SA Footy

Clarke and Bracken return to Australian squad

Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel (NSP) today advised Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke and fast bowler Nathan Bracken will return from injury to join the Australian squad for the next two Commonwealth Bank Series games against South Africa and New Zealand in Perth. Nathan Hauritz and Ryan Harris have been omitted from the squad which played last night against South Africa in Adelaide.

The 13-man squad is:

State Age

R. Ponting (c) TAS 34
M. Clarke (vc) NSW 27
N. Bracken NSW 31
B. Haddin NSW 31
B. Hilfenhaus TAS 25
J. Hopes QLD 30
D. Hussey VIC 31
M. Hussey WA 33
M. Johnson WA 27
S. Marsh WA 25
S. Tait SA 25
D. Warner NSW 22
C. White VIC 25

NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said:

“Michael Clarke returns from the thumb injury which has kept him out of the past three Commonwealth Bank Series matches in Hobart, Sydney and Melbourne. While it is unfortunate that Nathan Hauritz has been omitted after limited opportunities, it is unlikely that we would play a specialist spinner in Perth and therefore it has been decided he will return to New South Wales where he will be available for selection for the Weet-Bix Sheffield Shield match in Newcastle.

“Nathan Bracken has recovered from the calf injury which ruled him out of last night’s clash and therefore returns while Ryan Harris has been omitted from the squad which has been selected for the two games in Perth.”

David Hussey would want to get amongst it pretty soon and Mitch would want to try and go for less than a run a ball, short tripe outside off will get cained in Perth.

my team from that squad is

S. Marsh WA 25
D. Warner NSW 22
R. Ponting (c) TAS 34
M. Clarke (vc) NSW 27
M. Hussey WA 33
D. Hussey VIC 31
J. Hopes QLD 30
B. Haddin NSW 31
M. Johnson WA 27
N. Bracken NSW 31
S. Tait SA 25

Gives us added batting with Clarke in there and he can bowl a few overs with D Hussey also.

Footy Smart wrote:my team from that squad is

S. Marsh WA 25
D. Warner NSW 22
R. Ponting (c) TAS 34
M. Clarke (vc) NSW 27
M. Hussey WA 33
D. Hussey VIC 31
J. Hopes QLD 30
B. Haddin NSW 31
M. Johnson WA 27
N. Bracken NSW 31
S. Tait SA 25

Gives us added batting with Clarke in there and he can bowl a few overs with D Hussey also.

I reckon they'll elevate Catfish to open and include Hilf in Perth on the bouncy deck.

Supposedly Tait is in serious doubt for the last game now with a hamstring strain. I love watching him bowl (when not playing under the ultra-conservative Ponting) but at some point a decision will have to be made on whether he can handle professional cricket. Even Watson can manage to hang around longer than him and he's already been rested for a game in this series.

If he plays in the IPL this year as expected it could very well be the end of his career. They play what 20-25 games in a month and a half? He'd be lucky to play in half of them.

Throw the batting order around a bit. Haddin is not performing down at 6-7, so get him up to take Warners place who is too hit and miss. We need some consistency up there. Push M Hussey down to where he usually averages 60+ and pick either White or Tait depending on the pitch. Tait is not doing enough at the moment so it would be no loss leaving him out, though an extra quick would be handy in Perth, albeit an accurate consistent one, not a bowler who can bowl 4 balls only above 150 clicks.

S. Marsh WA 25
B. Haddin NSW 31
R. Ponting (c) TAS 34
M. Clarke (vc) NSW 27
M. Hussey WA 33
D. Hussey VIC 31
J. Hopes QLD 30
M. Johnson WA 27
N. Bracken NSW 31
B. Hilfenhaus TAS 25
S. Tait SA 25

White (12th man)