12 man Aus squad announced: It is Brad Hogg vs Shaun Tait

[fineleg]

Hogg and Tait push for Test place Peter English December 18, 2007 Shaun Tait has sped back into the Australia squad after proving his fitness against New Zealand © Getty Images Brad Hogg will face another last-minute battle to resume his Test career after he was named in a 12-man squad alongside Shaun Tait for the first match against India. Hogg lost a bowl-off to Stuart MacGill for the opening game of the Sri Lanka series, but he is now in a different fight as the selectors decide whether to field an all-pace attack at the MCG on Boxing Day or include his left-arm spin. Steve Waugh has pushed for Hogg's inclusion and Harbhajan Singh would love him to play, believing he is significantly inferior to MacGill or Shane Warne. Hogg, who has not appeared in a Test since 2003, has been an outstanding performer in Australia's one-day sides, but he has struggled in first-class matches since taking eight wickets against Victoria, adding another five victims in three games. Containing India's batsmen during 25 overs a day is a much harder task for Hogg than attacking them during a one-day international when they are obliged to hit out. India's plans could involve going after Hogg or sitting on him - and his hard-to-pick wrong'un -while waiting for a loose delivery. The options are much easier than the ones Tait provides. India have come from a series on their low-bouncing pitches and they have only three days to acclimatise during a match against Victoria at the Junction Oval. Tait's pace has been fierce against New Zealand over the past week and Australia will wait to analyse the drop-in surface at the MCG before making a call. Originally in the opening squad for Sri Lanka, Tait pulled out with injury and is looking to play his first Test since 2005. Australia already have three bowlers who complement eachother, with Brett Lee providing the pace, Stuart Clark the consistent steep bounce and Mitchell Johnson the left-arm variety. If four fast men were employed Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds could break things up with their part-time spin, but it is a risky option against players who mastered MacGill and Shane Warne in previous series. Australia squad Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait.

[Donny]

Hogg v. Tait ? I don't think so. If George Bradley makes the XI, I think it'll be MJ who'll be carrying the drinks.

[fineleg]

MJ can trouble Ind batsmen...they wont want to omit him.

[Donny]

What makes you think that, Finey ? He's never bowled to them in a first class match.

[The Outsider]

Johnson did little wrong in the tests against Sri Lanka to be dropped and adds the left hand angle to the attack. Looks pretty certain to start at the MCG. Waugh seems to be backing Hogg over Tait, I agree with him.

[fineleg]

What makes you think that, Finey ? He's never bowled to them in a first class match.

shwetabh has answered it quite well.

[bharat297]

Yeah the Aussies will pick Johnson because they feel he is the one most likely to get Sachin out. Lee, Clark and Johnson will be in for sure. If they pick Tait, they are really hoping to bowl us out in the first 40 or 50 overs, because after that the attack becomes one dimensional. If they pick Hogg, its probably a safer option, however India play spin very well.

[MundaPakistani]

Surprised to see that Hogg has such a poor bowling average(39) in 1st class cricket because in limited overs cricket he is one of the best in the world.

[Ram]

Dont think Aus will risk it with 4 pacers in the first test, that too in Melbourne. I am quite certain Tait will miss out.

[fineleg]

Dont think Aus will risk it with 4 pacers in the first test' date=' that too in Melbourne. I am quite certain Tait will miss out.[/quote'] MM, My take is that barring any injury they will play ALL 4 pacers. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

[Ram]

MM, My take is that barring any injury they will play ALL 4 pacers. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

You will have to be really courageous/stupid to go into a test-match without any spinner, unless of course you are S.Africa, a country where all their spinners put together have lesser number of wickets than Murali !

[Donny]

Not a fair comparison, MM. Other than Oz (Warne/MacGill) and India (AK/Bhajji), NO country's spinners are anywhere near 719 Test wickets.

[Ram]

Not a fair comparison, MM. Other than Oz (Warne/MacGill) and India (AK/Bhajji), NO country's spinners are anywhere near 719 Test wickets.

I know it wasnt a fair comparison and that WAS the point.I wanted to show what a great bowler Murali is.

[Chandan]

Nielsen says Mitchell can rattle India December 22, 2007 Mitchell Johnson was an important part of Australia's 2-0 win against Sri Lanka and the coach Tim Nielsen believes he could be again for the four-match India series © Getty Images Australia's coach Tim Nielsen believes Mitchell Johnson might be the man who can unnerve India's strong batting line-up if he is picked for the Boxing Day Test. Johnson was impressive in his first two Tests against Sri Lanka last month but the re-emergence of Shaun Tait has left him uncertain of a place for the Melbourne match. However, Johnson has an excellent record against India in one-day internationals with 19 wickets at an average of 16 and he was the leading wicket-taker for either side in the recent ODI series in India. Nielsen said that would work in his favour when the selectors decided on their final 11 for Boxing Day. "He's had really good success," Nielsen said. "He's knocked over their top order consistently over the last couple of years. When the selectors sit down and have a look at the best mix for a team against India I'm sure the fact Mitchell's knocked over the likes of Tendulkar and Ganguly and Dravid consistently over the last couple of years will be a big tick in his box." Tait was still recovering from elbow surgery when Australia played Sri Lanka, leaving Johnson as the obvious candidate to back up Brett Lee and Stuart Clark in the pace attack. But Johnson was left out of the ODIs against New Zealand as Australia wanted to give Tait some match time and Tait's success meant Johnson was suddenly being mentioned as a possible 12th man for Boxing Day. "He's been so good in the Test match arena especially," Nielsen said. "The biggest challenge for him is not to think 'what do I have to change to get back in' it's just to understand that 12 doesn't fit into 11 [for the ODIs]." Australia have not decided whether to experiment with a four-man pace attack in Melbourne as the MCG pitch remains a mystery. Rain has bucketed down in Melbourne over the past few days, meaning the centre-wicket area is still under cover. ----------------------------------------------------------- So what'll be Australia's attack: Clark, Lee, Johnson,Hogg or Clark, Lee, Tait, Hogg or Clark, Lee, Johnson,Tait? Anyway, atleast they have a settled 12 man's team. India doesn't have even that.

[veer]

i wouldnt want to see MJ in squad either.. he is their underdog.. and produces results everytime.. but he will be there.. on different topic.. these two teams have freaking awesome batting line ups.. best in business on paper.. lets see if we can deliever it on the field.. and more than likely we will.. underdog tag suits us..

[guju24]

its going to be clark who will be sitting on the banches....hogg, lee, tait and johnson in the squad....

[Dravid]

clark is their next mcggy... i think tait will sit out..

[zubinpepsi]

I wud prefer to face Lee and Tait rather than MJ and clark MJ and Clark r the ones likely to give us problems..

[Chandan]

It looks like Hogg has been assured of a spot in MCG test and the straight competition is between M Johnson and Tait. link With an MCG pitch that has been low and slow all summer and that showed inconsistent grass coverage when the covers were removed after three days of constant rain yesterday, Brad Hogg appears all but assured of a Boxing Day berth. That leaves Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait to compete for the final pace spot. Both bowled flat out yesterday in front of selector Merv Hughes and bowling coach Troy Cooley in the MCG's indoor nets. ------------------------------------------ Wonder who'll get chosen. Their coach's remarks on cricinfo suggests that Johnson has a better chance to make the squad.

[msb1991]

I think that Australia should go with Tait, Johnson, Lee and Clark. The pace of Shaun Tait has outpaced New Zealand batsmen on occasions and somebody with the ability to outpace international batsmen, who has a good record in FC cricket, cannot be ignored for a spinner with a horrible FC record against (arguably) the best players of spin in the world.