Not Hughes. Has done very little in the 50 over format to warrant selection. Don't get me wrong, as a NSW supporter I am a HUGE fan of his, but he hasn't figured out his limited overs game yet. He gets ahead of himself and gives his wicket away too easily.
Warner is a possibility, but I'm not sure he has the head for the top level yet. Again, I'm a fan of his, especially given he is a Baby Blue (hence the name
), but I'd prefer to let him get another solid season under his belt. If our lineup was looking a little too stagnant, perhaps he could get the call up. Also, I'd much rather him at the top of the order.
This would be my side:
Katich
Clarke
Ponting
Haddin (good call on him batting 4, I like it)
D. Hussey
M. Hussey
White
Johnson
Hauritz/Hilfenhaus
Siddle
Bracken
I like Clarke as an opener. He has had a fair bit of success in that position in ODI cricket, and I think that given most of the batsmen who have been knocking on the door for a while are middle/lower order batsmen, for the sake of team balance Clarke is best used as an opener. He has the technique to cope with the new ball, the strokemaking and striking ability to score runs quickly, and the temperament and grit to settle things down if we lose early wickets (something he has only really started showing regularly recently).
The second opening spot is a tough one. I went Katich since I've listed a strong bowling lineup, but my other option would have been Hopes. I think people unfairly malign Katich as a slow and boring batsman based on how he used to play, but he has really worked some fine strokeplay and aggressive batting into his game. He is more than capable of scoring runs quickly. He is quite like Hussey in that respect. When runs need to be scored at a fast rate, he can do it, but otherwise, protecting his wicket simply takes priority. I could see Hopes opening the batting, and Katich slotting in at 4 after Ponting, with everybody else dropping down a place and one of the bowlers, probably Hauritz/Hilfy or Siddle, missing out.
Ponting at 3 picks himself, though if he wants to retire from ODIs to prolong his Test career, that's up to him.
Haddin is a quality batsman (when he backs himself, which he hasn't always). He has the skill and temperament to hold down the number 4 position in ODIs.
I like D. Hussey at 5, ahead of Mike. Effectively playing Symonds' role in his absence. Maybe not much of a look to the future, but I can't see any other young guns beating the door down for the number 5 spot.
Mike Hussey's versatility makes him a perfect limited overs number 6. He has had the most success in that position. He is an expert and protecting the tail while still scoring runs, he can consolidate after a mid-order collapse, and he has shown on several occasions that he can score runs at very high rates when required, something handy at the death.
I like White. Very talented batsman, and a decent part time tweaker. Give him a run, let him blast a few at the death, and have him bowl 3 or 4 overs a match. A far more exciting and naturally talented player than McDonald.
Johnson picks himself, and Bracken does too, in the OD format. Hauritz and Hilfy are interchangeable I reckon, depending on conditions. Siddle has done well in the Tests, and deserves a run in the ODI side, despite the fact that he has shown himself at state level to be a better bowler in the longer form of the game than the 50 over format. If he doesn't do that well, swap him with Hilfy, or if Hilfy is already playing, and we want to keep 4 pacemen, Dougie, or Hopes at the top of the order and Katich moving to 4, as I mentioned earlier.
Developement and Current One Day Side
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