2nd test squad

[Jimmy]

Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Brad Hodge, Michael Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Nathan Bracken, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath.

just looking at this, what a difference a year or 2 makes...out are the likes of waugh, martyn and lehmann and in are jaques, hodge and hussey....it looks weird seeing all these new blokes...will they be around for ever...can they be the next 60, 70 or 80 test players????

are we heading for a slide or still going strong with a champion team

[Booney]

Some would suggest the problem with the likes of Hodge and Hussey is the fact they are near or already 30,with Jaques about 26?
I think the fact these blokes have waited as long as they have to play for Australia is a good thing.It will make them hungrier to spend time at the top,to play along side the Warne's and McGrath's.To be part of one of the best era's in Australian cricket,and to extend our dominance,bar the odd Ashes hiccup.These guys,form permitting,will play on longer than the others,they have spent no where near as much time away from home,they realise that they only have a limited time in which to make a mark for themselves under the baggy green.I think,bar some bowling depth,out future looks good.

[Punk Rooster]

Definately have an ageing playing group, a concern for me though is there don't appear to be any young rising stars that are going to command a test birth. Mark Cosgrove might be a chance, but he's from SA, so he'll have to wait till he's 30. On one hand, it's good to bring in experienced blokes from state cricket, who are up to task straight away, yet we're not going to have that same stability we enjoyed when we won 16 tests straight, due to limited player life spans.

[Rik E Boy]

Definately have an ageing playing group, a concern for me though is there don't appear to be any young rising stars that are going to command a test birth. Mark Cosgrove might be a chance, but he's from SA, so he'll have to wait till he's 30. On one hand, it's good to bring in experienced blokes from state cricket, who are up to task straight away, yet we're not going to have that same stability we enjoyed when we won 16 tests straight, due to limited player life spans.

You're not talking about Football, Gymnastics or Tennis here. Batsmen reach their peak in their 30's, ditto slow bowlers. Fast bowlers need to come in a little sooner but I don't think the age of the playing group is a concern. Three or four years ago if anyone said Hodge and Hussey would have been playing for Australia they would have been LMAO'd off of any board in cyberspace.

As Booney mentioned, the worry is the bowling. No matter how good the next generation is they won't measure up to McGrath and Warne..and I get the distinct feeling that McGrath in particular may be getting close to the end.

regards,

REB

[Booney]

With the next string of fast bowling stocks looking desperately short on quality,we might just be looking for Ponting,Hodge,Hussey,Clarke and co. to be making huge scores to give us any chance.However,with Warnie looking the goods for at least 2 more years at test level,we have one weapon.Lee is our next frontline quick,Bracken is a stop-gap while Tait is injured.So Tait comes in with Lee and Warne.

Is Bracken the third seamer,long term,nope.Stuart Clark,let's hope not.Rofe,nope.Johnson,errr,not just yet.
You mark my words,next Ashes series Gillespie will be back in the mix,we will have to have some back up experience to be there when Tait and Bracken fall out of form.

[Rik E Boy]

Yes, I'd back Dizzy to get back in the team. A bit harsh on Bracken, as he is a 'horses for courses' bowler who needs good seaming conditions usually provided by such wickets as the Gabba, he was unlucky that he didn't get to bowl on a traditional WACA wicket with the doctor assisting.

Not too sure about Tait either. Horrible action.

regards,

REB

[JK]

and I get the distinct feeling that McGrath in particular may be getting close to the end.

Kinda get the impression that Gilly might be in the same boat ... His body language tends to suggest he's not enjoying his playing time anywhere near as much these days (although I guess that could be due to his first real form slump?) however I wouldn't be surprised if we lose him sooner than many had imagined ... Similarly, his absence will be a MASSIVE void to fill when the day arrives!

[Rik E Boy]

Agree that Gilly is looking ahead with some anticipation to the end of his playing days. We will miss McGrath a lot morre than Gilchrist IMHO tho, because already Gilly is not producing the same feats with the bat and his glovework is becoming worse every test. Have a look at how often he fails to glove Warne down the leg side of late.

regards,

REB

[JK]

Fair point Rikke, although his decline I would suggest is ONE of the key reasons why the Aussie team doesn't appear to enjoy the total dominance it held not so long ago ... His worth to the team is/was the same as Flintoff brings to the Poms imho ...

[MightyEagles]

I don't know why they keep on picking Symonds, just 'cause he's best buds with Ponting, doesn't mean he should be in the team. I'm not saying he can't play, he can get big scores in the Pura Cup, but when he plays in a Test (or ODI's) he has all these small scores people bag him (rightly so), then gets 1 big one and everyone says he's back. One big innings doesn't mean your back, you have to back it up next time with another.

[JK]

You're right ME, there is surely a window of opportunity a player can be given to prove himself ... That said, if the majority of the public & media had their way we would never have seen the dominant sides to Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer or Steve Waugh who all meandered in the 30's average-wise after many opportunities, before hitting stride and finding themselves with plus-50 averages at one point or another (Damien Martyn is another)!

I would say to Symmo, as much as I like him, you've got two more test left mate so show us what you've got ...