Australia's likely 20/20 world cup squad

[acker]

I know some on the England site are trying to dull this down as slap and giggle (already preparing themselves for failure), but I just don't think Ricky Ponting and the Australian hierarchy will dull it down; rather they will go in to win it like everything thing else we compete in.
For that reason I think the main eleven will resemble something like this.

Matthew Hayden
Adam Gilchrist
Ricky Ponting
Brad Hodge
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey
Andrew Symonds
Cameron White
Brett Lee
Stuart Clark
Ben Hilfenhaus

12th Man Adam Vogues

[darksideofthemoon]

I think the following -

1. Hayden
2. Gilchrist
3. Ponting
4. Hussey
5. Clarke
6. Hodge
7. Symonds
8. Hogg
9. Lee
10. Bracken
11. Tait

12. Clark
White's bowling isn't very good and there are enough batmen there that can hit the ball out of the ground. Bracken is one of the best ODI bowlers in the world, why would Hilfenhaus get in with only 1 ODI to his name?

[adamberry]

Originally Posted by darksideofthemoon

why would Hilfenhaus get in with only 1 ODI to his name?

Actually, I think Australia might be better off picking Hilfenhaus over one of Lee/Tait. Out-and-out pace bowlers tend to get hit quite a bit in Twenty20, so there's no way I'd pick both unless playing the likes of Kenya.

As for White; he isn't really an international bowler IMO. I'd rather see Hogg play.

[darksideofthemoon]

Hilfenhaus is one of my favourite bowlers and bowls in the high eighties and can bowl balls in the 90s.

Lee might have some competition from Tait as he can reach the high nineties. He might get hit but I don't think many new batsmen to the crease can play a 98mph yorker. Actually having looked at the stats Hilfenhaus has better figures so I will change my choice of 20/20 bowlers to Tait, Hilfenhaus and Johnson.

20/20
5 matches 9 wickets at 12.88 econ 6.69 s/r 11.55 - Tait
3 matches 1 wicket at 72.00 econ 7.20 s/r 60.00 - Lee
2 matches 1 wicket at 60.00 econ 7.50 s/r 48.00 - Clark
5 matches 8 wickets at 13.50 econ 6.35 s/r 12.75 - Hilfenhaus
3 matches 2 wickets at 27.00 econ 6.00 s/r 27.00 - Johnson
6 matches 5 wickets at 34.80 econ 7.90 s/r 26.40 - Bracken

[acker]

I think Ben Hilfenhaus will be a regular sooner rather than later. Probably at the expense of Stuart Clark.

[Quagmire]

Preliminary squad George Bailey, Nathan Bracken, Luke Butterworth, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Dan Cullen, Brendan Drew, Adam Gilchrist, Brad Haddin, Shane Harwood, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Brad Hodge, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Phil Jaques, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Andrew McDonald, Ashley Noffke, Marcus North, Ricky Ponting, Luke Ronchi, Andrew Symonds, Shaun Tait, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

I think the main team should be + the 20/20int hs & 20/20fc hs or best bowling

Adam Gilchrist (48 & 48)
Matthew Hayden (20 & 20)
Ricky Ponting (98* & 98*)
Andrew Symonds (54* & 112) (should bat up the order)
Michael Clarke (37 & 46)
Cameron White (40* & 141*)
Michael Hussey (31* & 88)
Brett Lee (if fit) (43* & 43* - 1/26 & 1/26)
Brad Hogg (41 & 54 - no wickets & 4/9) Ben Hilfenhaus (2/16 & 3/17) (depends on pitch)
Nathan Bracken (2/9 & 2/9)
Shaun Tait (has not played int / 4/14)

12th Man - Shane Watson

There is a lot of batting power but with the four main bowlers and Symonds, Clarke and White being able to bowl a little bit as well I think that Australia will have the best side on paper for the tournement

[darksideofthemoon]

What are these players like - George Bailey, Luke Butterworth, Brendan Drew, Shane Harwood, Andrew McDonald?

I wouldn't give White the ball at all. He is good enough for his batting alone.

[acker]

We discussed Butterworth and McDonald a fair bit in our WAT Aust A thread.

[Jackson]

Will be interesting if Punter Sarfraz and Watto do play.

[sittingduck]

Shouldn't the likes of Hussey and maybe Symonds be further up the order, they're experts in the last ten overs which is of course half the innings in 20/20.
I believe NZ are doing something similar by sendin Jacob Oram up to about four in the order rather than hsi normal spot at 6 or 7.