Aussie Squad for the Windies Tour

Donny · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 2:46 pm

The squad for the tour of the West Indies will be chosen on Sunday night.

The Australian selectors are at the Gabba during the Pura Cup final to 'have a look at a couple of blokes' as AB put it.

It's reasonable to assume one of them was Michael Clarke. He did himself no favours with his first innings duck and will need something spectacular in his second dig when you consider the squad parameters.

Fifteen players will tour. 7 batsmen, 7 bowlers and Gilchrist. So there's little room to take a young player 'for experience'.

So we have the Test top six - Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Waugh and Lehmann - and Love, who could hardly be faulted when he replaced an injured Lehmann for the last two Tests against England. It seems the only way for Clarke to get a tour spot is if Waugh retires.

If the selectors needed another look at MacGill, his 5/16 surely sealed his spot. Hogg will get the other spinner's spot ahead of Hauritz and McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and Bichel make six. The last bowling spot looks to be between Bracken, Noffke and Williams.

They may utilise one of the bowler's spots to take Harvey, Symonds or Blewett. Even Katich is in with a rough chance.

MrsTarrant · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 2:56 pm

I don't know what's with Clarke every time he gets a chance to make it into the Australian side he doesn't make a big score maybe the pressure is too much for him! I'm sure he will make it one day but I don't know about this tour. I hope AB was watching Slats, Langer watch your back hahaha! Before I start getting nasty comments in reply I am only joking although I think Slats should be there!

Donny · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 4:29 pm

Steve Waugh today announced he is available for the Windies tour.

gobbles21 · Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2003 11:12 pm

My squad would be:

Test Team
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Waugh
Love
Gilchrist
Lee
Gillespie
MacGill
McGrath

Other Members
Bichel
Hogg
Lehmann

I would love for Michael Clarke to go, but that would mean that Lehmann would miss out, and I think he hasn't been given a chance to cement his place yet. Although Love seems to have pushed himself ahead of Lehmann for the No. 6 position.

Donny · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2003 6:14 pm

Simon Katich was named Player of the Match after NSW had completed a strong win in the Pura Cup final.

Three of the Aussie selectors were there.

I pose this question. Will Katich go to the Windies? There have been rougher selections in Aussie touring teams.

My reasoning: 1/He was firmly in the selector's thoughts two seasons ago and played a Test. 2/He has since added good bowling performances to his resume. 3/He bowls the same style as Hoggy but is a top six batsman. 4/West Indies batsmen do not like wrist spinners. 5/If two of the 7 batsmen get injured or lose form, Katich would slot in.

How could we fit him in? Two possibilities as I don't really see him getting a spot ahead of Love, Blewett, Maher or Clarke as the 7th. batsman. He could get the second spinner's spot ahead of Hogg or one of the bowler's spots, although this would leave us a bit light on in the pace department.

MrsTarrant · Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2003 10:03 pm

I doubt they will select Katich but you do make some extremely good points as to why they could select him! It will be very interesting to see the team named tomorrow!

MrsTarrant · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 2:58 pm

ACB announces Test squad for 2003 Travelex Tour of the West Indies
Australian Cricket Board - 17 March 2003

Australian Cricket Board (ACB) Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland today announced that the National Selection Panel (NSP) has chosen the following 15 players to take part in the Test leg of the 2003 Travelex Tour of the West Indies.

The squad, to be captained by Stephen Waugh, is:

Name State Age Caps
Stephen Waugh (captain) NSW 37 156
Ricky Ponting (vice-captain) TAS 28 64
Andrew Bichel QLD 32 11
Adam Gilchrist WA 31 39
Jason Gillespie* SA 27 39
Matthew Hayden QLD 31 32
Brad Hogg WA 32 1
Justin Langer WA 32 59
Brett Lee NSW 26 27
Martin Love QLD 28 2
Darren Lehmann SA 33 8
Stuart MacGill NSW 32 19
Damien Martyn WA 31 33
Glenn McGrath NSW 33 91
Ashley Noffke QLD 25 0

*Jason Gillespie's selection is subject to fitness.

Team Management - John Buchanan (Coach), Steve Bernard (Team Manager), Tim Nielsen (Assistant Coach / Performance Analyst), Errol Alcott (Physiotherapist), Jock Campbell (Physical Performance Manager).

Australia will play four Tests in the West Indies, beginning in Guyana on 10 April.

Commenting on the squad chosen, NSP Chairman Trevor Hohns said: "We know this series will be tough going as many of our players are coming off a long summer and hard World Cup campaign.

"However we are confident that the squad we have chosen will give us sufficient depth for the four-Test series and enough firepower to overcome an emerging West Indian team," he said.

The selected squad sees a change to the leadership structure with Ricky Ponting replacing Adam Gilchrist as vice-captain.

Hohns said: "As a selection panel, we have recommended that Ricky Ponting take on the vice-captaincy.

"The move certainly isn't a reflection on Adam Gilchrist's performance in that role, because he has been and will continue to be a terrific leader, but we feel that it is a logical step, given Ricky's role with the one-day international side and Adam is fully supportive of the move.

"As for the captaincy, Steve Waugh has signalled his intention to continue playing, and has displayed some outstanding form for New South Wales since the end of the Ashes series.

"It is a decision that he has obviously thought long and hard about and now that it has been made, we know that he will focus fully on the challenging series that lies ahead," he said.

Waugh's decision to tour the West Indies is likely to see him pass Allan Border as the most capped Australian Test player.

He drew level with Border when he played his 156th Test against England at the Sydney Cricket Ground in January 2003.

The squad also sees un-capped paceman Ashley Noffke called into the Australian squad for the first time since the 2001 Travelex Tour of the United Kingdom.

On that occasion, the Queenslander was called up to replace an injured Nathan Bracken before returning home himself after injuring an ankle during a tour match against Sussex.

During 2002-03, he claimed 39 first-class wickets at an average of 22.05 when representing Queensland and Australia A.

His best figures of 6-24 came against New South Wales in Sydney earlier this month, in the last qualifying game of the Pura Cup (6-9 March).

Hohns said that Noffke was a rising talent who had shown increasing maturity over the past few years.

"Ashley has played a big part in Queensland's recent run of success and we have been very impressed with his form for both Queensland and Australia A," Hohns said.

"We expect this tour to fast-track his development, just as Glenn McGrath took a big step forward in his career on the 1995 tour of the Caribbean," he said.

Noffke's Queensland teammate Martin Love has also been included in the squad, gaining overseas tour selection for the first time.

The 28-year-old, who played the final two matches of the 2002-03 Orange Test Series against England, scored 1105 first-class runs for the year at an average of 73.66 - the highest of any player.

His season highlights included two double hundreds against England during November – the first for Queensland in Brisbane, the second for Australia A at Bellerive Oval in Hobart.

Apart from selection for the fourth and fifth Orange Test matches, Love's fine season was rewarded in January with State Player of the Year honours at the Allan Border Medal presentation in Melbourne.

Commenting on Love's Test squad selection, Hohns said: "Martin has demonstrated that he is ready for Test cricket.

"His domestic form has been outstanding for some time. He has a cool head and offers us a genuine option in the middle-order as well as a safe pair of hands in the slip cordon.

"We took into account his domestic experience and leadership, and felt that he can make a genuine contribution to the touring party.

"It was also felt that this tour will help his overall development as a Test batsman," he said.

-more-

Western Australian spinner and current member of the Australian one-day international squad, Brad Hogg, has also been included in the touring Test party for the first time since the 1996-97 tour of India.

Commenting on Hogg's inclusion, Hohns said: "Brad has impressed us with his solid performances at the World Cup and we believe that he can become a valuable member of the Test side.

"His enthusiasm is infectious and we feel that his energy in the field and ability with the bat will provide us with some flexibility moving forward," he said.

Speaking from South Africa, Hogg said he was delighted with his Test squad call-up.

"Obviously my mind is fixed on our World Cup campaign and tomorrow's semi-final against Sri Lanka, but this is something that I have strived for, so to have received the news that I had been selected was a great thrill," Hogg said.

"I just love representing Australia and being a part of this side, so personally, things couldn't be any better for me," he said.

The squad departs for the 2003 Travelex Tour of the West Indies on 31 March. The one-day international squad, meanwhile, will be announced in due course.

MrsTarrant · Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2003 3:07 pm

No real suprises in the team selected!

Fradam · Joined: 21 Jun 1999 Location: Bendigo, Victoria

I think it's a pretty good squad. Would've liked to have seen Williams there instead of Nofke

gobbles21 · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2003 10:35 pm

What is everyones opinion on the starting 11? There are a few selection problems to consider. Do you play MacGill or Hogg?, Love or Lehmann?, or do you bat Adam Gilchrist at 6 and play Andy Bichel as an allrounder (due to his recent batting success), and and extra bowler to cover for the loss of Warne?

My prefered side would be:
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Waugh
Love
Gilchrist
Lee
Gillespie
MacGill
McGrath

But I wouldn't mind seeing:
Hayden
Langer
Ponting
Martyn
Waugh
Gilchrist
Bichel
Lee
Gillespie
MacGill
McGrath

What do you think?

couragous cloke · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2003 11:24 pm

pitty slates couldnt get a go ay mrs tarrant

MrsTarrant · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2003 2:23 am

Damn right couragous cloke he should be in the team!

You bring up a good point gobbles I think I am with you on the teams selected! It's a hard one isn't it because I really want to see Bichel in the side!

Donny · Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2003 8:44 pm

Waugh to Liven up Aussies for Windies Tour says Ponting
Reuters - 25 March 2003

Test specialists Steve Waugh and Justin Langer will add enthusiasm to Australia's squad for the four-Test tour of West Indies starting next week, World Cup-winning skipper Ricky Ponting says.

Ponting, who will be Steve Waugh's vice-captain in the Test series, returned with his triumphant one-day squad to Perth airport on Tuesday after an unbeaten run at the World Cup in southern Africa which culminated in a 125-run win over India in Sunday's final.

The Australians have been playing international cricket almost non-stop for seven months and have less than a week's break before heading to the Caribbean on Monday for four Tests and seven one-day internationals.

"There is no doubt that everyone here would like to have a few more days at least at home to see their families and friends," Ponting told reporters on Tuesday.

The West Indies tour of 1999 was Waugh's first series as Test captain and ended in a 2-2 draw.

"We probably went over there expecting to win pretty comfortably last time and we were really tested in a couple of games by (Brian) Lara," Ponting said.

"So I'm sure Steve is looking forward to playing again and Justin (Langer) has had a few weeks off as well, so those guys coming back into the side will drag all the rest of us along with them I'm sure.

"We're all looking forward to putting the white clothes back on."

Lara blasted 546 runs at an average of 91 including a highest score of 213 among his three centuries in the series. The 32-year-old left-hander holds the world records for the highest individual score in Tests (375) and first-class (501) cricket.

Donny · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 5:58 pm

Waugh's Australians Warned of Meltdown
AAP - 27 March 2003

Australia's tired cricketers have been warned to be wary of another meltdown like the 2001 series in India when their draining schedule resumes in the Caribbean next week.

Australia's Test and one-day players have been on the go since last August and, after just six nights at home following their crushing World Cup win in Johannesburg, they leave again on Monday for a four-Test series in the Caribbean.

Leading sports psychologist Phil Jauncey, who works regularly with the Australians, said Steve Waugh's team could face a similar situation to the one when it lost that memorable series in India after a long season.

The Indians were all but beaten after losing the first Test by 10 wickets and then following on in the second Test but fought back to win the series 2-1.

The Australians are now dealing with a World Cup hangover and Jauncey said a commanding win in the first Test in Guyana starting on April 10 may not be ideal for a group of players trying to stay fresh for another long tour.

"The biggest challenge is going to be mental freshness and probably the worst thing that could happen to them is if they win the first Test very well," Jauncey said.

"That's exactly the situation that transpired in India.

"If that Test is close or if Australia loses, then the second Test should be fine because emotion will take over.

"Otherwise it could be really hard for them to recover because it's been a long stretch and their goal for so long now has been the World Cup.

"They've got to refocus now and that's hard enough when you're fresh but it's going to be really hard when you're tired."

But Jauncey said the presence of captain Steve Waugh and opener Justin Langer, who were left out of the World Cup squad, at least ensured the Australians had some recharged players.

"Steve will be energised after taking NSW to a decent championship (in the Pura Cup) and that's going to be important for this team," Jauncey said.

"(One-day captain) Ricky Ponting may have been a little tired after the demands of the World Cup so it could be an advantage to have a different captain.

"But they will have to remember getting back to what works well in Tests as opposed to one-day internationals. It's day-after-day as opposed to seven hours of intensity followed by a few days off.

"What they will do is make sure they look at their specific execution. You don't go out to win - you go out to execute well and as long as that's in place, it doesn't matter about tiredness."

The Australians drew their last Caribbean series 2-2 four years ago under new captain Waugh after an historic 2-1 victory when led by Mark Taylor in 1994-95.

Donny · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2003 6:01 pm

Jason Gillespie has declared himself fit for the Windies tour after a workout at the Adelaide oval.

"Everything seemed to go well, it felt good and really positive," Gillespie said.

"Clinically my leg is fine now, the strength is getting back and just to have a bowl felt really good and I was more than happy with the result."