2009 Ashes 1st Test Australian Team Predictions

[Jolldo87]

Originally Posted by pup_gun

pup captain

will Ponting still be playing or totally out of the side?

and tait isnt playing for australia anymore

he isn't playing indefinitely, he could easily be back for this series

[choco123]

First post on BC everyone!

Thought it might be time to revive this thread:

Alright here's my prediction for the First Test:

Katich
Rogers
Ponting
Hussey
Clarke
Symonds
Haddin
Lee
Casson
Johnson
Clark

This is under the proviso that Haydos either retires or is pushed after this summer's series against NZ and South Africa, and Jaques either hasn't recovered or hasn't displayed good enough form to be considered for selection.

Personally, I'd like to see David Hussey replace Roy as I think he has a better technique to survive quality swing bowling (who knows what cough-lollies the Poms will be putting on the ball) whilst Roy has a bit of a propensity to be found out against top-quality bowling (pace or spin). But the selectors love the idea of having at least one-all rounder so I'd say they'll stick with Roy.

Krejza IMO is the archetypal one-test wonder (even Pup got 6/9 in India) and Casson is a) playing for NSW and b) better batsman than Krejza (which seems to be a major consideration judging by the selection of Cameron White! ).

Not sure how many the touring party would be, but I'd like to see Doug Bollinger (can actually swing the ball), Nathan Bracken (#1 ranked bowler in the world in ODIs and he isn't even considered for Tests? Surely he deserves a crack) and Ben Hilfenhaus fill the reserve bowler spots (not sure if they'll take two or three reserve pacemen). Krejza for reserve spinner, Hussey and Marsh for reserve batsmen, Watson for reserve all-rounder (so that if we're up 1-0 or 2-1 coming into the fifth test we can play him at 8 like the Poms did with Collingwood ) and Ronchi for reserve keeper (again not sure if we'll take one).

What are everyone's thoughts?

[VFNaturally]

Obviously I am posting this with a few series having past since the thread started.

Not sure if this helps!!

ENGLAND:

This would be my team:

Key (Would happily see Denly there but I think he needs longer. Otherwise Vaughan)
Cook (needs to step it up but 7 100s before he was 22 says a lot)
KP (best batsmen plays at 3 IMO)
Bell (I still believe he will become a great player)
Shah (give him a chance FFS!!!)
Fred
Rashid
Broad (will become our McGrath)
Foster (the best keeper IMO and he is perfectly capable of batting at 9!)
Simon Jones (see below)
Monty

Australia clearly dont have a spinner. This doesnt mean they cant play spin but it does mean we should prepare spinning (and most importantly bouncing) tracks for out spinners and Fred. Hopefully a hot summer scuffs the ball up for Simon Jones who I still believe will be back. He bowled 220 overs last summer. I bet the Ashes 2005 he didnt bowl many more than that for England. Thats as fit as he needs to be.

I doubt that will be the team to play though.

AUSTRALIA:

I know a lot less about them, but:

Hayden (still class and to be honest I am hoping this pulls him through because he is not good in tests in England )
Katich (should be automatic, Aus need to realise they need players like Katich now they lack true greats in the batting)
Ponting (Nuff said...a great)
Michael Hussey
Pup (Still not convinced I have to say)
Watson
Symonds (probably Australias best spinner...amusing)
Hadden (quality bat, dont know about his keeping)
Lee (very very good, but not against England........yet)
Johnson (I dont rate him, but good judges do)
Clark (underated hugely IMO)

[Jolldo87]

Firstly, i should have said this before but welcome to the site. It's good to have another English point of view.

Secondly Sidebottom must play for England. He is clearly England's best bowler imo. Also no Strauss and Collingwood is surprising but from what you've posted about Rashid it seems he will easily be able to replace PC as the all-rounder.

[VFNaturally]

Thanks for the welcome

I think Collingwood is rated in Aus because of the last tour. His double century and superhuman performances in the one day matches. Sadly he has been on the slide ever since IMO.

Strauss. Well I hope he can get back to where he was but the fact is he is a limited player and Cooley especially will know this. I can see him been exposed terribly...unless he gets plenty short and wide!

You are probably right about Sidebottom. I am just worried about his nip. he seemed to have lost that snap recently, although I guess that could be injury.

[Ljp86]

Originally Posted by VFNaturally

Obviously I am posting this with a few series having past since the thread started.

Not sure if this helps!!

ENGLAND:

This would be my team:

Key (Would happily see Denly there but I think he needs longer. Otherwise Vaughan)
Cook (needs to step it up but 7 100s before he was 22 says a lot)
KP (best batsmen plays at 3 IMO)
Bell (I still believe he will become a great player)
Shah (give him a chance FFS!!!)
Fred
Rashid
Broad (will become our McGrath)
Foster (the best keeper IMO and he is perfectly capable of batting at 9!)
Simon Jones (see below)
Monty

Australia clearly dont have a spinner. This doesnt mean they cant play spin but it does mean we should prepare spinning (and most importantly bouncing) tracks for out spinners and Fred. Hopefully a hot summer scuffs the ball up for Simon Jones who I still believe will be back. He bowled 220 overs last summer. I bet the Ashes 2005 he didnt bowl many more than that for England. Thats as fit as he needs to be.

I doubt that will be the team to play though.

AUSTRALIA:

I know a lot less about them, but:

Hayden (still class and to be honest I am hoping this pulls him through because he is not good in tests in England )
Katich (should be automatic, Aus need to realise they need players like Katich now they lack true greats in the batting)
Ponting (Nuff said...a great)
Michael Hussey
Pup (Still not convinced I have to say)
Watson
Symonds (probably Australias best spinner...amusing)
Hadden (quality bat, dont know about his keeping)
Lee (very very good, but not against England........yet)
Johnson (I dont rate him, but good judges do)
Clark (underated hugely IMO)

First of all, welcome to the site. Nice to see another english perspective leading up to the Ashes.

You won't see Watson playing too many games with Symonds in the side. Only way Watson will play is if the pitch is a seaming greentop, other than that he'll be playing second fiddle and could spend a lot of time carrying the drinks.

Australia will almost certainly take Jason Krejza across as a spinner. The only other question remains is which other spinner they will take, will it be McGain or will they go for someone who's younger and can be developed?

Interesting thread though, my prediction six months ago is looking quite ordinary at the moment, the first XI isn't too bad but the reserve choices seem to be more different than all those months ago. No doubt they'll change again in the months leading up to the tour.

[Tassietigersrule]

What about Ian Bell as opener for England? He bats there in ODIs and Twenty20s with some success.

[the_socialite]

Aussie Side

P.Jaques
S.Katich
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
D.Hussey
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
B.Hilfenhaus
S.Clark
B.McGain

[The430king]

Originally Posted by the_socialite

Aussie Side

P.Jaques
S.Katich
R.Ponting
M.Hussey
M.Clarke
D.Hussey
B.Haddin
M.Johnson
B.Hilfenhaus
S.Clark
B.McGain

I'll give this a crack, considering it's day three stumps at Sydney.

S. Katich
C. Rogers
R. Ponting
M. Hussey
M. Clarke
A. McDonald/S. Watson ( Depending on Fitness )
B. Haddin
M. Johnson
P. Siddle
S. Clark
B. McGain

Rest of the touring party

M. North
B. Lee
D. Bollinger
N. Hauritz
T. Paine

I don't much about the current England squad. Can anyone shed some light on a possible side and any up and comers coming through the ranks.

[bundybullz08]

I think in the test arena,you have to try keep the sme team for as long as possible...
My 1st XI would be...

1.P.Jacques(if fit)/,otherwise C.Rogers
2.S.Katich
3.R.Ponting(c)
4.M.Hussey
5.M.Clarke(vc)
6.D.Hussey
7.B.Haddin
8.M.Johnson
9.B.Lee
10.P.Siddle
11.S.Clark

The rest...
12.D.Bollinger
13.B.Hodge
14.N.Hauritz
15.A.Crosthwaite
16.P.Hughes

Thoughts?