Your Ashes XI?

Guru Posts: 1330 Age: 17 Location: Oz

http://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/name-your-australia-team-for-the-first-ashes-test-against-england-at-the-gabba/story-fn2mcu3x-1225938487404

Who would make your starting XI for the first test up at the Gabba?
Personally I would go

1. Watson
2. Katich
3. Ponting (c)
4. M.Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Ferguson/Khawaja depending on Shield form
7. Haddin
8. Hauritz
9. Johnson
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

The Watson/Katich partnership must not be broken. North is too inconsistant for mine, don't get be wrong he's a good batsman, it's just he either gets 100 or scores about 10, and more often than not, it's around 10. Hauritz shouldn't be dropped, Warne never did to well in India so Hauritz should be forgiven.

Legend Posts: 10654 Age: 17 Location: Brisbane QLD

Yeah I am happy with that line-up that you posted mate, looks pretty good.

You would assume that it would be pretty much like what you posted, although there is a chance they will put Smith and Ryan Harris in.

But like I said, I like the squad you put up.

Guru Posts: 7555 Age: 21 Location: A land down under

1 - Shane Watson
2 - Simon Katich
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Michael Clarke
5 - Phil Hughes
6 - Cam White
7 - Tim Paine
8 - Steve Smith
9 - Mitch Johnson
10 - Ben Hilfnehaus
11 - Doug Bollinger

Guru Posts: 1330 Age: 17 Location: Oz

neil21 wrote:

1 - Shane Watson
2 - Simon Katich
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Michael Clarke
5 - Phil Hughes
6 - Cam White
7 - Tim Paine
8 - Steve Smith
9 - Mitch Johnson
10 - Ben Hilfnehaus
11 - Doug Bollinger

Just asking mate, why do you want Hussey dropped?

Guru Posts: 7555 Age: 21 Location: A land down under

The Tank wrote:

neil21 wrote:

1 - Shane Watson
2 - Simon Katich
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Michael Clarke
5 - Phil Hughes
6 - Cam White
7 - Tim Paine
8 - Steve Smith
9 - Mitch Johnson
10 - Ben Hilfnehaus
11 - Doug Bollinger

Just asking mate, why do you want Hussey dropped?

I just think its time to bring in some new blood

Guru Posts: 1330 Age: 17 Location: Oz

ahk fair enough then

Guru Posts: 1535 Age: 17 Location: Australia, NSW

1. Watson
2. Katich
3. Ponting
4. M.Hussey
5. Clarke
6. North/Ferguson
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz/O'Keefe
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

I put Steve O'Keefe next to Hauritz because I reckon the Indian Series had to be Hauritz downfall but if he proves me wrong by getting alot of wickets in the 1st and 2nd Tests of the Ashes he should stay. If not, Steve O'Keefe is a handy player in the team. Can bat and can Bowl his left arm offies and quite handy with the bat as well. He was in the Australia A side which kicked arse against the Sri Lanka A team early this year. He took 7 wickets and scored 61 runs.

Guru Posts: 7357 Age: 21 Location: Canberra

neil21 wrote:

1 - Shane Watson
2 - Simon Katich
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Michael Clarke
5 - Phil Hughes
6 - Cam White
7 - Tim Paine
8 - Steve Smith
9 - Mitch Johnson
10 - Ben Hilfnehaus
11 - Doug Bollinger

im liking this team without hussey. he has had it imo. i expect him and haddin to retire at the end of the series.
1. & 2. Watson and katich have been great opening up the attack

3. ponting doesnt have much left in him. Had a good innings in the last indian match to post a half decent 2nd innings score for aus. but i think his time is running as captain

4. Clarke.... was meant to be next Aus capt but batting lately has been below average

5. Hughes i like. We need a bit of youth and he is going to be big in the future.

6. Cam White... kinda dont agree with him. i would like some shield player to come and take that spot. Wouldnt mind someone like Khawaja (might be a bit too early for him), or even Ferguson??? not too sure with the shield players

7. Paine is going to be australia's full time keeper soon enough

8. i like the look of smith. he is devloping with the bat and ball everyday

9. johnson even though i dont like him we kinda need a strike weapon

10. hilfnehaus is probably my favourite australian bowler atm. as long as he can stay fit

11. bollinger has been australias best bowler for the last year and needs to be there because of this

Administrator Posts: 10505 Location: Nth Queensland

Don't think changes need to be made, perhaps just a small change with the batting order - move Mr Cricket back up to four and Clarke dropping down one spot. India is one of the toughest places in world Cricket to come away with a victory, let alone a series win. The first Test could have gone either way and we were in the last Test going into the final day, the bowlers just couldn't finish the job.

Panthers Ashes XI:

1. Watson
2. Katich
3. Ponting (c)
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. North/Ferguson
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

12. Siddle

_________________

Legend Posts: 11984 Age: 17

North won't be dropped, he had success in England last year and hit a good innings in the Second Test. I really don't like him but it's just the way it will be.

I like Panthers' side.

Guru Posts: 6688

Just drop Marcus North IMO. We just can't tolerate someone scoring low for 7 or 8 innings then getting a century and 'saving himself'. I would rather Usman Khawaja, Callum Ferguson or even someone like David Hussey tried at the number 6 position.

Legend Posts: 10654 Age: 17 Location: Brisbane QLD

Panthers wrote:

Don't think changes need to be made, perhaps just a small change with the batting order - move Mr Cricket back up to four and Clarke dropping down one spot. India is one of the toughest places in world Cricket to come away with a victory, let alone a series win. The first Test could have gone either way and we were in the last Test going into the final day, the bowlers just couldn't finish the job.

Panthers Ashes XI:

1. Watson
2. Katich
3. Ponting (c)
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. North/Ferguson
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hauritz
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger

12. Siddle

Yep that is what we need to go with imo. Pretty much the same as the one posted in the OP of the thread, just Hauritz and Johnson around in different places.

I honestly don't know if North will be dropped or not. On one page I think that maybe they will realize that he is inconsistent and that someone else could do us better, but on the other side I think like Sibs said, he played well in England last year and his last innings was good.

I don't mind North, he gets under all of our skins all the time obviously but he generally isn't BAD. I would prefer to have Ferguson in the side, but if North gets the gig, that's the way the cookie crumbles.

Guru Posts: 7555 Age: 21 Location: A land down under

Intresting that im the only one to have Paine in the side
I would prefer him who is going to keep for next 8 years than Haddin who has been injured and will play for 2 years max

Legend Posts: 10654 Age: 17 Location: Brisbane QLD

I would be happy with Paine or Haddin. You bring up a good point about Paine, he is the future, so it would be good to give him the gig. My head says though that the selectors won't think for the future and give him experience but they'll go with Haddin someone who already has experience.

Guru Posts: 8425

Australia

1 - Shane Watson
2 - Simon Katich
3 - Ricky Ponting
4 - Phil Hughes
5 - Michael Clarke
6 - Cam White
7 - Brad Haddin
8 - Nathan Hauritz
9 - Mitch Johnson
10 - Ben Hilfnehaus
11 - Doug Bollinger

England

1 - Alistair Cook
2- Andrew Strauss
3 - Ian Bell
4 - Paul Collingwood
5 - Kevin Pieterson
6 - Eion Morgan
7 - Matt Prior
8 - Stuart Broad
9 - Tim Bresnan
10 - Graeme Swann
11 - James Anderson

Guru Posts: 4251 Age: 20 Location: Melbourne

For England...

Strauss
Cook
Trott
Pieterson
Collingwood
Bell
Prior
Broad
Swann
Anderson
Finn

I don't think England have brought another opener in their squad, so Cook retains his place even though he's under a heap of pressure. Morgan misses out for Bell. Ever since England last toured South Africa he's been a different player mentally. I'm honestly not sure who gets the 3rd seamer spot. I went with Finn as he had been playing for England during the English summer.

For Australia - The only change i'd like to see happen is the dropping of Hussey. Hussey has only made 1 hundred in the past 12 months and that came in a fixed test match. TBH I get the feeling Husseys One Day form has been keeping him in the test team. However I think Australia will go in with a fairly similar XI then the Indian test series.

Guru Posts: 4251 Age: 20 Location: Melbourne

Squad gets announced on Monday - looking at about 15 getting named.

I'd like to see the following 11 playing in Brissy

Watson
Katich ^
Ponting
Clarke ^
Hussey
North
Haddin
McDonald
Harris^
Bollinger^
Johnson.

^ Depending on fitness.

McDonald in for Hauritz for a couple of reasons.

1, He just scored 2 hundreds in shield cricket. With him being in the side it will take pressure off North and Hussey who have been under the pump recently.

2, Australia only pick Hauritz so he can build up pressure from one end, not for his spinning ability. Tight and economical bowling is something that McDonald is probably the best in Australia at. When you combine that with the fact that the Gabba has always been a pitch that will favor the seamers alot more then the spinners. It makes alot of sense for McDonald to play over Hauritz in Brisbane ONLY.

Subject: Re: Your Ashes XI? Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:10 pm

Australia

1. Watson
2. Katich
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke
5. Ponting
6. Ferguson
7. Paine
8. Krejza (\abuse)
9. Harris
10. Hilfenhaus
11. Bollinger/Siddle

Khawaja is australias longterm #3, Clarke #4, Fergo #5. However ponting at 6 is just too low. Khawajas game suits #3 to a T, better than ponting, and he's probably better anyway. North I like but has done his time...Hussey averaging 35 in test cricket over the last 3 years seeyalada, Paine = keeping of haddin and more of a batsman (not a better one, but he plays like a batsman, like could make the team on his batting, has the technique of a middle order, haddin doesn't) (not necessarily better) and younger. Krejza is a quality spinner need some real turn against the poms and I just think he's good, Johnson failed in grade cricket today, Harris is better, in great form, others explanatory.

Extreme and won't happen, but....

Pomz

1. Strauss
2. Cook
3. Trott
4. Pieterson
5. Morgan
6. Collingwood
7. Prior
8. Broad
9. Swann
10. Anderson
11. Finn

pretty simple haha.