Australia's 1st Test XI

[bjs127]

Opening is a much tougher gig than batting 6 - why put a 20 year old at the top of the order under all the pressure? Pup got eased in batting 6 in the beginning, and Steve Waugh hid down the order his entire career at 5 and 6, even when Australia was crying out for a number 3 after Boony's departure. That still annoys me about S Waugh....as good as he was he never went up the order as skipper to take the onus as the team's best batsman. Can't imagine Bradman, Viv Richards, Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, Clive Lloyd, Tendulkar, Lara, Ponting etc ever doing that.

Watson is yet to fail at the top of the order....perhaps Watson is the answer and will play the next 50 Tests as an opener? Everyone keeps doubting him but he is the in-form Aussie batsman of the past 6 months...

[adz2332]

No clarke is a joke!!
Feel sorry for him!!

[hodgie]

Interesting reading guys, The only issue I have with watson is that he does not push on for big scores in tests (yet). Alot of blokes deserve to be in the team,but watson provides the extra bowling support if need.

Now with gayle gone, should we be blooding new blokes like Hughes, Krezja. Will Andy Mc get another game in the baggy green??

[Warney]

Krezja doesn't have a contract anymore which i think is stuffed, when he played yes he went for runs but he got the wickets, that is his attacking style. I would be inclined to go for this team in batting order:

1. Shane Watson
2. Simon Katich
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Mike Hussey
6. Brad Haddin
7. Mitchell Johnson
8. Brett Lee
9. Nathan Hauritz
10. Stuart Clark
11. Pete Siddle

That team has great depth.

You have batting all the way through the list, we have seen Siddle and Clark bat well at the tail, and of course Lee, Hauritz and Johnson who bat sometimes just as well as the top order. I am more inclined to go with Watson as it provides us with an extra bowling option and he is in good form atm, he just has to transfer it from ODI's to Tests.

I think the bowling attack would be strong as well, I reckon Lee and Siddle opening the bowling would be brilliant, then Johnson next with the pace and Clark with the swingers and cutters which he is good at. Haury has also been in form and i would be very disapointed if he got dropped.

[Sacha]

Krezja doesn't have a contract anymore which i think is stuffed, when he played yes he went for runs but he got the wickets, that is his attacking style. I would be inclined to go for this team in batting order:

1. Shane Watson
2. Simon Katich
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Michael Clarke
5. Mike Hussey
6. Brad Haddin
7. Mitchell Johnson
8. Brett Lee
9. Nathan Hauritz
10. Stuart Clark
11. Pete Siddle

That team has great depth.

You have batting all the way through the list, we have seen Siddle and Clark bat well at the tail, and of course Lee, Hauritz and Johnson who bat sometimes just as well as the top order. I am more inclined to go with Watson as it provides us with an extra bowling option and he is in good form atm, he just has to transfer it from ODI's to Tests.

I think the bowling attack would be strong as well, I reckon Lee and Siddle opening the bowling would be brilliant, then Johnson next with the pace and Clark with the swingers and cutters which he is good at. Haury has also been in form and i would be very disapointed if he got dropped.

Last time i watched the news Lee was injured... dont think he is any good at number 8.

[Warney]

he has a elbow injury but they reckon he'll be right for the next test from what i last heard, and Lee always bats 7-8

[Sacha]

he has a elbow injury but they reckon he'll be right for the next test from what i last heard, and Lee always bats 7-8

But the thread is about the first test not the 2nd so why would you put him in at number 8... thats all i am saying... I cant see lee participating at all this summer, i think he will elect to have the surgery and be outted for 3-4 months...big loss for the aussies...

[bjs127]

It seems Lee has almost certainly played his last Test. His elbow is serious enough to wipe him out of this entire summer.

Hodgie I can't see why Ronald McDonald would ever be selected - he ties up an end but never looks threatening on any sort of wicket and his batting has been very poor at Test level. His bowling seems best suited to tying up an end in 50 over cricket from overs 20 through 40, that's about it. he bowls stump to stump but is not Test standard in my books. They have more than enough bowling depth to not need to bring him into the equation.

[boomboom-84]

Yep Brad and Hodgie - I'm 100% with you on old mate McDonald. I can't see him getting another Test. I think he was originally selected as the mythical All-rounder, but with Johnson and North just about there, and the depth of our fast bowling stocks at present, I certainly won't be disappointed if he is not selected again.

I am also of the opinion that if the selectors go with a specialist spinner, then the attacking Krejza deserves another go - at least for a couple of tests. I would certainly rather see him in there than defensive Hauritz, who is probably more suited to the shorter versions of the game (and I will admit that his performances there of late have been impressive). Like you say Hodgie, against a depleted Windies, he might just get the confidence booster he needs to push him in the right direction...

[hodgie]

I better state that I am not a biased Vic, but what about giving Mcgain ago. he has bowled well in the 50 over game and four day game for a while now??

I really think that it is time for the Australian selectors to utilise 20/20 cricket and 50 over cricket to blood the new talent for Australia. Three teams with a core of players with shining lights added to see how they fair against the rest of the world at the top level.

I know that it is begining with Henriques, warner, etc, but is it time that the likes for Hussey, Lee, Hopes and maybe even Haddin ( I hate saying that) only play test cricket and leave ODI's and 20/20 to the young blokes??

Australia is the best at developing its cricket at a domestic level and recently plenty of blokes have stepped up. Can selectors be forward thinking enough to ensure that the step up is crafted andnot luck??

Sorry, slightly off the topic of the first test. Prediction, chanderpaul will ton up.