Australia Squad announced

Holden · #1 March 29, 2011, 08:33 PM

Michael Clarke, as expected has been named the Captain and the Vice Captain is Shane Watson. The full squad for the Bangladesh tour is:-

Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Cameron White

Source: http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc_cric...ry/508633.html

So it's a full strength Squad, which is good to see, seems like they are respecting Bangladesh and not taking any chances. Ponting is in there just as a batsmen so it will be interesting to see how he performs, after being the leader of the team for so long.

Seems like the only spinners in the squad are Doherty and Smith, with Clarke and White part timers. Doherty looked impressive in the ODIs in India but the opposite in the Ashes Tests he played in. Smith had a good start to his ODI bowling career but only took 1 wicket in the World Cup. So it looks like Australia will look to their pace bowlers to spearhead the bowling attack.

I think it's going to be a great series and a big challenge for Bangladesh, particularly for the Bangladesh batsmen. Hopefully they meet the challenge and give more headaches to Australia to add to the ones it already has.

Sohel · #2 March 29, 2011, 08:36 PM

Joss! Watching Lee and Johnson bowl from ground level a couple of weeks after Steyn is a dream come true for me

firstlane · #3 March 29, 2011, 08:47 PM

So they changed the vice captain as well.

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shakibrulz · #4 March 29, 2011, 08:49 PM

Full strength squad. Acid test for BD.

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Holden · #5 March 29, 2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Joss! Watching Lee and Johnson bowl from ground level a couple of weeks after Steyn is a dream come true for me

Lucky you.
It might also be one of the last opportunities to see Ponting and Hussey play ODIs (at the least in Bangladesh) as I don't think Australia have any scheduled in the near future. These two will go down as being among the best batsmen of their generation, and the former will go down as a great of the modern game.

firstlane · #6 March 29, 2011, 08:54 PM

So Ferguson, doherty & pattinson in for David hussey, kreja & tait. They changed the vice captain as well. David hussey's exclusion is surprising.

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**Zunaid** · #7 March 29, 2011, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstlane
So Ferguson, doherty & pattinson in for David hussey, kreja & tait. They changed the vice captain as well. David hussey's exclusion is surprising.

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As quoted in the article:

Quote:

David Hussey is unable to tour for family reasons.

Holden · #8 March 29, 2011, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstlane
So Ferguson, doherty & pattinson in for David hussey, kreja & tait. They changed the vice captain as well. David hussey's exclusion is surprising.

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D Hussey is not in as his wife is due to give birth

al-Sagar · #9 March 29, 2011, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sohel NR
Joss! Watching Lee and Johnson bowl from ground level a couple of weeks after Steyn is a dream come true for me

i am going at least two matches.

it will be a pleasure to see lee and johnson bowl.

al-Sagar · #10 March 29, 2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakibrulz
Full strength squad. Acid test for BD.

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AUS have always been poor at subcontinent pitches. and the BD tour will give them some good experience. The NZ tour of BD helped them a lot.

so their BEST players are there to spend there time in the middle and fine tune your game

beshideshi · #11 March 29, 2011, 09:54 PM

Good squad this, I guess times when Australia will send their "Future XI" is over. Australia must win every single game, new captain, new era blah blah blah, they wouldn't like to start with a series loss against Bangladesh

On a serious note, this really should be an acid test for Bangladesh. If Bangladesh can put up a strong fight in 3 games, win 1 or 2 then we can finally say that Bangladesh has become a major force at home.

RazabQ · #12 March 29, 2011, 10:29 PM

What exactly has White done to retain his spot? Where's Shaun Marsh?

Murad · #13 March 29, 2011, 10:31 PM

Good squad. I think the senior players will be carrying drinks and towels like the last time.

shakibrulz · #14 March 29, 2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by offstump
AUS have always been poor at subcontinent pitches. and the BD tour will give them some good experience. The NZ tour of BD helped them a lot.

so their BEST players are there to spend there time in the middle and fine tune your game

That's a myth. They're the only team who has won consistently at home against us, who are the strongest of subcontinent sides. It will be a damn hard task for sure.

Sakib · #15 March 29, 2011, 11:01 PM

banglawash anyone?

al Furqaan · #16 March 29, 2011, 11:29 PM

full strength AUS side...if we can win this series it will prove the WC was a fluke and that we c[hoked]aved into the pressure.

Night_wolf · #17 March 29, 2011, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sakib
banglawash anyone?

yessss!!...aa..aa..aa..golay aise atkay gese

Rabz · #18 March 29, 2011, 11:31 PM

A bunch of "no names" in the Aussie side, hardly gives any scare.
If we dont fancy our chances against "this" Aussie side, we'd never would.
I'm starting to feel sorry for one of my favourite cricketer, Michael Clarke.

roman · #19 March 29, 2011, 11:35 PM

wish we could've played couple of tests

BANFAN · #20 March 30, 2011, 12:01 AM

Good team. How competitive will it be with us, lets see.

Sakib · #21 March 30, 2011, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Night_wolf
yessss!!...aa..aa..aa..golay aise atkay gese

no worries, take your time.

Nadim · #22 March 30, 2011, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, Brad Haddin, John Hastings, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Ricky Ponting, Steve Smith, Cameron White

Xavier Doherty is the only spinner touring BD? For god sake....pls make dry or crumbling pitch for all 3 games...

dolcevita · #23 March 30, 2011, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabz
A bunch of "no names" in the Aussie side, hardly gives any scare.
If we dont fancy our chances against "this" Aussie side, we'd never would.
I'm starting to feel sorry for one of my favourite cricketer, Michael Clarke.

Are you serious ?
Watson , ponting , clarke , lee , mitchell johnson , white...that a bunch of *no names *

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nahaz · #24 March 30, 2011, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rabz
A bunch of "no names" in the Aussie side, hardly gives any scare.
If we dont fancy our chances against "this" Aussie side, we'd never would.
I'm starting to feel sorry for one of my favourite cricketer, Michael Clarke.

Are you guys just pumping yourselves up, or you really think this team will be like New Zealand?

Here's a breakdown of the squad:
1.Watson: Good opener, much like hayden. Can definitely bowl 5-6 overs of pace at 140 kph.
2.Haddin: Arrogant b#stard, but he will get the team off to a flyer, then try and consolidate. He is willing to make every opportunity count.
3.Ponting: He wants to really prove himself, now that he got forced out of captaincy. His last innings against India shows his class.
4. Clarke: Don't liek him, but again as new captain he'd like to prove himself. He's a bit like Yuvraj was couple of years back.
5. Mike Hussey: Mr. Cricket. He's an accumulator. Aus might be 4/60, but with him in for long, it'd turn out to be 4/160.He doesn't do much nowadays. Let's get him out early.
6. Callum Ferguson: Promising batsman with 5 fifties and averaging 44. But big deal.
7. Steve Smith: Bit overrated, but still a good late order hitter. Get him out quick. Shakib should be enough. Smith also bowls leg-spinners.
7.Cameron White: Late order hitter with similar success ratio to Smith. He has two centuries to his name. However, Smith may get the nod ahead of him due to his spin.
8. Mitchell Johnson: Recommended that Tamim targets him. He's bad in bowling when low on confidence. However, once he gets sniff of a wicket, he's very dangerous. And I rate his late order hitting highly. Bowlers better prepare.
9. Brett Lee: Think of McGrath bowling at 145-150. That is Lee nowadays. He will be very good and dangerous. Batting used to be good. Everyoneshould give him respect, especially Tamim.
10. John Hastings: Bwoled fairly well before in India, but definitely a weak link.
11. Xavier Doherty: One of those spinners who hopes you'll make a mistake. He's crap, but if you underestimate him, he'll be a good bowler. He's the glaring failure in Australian cricket culture regarding spin.
12.Tim Paine: Good batsman, better than Smith or White. But he'll be sitting out.
13. James Pattinson: Injury cover, the holiday maker.

So Australia got three/four positions of weakness: the spinner, the 3rd specialist seamers are crap, and in 6 and 7 white, ferguson and smith all can make the opponents pay, but I can relate to the Bangladeshi top and middle order batsmen here.

The team stil looks pretty strong. Trust me, you wouldn't want me to analyse Bangladesh. For the record, if I was coach I would put Imrul miles ahead of other Bangladeshi batsmen.

Rabz · #25 March 30, 2011, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolcevita
Are you serious ?
Watson , ponting , clarke , lee , mitchell johnson , white...that a bunch of *no names *

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Yes I'm serious.
Just look at the following:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Holden
Xavier Doherty, Callum Ferguson, , John Hastings, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Cameron White

Does those names strike a fear in your heart ?? No it doesnt.

Australia used to be a team of 15 superstars. Everyone was a legend on their own.
These days, you couldn't name half of the team members.
For Lee, Hussy and Ponting, we've got Doherty Hasting and Pattisons.
Tamims and Sakibs wont be fearful facing them compared to the Australia of old.