Boxing Day Test Squad announced

Due to time constraints I haven't managed to do my Podcast in time but here is my feature on an Indian Bloggers Podcast, Verbal Slogs. Here is the link.
Christopher David Poshin and Michael Wagener are the hosts of the show so go have a listen!

The Selectors have announced the Squad for Boxing Day:
1 David Warner,
2 Ed Cowan (debutant),
3 Shaun Marsh,
4 Ricky Ponting,
5 Michael Clarke (Captain),
6 Michael Hussey,
7 Brad Haddin (wk),
8 Peter Siddle,
9 James Pattinson,
10 Nathan Lyon,
11 Ben Hilfenhaus.

Shaun Marsh has pulled up fit after his sensational 99* for the Perth Scorchers the other night where he looked as if he'd hardly missed a beat against the rhythm of bowlers.
David Warner, fresh after his century against New Zealand, will open the batting with debutant Ed Cowan, Baggy Green number #427.
Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey (both seeking runs) and the Skipper Michael Clarke make up the middle order.

As a result Dan Christian has been left out meaning the bowling unit consists of;
Peter Siddle, James Pattinson (can't wait to see these two guys at the MCG) and Ben Hilfenhaus leading the bowling attack. Hilfy has been given his official recall now. He adds experience and with some big changes to his bowling with his knee injury hopefully a thing of the past this trio could prove to be a handful especially if swing is on offer at an overcast MCG.
Nathan Lyon will be front line spin bowler.

Also an interesting thing to note is that Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey are the only players who took part in the 2007/08 series. Our bowling unit is fresh but both Pedro and Hilfy have taken on India.

Their stats were as follows:
Michael Clarke - 7 innings, 316 runs, HS 118, 45.14 average, x1 100, x2 50 (5th highest run scorer)
Michael Hussey - 7 innings, 292 runs, HS 145*, 48.66 average, x1 100 (6th highest run scorer)
Ricky Ponting - 7 innings, 268 runs, HS 140, 38.28 average, x1 100, x1 50 (8th highest run scorer)

For India, Sachin Tendulkar scored 494 runs at 70.42 (x2 100s, x2 50s), VVS Laxman scored 366 runs at 45.75 (x1 100, x2 50s), Virender Sehwag scored 286 runs at 71.50 (x1 100, x1 50), Rahul Dravid scored 237 runs at 33.85 (x2 50s) and MS Dhoni 141 runs at 17.62.
Their emerging players with the bat have genuine skill sets which makes them a threat but since the 2007/08 series in Australia, Dravid has turned his form right around, Sehwag will always be dangerous but hot and cold, VVS always saves his best when taking on the Baggy Greens so I see him as the ultimate threat and Sachin is chasing that 100th International century.

Can't wait for the Test to begin, the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series!

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