Southern Starts Team Announced

The selectors have shown faith in the squad which performed so well in the Rose Bowl series in Darwin mid last year.

The Southern Stars XIII is: Karen Rolton (SA, capt), Lisa Sthalekar (NSW, vice-capt), Sarah Andrews, Alex Blackwell, Kate Blackwell, Ellyse Perry (NSW); Kris Britt, Shelley Nitschke, Emma Sampson (SA); Sarah Edwards (Vic); Melissa Bulow, Kirsten Pike, Jodie Purves (Qld).

My Southern Stars vs England Selections

Based on my observations over the season, here ae my Southern Stars selections for the coming internationals against England would be in batting order:

Test XII/One Dayers
1. Leah Poulton NSW (Twenty20 - Lauren Ebsary SA)
2. Alex Blackwell NSW
3. Karen Rolton SA (c)
4. Lisa Sthalekar NSW (vc)
5. Shelley Nitschke SA
6. Lauren Ebsary SA (Twenty20 - Ellyse Perry NSW)
7. Jodie Purves QLD (wk)
8. Renee Chappell WA
9. Kirsten Pike QLD
10.Clea Smith VIC
11.Emma Sampson SA
12.Kris Britt SA
Reserves/Replacements
13.Ellyse Perry NSW
14.Alicia Dean SA (wk)
15.Kate Blackwell NSW

Fire look to next season to bounce back

Queensland Fire will now have to go back to the drawing board and prepare and hone their skills for next season after being convincingly beaten by a resurgent and late improver Western Australia Fury at the Gabba last Friday and Saturday, on top of the thriller Twenty20 match the day before.

Fury's Lauren Ebsary was in total command in both WNCL matches and when I saw her on Saturday was a joy to watch and will give the Southern Stars selectors a few headaches in selecting the Twenty20, one dayer and Ashes Test Match squads.

Best performers for Fire this season were:
Kirsten Pike - Bowling:13 wickets, 21.23 avg
Jodie Purves - Wicketkeeping: 14 ct 2 stumpings 16 total
Batting: 214 runs, 30.57 avg, 56.83 sr

Congrats to NSW Breakers and SA Scorpions who deservedly will play in the one match WNCL Final to be held in Sydney at the glorious SCG next Saturday 19th January. This will be a difficult final to predict, both sides have true champions and heaps of class - should be a beauty!,

Lovey back on comeback trail from knee surgery

Great news my favourite batsman Lovey will be playing tomorrow (15 Jan) in Mackay in a one dayer vs Qld Country, then will play next Monday (21st Jan) in a QAS side, hopefully clearing the way for a First Class match return for the Bulls vs WA at the Gabba from 11 February, as will not be sufficiently prepared for match next Monday against Tassie.

Lovey is Queensland's all-time leading First Class runscorer with 10,297 runs to date and jostling with Jimmy Maher to overtake Stuart Law's Queensland all-time record for Sheffield Shield/Pura Cup runs.

Sanity prevails at last

Great to hear that the Indian captain and team have offered to drop the charge against Brad Hogg. Hopefully we can get on with the Test cricket now!

Allan Border Medal 07-08 Predictions

My predictions for the AB Medal major awards this season to be announced on 26th February is:

AB Medal
Matthew Hayden "Haydos"

Test Player of Year
Michael Hussey "Mr Cricket"

One Day Player of Year
Matthew Hayden "Haydos"

Womens International Cricketer of Year
Lisa Sthalekar

State Cricketer of the Year
Simon Katich NSW