Pick your 16 Australian players for the 2013 Ashes Tour

[PowerBug]

While I don't want him in the team, he is actually in great batting form at the moment for NSW, and I believe he is playing as a specialist batsman there with Peter Nevil doing the keeping. Haddin is also touted as one of the best players of spin bowling in the country, so there is a possibility he could be strongly considered to be a short term fix for the Hussey gap.

I know that the bolded bit probably isn't your words, but to whoevers they are, haven't they heard of Michael Clarke?

[My Chumps]

so no Cowan...

yeh i tend to agree. I thought that Hussey would have passed the team song on to Cowan but giving it to Lyon means that Cowan has no JS. I think they will take 2 of Watson/Hussey/Maxwell

13 matches for a 32 average, slow as hell, struggles against spin (wtf will he do in India) and has dumb run-outs.

Get in Usman ;)

If 'slow as hell' is talking about his scoring rate, then that's a ridiculous negative.

Does that discount the other reasons I mentioned ?

No, but I'm just saying, everyone needs to stop looking at slow scoring as a negative in tests. It's not a bad thing.

Also, your negative of 'has dumb run-outs' doesn't have much merit; he's been involved in one run-out this summer IIRC.

And while I'm here, I may as well point out that Khawaja averages 29 in his 6 test matches, only scoring above 50 once, and never making three figures. Although I guess we could speculate that he will improve, but I'm just saying ;)

[Scrads]

so no Cowan...

yeh i tend to agree. I thought that Hussey would have passed the team song on to Cowan but giving it to Lyon means that Cowan has no JS. I think they will take 2 of Watson/Hussey/Maxwell

13 matches for a 32 average, slow as hell, struggles against spin (wtf will he do in India) and has dumb run-outs.

Get in Usman ;)

If 'slow as hell' is talking about his scoring rate, then that's a ridiculous negative.

Does that discount the other reasons I mentioned ?

No, but I'm just saying, everyone needs to stop looking at slow scoring as a negative in tests. It's not a bad thing.

Also, your negative of 'has dumb run-outs' doesn't have much merit; he's been involved in one run-out this summer IIRC.

And while I'm here, I may as well point out that Khawaja averages 29 in his 6 test matches, only scoring above 50 once, and never making three figures. Although I guess we could speculate that he will improve, but I'm just saying ;)

Khawaja made start in basically every innings he played except a 7 and a 0 n.o. Note, he was also given only 6 matches whereas Cowan has had 13.

Cowan was involved in runouts in consecutive tests (the last 2 v SL) and was run out v Proteas.

[PowerBug]

By picking Watson over Cowan, you will get about an extra 7 runs each session. Cowan SR = 43, Watson SR = 50. 100 balls = 14 and a bit overs. Assuming that they face about half the balls in the session which is just under 30 overs.

Albeit these are career stats for Watson and i don't have his stats on his 2nd half (since he started opening). It's not that much of a difference looking at it as a whole though.

[My Chumps]

so no Cowan...

yeh i tend to agree. I thought that Hussey would have passed the team song on to Cowan but giving it to Lyon means that Cowan has no JS. I think they will take 2 of Watson/Hussey/Maxwell

13 matches for a 32 average, slow as hell, struggles against spin (wtf will he do in India) and has dumb run-outs.

Get in Usman ;)

If 'slow as hell' is talking about his scoring rate, then that's a ridiculous negative.

Does that discount the other reasons I mentioned ?

No, but I'm just saying, everyone needs to stop looking at slow scoring as a negative in tests. It's not a bad thing.

Also, your negative of 'has dumb run-outs' doesn't have much merit; he's been involved in one run-out this summer IIRC.

And while I'm here, I may as well point out that Khawaja averages 29 in his 6 test matches, only scoring above 50 once, and never making three figures. Although I guess we could speculate that he will improve, but I'm just saying ;)

Khawaja made start in basically every innings he played except a 7 and a 0 n.o. Note, he was also given only 6 matches whereas Cowan has had 13.

Cowan was involved in runouts in consecutive tests (the last 2 v SL) and was run out v Proteas.

Starts don't account for much when you average 29...

Had forgotten the run out against South Africa, but the first run out against Sri Lanka wasn't his fault.

Not saying I entirely disagree with you Scrads, but I disagree with some of your points.

[Scrads]

I agree that using 'slow as hell' in my argument was not smart, sadly I might be adjusting the the new age test players who score at much quicker rates :o

I will definitely stand by the fact that I would play Khawaja over Cowan however, regardless of how it eventuates in reality.

[BB67th]

While I don't want him in the team, he is actually in great batting form at the moment for NSW, and I believe he is playing as a specialist batsman there with Peter Nevil doing the keeping. Haddin is also touted as one of the best players of spin bowling in the country, so there is a possibility he could be strongly considered to be a short term fix for the Hussey gap.

I know that the bolded bit probably isn't your words, but to whoevers they are, haven't they heard of Michael Clarke?

Yeah they aren't my words but from whoever said it, I can't quite remember who, they are sort of right. Clarke is definitely the best in the country against spin no doubt, but no one else in the team can really play it at all. Haddin would be better against it than most of the top 7.

[Popey99]

Hmm, this is interesting... I'll have a crack.

Warner
Watson**
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Bailey***
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Bird
Lyon

Johnson*
Starc*
Haddin
Cowan

*Many would say that one of these 2 have to be in the team, but I believe they need to adapt to English conditions and show us that they can bowl over there, left handers often get picked to the bone in England if they don't get swing into a RH bat.

**He loves the poms and I'm backing him to do it with both the bat and ball.

***Bailey has shown us tonight that he can seriously play. Mixed in with a cool head he makes the perfect Ashes stalwart, not quite Mike Hussey, but has the distinct versatility to be able to hang around with an in form Michael Clarke (boy, is that an understatement!!) or go big late to get some valuable runs on the board. I like this guy.

[CrowsFan]

Think you got your stars mixed up there popey. Johnson and Starc should have the one star, and Watson should have 2 ;)

[Popey99]

You would be correct CF! Sorry bout that. All fixed now.

[upthemaidens]

Hmm, this is interesting... I'll have a crack.

Warner
Watson**
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Bailey***
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Bird
Lyon

Johnson*
Starc*
Haddin
Cowan

*Many would say that one of these 2 have to be in the team, but I believe they need to adapt to English conditions and show us that they can bowl over there, left handers often get picked to the bone in England if they don't get swing into a RH bat.

**He loves the poms and I'm backing him to do it with both the bat and ball.

***Bailey has shown us tonight that he can seriously play. Mixed in with a cool head he makes the perfect Ashes stalwart, not quite Mike Hussey, but has the distinct versatility to be able to hang around with an in form Michael Clarke (boy, is that an understatement!!) or go big late to get some valuable runs on the board. I like this guy.

What if Watson doesnt bowl?,  theres been talk that hes gunna stop bowling altogether.
Does he still make the side on his batting alone? 

[BB67th]

Hmm, this is interesting... I'll have a crack.

Warner
Watson**
Hughes
Khawaja
Clarke
Bailey***
Wade
Siddle
Pattinson
Bird
Lyon

Johnson*
Starc*
Haddin
Cowan

*Many would say that one of these 2 have to be in the team, but I believe they need to adapt to English conditions and show us that they can bowl over there, left handers often get picked to the bone in England if they don't get swing into a RH bat.

**He loves the poms and I'm backing him to do it with both the bat and ball.

***Bailey has shown us tonight that he can seriously play. Mixed in with a cool head he makes the perfect Ashes stalwart, not quite Mike Hussey, but has the distinct versatility to be able to hang around with an in form Michael Clarke (boy, is that an understatement!!) or go big late to get some valuable runs on the board. I like this guy.

What if Watson doesnt bowl?,  theres been talk that hes gunna stop bowling altogether.
Does he still make the side on his batting alone? 

I think he does if he is opening. It looks like he isn't going to bowl for a while, so that will probably include the Ashes. So I would think that Warner has one opening spot all his and Watson and Cowan fighting for the other spot. The selectors have talked a bit about him going back to open in test matches.

[upthemaidens]

 yes I agree only as opener and only just.
If hes fine to bowl then he bats either opener or maybe 6 (not 3,4,5)
I can see Cowan having a tough time in India, if he fails there then surely hes out for the Ashes.

[Capper]

Does anyone know when the squad for the India is announced??

[R.Griffen]

Might as well put in my thoughts

1: D. Warner
2: P. Hughes
3: U. Khawaja
4: M. Clarke
5: G. Bailey
6: D. Hussey
7: M. Wade
8: P. Siddle
9: B. Hilfenhaus
10: J. Bird
11: N. Lyon

12: S. Watson
13: B. Haddin
14: N. Hauritz should be number 1 spinner but N. Lyon has the Team Song (or I just love Hauritz!!!)
15: M. Starc
16: P. Cummins if available or J. Pattinson