hahahah
Thats the biggest load of bollocks ever....
Steve Waugh didnt choose Bracken, the selectors did, and every other NSW played deserved to have been there...
Hodge is a good player, but look at his career first class average, and apart from last season, he is a step below guys like Katich. As for Michael Clarke, the selectors know that they need to look to the future a bit, and choosing guys that are late 20s, or early 30s already is ridiculous...
I admit, that I still believe Matty Elliott is the 2nd best TEST opener in the country, behind Hayden, but ahead of Langer. But he has been unlucky with injuries etc hampering his chances to concrete a test place.
I cant believe you claim its the whole NSW thing (which is what the Vic media like to believe...)
Look at the test side/'s that took on India:
Hayden (Qld)
Langer (WA)
Ponting (Tas)
Martyn (WA)
Waugh (NSW)
Katich (NSW)
Gilchrist (WA)
Lee (NSW)
Bichel (Qld)
Gillespie (SA)
Williams (WA)
Bracken (NSW)
MacGill (NSW)
From memory all sides were chosen from that 13...
MacGill had to be there, we needed a spinner, White definitely isnt Test Class yet, and MacGills test average, and previous test record speak for themself...He is a long long way off being a great leg spin bowler, but he is test quality in nearly all other test playing nations...
Bracken shouldnt have been there, he was there because he was left handed, and the selectors thought he could swing better than he could...
Bichel is just a step below the class that you need in a test fast bowler I feel...Just not quite there..
Anyway the numbers:
NSW:5 Waugh had to be there; Lee should be, but wasnt fit and was rushed back IMO; Bracken shouldnt have, but was left handed-so the selectors took that risk; MacGill should have been there; Katich should have been there and actually made his test debut when he was playing for WESTERN AUSTRALIA!
WA: 4, all deserved to be there, altho Langer probably isnt as good as Elliott, he is a hard man to drop...
Qld: 2 Bichel is doubtful...Hayden...well Hayden
SA: 1 Dizzy
Tas: 1 Ponting
Seriously, Victorians are making a huge deal about Hodge when he has had one good summer...His first class average is 44.68, he'll be 30 later this year...A good test batsmen will usually boast a career first class average of at or around 50...Maybe a touch below...Simon Katich (the guy that Hodge would be most likely to take the test place of) averages 52.82...
Its time Victorians stopped just crying 'unfair' and looked at the facts...