Originally Posted by
bob10
Have to post the article in the Courier Mail, Tue. Dec. 17 Malcolm Conn. Bob
in part- "........Now Clarke is the only World-class player in a team which has been patched up after two years of rebuilding came to nothing with series losses in India and England. Almost forgotten opener Chris Rogers, 36, is walking out to bat with David Warner, a loose cannon who made his name in the white ball game.
Watson is the number three after a decade of injury and underachievement. Steve Smith made his second career century in Perth to sew up no. five after three years in and out of the team. The oldest Australian batsman to debut for Australia in 34 years, George Bailey, has been a revelation with his big hitting , a trait he so regularly displayed in the one day arena.
Brad Haddin, 36, has recovered from being axed to play the best cricket of his career and the baling twine used to hold Ryan Harris , 34, together is clearly heavy duty. Spinner Nathan Lyon was dropped during each of Australia's past two series. And Mitchell Johnson is only playing because four frontline bowlers all suffered long term injuries.
That leaves Peter Siddle as the only other Australian as a regular. Now this Motley crew are about to stand with the giants of 2006-07. "
Under the Southern Cross I Stand,
A sprig of wattle in my hand,
A native of my native land,
Australia you little beauty.
