SCG Test

I see they've dropped Hayden for the 20/20 & one day series. There's apparently doubt that he'll play against South Africa in February. This is the new line up:

Twenty20 squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Hussey (v-c), David Hussey, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Brad Haddin, Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Ryan Harris, Cameron White, Nathan Hauritz.

Should be an interesting game, seeing as there's only 4 players who were in the last Series!

One-day squad: Ricky Ponting (c), Michael Clarke (v-c), Brad Haddin, James Hopes, Nathan Bracken, Shaun Marsh, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Nathan Hauritz, Ben Hilfenhaus, Cameron White, Shaun Tait, Peter Siddle.

And only 6 original players from the Series in this lot!

I'm surprised there's no mention of Ponting's form. I personally don't think he did that well in the last Series, especially some of his captaincy calls!

mitchell johnson missed out in both,,

strange,,

That's what I thought too. They reckon they're "resting" him (sounds like a race horse being put on a spell!) as he's been overworked. Don't know how true it is. Maybe they're getting paranoid because of the high incidents of injuries. (I heard too the reason Pup's not in the 20/20 is because he's having injections for an injury to his thumb?)

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Originally Posted by Pedro_The_Swift

mitchell johnson missed out in both,,

strange,,

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Panda, there is a vast difference between 20/20 and a test match team. You can't expect the same squad to be there.... Hayden being dropped from those squads tells you nothing with regard to his test position and Johnson does need a rest - tests remain the priority IMHO.

Regarding Ponting -he did play well - he got a couple of low scores but he was still the 4th highest run scorer overall (between both teams) for the series. 101 and 99 in Melbourne for goodness sake... what more do you want? a bit more humility in defeat maybe, but his self belief is something to behold.

great series, not much between the teams - if Aust had another batsmen in form instead of only Clarke, Ponting and Katich then it would have been closer. With fit bowlers throughout, that would have helped too... but the whole Symonds being picked while injured and Hayden/Hussey both way out of form was difficult to watch.

lastly, who has brad hodge got to "service" to get a game - he is dominating in 1 day and 20/20 and doesn't even make those squads and made 200+ in his last test match and can't/won't get picked again probably.

am I suffering from old timers,,
or is ponting playing 20/20 a new thing?(change of mind--)

You're probably right - I don't know much about 20/20 cricket, in fact I've never seen a game, so that's no doubt why I'm abit stunned at the line up. (But I'll definitely be watching the game on Sunday!:))

Regarding Ponting - maybe I'm taking too much notice of people's general opinion. A lot of people seem to be bagging him as a captain. I must admit, I thought his overall performance wasn't near as good this year. I didn't realise he was still no. 4 in the big picture.

On another note, I was very impressed at the general sportsmanship between the 2 teams. I understand there was a lot of contention between them some years ago, but it certainly didn't show in this Series.

What's the story with Brad Hodge?

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Originally Posted by EchiDna

Panda, there is a vast difference between 20/20 and a test match team. You can't expect the same squad to be there.... Hayden being dropped from those squads tells you nothing with regard to his test position and Johnson does need a rest - tests remain the priority IMHO.

Regarding Ponting -he did play well - he got a couple of low scores but he was still the 4th highest run scorer overall (between both teams) for the series. 101 and 99 in Melbourne for goodness sake... what more do you want? a bit more humility in defeat maybe, but his self belief is something to behold.

great series, not much between the teams - if Aust had another batsmen in form instead of only Clarke, Ponting and Katich then it would have been closer. With fit bowlers throughout, that would have helped too... but the whole Symonds being picked while injured and Hayden/Hussey both way out of form was difficult to watch.

lastly, who has brad hodge got to "service" to get a game - he is dominating in 1 day and 20/20 and doesn't even make those squads and made 200+ in his last test match and can't/won't get picked again probably.

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Mat the Bat will tour south africa......he will come good just in time t smash the poms all over the park

We may not need to worry too much about the Poms if they don't get their act together by July ... last I heard their arrogant South African captain Pieterson resigned whilst on holiday in South Africa (though I do believe he is a good cricketer?) & their coach has been given the chop! :D:D:D

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Originally Posted by weeds

Mat the Bat will tour south africa......he will come good just in time t smash the poms all over the park

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