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[Buzz]

So it is test match week again.

In team news, Anderson as we all know is injured, With Wood the likely replacement - but the Aussies are also suffering.

the dropping of Haddin has caused a little resentment, Clarke is going to move down the order to number 5, which means that Voges is dropped with Marsh coming in at 4.

[northernboy1987]

The Haddin situation is a tough one isn't it, Nevill came in and probably played well enough that he doesn't deserve to be dropped either so what do you do?

[ppccopener]

Reading between the lines its more than a little resentment thou.rodgers refused to talk about it and said he would after the series
This is not about one player its the putting family first the aussies preach
In practice this time the players are prob wondering if they were hollow words

[Akewstick]

The Haddin situation is a tough one isn't it, Nevill came in and probably played well enough that he doesn't deserve to be dropped either so what do you do?

I read somewhere they claim to have a "family first" policy. i.e. players should be able to take time for their families and not be scared of it costing them a place in the team. So it's not about whether Nevill has played well enough to deserve a spot, it's whether Haddin having time out for his daughter is going to end up costing him his spot, and if the answer is yes, then the rest of the team know that if something goes on at home and you miss a game, you can't trust Cricket Australia to give you any guarantees you'll still have a job when you get back, that's the issue.

If Haddin played the next two tests it wouldn't be dropping Nevill, it would be Nevill coming to the end of the short period he was called up for - the length of Haddin's absence. If you take a 6 month work contract to cover sickness and the sick person comes back, it doesn't matter how good you were, it's over.

[northernboy1987]

Ahh I didn't realise Rogers had refused to talk about it as well, likely causing some serious divisions, understandable if the squad was under the impression that family comes first only to be treat like that in practice.

[ppccopener]

This is spot on.
Haddins form is irrelevant here which seems to be confusing things.he has been in poor form for a while,but he was picked for lords,then missed the game not thru form and was not selected after the guy who replaced him did pretty well.
I wouldnt underestimate the divisive problems this has caused and its good timing for us.
Haddin may be close to the end of his career but clearly brings a lot to the team.
For me,haddin should of played the last game.

[northernboy1987]

Now I'm more aware of the whole "family first" policy, I'm inclined to agree. It couldn't of come at a better time for England though, Australia's body language was poor throughout the whole Edgbaston test I thought, Australia teams of old would have remained positive and fought to the bitter end rather than just folding (that's my opinion of course maybe others felt they did fight until the end). Losing Jimmy Anderson is obviously a blow to England, had he remained fit I think England would have dominated the 4th test in a similar fashion to the 3rd.

[TangoWhiskey]

Who do we reckon is the stronger team after the three tests? If both teams play at their best, who wins?

[northernboy1987]

I feel like a big part of Australia's performance at the moment basically rests on whether Smith performs with the bat and Johnson performs with the ball. Although that might be a little unfair on Chris Rogers.

[ppccopener]

Now I'm more aware of the whole "family first" policy, I'm inclined to agree. It couldn't of come at a better time for England though, Australia's body language was poor throughout the whole Edgbaston test I thought, Australia teams of old would have remained positive and fought to the bitter end rather than just folding (that's my opinion of course maybe others felt they did fight until the end). Losing Jimmy Anderson is obviously a blow to England, had he remained fit I think England would have dominated the 4th test in a similar fashion to the 3rd.

I'd be interested what Clarke wanted to do.he is not a selector but carries on hellva clout in that team,far more than the England captain does.
Im gonna guess Clarke wanted Haddin in.thats a guess,unless he left it totally to Lehman

[northernboy1987]

I'd be interested what Clarke wanted to do.he is not a selector but carries on hellva clout in that team,far more than the England captain does.
Im gonna guess Clarke wanted Haddin in.thats a guess,unless he left it totally to Lehman

I was just thinking that exact same thing, although I was wondering if Clarke wanted to keep Nevill in and that's why there seems to be such division between him and the rest of the side?

[ppccopener]

You could be right there but Clarke is/rumoured to be/may not be...a divisive individual unpopular with the players anyway.
Some of our Aussie mates could probably tell us more.
If he has done that against the team ethos and against his snr players(like rodgers) its total madness.
Clarke and haddin do way back I would not think the captain wanted him left out
It will all come out in the wash as the saying goes!!

[northernboy1987]

They do go way back, I was just wondering if it was this type of behaviour that has made him such a divisive character, perhaps this isn't the first time he's made unpopular decisions! Like you say though it's all pure speculation! I still maintain I've never seen an Aussie side look as beaten as they did by the end of the Edgbaston test though 

[Seniorplayer]

Here's how I see it Peter Nevelle has performed  as well and better than most os the Aussies but Haddin is clarkes trusty  1 st lieutenant and Clarke wants him in the side.

[uknsaunders]

Who is to say that Haddin wasn't about to get dropped anyway. The family first announcement might of been more to save face, albeit the wrong message to send out.

Just to throw a spanner into the sickness cover thing - if a person comes in for a short term contract, the company have every right to make them full time and move the person coming back from sick leave to another job. It's a recognition of how well that job has been done and ensuring the person on sick leave has a role in the company they can perform. Not an employment lawyer but you can come back to a different role within a company as long as it's not so different it's viewed as constructive dismissal.  In Haddin's case number 2 keeper.