Your ideal aussie XI for the world cup

[Dogatlongon]

With all the jockeying for positions and uncertainty for bowlers etc, what would be your ideal XI for the world cup?
Mine;

1. Gilchrist (wk)
2. White
3. Symonds
4. Hayden
5. Ponting (c)
6. Hussey
7. Clarke
8. Bracken
9. Clark
10. Johnson
11. Mcgrath

12. Hilfenhaus

IMO it would be quite unlikely that top 5 didn't last the 50 overs, and if they're the only 5 players you play they're the most likely to get the biggest score at the end of an innings.
If things don't work out, hussey and clarke come in as really solid batsmen capable of saving the day.
Worst comes to worst bracken comes in as a decent batsmen.

I think tate is just too iffy in the fielding and batting department to be included at all, he's an irritating bowler for batsmen to deal with, which is good, but Johnson is a better bowler, and bracken is too valuable a batsmen (for a bowler).
Clark has well and truely earned his spot, and Mcgrath is mcgrath.

I can't see that XI in that order being the chosen lineup, but I think it's the most logically effective one.

[greg]

Well Tait has played himself out of contention as has Hodge so the Aussie squad for the World Cup now depends on the Symond's injury and whether they risk Watson's hammy.

[draexem]

Gilchist
Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Watson
Hussey
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

12th man: Hilfenhaus

My reasonings:
Watson comes back in to make room for the best one-day spinner of the country. This makes room for one extra batsman, and seeing as Hodge hasn't played well, and they haven't tested anyone else, may as well keep Hayden up the top and hope he can take advantage of the smaller grounds.

Hogg in, White WAY out.

Hilfenhaus looks a better bowler than Johnson, so he takes 12th man. McGrath, Bracken and Lee are all exceptional one-day bowlers and are must haves.

[Rachael]

I'm assuming the 1st choice Xi will be as follows:

Gilchrist
Watson / Hayden
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Hussey
White
Lee
Bracken
Clark / Hogg
McGrath

Johnson / Hilfenhaus and Hodge would presumably make up the ideal 15 if someone in the above can be a stop gap wicket-keeper if Gilchrist has to skip a game... otherwise Haddin surely travels as an additional wicket-keeper.

[Dogatlongon]

I forgot about Lee, somewhat subconciously but I also think he's overrated.
Would switch him for bracken, if I had too.

[Seamer]

My prefered XI(batting order)
1.Hussey
2.Hayden
3.Ponting
4.Symonds
5.M.Clarke (Or Lehmann if available)
6.Gilchrist
7.Watson
8.White
9.Bracken
10.Clark
11.McGrath

I would firstly put our best batsmen in the top 4 to maximise our scoring potential. If not successful #5,6,7,8 still gives us plenty of firepower and potential.
#11,10,9,7,4 give us five decent seamer options and decent variety
#8,5,4 give us 3 decent spin options -also good variety - r/h legspinner, offspinner and l/h offspiner
#1-8 are quality batsmen, and all potential match-winners.Only need 2 of the 8 to fire to give us a good total.

I also think the Aus selectors should have a deep talk with Darren Lehmann to talk him into having one last bash at a world cup. IMO, he's definately still one of Australia's top 5 batsmen. And he's a very wily spin bowler too. Replace him for White and that would be our best possible XI and a team you could back to win

[al_vb]

Gilchrist
Jaques
Ponting
Clarke
Symonds
Hussey
Watson
Hogg
Lee
Bracken
McGrath

Just to explain a couple of selections. Matthew Hayden (non-selection) - As good as he is, I think he's past his destructive best and seems to struggle to dominate bowlers these days, particularly early on in his innings (which can be a problem in One-Day cricket). If opposition fielding had been respectable his best score this series would've been 49. I'm happy to be wrong about Hayden as he's a very fine batsmen.

I think that Australia would be much better off with Brad Hogg in their line-up. He's a fine wrist spinner and his bowling adds some much needed variety to our bowling. His batting is also handy, as is his fielding.

[KennyG]

Originally Posted by greg 129344

Well Tait has played himself out of contention as has Hodge so the Aussie squad for the World Cup now depends on the Symond's injury and whether they risk Watson's hammy.

Second chances are wonderful.

Hayden
Gilchrist
Ponting
M.Clarke
Symons/Hodge
White
Lee
Johnson
Bracken
McGrath


If Symonds is fit he is in.
Hodge can bowl useful spin like Symonds so you can get ten out of Hodge,M.Clarke and White.

[pie_chucker]

It looks like Symonds could be struggling. I've read that the muscle has separated from the tendon...ouch!!!

[pie_chucker]

This is a question to some of the Aussies out there. Have Australia settled on a first choice bowling attack and if they do who is in it?

I've lost track with all the rotation in this series. I would have though McGrath, Lee, Clarke and Bracken as the main 4 but I'm not too sure really.