TOPIC:

Less than two weeks away, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne & Sydney. Interesting to see who gets the nod.
Who will Captain? Clarke if fit, but with a hammy two weeks out big risk, Haddin did well in the Ashes but down on form since, Watson built like Tarzan delivers like Jane, Smith a smokey really coming of age, Bailey an outside chance due to technical shortfalls being highlighted at test level.
Who will open? Warner picks himself, Rogers answered his critics with a ton last week, Watson has had 7-8 years in the top 3 and delivered I think 4 test centuries, no one has more love bites on their mirror than him, Doolan or Sean Marsh don't think so. Anyone else?
Who bats 3 onwards? Watson looks to get the no.3 spot, next Clarke if fit, Smith, Mitch Marsh, others with a shot Sean Marsh, Doolan, anyone else?
Who keeps? Haddin but age against him, Wade can add batting like Haddin, Whiteman, anyone else?
Who is the spinner? Lyon seems to be favoured, young leggy who played in 20/20 looked raw bur promising, Maxwell-no thanks, anyone else?
Who are the pace bowlers? Spoilt rotten at the moment. Johnson picks himself, Harris is rumoured to be good for a couple of tests, on his day he's awesome, Siddle not a fan of him but an honest workhorse, Starc hitting 145-150 in ODI series but two lefties doubtful, Cummins and Hazelwood both 140-150 and looked good, Pattinson won't be ready rumour has it,Coulten-Nile injured, Faulker promising allrounder bowls with good pace and change of pace and good with bat, Doug the rug Bolinger, and WA's bowling line up.
Any thoughts?

Warner and Rogers pick themselves......though Rogers surely is on a test by test status.....the Aussies got to have an eye on the future.....Bancroft/Carters/Burns/Silk....I would say Hughes but how many chances does a fella get?.....need an opener to compliment Warner and Hughes isn't a grafter

Watson will get first dibs at 3 no doubt.....but as JB says how many chances does he get/need....I'd give Klinger a shot if they really are picking a side on form ..... Hughes/S.Marsh/ Doolan but none of those three ooze confidence TBH.....

Clarke(if fit), Smith and M Marsh / Watson, with Ferguson or Carters as roughies for that number 6 gig if Clarke unfit....actually make Watson play Sheffield Shield to earn his recall to the test team, so far all he has done is play T20 or ODI this season.....no wonder he has a meltdown after scoring 20 - 40 runs in a test match.

Whiteman or Nevill as keepers if Haddin is unfit.....hopefully Haddin is unfit

Johnson & Harris pick themselves.......I'd rather have Hazlewood over Siddle purely because he is taller and the Indians won't like a bit of chin music on bouncy pitches....and also because Siddle only gets reverse swing playing for Victoria...never ever for Australia!! ......Starc/Behrendorff/Cummins/Coulter-Nile/Rainbird/Bird/Sandhu all have potential to deliver

Lyon has taken practically no wickets this season.....fark even NZ spinners are taking them in the UAE....he doesn't deserve a gig.....but who does spinner wise.....Boyce is a leggie and we all love leggies.....Zampa is another leggie.....whilst O'keefe and Agar are lefties who can bat a bit too but don't really run through teams...just hold up an end....and Maxwell is farken useless

Warner Rogers Klinger Clarke(Ferguson) Smith M Marsh Haddin(Nevill) Johnson Harris Boyce Hazlewood.......but shit that's a possible 5 debutants and that won't happen in a million years........

I reckon that team you have picked Anchor is spot on as what Lehmann will turn out day one at the Gabba...though Siddle will play over Starc....hopefully the powers above allow Siddle to wear his Victorian cap in the hope he can generate some reverse swing......

simply it's a strong advertisement for that old saying "it's harder getting into the Aussie test team than getting out of it"......

all this talk about Bailey being captain will hopefully be put to be bed.....especially after last night......perfect opportunity to help Smith rebuild Aust run chase and he failed miserably.....the only way Bailey makes runs is when he gets about 3 - 4 lives from the fielding side.....looks like a nice guy but really a T20 specialist at best....

First test at the Gabba I'd make Lyon 12th man and add Hazelwood, bowling close to 150km, give the India's a reason to grab some "wet ones". Have to disagree with you Anchorman, reckon Clarke is very doubtful for the first test, too much at risk, tri-series against India & England, world cup and the Ashes. If he plays and makes it worse then it's all over. Who would come in for him?
Imagine Johnson, Harris, Hazelwood, Starc/Cummins & pretty boy Watson......then again no balance I guess, but it would have them pooing their pants and reaching for the wet ones. Harris has a question mark over him, they may hold him back for the 2nd or 3rd test, rumour going around that is the plan with him, far too much value to the side to risk rushing him back.

Can't believe they will select the test squad with a shield game to go.
Lyon has taken 1 for 111 in his only shield game, Doolan has had four stints at the crease and only one score , 38, above 18. That's got to count agianst them. If Clarke is unfit what about Callum Ferguson? Two centuries so far this season. Almost forgot about the selectors perennial "yoyo", Phil Hughes, I'd serious give him a crack, both he and Doolan get treated like crap compared to Watson.

Remember people saying the same about Mat Hayden after he failed to set the world alight in his first crack at test level. Hughes gets treated like a yoyo, takes the knocks, goes back to domestic cricket and scores heavily. 26 test matches for 3 centuries v Watson 52 test matches for 4 centuries. Watson has been a "project" player for the last 15 years. Watson gets LBW every 2nd innings, the rest he's usually caught in cover.

anchorman wrote: I have gone for four quicks to frighten the crap out of the Indians first up on the bouncy Gabba track.
My side: in batting order.
Warner
Rogers
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Marsh
Haddin/ Wade
Johnson
Harris
Starc
Lyon
I thought NCN might have been twelth but he was injured tonight. Maybe they will use a Banana Bender as twelth, depending on Shield games being played that week.
Clarke will play I have no doubt now. Haddin, if fit will play, Wade as keeper if Haddin not fit.
Starc over other bowlers due to his playing in the UAE.

I think you are right Anchorman. They will stick pretty much with last summers winning combination unless there are injuries. I am totally unconvinced of Watson at number 3 though. To me Klinger is the ideal number 3, good technique and can ramp up the scoring if necessary. Hazlewood should be the other one that you havent mentioned who must be close.

On another note, Mark Waugh did a great job embarrassing Cricket Australia when asked about why the selectors had to pick the team before the last round of Sheffield Shield games. Good on him, there is no reason they couldn't have waited till next weekend. Oh hang on it was the logistics wasnt it, not the marketing? Wonder how much longer Mark will be a selector........ CA not happy

Close but no cigar anchorman, Siddle not Starc, Hazelwood in the 12. Thought there were still question marks over the fitness of Clarke, Harris and Haddin. Risky naming the 12 so far out. Strong push for Hughes to come in if Clarke fails to get through. Heard Rod Marsh say if Clarke is not running by Wednesday he's out.
Interesting to see Cricket Australia looking into "allegations" in a grade match in NSW involving Clarke.
The ODI last night should put to bed any future test aspirations of Maxwell, Bailey & Wade. Though Bailey I think said he wasn't interested in Test cricket, the shots to get out when the balance of the match was turning against the Aussies, albeit briefly, really were dumb. How Maxwell ever slotted into no.3 in a test match should have even made the subcontinent bookies scratch their heads in disbelief.

Smith in doubt for the first test, Clarke at odds with Rod Marsh & Pat Howard. Interesting times ahead. Big boost for India if both Clarke & Smith ruled out.

Good to see Cam Bancroft chalking up another 100 v Victoria, reckon if Shaun Marsh scores a 100 he will replace Clarke v India......not overly happy with Marsh getting a gig because his hammys are just as fragile as Clarkes. Reckon Clarke is being awfully selfish by putting his hand up for selection knowing full well he has sustained the same injury 3 times in the last 6 weeks, hasn't batted for ages,hasn't scored any runs for ages.....farkin hell make him play Sheffield Shield to regain some fitness and some bloody form......if it was any other player, Clarke himself and the test selectors would be saying no way......I'd have a half fit Smith over a half fit Clarke playing India next week in their current form......

Good to see the selectors get all imaginative and give Lyon another go, oozes confidence knowing he has taken 14 test wickets at 61 this year and 2 sheffield shield wickets at over a 100 this year as well......