damn i missed out on all the thread action after being rubbed out for so long... had been following it on the sidelines...
ashes series
OUTS
Clarke, you're shit, gtfo
Smithy needs to go back to sheffield and improve his game, you are not a perma 6 atm
Johnson, can often be in red hot form and most of the time cold
Hughes, might get a damien martyn style treatment and not see him in the arena in the next 5-6 years
Haddin, might be a bit harsh here, but paine may usurp him in the near future.
Ponting, as great as he has been, game's almost completely gone past him... unless he can do a tendulkar style revival
POTENTIAL INS FOR THE FUTURE (those likely to play for australia in the next 2-3 years)
Steve O'Keefe (NSW): may be the next 1-3 match try out spinner for australia. 3rd left arm orthodox spinner in a row if this happens.
Usman Khawaja (NSW): even though he was a replacement for ponting in the sydney test he will to need do more to prove his worth... hopefully the selectors give him enough time for this
Mark Cameron (NSW): have not seen him bowl, but his stats despite only playing a handful of first class games, has proven to be a wicket taker.
Trent Copeland (NSW): same comments as above
Clint McKay (VIC): another one thrown into the mix
Peter George (SA): another tall considered
Callum Ferguson (SA): more consistently at a higher level and he will get a game.
Shaun Marsh (WA): same as callum
Tim Paine (TAS): future captain prospect, not quite the proven run scorer, but has shown his glimpses thus far.
Mark Cosgrove (TAS): baby boof may be considered in the next 2 years if he can maintain his current form with the tigers, but weight issues and fitness are his barrier to the international arena
Chris Lynn (QLD): has shown aggression in some of his innings in state level, if he can keep it up, a future call up should be in the mix
GUYS WHO SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY AT TEST LEVEL/FORGOTTEN
Phil Jacques (NSW) - was averaging 60 at his peak, after a serious back injury and poor form... he will unlikely feature in another game for aust...
Chris Rogers (VIC) - unlucky not to get more opportunities after his only test... proven scorer in the first class format... may never play again for aust
David Hussey (VIC) - currently averaging 55 and has yet to play for aust??? wtf selectors, he must be wondering how the fuck clarke got the nod over him... if selectors were smart, dussey would have been viewed as a short term fix in the no.4 slot.
Brad Hodge (VIC) - unluckiest of them all?
MY IDEAL WORLD CUP LINE UP for AUST
Watson
Warner
Ponting
Dussey
Mussey
White
Haddin/Paine
Johnson (yea he was shit in tests, but can be effective bat n ball)
Smith/Doherty
Lee
Siddle/Hilfenhaus
12th man - Tait
We'll see, India is not without problems at the moment. The top order has collapsed too many times this series. However the end result without top players like Sehwag, Tendulkar or Gambhir is an overall decent result thanks to Yusuf's brilliance.
