Boxing Day Test

[Chelsea4thewin]

All this talk about Hayden, what do u think about Symonds?

hes 33 now, 34 in June, not really showing much at all, the bowling is his major dissapointment and seems to throw away his wicket a lot of the time

Watson should be a straight replacement, 6 years younger, might take some time to be a great test player but he does have the talent, he dominated the IPL competition with bat and ball

[Bacon]

That's a hard one.. he came back to prove he can be a Test player, and has done.

I wasn't in agreement that he should've come straight back after his 'ban' and he's not really doing the "allrounder" job that we are always looking for. Mind you, he came into this test injured (stupid thing to do), and will hopefully miss the Sydney Test (to recover).

Depends on how Watson goes (and I feel sick actually wanting him in the side).

[maccatak11]

Look i agree that Watson should be in the team instead of symonds, but to say that he should be in the TEST team because of his form in IPL has to be of the most ridiculous statements i have ever heard. In no way whatsoever should twenty20 form be even the slightest consideration when picking a test side, EVER.

Steve, you keep finding ways to make yourself look silly in cricket conversations

[Des]

Watson is a hack

[Chelsea4thewin]

u cant be serious, i was clearly making the point that he has the cricket talent to do well as an all rounder in the test arena, his IPL form was an example of this talent

it wasnt the reason he should be in the team, get off my back

[maccatak11]

yeah fair enough, i misread it steve, he is a talented player. sorry mate.

[Chelsea4thewin]

what are the changes you would make for the 3rd test if you were a selector???

for me

Bollinger for Lee
Watson for Symonds

and the one i want to see
Hughes for Hayden (doubt it will happen)


but it seems its harder to get out of the Australian side then into it

[maccatak11]

Hmm, lee will definately be replaced, probably by hilfenhouse or bollinger but symonds will probably play again if fit (he has averaged nearly 60 with the bat this year for australia), although how much would have given for watson as an extra bowling option during the first innings of this game.

It is harder to get out of the aussie team than get into, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Players at test level need a few tests to work out if they can hack it or not (which made dumping krejza a strangish decision). Austrtalia has not fielded the same test team twice in a row for something like the past 15 matches. We need some stability at the moment.

I think players play better knowing that their heads aren't on the chopping block each game. But then again, how long can we carry underperforming players like hayden.

[Bacon]

It is harder to get out of the aussie team than get into, but thats not necessarily a bad thing. Players at test level need a few tests to work out if they can hack it or not (which made dumping krejza a strangish decision). Austrtalia has not fielded the same test team twice in a row for something like the past 15 matches. We need some stability at the moment.

Very true, but the majority of these changes have been bowlers. And, while we are struggling here, the batters need to be put on notice.

We should be changing again in a Test, getting rid of Haydos before South Africa. And maybe that might put Hussey's butt back into gear.

[gundog]

Over the years the ACB has shafted the best cricketing brains this country has played the game, a few names come to mind ie. Boof, Deanno, Warnie etc, and the blatent bais towards NSW and Qld players at the selection table over many years, has created todays situation.

Because of the ACB gutless attitude towards India, to appease the massive TV dollars that come from there they are only too quick to hang out to dry players like Dizzy, because he didnt play with the sanctioned 20/20 league he cannot even coach kids now.

So for my money Australian Cricket is $tuffed and I could not give a rats A if the they got flogged by everyone, which is sad because my grandson played today on the MCG.

Rather than watch B Day Test, I watched college football from the states on ESPN