My Australian squad for the Ashes
Columnist By Kersi Meher-Homji, 14 May 2009 Kersi Meher-Homji is a Roar Expert
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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)
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)
May 14th 2009 @ 12:41pm
Jameswm said | May 14th 2009 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
Kersi
Firstly, you had SClark in brackets, as back up for Bollinger. You didn’t have him in your squad but now you’re saying he’d be in your squad for sure.
Secondly, Peter Siddle doesn’t have to swing it to be useful and frankly that shows that you’ve underestimated him. How much did McGrath swing it in England? You don’t have to swing the ball to get wickets in England – ask Terry Alderman.
Siddle got most of his wickets in SA by hitting the deck hard at pace with consistency, so any swing is a bonus. He does in fact get a bit of outswing and he also sometimes gets some seam off the deck. He is a classic toiler and aggressive type, but unlike most he does it at 145kmh, and he bowls at that pace until the end of the day.
May 14th 2009 @ 12:47pm
Chop said | May 14th 2009 @ 12:47pm | Report comment
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 think you’re right Brett in that Jaques is out of reckoning for the ashes which is a shame, I know he’s batted in the middle order as well as opened and scored bucket loads of runs in England.
I don’t think the selectors will take a spinner at all which in the squad named would allow Stuart Clark to play (he’d be the second bowler I would pick)
My first test side would be: Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey, Watson (if fit or North), Haddin, Johnson, Siddle, Clark, Hilfenhaus.
With Bollenger, Lee, Phil Rogers, Tim Paine and a young bolter in Steve Smith who I reckon will play for Australia soon
May 14th 2009 @ 12:50pm
Greg Russell said | May 14th 2009 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
I am a big fan of Ronchi, but his form totally collapsed last season, to such an extent that he was dropped from the WA side, certainly for Sheffield Shield cricket, and I think also for one-day cricket. Given these circumstances, I think it’s impossible for him to be named as reserve keeper for the Ashes tour.
The candidates for reserve keeper are Manou, Paine, Wade and Hartley. The fact that there is such a big field shows that each has major negatives. Paine started the season well but faded by the end, so I doubt he’ll get it. With Wade it was the other way around. He might be the future, but I’d be surprised if he’s deemed the now. Hartley was reasonably consistent, getting better towards the end, and a few years ago he was seen as the NBT (next big thing). But in between he’s had some lean years, and he strikes as anonymous in his play. So I’d be surprised if he’s chosen.
Thus I expect Manou to be named. It’s true that he’s rather old to be breaking into Australian colours, and it’s also true that his consistently high form of the last two years has taken people by surprise, for he has never been regarded as a big talent. But if form counts for anything – let’s not forget that he’s been the keeper in the ACA’s Sheffield Shield team of the year for the last two seasons – then it really has to be him.
May 14th 2009 @ 1:03pm
Brett McKay said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:03pm | Report comment
Greg, now that you’ve mentioned Matthew Wade, I think he was who I was actually thinking of when I named Tim Paine. That said, I know Paine is over in England already, either voluntarily, or “strongly encouraged”.
Either way, it’s still quite uncertain if a reserve ‘keeper will even be named, which might also explain why the State ‘keepers are either in England already, or getting ready to go next week. And I guess, if the leading candidates are already over there, there’s really no point naming them in the squad. You might as well just call one in if the need arises, and let them keep playing otherwise..
May 14th 2009 @ 1:13pm
Greg Russell said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:13pm | Report comment
Rising to Kersi’s challenge, I think the selection is relatively straightforward: the XI that surprised everyone by winning the first two tests in South Africa pretty much has to be chosen, and I think Hauritz has confirmed since then that he’s the best of a very average lot in terms of providing specialist spin.
I think Lee and Clark will be chosen on the basis of past exploits, and certainly in Clark’s case I am comfortable with this. Lee I have doubts about, and these will persist until I see him bowl again. But I expect him to be chosen.
That makes 14.
Really I don’t care who is reserve keeper, but as explained above I expect it to be Manou.
Traditionally an Ashes squad contains 7 batsmen, 2 keepers, 5 fast bowlers and 2 spinners. Is McDonald a batsman (in which case I’ve already named 7) or is he a fast bowler? (in which case I’ve named 6 batsman and 6 fast bowlers!). Either way there is no room for Bollinger to be the 16th player.
I also can’t see the 16th player being Watson – he’s a fine cricketer whom the selectors no doubt would like to have playing, but I think his history of injuries will preclude him.
Much as I would like to see McGain being chosen, even ahead of Hauritz, I cannot see that the selectors will bother with a second spinner.
So I guess that the 16th player will be someone who is predominantly a batsman. Maybe it will be Watson, maybe Symonds. I think Brett is correct that Jaques is injured again; besides, he hasn’t scored any runs. So Chris Rogers may get a chance.
In summary, I predict the following squad:
Katich, Hughes, Ponting, Clarke, M Hussey, North, xyz (Rogers?)
Haddin, Manou
McDonald, Hauritz, Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Clark, Lee
My own squad would be different in a few positions, but since I am not a selector, it is a waste of time to nominate my own squad.
McDonald is a very difficult player to know what to do with. It has been evident right from the beginning that he isn’t good enough to play for Australia either as a specialist batsman or as a specialist bowler. From this viewpoint I’d be inclined to jettison him. But the teams he is in seem to win an awful lot – Victoria, and then his first 3 tests out of 4, all difficult ones against South Africa. I am reluctant to ditch a winner! But as my discussion above indicates, it is hard to find selectorial balance with McDonald in the squad.
May 14th 2009 @ 1:20pm
Jameswm said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:20pm | Report comment
Chop
With your first test team, don’t you think you should pick North ahead of Watson, so there is a credible spinner in the team? This is important from an over rate perspective, as well as a variety one.
Picking North at no.6, where let’s face it he’s done well, allows you to pick four specialist quicks.
I’m not convinced though that they won’t pick North at 6, Watson at 7 and Haddin at 8, then only 3 specialist bowlers. This would be defensive and disappointing, albeit true to form after they picked MacDonald as a specialist bowler in South Africa.
May 14th 2009 @ 1:25pm
Brian said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
Jameswm
I agree with your Siddle argument. Also why I wouldn’t have S Clark in the XI, I think Siddle can do the role. Also Clark’s best seems to be a long time ago. He was disappointing in India and has not played a lot since so for good performances we have to probably go back 18 months for an aging player. I realise much of the same could be said for Lee but he’s more of an impact bowler and a much better batsman & fielder. Also I have no doubt his personal life and injuries took their toll last season and he is still a more talented cricketer than Clark.
Kersi Meher-Homji
sorry looked like you were on the fence, why wouldn’t Bollinger be fit? Anyway I agree on Watson ahead of Symonds. They’re trying to win the Ashes not the KFC Big Bash.
May 14th 2009 @ 1:27pm
drewster said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
All that’s left now is to wait and see if the selectors in their infinate wisdom (pardon the sarcasm) can think likewise and get balanced tour party together. The only real points to consider would be. 1) do they take a specialist spinner – Hauritz, Krejza or McGain, 2) the two All rounders – North, Watson, Symonds or McDonald, 3) the quicks spot/s – Bollinger, Lee and/or Clark and do they fit in a reserve keeper in. CARN!! THE AUSSIES
May 14th 2009 @ 1:40pm
Justin said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
The one point about the spinner is that we will have a pretty miserly pace attack (good, tight bowlers in Sids, Johnson and Clark) which to me says pick Krazy…they will try and go after him and I think he would do very well in that situation.
Hauritz is and has always been a handy ODI bowler but he is pathetic in long forms of the game.
May 14th 2009 @ 1:41pm
Chop said | May 14th 2009 @ 1:41pm | Report comment
JamesWM
I don’t think North is any more than a part time spinner. The role could be done just as well by Michael Clarke and Simon Katich IMHO. Watson is a risk because, well because he’s Watson and you don’t know if he’ll get through the gates without hurting himself. That said I think he’s a big talent with the bat and capable with the ball.
I don’t think they’ll play both Watson and North, the problem will be getting 20 wickets not scoring enough runs. I agree it would be a very defensive tactic which would be a very un-Australian type, more of an English ‘play not to loose first, then if we’re in position play for the win’ selection.
Greg
I think McGain has been ‘Hodged’ (marked never to play test cricket again) by the selectors. To be honest, I’m ok with that because showed nothing in South Africa. If the selectors do take a spinner I hope it’s Krejza but would guess it’s the straight breaker Hauritz.