Third test team

Against my better judgement i am suggesting that Johnston will be back in for Bollinger.Hughes and Marsh for Katich and North and Smith for Doherty.

Who will replace Ponting??

where's it being played?

Captain America said:

where's it being played?

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Thu Dec 16 - Mon Dec 20
02:30 GMT | 10:30 local
10:30 WST | 13:00 CST | 13:30 EST 3rd Test - Australia v England
Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth N/A

Sun Dec 26 - Thu Dec 30
23:30 GMT
(prev day) | 10:30 local
07:30 WST | 10:00 CST | 10:30 EST 4th Test - Australia v England
Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A

Mon Jan 3 - Fri Jan 7
23:30 GMT
(prev day) | 10:30 local
07:30 WST | 10:00 CST | 10:30 EST 5th Test - Australia v England
Sydney Cricket Ground N/A

Mon Jan 10
22:45 GMT
(prev day) | 09:45 local
06:45 WST | 09:15 CST | 09:45 EST Prime Minister's XI v England XI
Manuka Oval, Canberra N/A

Wed Jan 12
08:35 GMT | 19:05 local
16:35 WST | 19:05 CST | 19:35 EST 1st T20I - Australia v England
Adelaide Oval N/A

Fri Jan 14
08:35 GMT | 19:35 local
16:35 WST | 19:05 CST | 19:35 EST 2nd T20I - Australia v England
Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A

Sun Jan 16
03:20 GMT | 14:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 1st ODI - Australia v England
Melbourne Cricket Ground N/A

Fri Jan 21
03:20 GMT | 14:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 2nd ODI - Australia v England
Bellerive Oval, Hobart N/A

Sun Jan 23
03:20 GMT | 14:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 3rd ODI - Australia v England
Sydney Cricket Ground N/A

Wed Jan 26
03:20 GMT | 13:50 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 4th ODI - Australia v England
Adelaide Oval N/A

Sun Jan 30
03:20 GMT | 13:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 5th ODI - Australia v England
Brisbane Cricket Ground, Woolloongabba, Brisbane N/A

Wed Feb 2
03:20 GMT | 14:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 6th ODI - Australia v England
Sydney Cricket Ground N/A

Sun Feb 6
03:20 GMT | 11:20 local
11:20 WST | 13:50 CST | 14:20 EST 7th ODI - Australia v England
Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth N/A

Yep at the waca they will go with Johnson and Marsh, don't know about hughes he don't like the bouncy stuff,I reckon you may be right with Smith for Doughboy too

Hughes
Watson
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Marsh
Haddin
Smith
Johnson
Harris
Hilfenhaus

is that Rod Marsh as you have him in the keepers spot?

Ponting keeper as he doesn't bowl.

Simon Katich is done for the series, and at 35, maybe his Test career is over.

Irregardless of Katich's withdrawal, I can't understand how Marcus North could possibly keep his spot in the side after with his career record, let alone his terrible record in Australia and even worse record in 'pressure situations'.

Xavier Doherty has shown he isn't up to Test standard as a spin bowler; hardly surprising as he's barely played Sheffield Shield Cricket for Tasmania in the past decade (37 first class games, including his 2 test caps, since 2001-2002). His inability to contribute with the bat or in the field (were his dropped catch in the gully region and wild throw at the stumps to run out Jonathan Trott were horrible misses) just magnifies his inability to take wickets or even keep his RPO at a reasonable level.

So with that in mind, I'm calling for 3 changes

Out
Katich (injury)
North (omitted)
Doherty (omitted)

In
Phil Hughes
Callum Ferguson
Nathan Hauritz

Obviously Hughes is next in line for a openers spot, regardless of his form ATM (slightly off track, but I love the logic of the Australian selectors; first class records don't count if you have a good one like Hughes or Usman Khwaja (or Brad Hodge), but they do count if you have a poor one (sub 40 avg), like Ferguson. Unless your Michael Clarke or Shane Watson. Then your hair and attractiveness gets you in. Or Marcus North. ****ed if I know what he brings that David Hussey doesn't apart from being 2 years younger).

What I also like about the selection of Hughes is that he is young and a long term solution, rather than a 31 or 33 year old stop gap. His selection reminds me of early to mid 90s, when Langer, Hayden, Slater, Bevan, Martyn and Ponting all got chances in the Text XI while they were young, helping them to get a feel for Test cricket and to improve; thats why I believe Khawaja should be in the Test XI ASAP (although I've selected Ferguson for the WACA Test). The tour to Bangladesh should be Khawaja's debut series, if not Melbourne or Sydney.

I've selected Hauritz against my better judgement; with Siddle, Harris and Hauritz in the XI, there is no spark, no bowler who can 'create' wickets apart from Bollinger... who clearly isn't 100%. I'd really love to pick Steve Smith because he's something different and not just the same guys rotated through the side but I don't have the balls, mostly because I think he'll leak runs at the WACA. Personally I believe Smith is Cameron White Mark II; a young guy who'll turn into a batsman who bowls less and less as his career goes on. White is another guy I'd love to see get a chance at test level but I think that might be for another series (although it wouldn't surprise me to see him get selected for this test)

I'm also itching to see Watson moved down to 6, so he can bowl more; Katich's probable retirement and the lack of a decent opener at state level outside of Hughes (and possibly Rogers) means this will not happen short term, and possibly never.

So my Test XI would be:
Hughes
Watson
Ponting (c)
Clarke (vc)
Hussey
Ferguson/Khawaja
Haddin (wk)
Hauritz/Smith
Harris (2)
Siddle
Bollinger (1)

if Doherty is dropped thats fine, if north is dropped thats a given, he needs to go now. but please dont bring back Hauritz, try steve smith, give him 8 tests straight to find his feet and he'll be great.

I have a funny feeling they'll keep North. Purely because he's a west australian and loves the WACA.

I'd go with

Hughes
Watson
Hussey
Ponting (a drop down the order for a knock or two, to protect him from the new ball when Hughes gets out early)
Clarke
Haddin
Smith/D.Hussey (hussey would be great but it will never happen)
Johnson
Siddle
Harris
Bollinger

Smith is a MUST

Drop every player bar

S Watson
M Hussey
B Haddin

Include
D Hussey
P Jaques
S Smith
U Khawaja

And 4 Complete new Bowlers, doesnt matter who as they could NOT do ANY worse then current bowlers.

I think HARRIS may be worth a shot at the WACA with his speed.

I think whatever selections are made, there will be criticism.

My 2c worth

S. Watson
S. Marsh
R. Ponting
M. Clarke
M. Hussey
B. Haddin
S. Smith
M. Johnson
P. Siddle
B. Hilfenhaus
D. Bollinger

I have never seen Steve Smith as a Test Player and i don't think i ever will..

Batsman-

S Watson
R Ponting
M Clarke
M Hussey
B Haddin (obviously keeping as well)

For the other batsman you would have to pick between Ferguson, Marsh and Hughes. The problem with these three is their recent rosters i believe, Ferguson returned from injury and Hughes and Marsh haven't played as much cricket as they would have liked at Sheffield Shield level. Without being too bias i would be picking Marsh. He's a WA boy and bats at his best at the WACA, and when he has played shield he has scored runs.. Sure, if he fails review his position in the team...

Fast Bowlers-

P Siddle
B Hilfenhaus
D Bollinger

Harris is fit for this test but i don't know what is going to happen with him... Mitch is the answer i reckon.

Spinners-

This is the tough one. Australia have gone through 9 spinners since Warne's Era and we need a solution fast. Warne named WA Boy Beer as a contender to play at the WACA in this test but he is young and has only a couple of shield games under his belt so im thinking this is a risk we shouldn't be taking at 1-0 down in the series.

Hauritz... After hitting 146 for NSW you would think he is a certainty to play but his bowling has not been up to scratch..
Smith? Nope. Doherty? He's not doing a thing...

My solution... BRING BACK WARNEY!!!

But from past experience, the dumb selectors will go for Hauritz i reckon..

So my 3rd Test Team:

1. S.Watson
2. S.Marsh
3. R.Ponting
4. M.Clarke
5. M.Hussey
6. B.Haddin
7. M.Johnson
8. N.Hauritz
9. P.Siddle
10. B.Hilfenhaus
11. D.Bollinger

Looking back at this team quickly.. if we field this we are screwed

BLOWN8 said:

if Doherty is dropped thats fine, if north is dropped thats a given, he needs to go now. but please dont bring back Hauritz, try steve smith, give him 8 tests straight to find his feet and he'll be great.

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Here Here!! bring in some new blood !!

Whats this Marsh ****? Hughes4life!

Ponting needs to follow Tendulkar. Drop Captaincy. Move down the order to 4th. Score 6 100s in a year.

Also Warnie may be back in the team:

Warnie offered $1m for a return | Fox Sports

walshy said:

Whats this Marsh ****? Hughes4life!

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At least Marsh is scoring runs this summer....