Cricket Australia contracts

[Dogwatcher]

Dizzy's been retained.

Kasper and Katich gone.

Cullen Bailey added.

Retired list: McGrath, Langer, Warne, Martyn - obviously adds a bit more cash for CA to play with.

Good news for Dizzy!

[rod_rooster]

Great news for Dizzy. Had an excellent Sheffield Shield season and the door is still just ajar for him with the retirement of McGrath.

[Dogwatcher]

National selectors have rewarded Tasmanian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus for his sterling Pura Cup season by naming him on Cricket Australia's 25-man list of contracted players for the next 12 months.

Hilfenhaus's elevation to the list comes after a season in which he was part of Tasmania's first ever champion Pura Cup side and took more wickets than any other bowler in the competition.

Hilfenhaus was one of six new faces from last year, along with South Australian spinner Cullen Bailey, Victorian captain Cameron White, Queensland all-rounder James Hopes and Western Australian pair Adam Voges and Chris Rogers.

They replace retired quartet Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Damien Martyn, Queensland paceman Michael Kasprowicz and New South Wales captain Simon Katich.

National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch said selectors had chosen an evenly balanced list of senior players combined with the country's emerging young talent in a bid to maintain Australia's supremacy in both Test and one-day cricket.

"This list of players still represents a very experienced group but also includes some exciting young talent that will ensure our reign as champions in both Test and one-day cricket can continue," Hilditch said.

With four spinners on the 25-man list - Brad Hogg, Stuart MacGill, Bailey and Dan Cullen - the race to replace Warne in the Test side is wide open.

"The retirement of Shane Warne is a significant issue for Australian cricket. While he is obviously irreplaceable we are pleased that we have experienced spinners in Stuart MacGill, who has a great Test record and Brad Hogg, who has just finished a highly successful World Cup," Hilditch said.

"We will also look to Cullen Bailey and Dan Cullen to continue with their exciting development and realise their potential."

Hilditch also described McGrath's retirement from the Test side as leaving a 'huge hole' in the pace bowling department.

"But the squad contains some really exciting fast-bowling talent in Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson and now the addition to the contracted list of Ben Hilfenhaus for the first time," Hilditch said.

"While it still going to be a challenging time for Australian cricket, we consider it to be a very exciting one and are really confident that the group we have picked can help us to continue our dominance of world cricket."

When naming the list, selectors considered form in the past 12 months, the likelihood of national selection in the next 12 months, the balance of the side and the development of the Test and one-day sides.

The players are:

NAME STATE AGE
Cullen Bailey SA 22
Nathan Bracken NSW 29
Stuart Clark NSW 31
Michael Clarke NSW 26
Daniel Cullen SA 23
Adam Gilchrist WA 35
Jason Gillespie SA 32
Brad Haddin NSW 29
Matthew Hayden QLD 35
Ben Hilfenhaus TAS 24
Brad Hodge VIC 32
Brad Hogg WA 36
James Hopes QLD 28
Michael Hussey WA 31
Phil Jaques NSW 27
Mitchell Johnson QLD 25
Brett Lee NSW 30
Stuart MacGill NSW 36
Ricky Ponting TAS 32
Chris Rogers WA 29
Andrew Symonds QLD 31
Shaun Tait SA 24
Adam Voges WA 27
Shane Watson QLD 25
Cameron White VIC 23

[blink]

Great work by Dizzy.

The Test pace line-up would obviously at the moment include Stuart Clark and Brett Lee. McGrath's replacement could come from one of either Tait, Bracken, Johnson, Hilfenhaus or Gillespie.

More interesting though will be Shane Warne's replacement - I really can't see how the selectors are going to work this one out.

Symonds will also be looking over his shoulder now in the Test side, due to Mal's mate Watson starting to show that he is a quality allrounder. Symonds' hundred in the Boxing Day test and his ability to bowl either mediums or spin might just get him over the line for the next test. Just.

[mal]

My team

HAYDEN
WATSON [and not used as a bowler]
PONTING
CLARK
HUSSEY
SYMONDS
gil''CHRIST'''
LEE
CLARK
MACGILL [default]
HILFENHAUS OR TAIT

There is only one spinner in the squad
HOGG is a champion o/d bowler but not a test bowler
CULLEN + BAILEY cant improve unless we get a new curator at Adelaide Oval[has become a spinners graveyard]
WHITE is not a test spinner yet
WATSON opens because the other openers in the squad are not good enough
Once again no spot for the unlucky HODGE
SYMONDS must play as the 5th bowler

I wonder what Rebecca thinks ?

[Dutchy]

Geez Dizzy and both Cullens would be rapt...wouldnt have suprised me if none had got contracts...also helps the SACA's as it creates room in the Cap, can we spend it wisely though?

Katich...LOL...that has made my day...you HACK!!!

But cant help feel that Cosi has missed a huge opportunity this last season....if he had got fit and made 2 more tons he would be in the top 25 cricketers in Oz.

Mal - I reckon Hoggy will get the first crack at the test spot, especially if they go to Zim as McGill wont go there

[mal]

Geez Dizzy and both Cullens would be rapt...wouldnt have suprised me if none had got contracts...also helps the SACA's as it creates room in the Cap, can we spend it wisely though?

Katich...LOL...that has made my day...you HACK!!!

But cant help feel that Cosi has missed a huge opportunity this last season....if he had got fit and made 2 more tons he would be in the top 25 cricketers in Oz.

Mal - I reckon Hoggy will get the first crack at the test spot, especially if they go to Zim as McGill wont go there

HOGG is not test standard
But I hope I eat my words as he is one of my favourite cricketers

Harsh words on KATICH hes a reasonable cricketer
He will prove his ability by making most runs in the 2007/2008 p/cup season

[Dogwatcher]

I feel that had Cosgrove had a decent season - Brad Hodge's spot in the World Cup might well have been his.

A BIG missed opportunity.

He's still got time though - however, winning World Cup squads are special and the chance of Australia winning a fourth consecutive cup are how likely?

[rod_rooster]

edit - not getting into that argument.

[Dogwatcher]

What arguements that Rod?

[Aerie]

Big bonus for the SACA having 4 players on an ACB contract. That should even out the money paid to Blewett, Phillips, Elliott...

[rod_rooster]

What arguements that Rod?

It's not worth it DW.

[am Bays]

What odds Hussey moving up to the spot he occupied when he made his debut whith Hodge coming into the middle order?

I expect following his World cup efforts Tait will get first crack @ McGraths spot. The selectors would all have hard ons after getting that selection right that they'll be keen to see him in the Test arena....

Mals boy will have to wait IMHO

Warnes spot - **** knows I wouldn't be surprised if they initially go with MacGill but I wouldn't be surprised if by the end of the season he is out....

My test team against SL

Hussey
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Hodge
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Clark
Tait
MacGill

Hilfenhaus (12th)

[mal]

TASSIE its ironic[or moronic] how we have both invented an opener
to bat with Matt the bat.
I take it you dont think Rogers/Jaques are up to test standard ?
I think of the 2 I would go for Jaques who is has the more flair
Ive seen Rogers who is merely a meticulous grafter

[smithy]

I think the openers spot is gonna be a tough one to pick.
I really haven't seen much of Rogers, but from what I have seen of Jaques, despite his good record hasn't got a technique that will succeed at test level.
I'm backing hussey to move up to opener.

[Dogwatcher]

What arguements that Rod?

It's not worth it DW.

Now you've got me curious mate!

Not happy with my Cosgrove/Hodge call?

PM me if you don't want to air your opinions publicly, I'm curious.

[smithy]

Also I think Cam white and dizzy getting a contract probably reflects a slight lack of depth in australian cricket to be fair.

[am Bays]

TASSIE its ironic[or moronic] how we have both invented an opener
to bat with Matt the bat.
I take it you dont think Rogers/Jaques are up to test standard ?
I think of the 2 I would go for Jaques who is has the more flair
Ive seen Rogers who is merely a meticulous grafter

Invented an opener????????

What are you on or been watching for the last 10 years Mate???????

Hussey was an opener for 8 years and he made his test debut as an opener

It is not that Rodgers or Jaques aren't up to it but there are better batsmen around ATM IMHO

Can see Hodge, Watson and Voges getting games before either of those two given the selections in the last 4 months.

[mal]

HUSSEY is a preferred middle order batsman
At test level he is dynamite batting there
To elevate him to opener would be because no one else is able to from here on.
His record as an opener for WA is just a passmark
Why would you put him as an opener when he is so brilliant in the middle order
I say keep in down the list and find an opener first then go to plan tassie b if that fails

[Aerie]

I think Tassie has it spot on with his XI. I always thought the selectors rated Mitchell Johnson ahead of Tait (they may still for the Tests), but on the back of his World Cup form, surely the team will be the one Tassie has selected. A long way off yet though, obviously.

Is Brad Hogg and/or Nathan Bracken any chance for a Test berth or are they purely one day players? I'm not sure Macgill will be the automatic selection for the 1st Test.

Will be interesting to see if Clark and Hussey can continue their incredible start to their Test careers.

Will we be farewelling Hayden and Gilchrist from the Adelaide Oval in the last Test of the summer?