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Bailey has been given the chop, in come Marsh, Doolan, Bird, Pattinson & Faulkner.
Interesting to see who they go for, reckon Watson won't bat at 3 anymore, he'll slot down to 6. Toss up between Marsh & Doolan for number 3.

fast bowling spots will be pretty interesting as well JB..Siddle a chance to get pushed out if Pattinson, Johnson and Harris stay injury free.

Understand your thinking BC, but Siddle offers tight bowling which helps to balance Johnson & Harris. The plus for Pattinson is his batting, might be wrong, but pretty sure he used to open the batting in the under 19s.
As much as i dislike Watson, his bowling does bring something to the team. That said, it's a luxury having him at 3, only scores when no pressure, can't afford to be 5 down for F/A against South Africa.

good point re Watson JB. maybe Marsh to come in at 3 and Watson down the order to replace Bailey. as an aside..is there any history in your handle as I stayed in James Boag's old house in Launceston last year...friends of ours bought it about 2 yeasr ago and moved across there from Perth.

Once again a player is picked in the test team on his one day form........hopefully Marsh will prove me wrong......but nothing seems to have been learnt from Bailey selection........how many 100's has Marsh scored in the last 10 -12 years playing in a first class match more than 50 overs a side?.......8 from memory!.....sheet not something to brag about eh?.......surely there is / was someone batting a tad better in the shield at present?......

Hopefully Shaun hasn't got any more 21st parties in SA planned next month! Other than Marsh not a bad squad......woukd of gone for Silk TBH......Punter seems to rate him highly......can field too!

As for my handle BC, just lack imagination, couldn't think of what to call myself, had a cold Premium in my hand ...so Jimmy Boag it was.
Freezin, apparently Clarke & Boof rate Marsh highly. He is a more "balanced/complete" player than Bailey, who has major technical flaws, which were easily highlighted by the English bowlers. The form of Marsh in the one day games couldn't be overlooked, batted more like he was in a test than a one day game. Yes, he has made mistakes, haven't we all? Hoppefully he seizes this opportunity.

Totally agree with you Jimmy.....though Marsh acting like a pork chop at 21 is surely different to acting like one at 29/30 yrs old......especially when he was a senior member of that scorchers squad........oh welll I'm alll for 2nd chances.......touch wood the fella has cracking tour and celebrates when he has done something and the time is right!

I agree with Freezin. The bloke's been given enough chances. Highly overrated and if his name wasn't Marsh he would just be another pennant cricketer. What is his first class batting average, below 40? I can't believe they have picked Pattinson and Bird ahead of Coulter Nile. Pattinson is injury prone and certainly yet to prove himself a test bowler. As for Bird, has he even played any cricket this season.

Cesspit wrote: I agree with Freezin. The bloke's been given enough chances. Highly overrated and if his name wasn't Marsh he would just be another pennant cricketer. What is his first class batting average, below 40? I can't believe they have picked Pattinson and Bird ahead of Coulter Nile. Pattinson is injury prone and certainly yet to prove himself a test bowler. As for Bird, has he even played any cricket this season.

Interesting call there Cesspit I think you will find Pattinson & Bird's Test records are superior to Coulter-Nile's 1st class record!

Freezin wrote: Totally agree with you Jimmy.....though Marsh acting like a pork chop at 21 is surely different to acting like one at 29/30 yrs old......especially when he was a senior member of that scorchers squad........oh welll I'm alll for 2nd chances.......touch wood the fella has cracking tour and celebrates when he has done something and the time is right!

Freeze totally off topic but out of my interest what is the current situation in regards to Christchurch's AMI Stadium (Lancaster Park) where NZ have played cricket (and the bum sniffers game) in the past?