2011 World Cup

[Major JW Hochstetter]

15 man Aussie squad named:

Watson
Haddin
Ponting
Clarke
Mussey
Dussey
White
Paine
Smith
Hastings
Johnson
Hauritz
Lee
Tait
Bollinger

http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-cricket ... 97212.html

 

[Bucking Beads]

Rubbish.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Mussey has virtually been ruled out which is a huge blow but an even bigger blow is Marsh being selected as his replacement and not Ferguson.

 

[m1c]

IMO this has to be the final nail in someones coffin. Some of the processes they have been through just don't add up, and are quite frankly, amateur. I wouldn't expect this from club cricket.

They settled on a squad years ago for this tournament. Obviously there would be a small amount of changes through injury or major spikes or slumps in form. To jettison James Hopes 3 matches before the squad was named is ridiculous. Especially given that they have been left with little option but to run with an all out raw pace attack - something that IMO is completely wrong for the conditions, however I can't be too critical as injury has forced this hand. Surely Hopes would be the perfect foil for their rocks or diamonds approach - a defensive bowler to sure up one end. I'm not sure how a player can be part of your plans for 3 years, then so suddenly fall out of favor. The inverse is Hastings. Thrown in after 3 internationals?

Dave Hussey. It was decided ~2 years ago that he wasn't the man for the job and he was appropriately cut after many mediocre returns. 1 game before the World Cup squad is announced and he is back in? This is despite the fact he barely averages 20 for one day domestic cricket this season.

On the other hand batsmen Marsh and Ferguson who had been groomed for this tournament the last 3 years are not even given a look in.

Onto Hodge... there is only one point to be made and that is if you want to win a world cup tomorrow you put differences aside and pick Brad Hodge. I find it staggering - even more so given the injury clouds over Hussey and Ponting - that he is not there. Having seen the host nation in India pick 3 frontline spinners and a spinning all rounder in their squad of 15 it doesn't take a genius to work out what the pitches will be like.

IMO Australia's best chance of success is to bat first and rack up a big total. If any of Watson, Ponting or Hussey go down, they are in serious trouble. They are their 3 best batsmen by a mile and there is simply not a replacement of quality in the final squad. White and Haddin are hit or miss, Smith and DHussey not up to it, whilst unfortunately with the introduction of t20 cricket; ODI cricket has rapidly evolved to the point where it seems Clarke - despite his skill as a batsman - has been left behind. Hodge is the only batsman in the country of similar quality.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

A run of great form is needed for us to win it I reckon (preferably starting in the current series), as talent-wise we just don't have any real edge over the rest of the teams to be able to grind our way to the trophy without the whole team firing. Plenty of liabilities in the squad to, which in previous tournaments could've had their shortcomings covered by other players in the team.

I think this World Cup will be a lottery, with plenty of evenly matched, average looking sides.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Aussies can win the Cup but need a big big series from the top 4 and by some miracle Tait needs to bowl well every match which just won't happen. I reckon Steve Smith is in for a big World Cup

 

[Browny]

I thought they omitted Marsh based on the fact he was an opener and are already covered. Where would they put him in the side?

Bollinger has been bowling pies since his return, as much as I'd hate to say it bring in Siddle. Such a shame Harris is broken. Also what happend to McKAY?

Hodge will never get selected with the current selection board in any form of the game.

But good to see Hauritz finally rewarded with a return.


It will be interesting to see if Hauritz gets a go against the Poms.

Im happy with Lee but not Tait as Lee has varity where Tait is just shit with the occassional brilliance just like his twin Johnston.

I wouldnt have thought it a couple of years ago but Watson is pretty much carrying the side

 

[Bucking Beads]

McKay has stress fractures of the ankle or someyhing and is out for.months.

 

[Ghibli]

Why won't they pick this Hodge bloke?

 

[Bucking Beads]

Nobody really knows. He did mouth off about the selectors which never helps in selection

 

[Jeba]

Tait and Bollinger are massive risks on current form. I am a critic of Siddle's but I think he was unlucky to miss out.

 

[Coxy]

Nobody really knows. He did mouth off about the selectors which never helps in selection

Didn't hurt Haddurrrr

 

[Bucking Beads]

Re: Re: 2011 World Cup

Nobody really knows. He did mouth off about the selectors which never helps in selection

Didn't hurt Haddurrrr

It will eventually.

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

Are Tait and Hilditch related perchance?

"We've all had a fair bit of experience and if you put that pace attack up against any in the world and I think it comes out No. 1," Tait said. "The selectors should be pretty happy with what they have."

....

"The reason I get selected is because of my pace and there's no substitute for me. I'm not going to hold back and try and put the ball in the right areas," he said. "I'm there to bowl fast and take wickets which is what I'll try to do."

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ ... 97427.html

 

[Coxy]

LOL! "I'm not bothered about bowling well, just fast, and hope by sheer luck something hits the stumps"...nice one!

 

[Major JW Hochstetter]

And he's flat out cracking 145 at the moment anyway, especially when he has to bowl 10 overs. Old man Lee has just about got him covered.

Either Tait is genuinely deluded or full of false bravado.

Someone like Thompson could probably say something like that back in the day. But Tait? Bitch, please...

 

[Bucking Beads]

Tait is useless, he had an awesome 2007 World Cup and that is about all he has done. When was the last time he bowled 10 overs in a match at 150k?? Probably the 2007 World Cup. The selectors and some of the players are clueless.

 

[Jeba]

I'm still worried about Bollinger's form. Of course, sub-continental cricket is quite a different game to what we see over here, but he just doesn't seem to have that devastating spell in him at the moment. Like Johnson's yesterday, Lee's at the Gabba, Bichel's in the 03 Cup or McGrath's against the Windies in '99.

I still maintain Siddle was the better option for that reason.

Having said that though I'd have Bollinger over Tait anyway, but still worried about his current form.