From: mikef@dph1.ucc.su.OZ.AU (Blind Boy Grunt)
Subject: Questions about Aussies (was Re: WI-WA and Shield matches)
Summary: Australian cricket, team for 1st test
Keywords: Australian team, young players, selections
Organization: Dept Public Health, Sydney University
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 1992 08:32:29 GMT

...Stuff about WA-WI scores deleted....

>
>Really nice to hear what's going on in domestic cricket Down Under.
>Nice to hear the "Enforcer" may be Back against the Windies! 
>Question for the Aussies:
>=========================
>What is the probable pace attack against the  Windies?
>My attack would be;
>Tiger Mcdermott
>Merv Hughes
>Mike Whitney
>Julian Angel(?)
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^
That should be either Brendan Julien or Jo Angel, who both play for 
Western Australia. Neither are likely starters for the 1st Test, perhaps
later in the series, but one of them probably has a fair chance to go 
on the Oz tour of England 1993, form permitting. Your selection seems
pretty close to most views about the Aussie bowling for the 1st test,
especially since Reid's recent injury scare yesterday. Apparently, he
has a shoulder injury (tendonitis?) that forced him from the field
in day3, and although he returned to the field 70 minutes later he did
not bowl again. I don't know if he bowled on day4. 

I would suggest that the other strong possibilities for the pace attack
are Tony Dodemaide and Paul Reiffel.

>Also what is the status of Darren Lehmann, He was so highly rated
>and talked of  sometime back. Also who is rated highest among Bevan,
>Bryshaw, M.Hayden and D.Martyn ?

Lehmann has just been picked for the AUS XI v WI first class match next
weekend, a match that has been used to expose young players to test
match conditions, with the AUS XI being similar to a second XI. Of those
you mentioned Martyn and Hayden are perhaps the most likely at this
instant. Both will be playing in the above match, and both have had
excellent recent form. Brayshaw is not a serious contender at this time.

>Is Greg Mathews a probable for this series? This series is going to 
>be really exciting w/ Windies having the edge in bowling and the
>aussies in batting!

Greg Matthews is likely to be given another chance, although the 
selectors seem quite keen to play a wrist spinner if possible. Both 
Shane Warne and David Freedman (NSW left-armer) have been picked for
the above match against the WI and must be considered serious
contenders. The advantage that Matthews has is, of course, his batting.
With Healy and no.7 the Aussie tail looks too long.

>My aussie 11 (I'm out of touch w/ current trends and form):

I'm going to wait for a couple more first class matches before I 
attempt to pick a team.

>questions:
>==========
>Is A.B going to captain? Isn't it time for him to step aside and 
>make way for youngsters - he isn't in great form either.

Border will be captain for the first test and is highly likely to be
captain for the series. I agree that he should step aside very soon,
definitely at the completion of the Aus v WI series. Yes, his form
is not "great", but it is quite good, he played relatively well on
the recent Sri Lanka tour. Only one Aussie batsmen has had great
from in the last couple of years, namely David Boon.

>If Wayne Phillips opens the batting will he still keep wkts or does
>Australia have a new spl. wktkpr now? What abt Rowell - is he quick enuff
>and is a hopeful?

Your are confusing the older Wayne Phillips from South Australia with 
the younger one from Victoria, who only opens and does not keep wickets.
The former has played very little 1st class cricket in recent years. Healy
is the unchallenged specialist keeper. Rowell is not particularly quick,
as far as I know, and is not being seriously considered at this stage.
-- 
__
Michael Fahey         | Internet: mikef@pub.health.su.oz.au
Dept of Public Health | UUCP: uunet!munnari.oz.au!pub.health.su!mikef
University of Sydney  | Bitnet: mikef%pub.health.su.oz.au@cunyvm.bitnet