Australia's side for the next test match

[Quagmire]

I know it is a bit early but what sort of team will Australia produce for there next test match since Warne, McGrath, Langer and the forgotten Martyn have retired from test cricket. Just to remind people what sort of players that Australia have lost.


Warne - 708 wickets at 25.41
McGrath - 563 wickets at 21.64
Langer - 7696 runs at 45.27
Martyn - 4406 runs at 46.37


Here are some of the players that will be hoping to fill some of these players shoes

• MacGill
• Jaques
• Tait
• Johnson
• Voges
• Hodge
• White
• Hilfenhaus
• Rogers
• Birt
• North
• Bailey
• Bracken
• Cosgrove

Personally my team would looks something like this


Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Johnson
Clark
MacGill


Other players that I would pick to be in the squad - Rogers, Bracken & Watson


Losing two legends and two greats are always hard to replace, but I could not see any other country being able to produce as strong a team straight away like Australia can.

[draexem]

I'd have Rogers opening, his current form will be hard to deny. I'd also have either Watson or McDonald in for Symonds, seeing as Symonds doesn't really offer a bowling option. I'd have Hilfenhaus in the squad, future Australian swing bowler who will benefit from the experience. Also in the squad, I'd have Tait, Voges, maybe a case can be made for Hogg (incase two spinners are needed).

[Rachael]

Originally Posted by draexem

I'd have Rogers opening

From what I've been reading of late, Rogers sounds a better bet than Jacques... and certainly a better partner for Hayden: two bullies at the top of the order is asking for trouble.

Symonds should never again play Test cricket.. so play Rogers at the top of the order and Voges or Jacques at 6

Clark picks himself... Lee just did enough in the final Test of the Ashes (and offers enough experience and lower-order batting) to just about hold his place and Johnson clearly deserves the third seamer spot. That leaves the spinner... and it seems to me that this is the problem area... not because MacGill at his best is a problem... but because (as I understand it) MacGill isn't bowling very well at the moment - and his successor is still an open question.

I started a thread on Aaron Heal, and maybe he's the shorter term answer: I just don't know.

[Quagmire]

MacGill is a quality bowler he is only a short term option. I would play MacGill in test cricket and blood Cullen Bailey in the one day game for a couple of years. Rogers and Jaques was a toss of the coin.

[draexem]

Originally Posted by Rachael

That leaves the spinner... and it seems to me that this is the problem area... not because MacGill at his best is a problem... but because (as I understand it) MacGill isn't bowling very well at the moment - and his successor is still an open question.

I started a thread on Aaron Heal, and maybe he's the shorter term answer: I just don't know.

True, MacGill has been pretty ordinary this season, however, even bowling well below his best, he's taken 16 wickets at 34 in the Pura Cup, which isn't bad. A couple of years ago, Warne averaged 40 with the ball in domestic cricket, but still performed well for Australia. The thing with MacGill is that he's a proven performer.

However, if people aren't sure about MacGill, Hogg has continued to show that he's next in taking 15 wickets at an average of 20. Poor old Hoggy is always forgotten .

Heal is unproven at all levels. MacGill or Hogg will give the selectors some time to make their decision on which spinners will have a future with Australia.

The pecking order of Australian spinners is:
MacGill
Hogg
<daylight>
<Even more daylight>
the rest.

[Quagmire]

Well the amazing thing about Warne is that his domestic career is poor, he only played a couple of FC matches before he was put in the test side. Pure talent is what the selectors saw in him and Cullen Bailey is said to be his long term replacement. One of Jenner's boys and will be interesting to see what he can do with him, can he fill the shoes of Jenners greatest success that is S.K Warne.

[KennyG]

Hogg is a good one day bowler but then again Lee is a great one day bowler.
When you have the time to wait for their loose balls and keep the good ones out they are ordinary.

MacGill will be the short term replacement for Warne and will do a good job.

Cullen is being groomed as the long term option.
He looks good but is unproven at international level.

[Aussie-Yank]

Originally Posted by Quagmire

Personally my team would looks something like this


Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Johnson
Clark
MacGill

That would be my thoughts that the Aussie selectors would go with - I am sure they would be looking to blood Johnson on Sri-Lanka at home than anywhere else against any body else.

[acker]

next test

Hayden
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Gilchrist
Lee
Clark
Johnson
McGill

2009 ashes prediction

Cosgrove (after 2years pritiken diet and boot camp)
Jaques
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Henriques
Haddin
Clark
Johnson
McGill

12th man Cameron White

As I have said previously about our spin stocks, after Stuart McGill you may as well pick Cameron White and take the upside on his batting as I would hardly rate Cullen and Cassen as having much more potential as Ashley Giles.

[Quagmire]

Cullan Bailey is the only young talented spinner in Australia. Dan Cullen is an offspinner which means he will be no good. In my opinion Andrew Symonds and Michael Clarke are just as good with the ball as Dan Cullen, the only reason he has got a game is because he is so keen.