My Australian squad for the Ashes
Columnist
By Kersi Meher-Homji, 14 May 2009 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
Australian bowler Jason Krejza, center, is congratulated by teammates Ricky Ponting, right, and Mike Hussey for dismissing Indian batsman Ishant Sharma, unseen, on the second day of the fourth and final cricket test match between India and Australia in Nagpur, India, Friday, Nov. 7, 2008. AP Photo/Gautam Singh
Let me jump the gun. The Australian squad for the Ashes will be announced next Wednesday. I always criticise the selectors, so let me become one and face the music of the critics.
First the certainties (barring injuries): Ricky Ponting, the captain, and Michael Clarke, the vice-captain; Brad Haddin, the wicket-keeper; Simon Katich and Phil Hughes, the opening batsmen; Mitchell Johnson, the fast bowler.
That makes it six ticked off, with ten to go.
Let’s start with batting.
Who will be the third opener on the tour? My vote goes to Phil Jaques, but if he is unfit, I’ll back Shaun Marsh.
We need another specialist batsman.
Mike Hussey is all class and English conditions should bring the best out of Mr. Cricket. He will make up for his run of poor scores by scoring tons aplenty in the UK.
Brad Hodge? No, he has been bypassed and will continue to be.
Now to the all-rounders.
On their day, Katich and Clarke can be considered all-rounders, but their strength is as left-handed batsmen. Also, Ponting is reluctant to use them as bowlers.
Currently Australia has three adequate (but not great) all-rounders in Andrew ‘Roy’ Symonds, Shane Watson and the ambidextrous, Marcus North.
What about the red-head Andrew ‘Ronnie’ McDonald, you ask? So far he has not impressed me.
There is room for two all-rounders in the squad and North is my first choice. On his day Symonds can tear an attack apart, but his confidence is low and his form is tepid. If Watson is fit, I would pick him. If not, ‘Roy’ gets in.
Also, Johnson has the potential to be an all-rounder. But let him concentrate on sending the batsmen back to pavilion with their hands and face in plaster.
My pick for the reserve wicket-keeping spot is Luke Ronchi. He is a brilliant wicket-keeper and bats well. Stuart MacGill who toured with him with the Australia A team to Pakistan in 2007 is a Ronchi fan.
We have an embarrassment of riches for pace bowlers and an embarrassing lack of spinners.
First the quickies.
Left-arm outswing sensation Johnson is a certainty. Brett Lee, if fit and firing, would be an ideal choice. But one must remember that English pitches did not suit him even when fit in 2005. He failed to put the English batsmen on the back foot.
I would certainly select Peter Siddle, Stuart Clark (if fit) and Ben Hiffenhaus. Other quickies to consider would be Doug Bollinger, Dirk Nannes and, if fit and willing, Shaun Tate.
What about the spinners? Where are they hiding?
I think highly of Jason Krejza, but the selectors do not. Nathan Hauritz is their man. North, Clarke and Katich will have to do a lot of spinning.
So here is my 16:
Ponting, M Clarke, Katich, Hughes, Jaques (or Marsh or Hodge), M Hussey, North, Watson (or Symonds), Haddin, Ronchi, Johnson, Siddle, Hiffenhaus, Lee, Bollinger (or S Clark) and Krejza.
I jumped the gun.
Now you can shoot my mouth with it!
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- Australian Cricket, Bollinger, Cricket, Haddin, Hiffenhaus, Hughes, Jaques (or Marsh or Hodge), Johnson, Katich, Lee, M Clarke, M Hussey, North, Ponting, Ronchi, Siddle, Test cricket, The Ashes, Watson (or Symonds)
Sam said | May 14th 2009 @ 3:21am | Report comment
I agree with your line-up. Good choices. Spot on with the bowlers too. I’d choose Brett Lee as well after seeing how well he’s come back: pace, accuracy and guile. Siddle and Johnson’s raw talent will complement his experience perfectly.
sheek said | May 14th 2009 @ 8:10am | Report comment
Great stuff Kersi,
I am left to do nothing but agree with your selections & analysis.
Brett McKay said | May 14th 2009 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Yep, fair play to you Kersi, there’s not really too much to argue about, except to say that I think if they only take 16, they won’t take a reserve ‘keeper. All the state ‘keepers would be sweating on a 17-man squad.
Tim Paine from Tassie is my smokey for the young stopper’s spot too, I think if they take another specialist, they’ll follow tradition and blood a youngster, as they did with Gilchrist and Haddin in the past. If they don’t take another ‘keeper, then Mike Hussey and Phillip Hughes are capable. Hughes, I’m sure, had to keep for the best part of a day this summer in a Shield game when the NSW ‘keeper went down injured or ill.
Justin said | May 14th 2009 @ 8:41am | Report comment
Looks pretty good and agree Watson should be well in front of Symonds (goodbye Roy) and also think S Clark should be in the 11 if fit.
Jameswm said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:44am | Report comment
I agree with most it – well, most of them pick themselves – but I have some serious issues. And you sat on the fence with too many suggestions!!
Firstly, after the,South African series how can Peter Siddle not be in the first list of certainties? His effort, guts and personality are a major reason why we did well over there. He would have to be the 2nd bowler picked after Johnson.
Secondly, you are kidding if SClark is only a maybe (in fact you left him out). He would be the third bowler picked and would complement Johnson and Siddle perfectly.
The 4th bowler spot in the starting team would be between the spinner and the other quicks.
Also, if you pick Jaques, the batting lineup does become a bit top heavy. I’ve been hugely impressed with Callum Ferguson and he has to be very seriously considered. He has looked all class and has made batting look easy, when others like Ponting, Clarke and Hussey (both) have struggled. This is a sure sign of class, just like how in some tests it looked like Katich was batting on a different wicket to the others.
We need five quicks. Johnson, Siddle and SClark pick themselves. You then have Lee, Hilfy and Bolly fighting for the other two spots. Bolly might be the one to miss out, which shows how strong our fast bowling stocks are right now.
On the spinner, it really is a tough one. I agree it’s between Krejza and Hauritz. I’ve always backed Krejza as a wicket taker, but Hauritz bowled very well in the one-dayers. He mightn’t turn it as much, but he has subtle variations and can hold up an end better. I think Krejza deserves more chances, but the Ashes tour might not be the time to try him. He is the better batsman though.
I also agree that MacDonald and Symonds should miss out. As for backup keeper, the Redbacks’ Manou is the other one not mentioned. He’s considered to be the best gloveman in the country.
So I’d go with
Katich
Hughes
Ponting
MHussey
MClarke
Ferguson
North
Watson
Haddin
Hauritz
Johnson
Siddle
SClark
Hilfenhaus
Lee just ahead of Bollinger
That makes 15.
If they go for a reserve keeper, I’d go for Manou or the young Tim Paine from Tassie. If they have a 17 man squad, add Bolly or Krejza.
Brian said | May 14th 2009 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Good squad except you sat on the fence too much. Other than my squad agrees with Jameswm except I would take Ronchi as backpup keeper. If everyone fit I would also pick Lee in the XI – Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, North, Haddin, Johnson, Lee, Siddle, Hilfenhaus
Jameswm said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:12am | Report comment
No Stuey Clark in the test XI Brian?
Brett McKay said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:21am | Report comment
It’s just occurred to me – hasn’t Jaques already been ruled out already due to his back problems?? Didn’t he re-injure it during his comeback games??
Kersi Meher-Homji said | May 14th 2009 @ 10:50am | Report comment
Brian,
Not so much sitting on the fence as not knowing first-hand the fitness of players. The names in brackets are back-ups if a player is unfit. If fit, S Clark would be in my squad for sure.
Jameswm,
Siddle was terrific in South Africa but on English conditions will he be able to swing it?
Kersi
LK said | May 14th 2009 @ 11:01am | Report comment
“On their day, Katich and Clarke can be considered all-rounders, but their strength is as left-handed batsmen. ”
Isn’t M. Clarke right handed bat, left arm bowler? Apart from that nothing to disagree with.