Micheal Clarke overated refer to Cameron White

[Beny]

Would you please enlighten us as to why Dan Cullen, who the selectors have named as one of the most exciting players in Australia, who owns a cricket Australia contract in his first season of Domestic cricket, who took 40 wicekts in a season and who every current player from Warnie to Ponting has tipped to play for Autralia sooner rather than latter... why will he not play for Australia as compared to a guy who recives,'he needs to do some work', rapps from the same players, will?

[acker]

Whites in the one day team Cullen's not possesion is 9/10 of the law.

[Beny]

White is in the ODI team because he suits what the selectors are looking towards in the the short form of the game, an all-rounder. Meanwhile the selectors have admited that Cullen nearly made the Ashes squad.

[acker]

Dan Cullen
First-class 17 4289 2303 66 5/38 34.89 3.22 64.98 3 3 0

Cameron White
First-class 44 6123 3529 102 6/66 34.59 3.45 60.02 1 1

Both impessive for their age averaging 34, White has an edge with batting hence his earlier selection I was probably a bit harsh on Cullen he will play for Australia but more likely like a Stuart McGill role only on spin conducive wickets.
I think their is more of a chance that the selectors will try to develop White into a bowling allrounder at test level as well as one day level who can eventualy hold down the 6 or 7 batting spot and be a permanent spin option for the team even when they are playing 3 or 4 quicks (depending on how many batsmen they want) or on spin decks Cullen.

[Beny]

Except that White has had an extra season or two, and Cullen took more wickets than him last year, and everybody who knows something thinks Cullen is a better bowling option. And the only reason McGill is'nt a first team regular is because of Warne. Cullen will become a first team regular for Australia as soon as Warne departs- provided he proforms.

[acker]

Provided he performs, I still think White will get a gig as a bowling (spin) allrounder something the side has been looking for after years of batting allrounders.

[Leafy Seadragon]

I think that the eternal search for an all-rounder is not necessarily a bad thing, but let's be realistic. Unless they're of the Gilchrist, Khan, Miller or Botham calibre, they're probably only ever going to be a bit-part player. That's not to say you don't look, or even settle for slightly less of someone capable comes along. But, it does mean being realistic. If someone's bowling is not up to top class test standard, then they're a batsman who bowls a bit (which is what say Symonds is hoping to be at the moment in tests). This isn't the basis for selecting a spinner - although there may be scope for them to add a little depth to the bowling, and might allow Australia to continue with a four front-line bowlers policy post McGrath & Warne.

I don't know White's bowling well enough to comment completely. From what I hear he's a useful 1st-class bowler. There's an enormous gulf from this step to test level bowling (just ask Symonds). I know that Cullen does have enormous potential. My money would be on Cullen to secure a long-term place, but to do that he's got to keep improving (he's currently only in his second full 1st-class season but this season hasn't been a stellar one so far). Cullen's inclusion long-term might actually favour White's inclusion given their complementary bowling styles.