Aus v Ind Test Series

[mighty_tiger_79]

India had plenty of time this year

[RustyCage]

Steve Smith to captain

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/steve-sm ... 2014-12-15

[Dogwatcher]

Very excited by this.

[Jim05]

Yes!!!
The Blonde Don in charge.
Hopefully this means Haddin is close to being pensioned off

[Bombers4EVA]

Hi all,

Just my opinion,

Wouldn't it be a better option to leave the captaincy to Haddin for the remainder of the test series. And give Smith the vice captaincy and let Clarke and Haddin teach Smith all the lessons he is going to need to be a captain that going to lead us for a long time?

I believe if we rush him into the captaincy too early, and especially atm with how good his form is. Could it unsettle him and put him under too much stress of making decisions and also worrying about his batting performance?

[heater31]

Seems to me during the last test Haddin may have had the VC next to his name on the team sheet but Steve Smith was very much involved in group discussion when Clarke was off the field.

[Dogwatcher]

How long does Haddin have left in the side?
Smith's there for a while yet.

[bennymacca]

Good move to make smith captain now whilst a good leader like Haddin is still there. When Haddin and rogers go there will be a distinct lack of experience and it would be harder when they both leave to then throw it to smith

[Dogwatcher]

Interestingly, Steve Smith becomes the first person with his last name to captain Australia.

[Bombers4EVA]

So what's the likelihood of a possible 2 - 4 changes (1 already a definite)?

I reckon Rogers, Watson and Siddle have to be sweating a bit. Watson maybe a little lucky that Clarke is out for a long time. But he still needs to perform. I think Rogers has been given a fair few chances and I think its time we look at Carters or someone similar.

[bennymacca]

So what's the likelihood of a possible 2 - 4 changes (1 already a definite)?

I reckon Rogers, Watson and Siddle have to be sweating a bit. Watson maybe a little lucky that Clarke is out for a long time. But he still needs to perform. I think Rogers has been given a fair few chances and I think its time we look at Carters or someone similar.

Reckon Watson is safe, rogers gets at least one more test, Siddle in real trouble, hazelwood or Starc to come in for Brisbane

[Q.]

Get Hazelwood in for Siddle. Though the lefty in Starc will suit Lyon.

[bennymacca]

Also think Haddin is safe for at least this series and possibly until after the ashes given they will try and give smith as much support as possible.

[Grahaml]

So what's the likelihood of a possible 2 - 4 changes (1 already a definite)?

I reckon Rogers, Watson and Siddle have to be sweating a bit. Watson maybe a little lucky that Clarke is out for a long time. But he still needs to perform. I think Rogers has been given a fair few chances and I think its time we look at Carters or someone similar.

Reckon Watson is safe, rogers gets at least one more test, Siddle in real trouble, hazelwood or Starc to come in for Brisbane

Watson and Rogers both safe for now. Watson surely has the whole series and Rogers should get at least most of it unless our batting totally falls away. With Clarke out and you never know how a guy goes once he gets the captaincy I think the batting and the team need some stability. 1 change will be forced, Siddle looked so inept for so long and you can't expect Harris and Johnson to try to pick up the slack for a toothless front liner so he's out too I reckon. New captain, 2 new players, I think that's enough upheaval for 1 test.

[Swervyn]

When he is going he is one of the best in the world to watch but Watsons days are surely numbered in the test team... has averaged just 31 since 2010. Now that Mitch Marsh is around as the 4th seamer, Watson has to start making some runs.

Unfortunately there is just no-one banging down the door... remember the days when Blewett, Hodge, Cox, Hills, Law etc were churning out 1000s of runs & couldnt get a look in. I reckon Joe Burns isn't too far away, would just be nice to see some big consistent runs from him Maddinson, Head, Marsh, Dunk etc

[stan]

When he is going he is one of the best in the world to watch but Watsons days are surely numbered in the test team... has averaged just 31 since 2010. Now that Mitch Marsh is around as the 4th seamer, Watson has to start making some runs.

Unfortunately there is just no-one banging down the door... remember the days when Blewett, Hodge, Cox, Hills, Law etc were churning out 1000s of runs & couldnt get a look in. I reckon Joe Burns isn't too far away, would just be nice to see some big consistent runs from him Maddinson, Head, Marsh, Dunk etc

Forget S.Marsh (although he'll probably play in the next test). I think guys like Carters amd Burns who are making runs need to be looked at.

[bennymacca]

When he is going he is one of the best in the world to watch but Watsons days are surely numbered in the test team... has averaged just 31 since 2010. Now that Mitch Marsh is around as the 4th seamer, Watson has to start making some runs.

Unfortunately there is just no-one banging down the door... remember the days when Blewett, Hodge, Cox, Hills, Law etc were churning out 1000s of runs & couldnt get a look in. I reckon Joe Burns isn't too far away, would just be nice to see some big consistent runs from him Maddinson, Head, Marsh, Dunk etc

Boof Hussey Bevan Siddons, even langer and Hayden

If you didn't average 45-50 in shield cricket there was almost no hope of getting even mentioned as a possibility. Now guys who average mid 30s are our go to guys.

Just on that, khawaja seems to have dropped out of contention entirely. Reckon if he keeps making runs he would be a decent number 3, though I think young guys like burns and carters are now ahead of him

[Jim05]

When he is going he is one of the best in the world to watch but Watsons days are surely numbered in the test team... has averaged just 31 since 2010. Now that Mitch Marsh is around as the 4th seamer, Watson has to start making some runs.

Unfortunately there is just no-one banging down the door... remember the days when Blewett, Hodge, Cox, Hills, Law etc were churning out 1000s of runs & couldnt get a look in. I reckon Joe Burns isn't too far away, would just be nice to see some big consistent runs from him Maddinson, Head, Marsh, Dunk etc

Boof Hussey Bevan Siddons, even langer and Hayden

If you didn't average 45-50 in shield cricket there was almost no hope of getting even mentioned as a possibility. Now guys who average mid 30s are our go to guys.

Just on that, khawaja seems to have dropped out of contention entirely. Reckon if he keeps making runs he would be a decent number 3, though I think young guys like burns and carters are now ahead of him

Carters averaging 52 over the last 2 seasons

[bennymacca]

I should have said have 10,000 first class runs at 45+

Carters does look good though

[bennymacca]

Interestingly, Nathan Lyon has just 15 more wickets to get to become Australia's best EVER off spinner in terms of number of wickets.

That's pretty amazing to me