Sport Today

> Test XII:

> Silk

> Rogers

> Watson

> Khawaja

> Clarke

> Ponting

> Paine

> Siddle

> Harris

> Pattinson

> Lyon

> Bird

> Extras:

> O'Keefe (or possibly one of those subcontinental-Aussie leggies)

> Starc

> Haddin

> Warner

> I can't see Johnson being a sensible pick in English conditions.

> Wade simply isn't up to it. Haddin is the best back up as he has  

> experience and can play as a batsman if absolutely necessary.

> Hughes and Smith don't need any comment.

> Cowan has gone backwards since his ton in the first Test v RSA last  

> November. It's hard not to blame the coaches, especially when Lyon,  

> Warner, Siddle, Watson and Wade have also gone backwards to varying  

> degrees, and hardly anyone has improved.

> The batting really is dire. I can't believe I'm going back to Ponting but  

> there are no good options. Bailey and Ferguson have not done enough. In  

> fact, last summer's batting averages are dominated by touring players,  

> all-rounders and wicket keepers.

> http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia-domestic-2012/engine/records/...

> Clarke must stay at #5 where he is comfortable. The bowling is good enough  

> to win us at least one Test, but my money will be firmly on the Poms.

> Obviously this bears to relationship to the squad that will be picked.

>> Test XII:

>> Silk

>> Rogers

>> Watson

>> Khawaja

>> Clarke

>> Ponting

>> Paine

>> Siddle

>> Harris

>> Pattinson

>> Lyon

>> Bird

>> Extras:

>> O'Keefe (or possibly one of those subcontinental-Aussie leggies)

>> Starc

>> Haddin

>> Warner

>> I can't see Johnson being a sensible pick in English conditions.

>> Wade simply isn't up to it. Haddin is the best back up as he has

>> experience and can play as a batsman if absolutely necessary.

>> Hughes and Smith don't need any comment.

>> Cowan has gone backwards since his ton in the first Test v RSA last

>> November. It's hard not to blame the coaches, especially when Lyon,

>> Warner, Siddle, Watson and Wade have also gone backwards to varying

>> degrees, and hardly anyone has improved.

>> The batting really is dire. I can't believe I'm going back to Ponting but

>> there are no good options. Bailey and Ferguson have not done enough. In

>> fact, last summer's batting averages are dominated by touring players,

>> all-rounders and wicket keepers.

>> http://stats.espncricinfo.com/australia-domestic-2012/engine/records/...

>> Clarke must stay at #5 where he is comfortable. The bowling is good enough

>> to win us at least one Test, but my money will be firmly on the Poms.

>> Obviously this bears to relationship to the squad that will be picked.

> Except for Watson who is basically now an untenable selection I agree with your squad although I would swap Haddin and Paine around.

> I take a punt on Joe Burns.

> No more of this all-rounder b/s. Best 6 batsman, best 4 bowlers and a wicket keeper that can keep and bat well.