Australia sans specialist spinner for first test.

Obviously reprising the modus operandi so characteristic of the Indian tour.

Australia goes into first Test against South Africa without spinners




February 25, 2009 05:25pm


AUSTRALIA has left out spinners Nathan Hauritz and Bryce McGain from tomorrow's first Test against South Africa at Wanderers Stadium.
Captain Ricky Ponting will have a last look at the pitch before a decision is made on the 12th man.
The match is due to start at 6.30pm Brisbane time.
Three members of the 12-man side are yet to play a Test - West Australian middle-order batsman Marcus North, Tasmanian paceman Ben Hilfenhaus and NSW opening batsman Phil Hughes.
Team: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phillip Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Andrew McDonald, Marcus North, Peter Siddle.

You'd hope Bollinger might be 12th ... we don't need two purveyors of wide left arm fastish filth

Might just work well for Australia.

Katich
Hughes
* Ponting
M Hussey
M Clarke
M North
+ Haddin
Johnson
Hilfenhaus
Siddle
Bollinger

Is Haddin still in the team?



Good for Saffas....




Just the antidote Saffies need to counter having Bucknor as an umpire!

No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Aye...has to be Bollinger

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Please.

That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

Batman wrote:Is Haddin still in the team?



Good for Saffas....




Just the antidote Saffies need to counter having Bucknor as an umpire!

They'll also have referrals in this series though!

Bucknor's incompetence is beyond reproach.

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

Chandan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

He didn't.

Red wrote:

Chandan wrote:

Brass Monkey wrote:That'll be a nippy line-up - Bollinger, Johnsn, Siddle and Hilfenhaus. Dunno how much actual calibre that is, but on those pitches who knows...

You think Ponting will be able to resist the temptation of including a 'so called' allrounder?

He didn't.

Is Ponting a tour selector? IF so, he is more farked in the head than even I ever imagined. MacDonald at 8 is about as shitty a selection as we have had since Shaun Young.

taipan wrote:

JGK wrote:No way MacDonald can play as the 4th bowler.

Please.

Thanks RP.

Jackman said the pitch looks a really good batting one and he expected whoever won the toss to take first strike.