boxing day test changes

[hearts on fire]

Get rid of Siddle and Krejza and im happy.

Hayden and Lee on last chances.

Symonds has got to go on with his starts and make a decent score, instead of throwing his wicket away.

Hayden has the chance this game i believe. His boxing day record is amazing to say the least. Hopefully we can see the hayden of old on his favourite batting deck.

I am certainly praying Hayden makes a ton, he is my favourite player and i have supported him the whole way through this slump, but if he is not making runs, plain and simple he's gotta go.

Hayden has an average of 9(?) this summer, as much as i love him, thats not good enough.

[cyclops]

yes there are alot of players struggling at the moment,and to hear Bill Lawry refer to ponting as the best batter in the world is absolute garbage,ponting must be under pressure and along with hayden must produce against quality opposition well overdue.

[steakn]

Everyone has been talking up Phil Hughes - but surely Michael Klinger is in line for selection equally with Hughes?

He has made something like 300 more runs in the SS than Hughes and has made them at venues all around the country. I would have thought he'd be the next in line for the openers spot should Hayden be dropped?

Things going against Klinger are: he bats at no. 3 for SA (spot on offer will be opener), he is right-handed (selectors might be keen on keeping the left-hand opening partnership) and he doesn't play for NSW .

As well as Klinger only having done it for 3 months. Whilst Hughes hasn't done it for too much longer his century in the shield final last year shows how much talent the kid has. Klinger is still a fair way back in the pecking order IMO.

Please, for Gods sake please do not select Klinger for the Aussie side, i don't know how he would go internationally, but think of the poor redbacks! They would be lost to say the least. dear oh dear we would be in some strife!

[MAY-Z]

curious trend emerging in the selections of the australian sides
after his standout season last season noffke was in the west indies tour party then gets dumped for india for siddle despite there being no form inbetween the west indies and india.

bollinger is on both tours and is now overtaken by hilfenhaus despite bollinger taking 6 wickets on the weekend

krezja comes from nowhere takes 12 wickets on debut and gets dropped for the next test

watson finally starts to look like a test player in india and has now been banished

[am Bays]

curious trend emerging in the selections of the australian sides
after his standout season last season noffke was in the west indies tour party then gets dumped for india for siddle despite there being no form inbetween the west indies and india.

bollinger is on both tours and is now overtaken by hilfenhaus despite bollinger taking 6 wickets on the weekend

krezja comes from nowhere takes 12 wickets on debut and gets dropped for the next test

watson finally starts to look like a test player in india and has now been banished

Don't worry May-z just casting the net far and wide to ensure we give your boys a good touch up in July August next year...

[MAY-Z]

curious trend emerging in the selections of the australian sides
after his standout season last season noffke was in the west indies tour party then gets dumped for india for siddle despite there being no form inbetween the west indies and india.

bollinger is on both tours and is now overtaken by hilfenhaus despite bollinger taking 6 wickets on the weekend

krezja comes from nowhere takes 12 wickets on debut and gets dropped for the next test

watson finally starts to look like a test player in india and has now been banished

Don't worry May-z just casting the net far and wide to ensure we give your boys a good touch up in July August next year...

who exactly are my boys?

seriously though that the one thing that breeds discontent amongst the playing group - look at the england side of the mid 90s to early 00s always chopping and changing the team and the pecking order for no apparant reason

[magpie in the 80's]

Krejza out of the 13 and the 2 H's Hauritz, Hilfenhaus are in the Boxing Day squad

[Interceptor]

Just to follow up magpie's comment:

Hauritz, Hilfenhaus in Test squad
December 22, 2008 - 2:39PM

The Australian selectors have made two changes for the Boxing Day Test with NSW spinner Nathan Hauritz recalled to the squad alongside Tasmanian swing bowler, Ben Hilfenhaus.

Hauritz replaced Jason Krejza, who returned match figures of 1-204 in the six-wicket defeat to the Proteas in the first Test in Perth.

Chairman of selectors, Andrew Hilditch, said that Nathan Hauritz's performance in the Second Test against New Zealand earned the NSW spinner a recall.

"We were impressed with Nathan Hauritz's bowling in the second Test against New Zealand, where he maintained pressure and took wickets and deserves his recall," said Hilditch.

Hilditch added that Hilfenhaus was selected so as to give skipper Ricky Ponting added depth to his new-ball bowling option.

Krejza was dropped because he was unable to maintain pressure in Perth.

"Jason has been informed of this reasoning and has been encouraged to continue to be a wicket-taking spin bowler but will return to interstate cricket to further those skills," said Hilditch.

Veterans Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden retained their places in the squad despite their recent struggles, with Hayden a confirmed starter given no other batsmen were brought into the squad.

However Lee, 32, who returned match figures of 1-132 at the WACA Ground, could find himself replaced by Tasmanian Hilfenhaus, who is yet to play a Test although he has played one one-day international.

Victorian paceman Peter Siddle, another who had little impact in Perth, was also retained, while the 13-man squad also included Queensland allrounder Shane Watson.

Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (capt, Tas), Michael Clarke (v-capt, NSW), Matthew Hayden (QLD), Simon Katich (NSW), Michael Hussey (WA), Andrew Symonds (QLD), Shane Watson (QLD), Brad Haddin (NSW), Nathan Hauritz (NSW), Brett Lee (NSW), Mitchell Johnson (QLD), Ben Hilfenhaus (TAS), Peter Siddle (Vic).

smh.com.au and AAP


from: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/sport/hauritz-hilfenhaus-called-up/2008/12/22/1229794310598.html

[wycbloods]

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz
Johnson
Hilf

Watson 12th man

That is what i expect the starting 11 to be.

[hearts on fire]

Beautiful, what a great early Christmas present!

[westozfalcon]

I'm tipping Mike Hussey to score heavily in Australia's first innings in Melbourne. After his two failures in Perth, I think the stage is set for 'Mr Cricket' to bounce back in devastating style!

[Ambo72]

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz
Johnson
Hilf

Watson 12th man

That is what i expect the starting 11 to be.

Don't think thats too far of the Mark.. I wouldn't be supprised if Hilfy carries the Drinks and they go with Watson for extra Batting.
IMHO I think its time for Punter to hand over the reigns, dont think he has it tactically.
I'd even like to see Mr Cricket Captain (even tho he needs runs also) and leave Clarke to be the captain in waiting for a while yet!

[rod_rooster]

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz
Johnson
Hilf

Watson 12th man

That is what i expect the starting 11 to be.

Don't think thats too far of the Mark.. I wouldn't be supprised if Hilfy carries the Drinks and they go with Watson for extra Batting.
IMHO I think its time for Punter to hand over the reigns, dont think he has it tactically.
I'd even like to see Mr Cricket Captain (even tho he needs runs also) and leave Clarke to be the captain in waiting for a while yet!

Whilst i think it is very far fetched to suggest Ponting should not be the captain if a replacement was to be sought from the current side the obvious choice IMHO would be Simon Katich. He easily has the best credentials of anyone in the side as Clarke clearly is not ready yet. Having said that Ponting will not be replaced even though he is not the most natural leader we have had.

[FD88]

THE HILF!!!!!!!!!!

If he plays, I'm putting money on Australia for the second test. Big call that but I'll stand by it.

[ubeauty]

the only way i would put money on the aussies winning is if Clark was to make a remarkable recovery and be named to play in the boxing day test..................................................

[smithy]

Hauritz - 14 1st class wickets in 3 seasons.
A truely inspirational choice by the selectors.
Keep Krejza or try someone else as Hauritz is obviously not shield standard let alone up to playing for Australia.

[stan]

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Hauritz
Johnson
Hilf

Watson 12th man

That is what i expect the starting 11 to be.

That selection in bold worries me to no end. Its alright to pick him at adelaide oval against the Kiwis but god help him against the South Africans. I still think Krezja should hold his spot. The WACA is not normally a spinners deck (Although in saying that Harris did bowl well...or did we bat poorly?).
Siddle will probably be the man to go and bringing in the Hiff is a good move. The hiff really is a different kind of bowler and genuine swing bowler.
Lee should retain his spot. And well johnson is the only man to really take wickets.

[stan]

If you were going to replace Krezja with another spinner then all things being normal (not equal) you would pick Heal or cullen. As much as I think Hauritz bowls pies I can honestly say that he is not bowling well enough to get a spot.
Anyway for what its worth this is my team for the boxing day test keeping in mind that Krezja is out out and out:

Hayden
Katich
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds (Needs to be more active with the ball - Off breaks!)
Haddin
Lee
Johnson
Cullen
The HilF

12th Watson

[Hondo]

What concerns me most is that we picked a squad of 13. Are the selectors that unsure about what to do? If not, they sure a making the South Africans think they are, which could give them even more confidence. Surely with a few days to go we can narrow it down to 12?

Safe are: Hayden, Katich, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Haddin, Lee, Johnson (8)

Then it's 3 of the remaining 5: Symonds, Watto, Hilf, Siddle, Hauritz

I'd expect Siddle and Watto to miss. However, with Haddin's good batting form the smokey could be Watto in for Roy (Roy doesn't bowl anymore so becomes expendible IMO). I think Roy's safe however, for the time being.

[Rik E Boy]

1 Hayden (last chance)
2 Katich
3 Ponting
4 Hussey
5 Clarke
6 Symonds (Thornley and Mc Donald not to far away)
7 Hadden
8 Johnson
9 Bracken
10 Cullen
11 Hilfy

12 Watson/ Siddle/ Lee

LMAO