Seems like about 70% of the team we have complete agreement.

(a) Can we have a vote as to wether we are ruling out Haddin, Bracken and Hussey + other 29 yo's
Yes we are or No we are not

Acker's vote Yes Quagmire's vote Yes Andy Mellon's vote Yes Rachael's vote No

(b) And another vote as to wether we are ruling out Watson (Yes or No)

Ackers vote No Quagmires vote No Andy Mellon's vote Yes Rachael's vote No

Final votes on the 2 above motions I think
(a) 3 x yes-1 x no Question (a) (do not include Haddin, Bracken & Hussey and other 29 yo's)
Vote result Haddin, Bracken, Hussey and other 29 yo's are ruled out from selection in the Australia A 06/07 team
1 x yes-3 x no Question (b) ( do not include Shane Watson )
Vote result Shane Watson is available for selection in the Australia A 06/07 team

The players in the Australia A side that we have total consensus for after the two previous questions were voted on.

(1 ) Phil Jaques
(2 ) Chris Rogers
(3 ).................
(4 ) Adam Voges
(5 ) Marcus North
(6 )...................
(7 )...................
(8 ) Luke Ronchi
(9 ) Mitchell Johnson
(10)......................
(11) Ben Hilfenhaus

Players that we need to ratify and discuss further White ( a few of us uneasy ) alternative spinners ( a few of us uneasy ) Tait and Watson ( Rachael uneasy ) McDonald ( Andy and Quagmire uneasy ) Thornley ( Acker uneasy )

Is there any reason why Ronchi shouldn't bat at 6 or 7? Unless others agree with me about Hussey... is there any question mark that it's Thornley at 3?

As for Tait.. I guess he's in: I can't see me convincing the rest of you that Bracken would be a better bet

That leaves....

(1 ) Phil Jaques
(2 ) Chris Rogers
(3 ) Dominic Thornely
(4 ) Adam Voges
(5 ) Marcus North
(6 ) ...................
(7 ) Luke Ronchi
(8 ) Mitchell Johnson
(9 ) ...................
(10) Ben Hilfenhaus
(11) Shaun Tait

The number 6 spot seems to me to be a straight fight between McDonald, White and Watson.

The No 9 spot seems to be rather more open: I'd go for Heal... but one of the above could masquerade as a bowler... or we could go with Butterworth.

That leaves....

(1 ) Phil Jaques
(2 ) Chris Rogers
(3 ) Dominic Thornely ? (Watson)
(4 ) Adam Voges
(5 ) Marcus North
(6 ) ................... ? (McDonald)
(7 ) Luke Ronchi
(8 ) Mitchell Johnson
(9 ) ................... ? (Bailey)
(10) Ben Hilfenhaus
(11) Shaun Tait

7 players fighting for the last 3 spots I think.
Australian First Class

Bowling 06/07
DJ Thornely 11 113.1 35 284 6 47.33 2-23 - - 113.1 2.50 NSW
AB McDonald 10 307.5 79 874 29 30.13 6-34 1 - 63.6 2.83 VIC
SR Watson 3 44 13 127 7 18.14 3-60 - - 37.7 2.88 QLD (ACB Contracted)
CL White 7 130 20 448 9 49.77 2-26 - - 86.6 3.44 VIC (ACB Contracted)
AK Heal 8 220.3 41 603 22 27.40 5-57 2 1 60.1 2.73 WA
DJ Cullen 6 186 23 652 14 46.57 2-29 - - 79.7 3.50 SOA (ACB Contracted)
CB Bailey 9 325.2 38 1198 29 41.31 4-103 - - 67.3 3.68 SOA (ACB Contracted)

Batting 06/07
DJ Thornely 11 21 2 801 138 42.15 51.84 2 2 11 - NSW
AB McDonald 10 18 5 750 150* 57.69 54.74 1 6 7 - VIC
SR Watson 3 5 1 126 68 31.50 39.25 - 1 2 - QLD (ACB Contracted)
CL White 7 12 1 437 150* 39.72 51.90 1 2 6 - VIC (ACB Contracted)
AK Heal 8 10 0 196 54 19.60 81.66 - 2 5 - WA
DJ Cullen 6 8 4 42 11 10.50 27.63 - - 2 - SOA (ACB Contracted)
CB Bailey 9 16 4 233 54 19.41 30.61 - 1 3 - SOA(ACB Contracted)

We have to remember Watson had an interupted season with his unfortunate injury on the eve of the 1st Ashes test which he had been selected in the Australian team. And that Watson and White were unavailable for a lot of domestic matches due to commitments with the national squad during the ODI's (VB series & Chapple Hadlee series).

I think looking at the above list we could just about flick Cullen whats your oppinion ?
With the advent of McDonald to our thoughts I have had a slight backflip on White please see above in brackets my current squad thought's.
I still opt for the "leggie" over the "offie" though and are open to the idea of one of them in combo with White; which would really put pressure on the Watson/Thornley/McDonald battle for one position in which case I'd probably opt for McDonald because the thought of 3 quicks, McDonald, a spinner, and White really exites me and I dont think we would lose much batting by going that way. The upside on the bowling potency would be huge though ?

I think that Shane Watson should be batting down at 6 or 7 and replace White with a bowler like Steve Magoffin who had a great year in both Pura Cup and Ford Ranger Cup, Magoffin and Edmondson are both on the older side 27 & 28 years but they would be a good choice in my opinion because none of the spinners have done anything worthy of making the side this year. Doug Bollinger also had a great year which has locked in his place in the NSW side.

Ok here is a list of the top wicket takers in Pura Cup & Ford Ranger Cup that qualify for the WAT A Team.

Pura Cup Most wickets list (eligable players) Players already cemented in the side will be in bold

Ben Hilfenhaus (RFM) - 24 years - 11 mat, 60 wickets at 25.38
Ben Edmondson (RFM) - 28 years - 10 mat, 41 wickets at 29.95
Doug Bollinger (LF) - 25 years - 9 mat, 37 wickets at 28.37
Steve Magoffin (RFM) - 27 years - 10 mat, 33 wickets at 27.57
Shaun Tait (RF) - 24 years - 7 mat, 29 wickets at 27.10
Andrew McDonald (RFM) - 25 years, 10 mat, 29 wickets at 30.13
Cullen Bailey (RLG) - 22 years - 8 mat, 26 wickets at 41.15
Brendan Drew (RFM) - 23 years - 10 mat, 26 wickets at 41.23
Luke Butterworth (RM) - 23 years - 5 mat, 23 wickets at 19.56
Aaron Heal (SLO) - 24 years - 8 mat, 22 wickets at 27.40
Dan Cullen (OFF) - 23 years - 5 mat, 13 wickets at 40.76
Mitchell Johnson (LF) - 25 years - 12 wickets at 24.58

Ford Ranger Cup Most Wickets (elegable players only) Players already cemented in the side will be in bold

Chris Simpson (OFF) - 25 years, 11 mat, 16 wickets at 28.37
Steve Magoffin (RFM) - 27 years - 10 mat, 15 wickets at 23.73
Nathan Hauritz (OFF) - 25 years, 9 mat, 14 wickets at 24.00
Ben Hilfenhaus (RFM) - 24 years, 10 mat, 13 wickets at 27.53
Shaun Tait (RF) - 24 years -6 mat, 12 wickets at 21.08
Ben Edmondson (RFM) - 28 years - 6 mat, 12 wickets at 22.41
Xavier Doherty (SLO) - 24 years - 11 wickets at 29.72
Andrew McDonald (RFM) - 25 years - 11 mat, 11 wickets at 31.36
Ryan Harris (RM) - 27 years - 8 mat, 11 wickets at 34.72


MY CHANGED SIDE AGAIN (which position they usually bat in for there state)

Chris Rogers (open)
Phil Jaques (open)
Shane Watson (3-6) (c)
Domanic Thornely (4)
Marcus North (4)
Adam Voges (5)
Luke Ronchi (7)
Mitchell Johnson (8-10)
Doug Bollinger (10)
Shaun Tait (11)
Ben Hilfenhaus (11)

12th Man Cameron White

Bowling line up

Shaun Tait
Mitchell Johnson
Ben Hilfenhaus
Doug Bollinger
Shane Watson

Part timers
Adam Voges
Dominic Thornely
Marcus North

__________________
Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

How highly do you regard Thornley Quaggy ?
Magoffin did come into my thoughts but I must admit I think Bollinger is at best a plodder.

I think that Thornely has been a very good batsman for some time now and he is one of the best batsman in Australia that fits in the criteria, I watched Bollinger a bit and he seems to have improved leaps and bounds but maybe Magoffin is ahead of him and is probably is a better choice.

Couple of questions that would make a huge difference

Is there any top class batsman that have been better than Thornely over a couple of years that qualifys and has not been put in the side?

Do we go with three bowlers + Watson, or do we go with the four quicks + Watson or shoul we put a spinner in the side?

__________________
Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

Someone posed the question earlier in the thread that all though we had a team with a huge batting depth that with out a spin option it might struggle to bowl team's out; thats why I changed my mind about White backflipping to a spin option.

I got interested in McDonald when you posted him as 12th man in your side, I could see a huge upside on his batting and his bowling expecially compared to Thornley who I thought was abiet for White the weakest batter in your eleven. McDonald also seemed to make the side look more balanced.

I still consider Watson is one of the strongest batters in the squad even ignoring his bowling he is in the top 4 batters in your team.

Bollinger sits probably around near where Butterworth sits a good chance for next year but a bit short this time round Magoffin likewise.

MacDonald bowls similar to Collingwood he is not fast medium he is slower than Symond's, his batting is not the most amazing but it is not bad. Every time I have watched him play he has been less that impressive, but his 2006/07 Pura Cup season statistically was impressive so thats the reason why he has been in contention.

__________________
Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

It looks to be two to one at the moment now if this stays the same we have two choices to make

Watson vs McDonald
Heal vs Bailey

__________________
Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.