The 2012 Australian cricket tour of the West Indies
Roar Guru By Jason Cave, 13 Feb 2012 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Australian Cricket, Cricket, Test cricket, West Indies cricket
With the summer of cricket drawing to a close (except for the Ryobi Cup Final and Sheffield Shield Final), thoughts now turn to the Australian cricket tour of the West Indies.
While Australia would easily account for the West Indies-after all, the West Indies are not as world-class as they were back in the 1980s, when the likes of Richards, Holding and Ambrose ruled the roost-but more of, who’d make the touring party?
The Australian selectors are likely to pick a squad of 14-15 players for the tour.
However, I prefer to go with a squad of 17, bear in mind the long tour schedule and also due to players being injured or losing form.
My Australian tour to the West Indies squad is:
1. Michael Clarke (c)
2. Shane Watson (vc)
3. Ed Cowan
4. Dave Warner
5. Ricky Ponting
6. Michael Hussey
7. David Hussey
8. Usman Khawaja
9. Matthew Wade
10. Brad Haddin
11. Nathan Lyon
12. Xavier Doherty
13. Peter Siddle
14. Ben Hilfenhaus
15.Ryan Harris
16. Pat Cummins
17. James Pattinson
Those unlucky to miss out were Shaun Marsh, Ben Cutting, Cameron White, Alister McDermott, Peter Forrest. McDermott came close into my tour calculations, but I think he needs more experience at Shield level.
Marsh, as we all know, had a horror time with the bat, and I think it would be wise for him to take a break from cricket and get ready for next summer and the 2013 Ashes battle against England.While White made 147 for his Victorian club side Richmond, it might be too little, too late.
I think this squad would give a good account of itself in the West Indies.
Australian Test Series vs West Indies, 2012 – All of Australia’s upcoming Test, ODI and Twenty20 fixtures at our cricket fixtures page.
| Fixture | Venue | AEDT (start time) | Local | Network |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Test: West Indies v Australia, 7-11 April | Bridgetown | Midnight | 10.00am | FOX |
| Second Test: West Indies v Australia, 15-19 April | Port of Spain | Midnight | 10.00am | FOX |
| Third Test: West Indies v Australia, 23-27 April | Roseau | Midnight | 10.00am | FOX |
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- Australian Cricket, Cricket, Test cricket, West Indies cricket
February 13th 2012 @ 7:44am
marcus deacon said | February 13th 2012 @ 7:44am | Report comment
Thats what I like with the Aussies, they will always play thir full and strongest team regardless of who they are playing. Welcome back aussies. And yes!! I am West Indies cricket fan based in the UK.
February 13th 2012 @ 9:55am
Red Kev said | February 13th 2012 @ 9:55am | Report comment
I can’t see them taking 8 batsmen, not when Wade is perfectly capable of doubling as emergency cover while another batsman is flown over should two get injured. Other than that I think your squad is probably right (although I wouldn’t bet against the selectors taking a different back-up spinner).
Unfortunately this line “Those unlucky to miss out were … Cameron White …” torpedos all your credibility. Cameron White close to selection – dream on.
February 13th 2012 @ 11:43am
Matt F said | February 13th 2012 @ 11:43am | Report comment
The finaicial costs involved would make it extremely unlikely that they’ll take 17 players. Inverarity is saying that they may take one extra player (2 keepers) if they’re given the financial go ahead but even then that would be a squad of 16. From the 17 players you’ve named I’d say that D Hussey is the ovious candidate to miss out on the 16 man squad. At 34, a Test call up is extremely unlikely.
Given the test squad won’t be named until after the Shield season there’s still plenty of time for players to force their way in. Marsh and Khawaja are probably having their own “bat-off” for the back-up batsman position (assuming Watson is 100% fit.)
I doubt they’ll take Doherty. He probably has a big black line through his name when it comes to the Test side now. Given Lyon is clearly the number one spinner I’d rather take a younger spinner for experience. Someone like Jon Holland, who is having a decent season, could be a good option. O’Keefe could be another option if he finishes the season well.
I’m not sure how Cameron White is “unlucky” to miss out? He’s had a shocking season. Someone like Quiney, Voges or bailey would be closer to Test selection then White.
February 13th 2012 @ 12:37pm
aussie1st said | February 13th 2012 @ 12:37pm | Report comment
McDermott is no where near the test frame, NCN, Faulkner and Cutting are much closer than him. And White has done jack all this season, shouldn’t be anywhere near the side. Quiney is the main guy putting his hand up, got another start today and if he makes 3 hundreds on the trot then it’ll be hard to not pick him. Bailey is the other who has done the right things since being picked as T20 captain.
February 13th 2012 @ 12:39pm
Jason Cave said | February 13th 2012 @ 12:39pm | Report comment
Cameron White made 31 for Victoria against South Australia at the MCG in the Sheffield Shield today-disappointing considering his 147 he made for his Victorian club side Richmond recently. Could Rob Quiney come into consideration for an Australian call-up, even though he wasn’t in my touring squad to the West Indies?
February 13th 2012 @ 1:22pm
Red Kev said | February 13th 2012 @ 1:22pm | Report comment
Forrest, Quiney, Bailey, Marsh and Khawaja are all involved in a mini-selection battle to be the back-up 7th batsman on the West Indies tour (and if Watson collapses after tripping over a blade of grass again the 6th spot in the Test XI as well).
The season’s standings are as follows:
Forrest – 581 runs from 6 Sheffield Shield games (including 3 centuries), 176 runs from 6 Ryobi Cup games, he is unlikely to play anymore domestic cricket this season given his ODI selection – so far he has 66 in his ODI debut.
Quiney – 686 runs from 7 SS games (including 3 centuries and not including his 45 today), 286 runs from 7 RC games.
Bailey – 548 runs from 6 SS games (including 3 centuries), 218 runs from 6 RC games.
Marsh – 91 runs from 1 SS game, 7 runs from 1 RC game.
Khawaja – 160 runs from 2 SS games (1 century at the start of the season in October), 216 runs from 2 RC games (2 centuries).
In my estimation Forrest is the current front-runner followed by Bailey. Marsh and Khawaja will have to pile on runs in the remaining three SS games to get back into a baggygreen (WA play NSW this week in both a Shield and Ryobi Cup fixture).
David Hussey I believe is too old at 34 to be realistically considered and has a question mark over his ability to handle short-pitched bowling that makes it unlikely he’d feature in the Australian Test side.
February 13th 2012 @ 2:26pm
jameswm said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
Nah I reckon Khawaja is the front runner
February 13th 2012 @ 2:51pm
Red Kev said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:51pm | Report comment
I just have this nagging feeling the new selection panel doesn’t like/rate him. I think he’ll need a big finish to the Shield season for the selectors to genuinely consider him ahead of Forrest, Marsh and Bailey all of whom the selectors have been talking up and focussing on recently.
February 13th 2012 @ 4:11pm
Rhys said | February 13th 2012 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
I doubt Khawaja will win his place back. I’m pretty sure the new selection policy is based on how well Michael Clarke can mangle a player’s name into some kind of nickname – Watto, Hadds, Huss, Rhino, Lino (or Gazz), Sidds, Hilfy, Patto, and in Peter Forrest’s case ‘Fozz’. I’m not aware that Khawaja has been given a nickname yet, so things don’t look good for him.
February 13th 2012 @ 4:17pm
Red Kev said | February 13th 2012 @ 4:17pm | Report comment
Usman Khawaja … Uzzy/Ussie, as in Uzzy Uzzy Uzzy Oi Oi Oi so the drunken yobbos know who he is.
February 13th 2012 @ 5:00pm
jameswm said | February 13th 2012 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
It’s about time we got some better nicknames again – like Pigeon (can’t actually remember where that’s from), Churchie, Tugga and Afghanistan
February 13th 2012 @ 10:24pm
Maggie said | February 13th 2012 @ 10:24pm | Report comment
Quote from Steve Waugh: ‘The nickname Pigeon came from NSW teammate Brad McNamara who, upon first laying eyes on his lily-white pins, said, “You’ve stolen a pigeon’s legs McGrath”.’
February 13th 2012 @ 7:40pm
aussie1st said | February 13th 2012 @ 7:40pm | Report comment
Looks about right. Khawaja has been unlucky with his chances but now is the time for him to stand up and make some runs in Shield cricket to show he deserves a recall. Would be silly to recall him when he has made no runs.
February 13th 2012 @ 1:34pm
Blazza said | February 13th 2012 @ 1:34pm | Report comment
LOL at picket David Hussey. Don’t we already have more than enough 30+ year olds, no thanks. I doub they take 2 spinners, theres no point. I really wish one of or both Hussey and Ponting retired so our younger guys can have a shot. Watson will be back somewhere in the middle order i hope. Haddin shouldn’t go but will and will Cummins be fit for a tour without any bowling ?
February 13th 2012 @ 2:29pm
jameswm said | February 13th 2012 @ 2:29pm | Report comment
Cummins shouldn’t go. He has fitness issues to work on. Take Starc as the 5th seamer.
Only 7 batsmen will go. Khawaja the most likely 7th, but as others have said there’s a mini bat-off going on.
Keepers – who knows. I’d take Wade for the short form and Nevill for the tests (assuming Paine unfit).
That’s 14, with 7 bats, 5 quicks, 1 spinner and 1 keeper. You could take an all rounder, another keeper or another spinner as the 15th. I’d go SOK or a pace bowling all rounder like Marsh or Faulkner (ahead of Christian).
February 14th 2012 @ 2:17am
Lancey5times said | February 14th 2012 @ 2:17am | Report comment
Perfect. Absolutely perfect sense. Ignore everything else you read here.
George Bailey :p
February 13th 2012 @ 5:06pm
phil kingston said | February 13th 2012 @ 5:06pm | Report comment
Eh, Jason,
What have you done with Mitchell Starc!!!????
He would be pretty high on my list, and I have played and seen a lot of very very good cricketers.
With his Speed, and L/Arm dynamics he is unique.
Phil
February 13th 2012 @ 5:49pm
formeropenside said | February 13th 2012 @ 5:49pm | Report comment
Cameron White unlucky not to go? What rubbish. He’s lucky to even be talked about as a contender.
February 13th 2012 @ 8:01pm
Jason Cave said | February 13th 2012 @ 8:01pm | Report comment
From my squad of 17 I’ve selected, a likely 1st Test line-up looks like this:
Ed Cowan
Dave Warner
Usman Khawaja
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke (c)
Shane Watson
Matthew Wade
Nathan Lyon
Ben Hilfenhaus
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson
Pat Cummins (12th)
The reason why I didn’t select Mitchell Starc was because he might struggle on the flat wickets in the West Indies, and also to keep him fresh in light of the fact we have a T20 World Cup, two Test series against South Africa and Sri Lanka at home and it would be a tough summer ahead next season.
February 14th 2012 @ 3:17am
Matty_Ed said | February 14th 2012 @ 3:17am | Report comment
So you are dropping Mike Hussey?