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[Buzz]

Ok - so the selectors have gone for what I think is a relitively balanced team for the first test against india

Ed Cowan, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon with Daniel Christian and Mitchell Starc on the bench.

personally I think this is a decent team - with a good mix of youth and experience. Cowan is 28, in form and pretty experienced - which is idea for a debutant - Hughes and Usman have been dropped - which also seems fair on form. It may be that Ponting has until Watson is fit to get runs - so he knows the pressure is on.

One prediction is that Langer would say that Usman should be playing unstead of ponting !!!

[essexarsenal]

Seems stupid to me to drop Hughes and Khawaja, arent they the future of australia ? Can hardly see Ed Cowan dominating test match cricket for years to come.

[uknsaunders]

Ben Hilfenhaus lol - didn't know the Indians wanted some net practise 

Rumour has it Daniel Christian will play - Ponting for the chop? Would dropped Ponting for Usman, lad has some promise and needs time.

[langer17]

Seems stupid to me to drop Hughes and Khawaja, arent they the future of australia ? Can hardly see Ed Cowan dominating test match cricket for years to come.

And Hughes can???

Ok - so the selectors have gone for what I think is a relitively balanced team for the first test against india

Ed Cowan, David Warner, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke (capt), Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ben Hilfenhaus, Nathan Lyon with Daniel Christian and Mitchell Starc on the bench.

personally I think this is a decent team - with a good mix of youth and experience. Cowan is 28, in form and pretty experienced - which is idea for a debutant - Hughes and Usman have been dropped - which also seems fair on form. It may be that Ponting has until Watson is fit to get runs - so he knows the pressure is on.

One prediction is that Langer would say that Usman should be playing unstead of ponting !!!

Haha, you know it

[langer17]

Pontings got hit on his right index finger off a ball from Pattinson, so may be on some doubt, which I like lol

[Hads45]

I wouldnt say the aussies are on the way up...they just lost to the kiwis

[Cossie]

Like a few of the International teams, Australia are searching for their best XI and can see it being a while before they are on the way back up. I have no doubt Khawaja will go back into FC cricket and force his way back in with big scores. Shaun Marsh is the risk for me, he can't seem to stay on the field for more than 2 games. I would have gone for Mitchell Marsh instead of Christian, he has had some exposure to Int'l cricket and done reasonably well. As for the spinning option, how Steve O'Keefe doesn't get a shout is beyond me

[Manormanic]

Actually I like the selection of Cowan - its all well and good to go for "youth" all the time, but there is a classic saying along the lines of "if you're good enough you're old enough" which also works in reverse - "if you're good enough, you're young enough".

Well, Cowan's first class record is good and he has looked solid when I've seen him - he played well, for example, in the second dig against England last year for the A side.  And 28 is hardly ancient - Hussey was older than that when he made his debut...

[Village Trundler]

Cowan is still younger than the spineless tampon Marsh. Better batsman too.

Ponting has to go..... Worst case scenario is he scores some runs and secures himself another two year golfing tour.

[Cossie]

I remember Cowan when he was playing for Sydney Uni, he scored massive runs and couldn't get a run in for the Blues. Since going to Tassie, he's scored heavily for them and Australia A, it's a little like England's old philosophy of picking players after 5-6 years of FC cricket

[Manormanic]

I remember Cowan when he was playing for Sydney Uni, he scored massive runs and couldn't get a run in for the Blues. Since going to Tassie, he's scored heavily for them and Australia A, it's a little like England's old philosophy of picking players after 5-6 years of FC cricket

I figure there are two types of Test player - the ones who everyone can see from an early age are special - Ian Bell, for example - and the ones who are part of a mass of good youngsters, where it takes a few years in  First Class cricket to sort the wheat from the chaff - in all cases, a balance is useful...

[Bruce]

I wouldnt say the aussies are on the way up...they just lost to the kiwis

The thread was started back in September mate

[Alvaro]

How old was Trott when he debuted? If he goes well, Cowan could be in the side for 5+ years.

[Buzz]

How old was Trott when he debuted? If he goes well, Cowan could be in the side for 5+ years.

that would be 28
hussey was 29, Lehman was 30 - it seems an odd concept to actually pick someone in their prime... oh.

[Alvaro]

Funny isn't it?
Players like Cook and Ponting are exceptions rather than the rule.