One thing has become obvious during this summer. Australia’s batsmen will not win a series against India and will not reclaim the Ashes.
Through out the whole summer the Australian batting line-up has been prone to collapses, with the low point coming in the recent ODI series against Sri Lanka where Australia was rolled for just 74 at the Gabba.
This problem is nothing new for Australia. It has actually been going on for a few years but the great batting form off Michael Clarke and Mike Hussey has so far kept us out off deep trouble.
But now Hussey has retired and won’t be a part of either the India or Ashes series, creating a massive hole in the batting line-up with no obvious replacement.
The selectors need to bite the bullet and play five specialist bowlers to give Australia any chance to win back the Ashes.
To win a Test match you must take 20 wickets and there is little chance Australia’s batsmen will be posting scores big enough too bat out India or England.
Our best chance is to load up on bowlers and try and get them out has cheaply and quickly as possible. This especially becomes vital with rumours that Shane Watson has given up bowling to focus on batting.
Australia did go with five bowlers at the SCG Test match. They had a bit off a batting fail but they still managed to win the Test.
Any way I look at the batting line-up it seems weak to me. But the talent is there with the ball.
Peter Siddle continued to led the attack with a few lion hearted bowling spells, James Pattinson looks a gun if he stays fit, Mitchell Starc also looks to have some great weapons and Mitchell Johnson came back into the team as a much improved bowler.
Jackson Bird also debuted and had an instant impact. Add Ryan Harris, Pat Cummins and Ben Hilfenhuas pushing for selection with support from spinner Nathan Lyon and I think there is a group off fast bowlers good enough to trouble any batting line-up.
Johnson already has a Test hundred and came close to another at the MCG. with his improved bowling he should be backed in to take the no.7 slot. Matthew Wade can bat at six where he scored a century at the SCG.
This also helps Australia in another area the side has had trouble with and that is player workloads.
Pattinson, Starc and Cummins would be given much less off a workload with older players like Siddle and Johnson in support. It also gives the selectors the option to play two spinners in India with Xavier Doherty likely to be part of the tour.
It may not be the best long term solution but for India and the Ashes it is Australia’s best chance at a short term victory.
My XI
Watson
Warner
Hughes
Khawja
Clarke
Wade
Johnson
Siddle
Harris
Pattinson
Lyon
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