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[Number4]

                                                       H.S.     AV

year 2005      3   4   0   81   31   20.25   212   38.20   0   0   0   8   0   
year 2008      5   9   0   176   78   19.55   400   44.00   0   1   0   25   1   
year 2009      7   12   1   716   120*   65.09   1318   54.32   1   6   1   101   1   
year 2010      11   22   1   897   126   42.71   1783   50.30   1   8   0   114   8   
year 2011      6   11   0   265   88   24.09   455   58.24   0   1   2   43   2   
year 2012      6   11   0   346   83   31.45   779   44.41   0   3   1   35   3   

season 2004/05      1   1   0   31   31   31.00   62   50.00   0   0   0   4   0   
season 2005/06      2   3   0   50   24   16.66   150   33.33   0   0   0   4   0   
season 2008/09      5   9   0   176   78   19.55   400   44.00   0   1   0   25   1   
season 2009      3   5   0   240   62   48.00   437   54.91   0   3   0   41   0   
season 2009/10      7   13   1   686   120*   57.16   1251   54.83   1   5   1   89   6   
season 2010      2   4   0   64   31   16.00   134   47.76   0   0   0   10   1   
season 2010/11      7   14   1   706   126   54.30   1446   48.82   1   6   0   87   2   
season 2011      3   5   0   87   36   17.40   128   67.96   0   0   1   16   0   
season 2011/12      5   10   0   288   88   28.80   605   47.60   0   3   2   34   4   
season 2012/13      3   5   0   153   83   30.60   334   45.80   0   1   0   16   1   


Couple of good years but thats about it


Oops that didn't work out

[Manormanic]

The problem Australia have is that, Clarke aside, there are no bankers in the Australian order, though I suspect Watson is the second name on the list.  But  - if Cowan plays he has to open and the same probably applies to Warner (because he has always batted there) - they also have Hughes (who is naturally an opener) amongst the incumbents, and the likely next cab, Khawaja, is a number three in state cricket...

[Manormanic]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/599046.html

Further evidence that Watson may not even be a part of the line up...

This looks pretty woeful for the Aussies...

[Vic Nicholas]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/current/story/599046.html

Further evidence that Watson may not even be a part of the line up...

This looks pretty woeful for the Aussies...

It smells of disarray doesn't it?

Given that we have crushed Sri Lanka and performed admirably against SA, just failing to land teh knock out blow that would have won us the series, the retirements of Ponting (expected) and Hussey (shock) have left a huge hole.

With the exception of Clareke, this is the weakest looking Australian top six I have seen since the Packer exodus left us with a virtual 3rds eleven representing us.

Wade is capable and the fast bowlers are extremely promising...but the batting? Oh the horror!

The punters in the last 24 hours have abandoned Australia in droves in the betting for next years Ashes.

Tells you everything you need to know.

[Manormanic]

I still wouldn't rule Australia out completely - mainly because the last time I did that they won 5-0 and I looked like a bit of a muppet - but I do think that they will struggle to win a 5 test series next Summer. 

You imagine the personnel needed for the tour - seven batsmen, an all rounder, two keepers, five seamers, two spinners....

Well, the seamers will see consierable competition for places.  If they are fit Siddle, Pattinson and Starc are shoe ins and Hilfenhaus will probably travel as the "safe bet" whilst the final slot will be hotley contested between Cummins and Harris (if fit), Johnson, Bird and Hazlewood.  And there are two decent keepers in Wade and Haddin...

But there it kind of ends.  Only three of the batting places are "taken" - Clarke, Warner and Watson (again if fit) - the spinners all share an inability to turn the ball and there is no real standout all rounder (I suspect Maxwell may do this and second spinners duties myself)

Yes, England have some selection issues themselves - but they amount to which six of eight batsmen to go with and who their third seamer might be...

[charlie15]

I rate him, always have. Shame he is so injury prone.

I rate him until he gets to about 40 odd!

[Over Gully]

Watson was moved from the opening spot to allow him to bowl more. Bowling and then opening the batting means he has little or no rest, and Clarke admitted that he found it hard when the opposition was 8/9 down and he had him bowling, he needed to give him a spell to allow him time to rest up for when he bats. Every time Watson braks down, it's when he had the ball in his hand. I feel his days as an all-rounder are gone, much like with the Waughs started to get injuries when bowling, they pretty much stopped altogether and became specialist batsmen, Mark Waugh moved from medium pace to offies in order to take the strain off his back. I'd rather Watson averaging mid-high 40s as a specialist bat, which he is very capable of, rather than averaging mid-30s, bowling and then getting injured every couple of Tests.

Talk is that we might be looking at more experienced options for the India/England tours, with Hussey's younger brother David (36) a shock chance for a Baggy Green. Has scored bucketloads of runs in domestic cricket here in Australia and in England...

[procricket]

yes bring Dave Hussey in i like him i like him alot scored the best 100 i have ever seen at the Scg for the Bushrangers.

However he has a slight problem with the rising ball if i remember rightly of the quicks.

[Over Gully]

yes bring Dave Hussey in i like him i like him alot scored the best 100 i have ever seen at the Scg for the Bushrangers.

However he has a slight problem with the rising ball if i remember rightly of the quicks.

That's a fair enough call, he likes to stay leg-side of the ball, allowing him to free the arms and thrash through the off. I'd bowl short and at the body, give him no room. Other names mentioned are Callum Ferguson (talented but doesn't put together big numbers, still has a FC average below 40), Alex Doolan (no-name player but has had a bumper Shield season, scored 160 for AUS A v Sth Africa), I'd like to see Moises Henriques get a look, genuine. bowling option and a decent enough batsman at six.

[Vic Nicholas]

Dave Hussey has been brilliant and was surely worthy of a baggy green 3-4 years ago...but he is averaging all of 17 in FC this season, so I suspect his baggy green dream is over.

Brad Hodge must spew into his Wheatbix every morning when he sees the current Oz batting line up - simply a case of being born 10-15 years too early.

On the bowling line up, I suspect Jackson Bird will be a walk up start to partner Siddle and Pattinson in England. A 6'4" fast bowler who bowls accurate out swingers is a necessary commodity (especially in England). Starc and Cummins (if fit) will also make the trip...and I reckon Mitch Johnson has also played himself back into contention.

Wade has the keeping spot sown up for now. Haddin would only be on stand-by to be flown in in an emergency.

As for batsmen...phew, it gets hard. Clarke, Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Khawaja...Burns? Maxwell?

I get the feeling Maxwell is going to be given the Marcus North role - batting at six and bowling relief spin. If Lyon has a bad tour of India....Maxwell might be given the job of bowling spin alone for most of the tests in England with Oz playing four fast men (Siddle, Bird, Pattinson and Starc).

It is going to be one hell of a tough year.

[ammo]

heck even i might get a go at this rate 

[Manormanic]

I agree about Maxwell, but I wonder if they might do it differently...

Cowan
Warner
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Wade
Maxwell
Henriques
Pattinson
Siddle
Starc (preferre to Bird/Cummins as four right arm seamers would be overkill)

Gives them more batting depth, which they might desperately need.

[langer17]

Watson
Warner
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Wade
Maxwell (To be the spinner)
Johnson (If he can be consistent and look reamin with the bat, then he should be in - he can be the game changer, real x factor about him)
Siddle
Pattinson
Cummins/Bird/Starc/Hilf (take your pick really, they are all different bowlers, but all would do the job)

Also - Cutting could still be around the mark, has taken quite a few wickets at a good average again this year and has done very well with the bat, averaging 40 odd. so could be handy especially with an inexperienced batting line up.

That's my opinion, probably never going to happen, but I think that looks like a decent team.

[Johnny]

Yes, I agree Mitchell Johnson has a certain X Factor about him - in particular he reminds me of the early rounds of auditions where the contestants can't sing and everybody laughs at them!

[The_Bird]

Lets hope he plays like this years X Factor then, cause that was crap.