the quality of top-order candidates around the country. Chris Rogers, who played a solitary Test against India two years ago, has scored 408 runs at 45.33 for Derbyshire in 2009, following on from his successful debut season with Victoria. And Phil Jaques, who has reportedly recovered from a second round of back surgery, scored a century in his last Test innings and averages a robust 47.47 in 11 Test innings.

[The Cadet]

Where the hell is Phil Jaques?

All this talk about that MUG Rogers, when Jaques has PROVEN himself at TEST LEVEL.

Was injured nearly all last season, Rogers made a over a 1000 runs, but hopefully Jaques can be back for the Australian Summer.

Any move to install Watson as Australia's new opener would also come as a surprise, given the quality of top-order candidates around the country. Chris Rogers, who played a solitary Test against India two years ago, has scored 408 runs at 45.33 for Derbyshire in 2009, following on from his successful debut season with Victoria. And Phil Jaques, who has reportedly recovered from a second round of back surgery, scored a century in his last Test innings and averages a robust 47.47 in 11 Test innings.

Like I have said the selectors should be sacked

[rod_rooster]

There is no need for Jaques or Rogers though. Hughes is there and should be playing regardless. I do agree though that there should be a spare batsman in the squad and not two allrounders.

[Pup]

I rarely criticise the selectors and i would like to wait until i see the official side before doing so but sometimes i think a retarded monkey could do a better job at picking these sides.

How in the world can we drop a bloke who has had only 3 innings in this series? Technical flaw or not. I am staggered, I really am. I hope Ricky has something else to tell as at the toss but i have a feeling this is what they have decided.

[rod_rooster]

I rarely criticise the selectors and i would like to wait until i see the official side before doing so but sometimes i think a retarded monkey could do a better job at picking these sides.

How in the world can we drop a bloke who has had only 3 innings in this series? Technical flaw or not. I am staggered, I really am. I hope Ricky has something else to tell as at the toss but i have a feeling this is what they have decided.

More staggering than the dropping of Hughes is having Watson as his replacement. A proven failure as an opening batsman in first class cricket and a proven failure with both form and fitness at Test level. Who does he have pictures of and what were they doing in them that was so bad Watto keeps getting a gig

[Pup]

I reckon Hussey may open and Watson bat at 6. If this is the case then it makes the decision even more staggering given Mike's form over the last 12 months.

Be very interesting to see the final side.

[silicone skyline]

I rarely criticise the selectors and i would like to wait until i see the official side before doing so but sometimes i think a retarded monkey could do a better job at picking these sides.

How in the world can we drop a bloke who has had only 3 innings in this series? Technical flaw or not. I am staggered, I really am. I hope Ricky has something else to tell as at the toss but i have a feeling this is what they have decided.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=retarded%20monkey

1. retarded monkey 84 up, 36 down
The 43rd president of the United Stated of America: George W. Bush
"There are many factors which affect the global policies of the United States, not least of which is the sad fact that its citizens elected a retarded monkey as their leader."

[Gozu]

Not sure if it's true or not but I heard somewhere that Watson is not expected to open. Watto in for Hughes is meant to be the only change too. What a disgrace. Hughes gets dropped yet Johnson stays in the side.

[NFC]

Cannot believe Hughes has been dropped after 3 innings, one he wasn't even out. FREAKING IDIOT SELECTORS.

Pumped to see Watto in though. He had to come in for North though.

[cyclops]

i can not believe how quickly us ozzys jump all over certain players(hughes this time) just coz at the minute he hasnt got a big score.3 months ago every1 was sayn he is the next bradman etc,etc,cmon boys we need to bak our team all the way.

[CoverKing]

This is an absolute disgraceful decision by the Aussies, captain, coach and selectors!

Even though it would be harsh to see North go, i would prefer him to get dropped before any other bat. Watson bats at 6 and hughes keeps his spot as opener.

Hussey altho probably deserves to be dropped first but i think he looks a lot better then North and can dig in for runs when we need.

For me if they are going to bring in Watson, drop North.

What is hughes, ponting, hussey and norths stats since the start of the South African series in south africa???
i wouldnt be suprised if Hughes has the best average!

Hughes has only played 5 tests, scored 2 hundreds and 1 or 2 fifties... plus a couple 30s.
When he first came in we wouldnt have expected it! bloody hell give the kid a go... HILDITCH TO BE SACKED

[Pup]

i can not believe how quickly us ozzys jump all over certain players(hughes this time) just coz at the minute he hasnt got a big score.3 months ago every1 was sayn he is the next bradman etc,etc,cmon boys we need to bak our team all the way.

I think you will find nearly everyone on this thread has backed in Hughes and i doubt to many people said he was the next Bradman.

[The Jack]

Bloody stupid Alpha magazine did though, "Little Don" on the cover next to Hughes' mug. As soon as I saw that, I thought no good can come from this....

[Stumps]

unchanged side mcdonald in for abatsman would be my team, probably hussey.
Need to keep faith in hughes and especially north- he has made a ton this series FFS!!

[Adelaide Hawk]

I have an unfortunate propensity to accept the XI that is selected to play for Australia, so I hope they all do well. Would love to see Watto hake 100, and Johnson with 10 wickets.

However, if the top order fails due to lack of a solid opening, Johnson bowls the same old crap we've seen in Tests 1 & 2, and we go down 0-2 in the series, I think the Australian cricket public should be entitled to an explanation.

[Adelaide Hawk]

HILDITCH TO BE SACKED

I don't know if Hilditch has anything to do with it has he? My understanding is the selectors choose the teams in Australia and the squads to tour overseas, but once they are overseas a group of players (usually captan, vice captain and a senior player) select the teams.

Is that not the case on this tour?

[Rik E Boy]

I have an unfortunate propensity to accept the XI that is selected to play for Australia, so I hope they all do well. Would love to see Watto hake 100, and Johnson with 10 wickets.

However, if the top order fails due to lack of a solid opening, Johnson bowls the same old crap we've seen in Tests 1 & 2, and we go down 0-2 in the series, I think the Australian cricket public should be entitled to an explanation.

Hear hear.

regards,

REB

[the joker]

apparently Phil Hughes wrote on his Twitter yesterday that he had been dropped

[Hondo]

If Hussey is promoted to open and Watto bats 6 and North 5 then this potential selection decision seems a little more reasonable.

If it's a balance thing because they want the 4th seam bowler then a batsman has to go and it's North v Huss v Hughes.

Personally, I think Hussey then seems the lucky one but it depends on whether they feel that English have uncovered a serious flaw in Hughes' batting. 3 innings seems too quick to reach that conclusion leaving me to assume it's simply a team balance thing to get that 4th seamer in and they don't feel like dropping North or Hussey. Therefore, the Hughes fan club don't need to burn down CA Headquarters because he'll be back soon enough. He's only 21.

I'd be surprised if they opened the batting with Watto. Have we all just assumed that's the case because it's Hughes who we think has been dropped?