Summer Test Cricket series

[CULWULLA]

new aussie team named with more Blues!
good to see mcgill and bracken get a run.




Bracken in for Hodge
Sportal

New South Wales left-arm quick Nathan Bracken has been included in a 12-man Test squad to take on the West Indies in the first Test at the Gabba beginning next Thursday.

Bracken replaces Brad Hodge in the only change to the Australian squad which took part in the Johnnie Walker Super Test against the ICC World XI earlier this month.

Stuart MacGill retains his spot in the 12, giving the selectors the option of having the leg spinner work in tandem with Shane Warne.

Bracken has played three Tests, the last of which was against India at the SCG in January 2004.

Chairman of the National Selection Panel, Trevor Hohns, said the selectors believed that in Brisbane it was prudent to introduce another paceman to the squad in place of an extra batsman.

"That’s no reflection on Brad Hodge, but in this instance we felt for the purposes of flexibility in the attack, Nathan Bracken would provide us with another bowling option depending on the conditions that might prevail at the Gabba," he said.

"Obviously since the end of the Super Test in Sydney, there has been a lot of speculation about the option of playing the two spinners in this match against the West Indies."

"With both Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in the squad we still have that option, and will assess it closer to time, once we can study the conditions in greater detail."

Australia
Ricky Ponting (c), Adam Gilchrist (vc), Nathan Bracken, Michael Clarke, Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Stuart MacGill, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Shane Watson
------------------------------------------------

Patient Hodge undaunted
by: Andrew Wu
Sportal

If good things come to those who wait, then Brad Hodge's reward must surely be enormous.

The Victorian batting dynamo has again missed out on Test selection with the Australian selectors replacing him with New South Wales quick Nathan Bracken in the 12-man squad for the first Test against the West Indies in Brisbane next week.

While naturally disappointed to miss out, Hodge admitted he had a feeling he would be the unfortunate player to make way, but would strive to earn his Test debut by making a mountain of runs.

"I've been in this situation before and I'll just continue the way I've been doing and make more runs and buy my chance a little bit later down the track," Hodge said on Thursday morning.

"I did feel a change was going to happen. I knew a fast bowler had to come in somewhere and I guess being 12th man in the last game I was the obvious one to miss out."

The star Bushranger has been on the cusp of Test selection since being named in the Australian touring party to India last year, and he is well accustomed to waiting.

"I think patience is a virtue. And I think certainly in my case at the moment, I have to use that virtue. I've been patient for a long time and I'll just remain to be patient and continue to do everything I've done for the last three to four years," a philosophical Hodge said.

"I feel a little bit like a teenage boy at the moment. There's always things that are there that you want to touch and reach and achieve your goal.

"It's just not coming my way at the moment. In time hopefully they will. I'll just keep my head up, my chin up, make runs and hopefully we can be talking in a better moment at another time."

[A r c h i]

Will Hodge ever make his debut in the Test team? If he didn't get picked after he scored over 1000 runs in the Pura Cup in '03 and with again with Leicestershire wtf does he have to do? Score 2000.

[Aussie Bhoy]

Gee more NSW players in the Australian team, what a surprise, we should have a national holiday about this amazing occurance.

[CULWULLA]

bracken got 5 for 36 while mcgill got 2 for 60

Bracken gets Blues home
by: David Meddows
Sportal



New South Wales has claimed maximum points in the Pura Cup clash with South Australia, after a final-day collapse handed the Blues a 187-run victory at the SCG.

Recalled Australian fast bowler Nathan Bracken (5-36) took three wickets before lunch to leave the visitors reeling on 8-153, before cleaning up the tail soon after the break, as the Blues opened their campaign for back-to-back Cups in the best possible way.

Starting the day on 3-14, and needing 360 for victory, the visitors had no answer to the blistering Blues attack. Australian bowlers Glenn McGrath(2-35) and Stuart MacGill (2-60) also picked up wickets on the final day of the match.

Greg Blewett was the first to fall when he edged a McGrath delivery through to Blues 'keeper Brad Haddin, before MacGill claimed the valuable wicket of Darren Lehmann (47), just as the Redbacks skipper was starting to look dangerous.



Lehmann's demise was followed by the quick wickets of Cameron Borgas (0), overnight batsman Callum Ferguson (44) and wicketkeeper Graham Manou (24), all taken by Bracken as the home side neared victory.

The paceman then cleaned up the tail and snared victory with the wickets of tailenders Paul Rofe (15) and Mark Cleary (18).

New South Wales skipper Simon Katich was named Man of the Match followed up his first-innings century with an unbeaten 79 on Thursday, as the Blues chased quick runs to set a target in their second dig. Opener Phil Jaques scored 66. Earlier in the match, Lehmann smashed his 71st first class century before going on to make 159, but chasing NSW's mammoth first-innings score of 515, the Redbacks fell well short of the target, making just 343.

New South Wales 1st innings 9-515 dec
South Australia 1st innings 343
New South Wales 2nd innings 2-187 dec
South Australia 2nd Innings
Deitz lbw b McGrath 2
Elliott lbw b Lee 0
Blewett c Haddin b McGrath 20
Bailey b MacGill 0
Ferguson c Katich b Bracken 44 Lehmann c McGrath b MacGill 48
Borgas c Haddin b Bracken 0
Manou c Clarke b Bracken 6
Cleary b Bracken 18
Rofe c Jaques b Bracken 15
Cullen not out 8
Extras (7b, 2lb, 2nb, 1wd) 12
Total (10 wickets, 50.2 overs) 172

FOW 1-0 (Elliott, 0.5 ov) , 2-7 (Deitz, 3.4 ov) , 3-8 (Bailey, 6.5 ov) , 4-38 (Blewett, 17.2 ov) , 5-115 (Lehmann, 31.2 ov) , 6-115 (Borgas, 32.1 ov) , 7-124 (Ferguson, 36.4 ov) , 8-128 (Manou, 38.2 ov), 9-155 (Rofe, 44.6 ov) , 10-172 (Cleary, 50.2 ov)

Bowling
Lee 10 - 1 - 26 - 1
McGrath 11 - 4 - 35 - 2
MacGill 14 - 0 - 60 - 2
Katich 1 - 0 - 6 - 0
Bracken 14.2 - 2 - 36 - 5

[dynamoultraclean]

I'd prefer Bracken than any other bowler at the moment, but as Archi said, what does Brad Hodge have to do?

Jacques will get a go before Hodge.

To paraphrase Hookesy;
"When you're given your NSW blue cap, you're given a baggy green in a paper bag for later."

[renell]

Hodge has a good case against replacing Katich.. let's see how the Kat goes against the West Indies, should he struggle we might see two Victorians in the side. But ironic it was a New South Welshman, Michael Clarke that was put into the side against India, overlooking Hodge, now it is Katich who is in the way of his baggy green.

Bracken better make good use of this opportunity, Tait won't be injured for long. Btw, is there a fast bowler outside of NSW that is not too old, and is ready for a Test callup?

[cranerider]

As a Queenslander I'd be picking Bichel he always got the job done , he remained fit and always put in 100% but I guess we must look to the future and I think Tait in the long run once he is fine tuned and injury free is capable of doing the job.

[renell]

Yes I have reservations about picking people on the wrong side of 30. Though Hodge and Michael Hussey are exceptions. Speaking of Hussey, here's a possibly baggy green courtesy of his fellow Westralian Langer
----------------------------------------------------
Langer a doubt for first Test against West Indies

October 29, 2005

Justin Langer will undergo a fitness test before the first match of the three-Test series against West Indies, which starts on November 3. Langer retired hurt after being hit by a Gerard Denton delivery during an ING Cup match between Western Australia and Victoria today (Saturday), and scans later revealed a hairline fracture.

Trefor James, the medical officer for Cricket Australia, said: "Justin was in considerable pain after receiving the knock to the rib-cage, and scans taken of that area have discovered a small fracture in one of his ribs. We are optimistic, though, that he will be able to take his place in the Australian line-up for next week's Test, however he will need to be monitored prior to that time before a final decision is made." The medical team also decided that Langer would travel with the team to Brisbane, the venue of the first Test.

If Langer is indeed ruled out of the Test, it will be a blow to an Australian team which has been struggling for batting form. Langer has been in excellent touch in the last one year, averaging almost 57 from his last 14 Tests, with three centuries and six fifties in 26 innings. Langer was also the one batsman who consistently handled England's pace and swing with some degree of comfort during the recently concluded Ashes series, scoring 394 runs at nearly 44.

Should the 34-year-old left-hander withdraw, the most likely replacement would be Langer's state team-mate Mike Hussey, AFP reports. Hussey has also been in excellent form at the one-day level for Australia and opened the innings for Australia A on its recent tour of Pakistan.

[renell]

after initial optimism, Langer looks set to miss at least 1 test, with Mike Hussey cutting the line ahead of Hodge. Salt on the wound for the Victorian. Though I suppose no one in the side is a test opener, therefore the inclusion of Hussey. Ironic that both of Hussey's ODI and Test caps were courtesy of broken ribs of Michael Bevan and Langer.

[A r c h i]

Considering Hussey's a great player I'm not as disappointed that Hodge didn't get picked, I think Hodge getting picked would have meant a bit of reshuffling in the batting line up which wouldn't be a good thing. If Hodge were to replace anyone it would be Katich but I don't think that's warranted as yet. The thing holding Hodge back is McGill and Watson in the one team, unless of course they leave Watson out in future Tests. Just on that I haven't been overly impressed with Watson's bowling in the Test matches. He's been good in the one dayers against the World XI but other than that I haven't seen him do too much with the ball, just like the Dizzy of late.

[Liam-Manchester]

It'll be interesting to see how Australia fare against another test playing nation again, after the farcical events of the Super Series. Australia had so much more to play for in that series, they had to show a response after the Ashes defeat whereas there was nothing to unify the World team. Obviously, you can only beat what's put in front of you but if they had all played to their ability I would expect the Rest of the World to have won. Credit to Australia for sticking to their guns and coming out on top. I expect it to be normal service resumed to some extent against the West Indies, they have no where near the level of quality in their bowling attack as England. I'm expecting the Aussie batsmen to score plenty of runs in the series.

[PrinzPaulEugen]

Probable Straya side for test on the first thursday in November: :

M L Hayden (Qld)
M Hussey (WA)
R T Ponting (Tas)
M J Clarke (NSW)
S M Katich (NSW)
A C Gilchrist (WA)
S R Watson (Qld)
S K Warne (Vic)
B L Lee (NSW)
N W Bracken (NSW)
G D McGrath (NSW)
S C G MacGill (NSW) probable 12th man

Great to see Hussey and Bracken in the first XI.

Put top dollar on Hussey or Ponting to top score for Australia. Warne to take the most wickets.

Clarke and Lee still seem to be in the side entirely because they are from NSW, and because they have weet-bix contracts, and streaks in their hair.

They both suck otherwise. Look at their stats.

[A r c h i]

Half the side's from NSW. Wtf? They should make it fair and have two players from each of the states that play domestic cricket. I heard Hussey was on standby to ride in the Melbourne Cup just in case Glenn Boss wasn't feeling up to it. He kind of looks like a jockey.

[Q-TIP]

Originally Posted by Archibomber

Half the side's from NSW. Wtf? They should make it fair and have two players from each of the states that play domestic cricket. I heard Hussey was on standby to ride in the Melbourne Cup just in case Glenn Boss wasn't feeling up to it. He kind of looks like a jockey.

The cricket field is not parliament house. The best players are in the side...shame to say i cant say the same for canberra...

[A r c h i]

Okay maybe two from each state is a bit over the top (it's not Noah's Ark) but having half a team coming from one state is questionable. The team hasn't always consisted of the best players Michael Clarke made his debut ahead of Hodge when Hodge was piling on the runs in Pura Cup. You'd think they'd pick the guy who scores more runs considering that's what a batsman is supposed to do. Luckily Clarke has turned out to be a great prospect for the future but has fallen away a little lately. PS: Merv get some balls.

[dynamoultraclean]

How many chances do Clarke and Katich need. Add in Brett Lee to that who is a shithouse bowler.

[sirhc8]

The fact is, NSW has a terrific pool of talent at the moment, hence winning the Pura Cup last year without their rep players. Don't be surprised if Jacques comes into the Australian side before Hodge.

[dynamoultraclean]

I wouldn't be surprised at all. It's a fucking disgrace players from other states CONSTANTLY get over looked. The NSW media select the Australian side and it's an absolute joke. Brett Lee is in the team after being given more chances than Gillespie, Kazprowicz and Bichel comined. Brad Williams was dumped after a series, yet the selectors seem to have faith in Lee, Katich, Clarke etc. And what about Damien Martyn?

Batting averages at test level;
Simon Katich: 37.05
Michael Clarke: 38.81
Damien Martyn: 47.96

Bowling averages at test level;
Jason Gillespie: 26.61
Michael Kazprowicz: 32.30
Brett Lee: 33.04

Honestly, work that out. I know the other guys are old, but Cricket Australia did themselves no good by giving contracts to the entire NSW team. There is nothing great about the pool of talent in NSW, hell, Queensland were in 4 straight Pura Cup finals, Victoria won in 2003/2004 and look where it has got players of those states. Meanwhile, Clarke, Katich etc have been sitting back with their Baggy Green in a paper bag waiting for their call-up.

[tikolo]

Originally Posted by Q-TIP

The cricket field is not parliament house. The best players are in the side...shame to say i cant say the same for canberra...

indian cricketers are mostly from north india too.

[Arunava]

Honestly, I don't think there is a great deal of NSW bias in team selection. Hodge hasn't been consistent enough to displace one of the entrenched middle-order batsmen and he's obviously not an opener, so where does he fit? I doubt he'll play now anyway, as he's too old to have a prolonged career. That's why I disagree with the selection of Hussey - it's clearly short term and it would've been better for the long term to select Jaques.
The only real examples I can think of of NSW bias is the continued selection of Lee over Kasprowicz et al...but that is more down to the fact that the selectors think pace is everything (which Lee has quite clearly shown is not) and he is very marketable.

BTW dynamo, Brad Williams was dropped because he's rubbish and Martyn dropped because of two reasons - a scapegoat for the Ashes loss and his age...he wasn't going to hang around for long anyway. Hayden should've been the one to go though...but he saved himself with a useless 100.