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[Manormanic]

Bowling will dominate and patient batting will prevail...... this points to an English series win, because the aussie's don't know how to grind out an innings. Its breed into our nature to be competitive and aggressive and this will be their down fall if the seaming/swinging conditions expose their technical flaws.

In some ways this is the issue that Australia face - they still think in their heads that they are the wonderful, talent laden, dominant side of ten years ago facing some of the awful sides that were offered up in sacrifice, when they ould do much better if they knew how to play within their limitations.  The Cook analogy hits the nail on the head for me...

[Manormanic]

Rather strange that they replace one average keeper with another.

this presupposes Haddin will be in the Test side - being vice captain for hte tour does not perforce guarantee that...

[smokem]

this presupposes Haddin will be in the Test side - being vice captain for hte tour does not perforce guarantee that...

It does show who they are leaning towards as Wade was very much in line for the VC role.

[Manormanic]

It does show who they are leaning towards as Wade was very much in line for the VC role.

really?

[smokem]

Ummm yeh really... Wade captained the 1st tour game in India and was VC in the last test in India.

[Manormanic]

Ummm yeh really... Wade captained the 1st tour game in India and was VC in the last test in India.

has not picked up on that....wow, would not have thought of him as leadership material!

[El Nino]

this presupposes Haddin will be in the Test side - being vice captain for hte tour does not perforce guarantee that...

They've announced Haddin is the number one gloveman as it stands now.

overall they've done well with the squad imo. I cant stand Warner and would love Rogers come in and excell in the opening spot.

Rogers
Cowan
Hughes
Watson
Clarke
Wade
Haddin
Pattinson
Siddle
Starc
Lyon

For mine, however Warner will open in Rogers spot.

[vividgreen]

Where's Vic when you need him...... i wouldn't mind seeing his comments on this.
Come on mate, give us your feedback on todays topic.

[Manormanic]

Warner is almost a lock - I would have thought Hughes would be more at risk.

[vividgreen]

Warner is not my favourite cricketer, however if he gets going he can win or setup a test match in a session. I'm sure we will get one classic during the series and this is what the selectors will be banking on (especially on the small grounds) ...... similar to Sehwag.

Everyone writes off Hughes, however he has a habit of scoring big runs when he gets a start. His first class career will show this.
I think he has the determination and drive that will eventually make him a success. Remember he is still a pup and has many years ahead of him.
All of the past Aussie great's rate him, so there must be something there....

[El Nino]

To have 21 FC hundreds at 24.. Theres more than something there!

[arsenal123]

Chris Rogers and Haddin, top players although it has a hint of England selections of years gone by.  We all remember the recall of Harmison, the call up of Darren Pattinson and the desperate calls for Ramprakash and Trescothick!

[vividgreen]

Chris Rogers and Haddin, top players although it has a hint of England selections of years gone by.  We all remember the recall of Harmison, the call up of Darren Pattinson and the desperate calls for Ramprakash and Trescothick!

you might be right, but it can't be any worse than the indian series selection debacle. At least Rogers and Haddin are scoring runs at present.

[arsenal123]

And ironically the two players to come out of the India series with any credit, Smith and Henriques are deemed surplus to requirements.  What a world we live in.

Amazing considering less than a decade ago Australia couldn't find room for Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Stuart Law, Martin Love, DiVenuto, Brad Hodge (I'm sure I'm missing some big names too).  Potentially the best top 6 in the world aside from Australia's actual top 6 at the time.

[smokem]

has not picked up on that....wow, would not have thought of him as leadership material!

No, Wade certainly didn't lead by example that's for sure. But he's definitely earmarked for a leadership role in future.

The loss of Hussey at the end of the summer was a huge blow. And this happened not long after Ponting had retired - granted he hadn't been performing for quite some time. And that's the problem sometimes (and hindsight is a wonderful thing) because if Ponting had retired at the right time, we could have given someone a full season (or two) to acclimatize while Hussey was still around.

As it stood, there was probably an assumption that a couple of the young guys would step up and fill those massive middle order voids in India. But that didn't happen and so they need some consistent, experienced heads to grind it out and hope this rubs off on the young guys along the way. Good move in my opinion.