Ashes Sqaud

[cricket_cox]

Well its anounced in 90 minutes! I won't be home til 3.30pm (5.50pm est).
As soon as someone sees it, get it up here Can't Wait!

 

[graham]

This was just posted on Courier Mail website

Andrew Symonds overlooked for Australia&squo;s Ashes cricket squad | The Courier-Mail

EXCLUSIVE: ALLROUNDER Andrew Symonds is facing the end of his Test cricket career after being overlooked for Australia's Ashes squad.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the controversial Queenslander has not been selected to make the tour of England.

With a long history of disciplinary black spots – and turning 34 next month – it is unlikely that the controversial Queenslander will ever wear the baggy green cap again.

The full squad will be unveiled at 11am. Join us live from 11am for the announcement and debate the selections with cricket writer Ben Dorries.

 

[hobo]

Tim,

In an amazing controversial selection, they have named the entire WA Shield squad........

Cheers
Ross

 

[howzat]

Thats a hell of a surprise Graham, especially as Ponting would have been pushing for him like he has in the past... Oh well he has had plenty of chances...

 

[hobo]

No surprises if Symonds misses out, although the all rounder ranks are thin in OZ, could you possibly take Watson......he's lucky to get through half a day before needing 2 weeks to recover from injury and unfortunately McDonald just doesn't cut the grade....

 

[hobo]

I suppose with Johnson and Lee, do we need a specialist all rounder?

 

[howzat]

Yeah exactly Ross, Watson is too big a risk to take, and although McDonald has failed to impress, he may have more luck in England and may be able to produce some swing... I would have taken Symonds but Im a one eyed QLDer

 

[hobo]

Agreed......the English conditions would probably suit him a lot more than our flat hard tracks.

 

[hobo]

here's the squad:

icky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Stuart Clark, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Graham Manou, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle, Shane Watson.

 

[hobo]

Interestingly they have taken both Watson and McDonald.......it looks abit thin on batsmen to me???

 

[graham]

Not to mention taking Shane "Mr Glass" Watson!!!

 

[howzat]

Should have been Symonds instead of Watson...

 

[bjs127]

So no Symonds, Hodge or Bollinger.

The jury is still out on McDonald to me - surely Symonds is more threatening in an XI than Macca.

Also Furguson might have felt he was a chance on his solid 50 over form over Hodge - as it turned out they went for neither and chose McDonald, possibly leaving the batting stakes a bit thin??


Brad

 

[howzat]

Definitely Brad... Symonds and Hodge in, McDonald and Watson out...

Johnson has proved of late he is more of an allrounder than them 2 put together... Hussey's form has been questionable at times over the last 12months so Hodge would have been good back up...

 

[hobo]

I agree with the batting being thin.....what with Hussey struggling, although in England he has a phenom record, Hughes and North have 4 Test caps between them and Clarke has not really been setting the world on fire.....

 

[hobo]

Having given the squad some thought....Why only take 16, why not slip in a couple of extras? Why take a back up keeper at all? You could use Manou's spot for the likes of Hodge or Furguson.

Oh well....Bring it On !!!!!!!

 

[bjs127]

I think it is still a risk taking Clark and Lee - i hope they prove me wrong but both are underworked.

Bollinger is unlucky for mine. I have heard one argument for him not going is that they don't need another left-armer as they already have Johnson.....why does noone ever say the same about right-armers!!

 

[Allstar cards inc]

It really doesn't matter anymore who's picked in a squad....the players who missed out are only a flight away. (Some might already be over there playing county cricket)

 

[COMPO]

Watson isn't bowling. How can he be called an allrounder. I think McDonald is just a cricketer. I can't see him playing a test winnibg performance. England favourite after seeing this squad.

 

[Mamboblue72]

I think it is a good all round side and it askes questions of our brittle Watson, he must perform, i think Symonds' omission is right on the mark and it is unfortunate that hodge didn't make it, but we must go with the youth, remember it took the great one SR Waugh 45 tests to get a ton! We also have to remember that a decent number of players that missed out will be in England anyway so a replacement will not be far away!
I'm Tipping a 3 -1 result to the Aussies and my worry is that the Cardiff pitch will see a 3 day batting bloodbath that could go either way!