This season, much like season’s in the past, we see a host of new faces in the Australian One Day and Twenty20 teams, trialling them for the future. This season we have some new guys, old guys returning and regulars missing out.
The teams:
Twenty20 squad
- R. Ponting (c): TAS, 34
Captaining the side, Ricky Ponting will be looking to post a couple of good scores in the two matches.
- M. Hussey (vc): WA, 33
Out of form, taking the vice-captaincy from Michael Clarke as he rests to get his finger 100% right, Hussey will be looking to have a small hit out and get some time in the middle and get himself striking the ball well before the one dayer’s.
- D. Hussey: VIC, 31
Michael Hussey’s brother, David Hussey gets his chance after season after season of runs in all 3 forms of the game for Victoria. He recently hit a century in the domestic Twenty20 cricket, and he proves that number’s can’t be ignored for too long.
- B. Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
Skillful bowler who has been taking plenty of wickets for Tasmania recently. He has had limited chances in Australian colours before, but he has impressed, taking 2/16 and 1/28 in his two Twenty20 internationals.
- J. Hopes: QLD, 30
Been around the Australian scene a while, whilst I would rather see McDonald or someone of the like in the side, Hopes is a solid allrounder, opening the batting or batting in the middle/lower order, making quick runs. His bowling is very hard to get away on a good length, and with the keeper up to the stumps, it adds that element of doubt in the batsmen’s mind about whether to advance down the wicket or not.
- N. Bracken: NSW, 31
Proven himself numerous times before, good line and length, changes of pace and variations.
- B. Haddin: NSW, 31
A hard hitting wicketkeeper-batsmen, expect him to come in late and bash some quick runs.
- S. Marsh: WA, 25
The young gun from Western Australia was the leading run scorer in the IPL tournament and has played some matches for Australia in 2008.
- S. Tait: SA, 25
Despite recently taking a break from Cricket and losing fitness, he has returned to the Australian side almost immediately. He is a Twenty20 regular and will not be feeling out of place.
- D. Warner: NSW, 22
Big hitting opening batsmen from NSW, Warner looks like a prospect for the Australian teams in the future. He has been in great form recently, scoring 65 off 35 balls in his last Twenty20 outing.
- R. Harris: QLD, 29
Much like James Hopes, Harris can bat anywhere in the order and score quick runs. Bowls at a decent pace and has the ability to swing the ball. Moved from South Australia to Queensland in the preseason, and his move has payed off.
- C. White: VIC, 25
The huge hitting Victorian captain has been given yet another chance off reputation rather than form, but still a good selection none the less.
- N. Hauritz: NSW, 27
NSW’s main one day and Twenty20 spinner, bowls tight and takes wickets in the shorter form of the game. Well and truly deserves his spot in the side.
Shocks and surprises:
No Matthew Hayden
Whilst most have called for his head, not many expected the leading run scorer in the Twenty20 World Cup to be dropped from both shorter forms of the game. He has the ability to get the innings off to a great start, and without him Australia will lack that dominate force at the top of the order, and force a youngster to try and impose himself on the opposition attacks. Expect Warner or Hopes to step up into this role.
No Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke has captained the Australian Twenty20 side, and I expected him to take the reins from Ricky Ponting again this year. Instead he is taking an extra 5 days off to try and get his finger 100% right, don’t worry Australia fans, he will be right for the Commonwealth Bank series.
David Warner and Ryan Harris’s inclusions
Not many picked David Warner and Ryan Harris to be selected for the Twenty20’s, some hinted and pondered, mentioned it, but not many come out and bluntly said these two should be in the side.
The One Day International squad:
- R. Ponting (c): TAS, 34
The Australian captain has 26 One Day International 100’s prior to this series, and will be looking to add a couple more to that long list. He has been in poor form of late, averaging only 21.38 in his 13 knocks in 2008 with 1 century and 1 half century.
- M. Clarke (vc): NSW, 27
The Australian vice-captain has proven himself in One Day cricket for Australia before with 3 100’s and 30 50’s, batting at 4, he is the rock in our innings. He averages over 40 and can be relied upon to steady the ship after early wickets.
- B. Haddin: NSW, 31
Has played a few games for Australia in this format before, primarily as a pure batsmen. Hopefully he gets a chance at 6, where he averages 42.14, but with Michael Hussey in the team as well, there will be some headaches for the selectors in the coming weeks.
- J. Hopes: QLD, 31
Very handy One Day Cricketer. Scores quick runs with the bat, and a good 4th/5th seamer. Ties up an end and frustrates batsmen into playing a rash shot.
- N. Bracken: NSW, 31
The best One Day bowler in the world at the moment, that speaks for itself. 31 wickets @ 18.16 in 2008, and 148 @ 21.87 overall proves how good a bowler he is. He has good changes of pace, an angle across the right hander, swing with the new ball and cutters with the old ball.
- S. Marsh: WA, 25
Burst onto the scene in 2008, making 333 runs @ 47.57 with a 3 half-centuries. Has a few shots as he has already shown the Australian public, he will be looking to cement a spot in the side.
- M. Hussey: WA, 33
In terrible form, under pressure and on the verge of being dropped, Mike Hussey will be looking to silence his new found critics over the coming few months.
- D. Hussey: VIC, 31
Michael’s brother, David Hussey has played 5 One Day games for Australia in the past, and in his 4 innings has scored 2 50’s, including one off 19 deliveries. He has won numerous awards for scoring thousands of runs for Victoria and Sussex.
- N. Hauritz: NSW, 27
Very good in this form of the game, no surprises he earns a spot in the side.
- B. Hilfenhaus: TAS, 25
Unlucky not to have represented Australia more, he has taken plenty of wickets in domestic competitions and deserves his spot in the side.
- C. White: VIC, 25
Has played various games for Australia before, and showed he is a big hitting batsmen and handy top spin bowler.
- S. Tait: SA, 25
A very important part of the Australian limited over’s side, he doesn’t have to hold back, and bowls fast and picks up wickets. He takes a wicket every 25 or so balls, for 23 runs. Has batsmen jumping at his 150+kph speeds.
- P. Siddle: VIC, 24
Has not played a limited over’s match for Australia before but his good lines and Yorker with his quick speeds capable of reaching 150kph will hold him in good stead.
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Good analysis there Jake, and nice blog you've started here.
ReplyDeleteI love the description of White as a top-spin bowler, he certainly aint a leggie ;)
I'll stick you in my blogroll over at http://beerandsport.net/