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Dave's cricketing conundrums
Australia has names its Ashes side, and despite a Queenslander being there it is a quality one.
Stephen Waugh (Captain - NSW)
Adam Gilchrist (Vice-Captain - WA)
Nathan Bracken (NSW)
Damien Fleming (VIC)
Jason Gillespie (SA)
Matthew Hayden (QLD)
Justin Langer (WA)
Brett Lee (Subject to fitness - NSW)
Simon Katich (WA)
Damien Martyn (WA)
Glenn McGrath (NSW)
Colin Miller (VIC)
Ricky Ponting (TAS)
Michael Slater (NSW)
Shane Warne (VIC)
Mark Waugh (NSW)
The only eyebrow raised is that over the selection of Bracken over Kaspro and that there is no back-up 'keeper for Gilly. This will mean that he will have to play all the OD's, 5 Tests and 9 county matches. It would be safe to presume that Brad Haddin who will be playing County cricket, will be asked by the selectors to pack his baggy green cap. You can only imagine how angry S.C.G. McGill was when told via phone of his non-selection, I bet the selectors ears are still ringing. Poor McGilla, in any other country he would be a certain selection for the Tests and ODI's, but here he can only play when Warne is injured. I am sure Stuart would enjoy a beer with Jamie Cox, Martin Love, Kaspro and Darren Lehmamn tonight. Considering the dark mood they must be in I would not like to accidentally spill any beer on those lads. It is good to see Katich have a chance, but one feels that Martyn is still in front of him on the pecking order. It would not surprise if he did not play any Tests, no matter how many runs he piles on during the county matches.
The first test line-up should resemble
Slater
Hayden
Langer
M.Waugh
S.Waugh
Ponting
Gilchrist
Lee
Gillespie
Warne
McGrath
In short this team has got the firepower, guile and experience to retain the ashes once again.
and I still have my doubts abut Hayden. Time will tell on that one.