Who's next?

[Beny]

So Darren Lehman's test carrer is over... Who will take his spot.

Top Three Contenders:

Simon Katich (NSW/WA):
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...H_SM_02006259/

Test Stats:
Matches:13
Average: 41.10
Runs: 822

Domestic:
Average: 50.6
Runs: 9463
NB: FAV

Mike Hussy:
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data..._MEK_02006256/
Domestic:
Average: 51.86
Runs: 13953

Brad Hodge:
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...E_BJ_02006253/
Domestic:
Average: 46.73
Runs:11543
NB: Averaged 60+ for last few years.

Shane Watson:
http://aus.cricinfo.com/link_to_data...N_SR_02010125/
Domestic:
Average:45.71
Runs:2423
NB: Injured at the momment. Will not be able to play next series.

Hussy (65) and Katich (58) were top scorers in the ODI against NZ last night along with Clarke (71). Hodge has been in fantastic form over the last few years. Domonic Thornley is also an outside Chance.

[Mike]

Very good question, Beny. Some of these guys are mentioned in this BBC article. Katich looks to have the temperament to succeed at Test level but Australia would dearly love to have a genuine all rounder in the mold of Flintoff or Kallis so Watson must be in the frame. The other guys you mention have done enough to warrant a tryout, as well. So it could be sometime before we see someone establish themselves as Lehman's successor.

[Paoli]

Beny, who would you say is the reserve batsmen. It is an established and respected fact that Kat will most probably take Boof's Spot. Hussey or Hodge to tour??

[Beny]

Personaly, I belive that Katich is Australias get out of jail card... The sort of guy who can come in a 5 or 6 and rebuild a damaged innings or if needed, take the attack to the bowlers. He is a very good defensive batsmen.

[Beny]

Simon Katich

Katich has age and ability on his side, but it is still hard to tell where he stands with selectors. The left-hander has not exactly grabbed his limited chances with open arms, and will need to do more if he is to break into the team

Load of Crap... Katich has proformed brilliantly.... a test ton and who can forget that knock in the sydney test against India.

[Rachael]

I like the lookof the guy: exactly what the Australian teamhas needed since Steve Waugh quit.

[Mike]

Rachael, don't you think Michael Clarke was a good replacement for Steve Waugh?

[Zainub]

Michael Clarke is a fantastic guy to have in any team for any player, his hair excluded that is, he's brings in with him one hell of an energy. He's like the kind of guys everyone should dream to have in their team.

But I think what Racheal actually means is if Australia have the token "boring" guy in their team, you know, the kind that come from the Richardson, Kirsten, Dravid bread...Steve Waugh was like that for the Australia in one way, although perhaps not in the exact literal sense, but of all the players Aus had in their team when Tugga was around he was easily the least flashy of them. You would expect him to do all the dirty buissness.

Michael Clarke is way too talented and exciting to take up that role, he is in fact the complete opposite of your trade mark readguard action players. Simon Katich as Racheal perhaps is going to point out is more suited to that kind of role, in fact in his summer heroics against India (in that series where India forced a 1-1 dra) he batted very well in that kind of made, making runs when other people didn't.

Clarke is a free scoring, free minded shot maker, who is at his best when he is doing what he does best, i.e. play shots.

And since we're on this topic, a related news report from cricket info might be of interst to some of you:

Mass exodus on the cards, says Martyn

On a side note, this made me laugh a lot , I wonder if it did it make anyone else laugh?

Quotable Quotes: ""I see these guys more than Mum and Dad...we live in each others' pockets"

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by Zainub Razvi

I think what Racheal actually means is if Australia have the token "boring" guy in their team, you know, the kind that come from the Richardson, Kirsten, Dravid bre[e]d...

Absolutely. Langer's a good anchorman when he puts his mind to it... but against the weedy sides of recent years the Aussies have been at their best when the likes of Hayden, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke and Gilchrist take some risks in the cause of trying to bat the other side out of the game in double quick time.

When Steve Waugh was in the middle order you could give a bit of license to the nos 2 and 3 to have a dart.. because he could be as obdurate as anyone in world cricket and could be counted on, more often thanm not, to dig the side out of any hole it was digging for itself.

My own feeling is that as the opposition starts to close the gap on the Aussies (as we saw in Sri Lanka last year) the pressure is actually going to be on to develop 3-4 of the players as guys who can dig in... with Martyn perhaps turning into one.. and the pressure on for Ponting to reign in his attacking instincts a bit - Hayden, Clarke and Gilchrist lashing out is a big enough risk!

Ponting seems to recognise this: he told his team mates to stop whinging last year when they had to bat on pitches that required graft.. and the side have had enough scares of late (notably in Sri Lanka, but even against Pakistan, where they more than once lost 5 top order wickets for bugger all). No Aussie is going to be impressed if macho aggression starts leading to regular implosion!

A good lesson to learn ahead of the Ashes, methinks: a year or two back I thought the Aussies were getting too carried away and that the first side to prepare tracks to favour the bowlers would prove their undoing. Now? Not so sure: I still think the way for England to win the Ashes is to prepare pitches on which the ball swings and seams and is a bit two paced.. but I'm not sure (especially with Katich in the side) they are likely to roll over.

Of course.. the ECB will not order the preparation of bowler friendly tracks as they don't want to risk having Test matches ending in 3-4 days.. so I guess it's going to business as usual this year.

[Zainub]

Originally Posted by Rachael

bre[e]d..

Lol!