Test Series v India

[Bucking Beads]

I think they'll want that as their swansong and a bit of redemption. I'm not a fan of it either but if they keep up their current form you can't exactly force them out.

Yes I know, it is now up to Hussey and Punter to have a serious form slump from now until next Summer for them to get the boot.

 

[mrslong]

HUGE Ponting fan, but I think this should be his last test series. What a way to finish. He should look to Locky who finished with a try under the sticks in an International final. He could have gone round again, but at least he went out a fricking winner. Ponting, retire. Go out on top bud!!!

 

[Steve Ward]

I think we need ponting and Huss for the Ashers tour IMO

 

[Coxy]

Ponting retire now while on a high
Watson replace him at 4.

Khawaja in for Marsh

 

[Bucking Beads]

I think we need ponting and Huss for the Ashers tour IMO

You are delusional IMO

 

[Bucking Beads]

Ponting retire now while on a high
Watson replace him at 4.

Khawaja in for Marsh

Not a chance of this happening. Too selfish and arrogant to go out on top

 

[m1c]

Yes, please go out whilst you're on top, Ricky. The Ponting bashing was entirely justified - he went 5 years for 5 centuries averaging in the high 30s!! The witch hunt was on for Steve Waugh after ONE poor year. The role the media plays in team selections is quite distressing. I've no doubt he'd have been gone last summer had the journo's got off the Ponting bandwagon.

Good on him for scoring runs, however they've come on the two flattest pitches in Australia under some of the least competitive conditions I've witnessed in recent times. With the Windies and then the Bangas coming up he has the opportunity to cement his spot in the side for the Saffas and then England.

They will be the real test as to whether he has clung on too long. He should be harshly judged if that is proven so.

BTW what about the 'Michael Clarke - best bat in the world' articles that are starting to pop up. Lawl. Clarkey doesn't even make it into a World IX at this stage. I've been pushing his barrow for the last 4 years, however he now might have gone from utterly underrated to slightly overrated in the space of a series. What a fickle lot the public are.

 

[Coxy]

Why would he be in a world 9?

 

[Bucking Beads]

It is the media who started that rubbish about Clarke being the number 1 batsmen in the world. Absolute garbage article. He needs to dominate over the space of several years to be number 1 batsmen in the world IMO.

 

[Jeba]

You are delusional IMO

We are going to need some experienced heads though I think mate. By that stage, we'll have 2 relatively new opening batsmen, a captain facing his toughest test yet, hopefully a new wicket keeper, and a spinner still finding his feet. If Ponting and Hussey are still in form leading into the Ashes, I'd say they will be real assets to the side. You'd hope to see a side of Cowan, Warner, Watson, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Paine/Wade, Siddle, Pattinson, Hilfenhaus, Lyon.

 

[Bucking Beads]

38 year olds will not help us win the Ashes IMO. The Poms bowling is that good if you are a little off pace they will take you down. Ponting and Hussey can only get worse from here IMO. By the Ashes Warner and Cowan will have played 10+ tests likewise Khawaja if he gets back in the side. Watson is experienced as is Clarke.

 

[Jeza23]

Pakistan plundered the poms all around about a week ago and we trounced them last they were here (pakis that is) so England arent unbeatable by any stretch

 

[Clintos]

Pakistan have a pretty lethal spin combination at the moment though.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Pakistan are a team on the up. They have always had talent bat lack application. They seem to have everything in order at the moment. It's good for world cricket.

On the Poms, we were never going to beat them last summer. They put so much into winning the ashes and it showed. They are good but beatable for sure.

 

[mrslong]

Good thing they dumped Kawahaja for Marsh. :sigh:

 

[Bucking Beads]

Good thing they dumped Kawahaja for Marsh. :sigh:

Ludicrous decision.

 

[Coxy]

Meh, hindsight yes it was a bad decision, but Khawaja/Marsh, pretty much the same quality and stages of their careers really.

I'll say it again, I would love Ponting to retire at the end of the summer and, assuming Watson is fit, he comes into number 4 as his replacement and Khawaja replaces Marsh for the Windies tour.

 

[Bucking Beads]

The main reason the Marsh over Khawaja decision was wrong was because Marsh only played one 20/20 match before getting picked.