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Following the second straight Test victory over a determined India side, all talk should be about the possibility of a clean sweep, or at last winning the third Test to wrap up a series victory.
Instead talk has shifted to whether Shane Watson deserves to be retained for the remainder of the series after yet another disappointing Test with the bat.
With Ryan Harris increasingly likely to come back into the side for the Boxing Day Test, the fates of both Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are also up for debate.
I’m of the opinion that Watson is still among our best six batsmen. He has incredible talent and surely a big score is right around the corner, but his temperament is just not right for a number three.
His average is just over 30. I couldn’t name too many long-term number threes with an average as low at Watson.
In 50-plus Tests Watson has only the four centuries.
Quite frankly, Watson gets plenty of starts but fails to convert to big scores. Twenty-two half centuries, four tonnes.
Watson, if he is to hold onto his spot in the Test side, needs to drop to number six and bowl. If he is unable to contribute with the ball, I’d look to finding a genuine, long-term number three.
The most obvious candidate is the supremely in-form, newly appointed captain Steve Smith.
Smith could very easily move to number three and I believe he would dominate. He’s arguably the most in-form batsman in the world. His scores so far this series, combined with his almost lone hand in the UAE, and incredible Ashes series late last year mean he is likely to pick up the Allan Border medal next year.
Other candidates include the in-form Ed Cowan, who continues to score runs for fun in Sheffield Shield cricket, or perhaps even Alex Doolan.
I would give Watson the rest of this series, there is no point in wholesale changes when you’re two-nil up, but if he doesn’t pile on the runs, I’d look at moving Smith to three or look at bringing Cowan back in.
Mitch Marsh has a spot parcelled up, if fit, however, he may miss the next Test. I would bring Cowan in at three and move Watson to six. Shaun Marsh would retain his spot for now.
In terms of bowling, Mitch Johnson and Ryan Harris will be selected as long as they are fit. Likewise Nathan Lyon. His efforts so far this series are his best in Test cricket.
The third quick, based on his seven wickets on debut, would have to be Josh Hazlewood. I’m a big fan of Starc, but he bowls too inconsistently with the red ball to secure a spot long-term.
As far as wicket keeping goes, Brad Haddin is still the best gloveman in the country. He is terribly out of form with the bat, however has done more than enough to earn a reprieve until the end of the next Test series.
There are plenty of options should Haddin, as expected, retire at the end of the Ashes campaign, but for now, Haddin’s spot is safe.
In my opinion, in terms of available players, this is the Test XI I would name for the third Test.
1. Rogers
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Cowan
5. M. Marsh (S. Marsh if not fit)
6. Watson
7. Haddin
8. Johnson
9. Hazlewood
10. Harris
11. Lyon
Obviously Michael Clarke would come in at four if fit, that is without doubt, however the above is based purely on who is likely to be fit.
Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and James Pattinson are the future of the Test side. Hazlewood should hold onto his position despite Siddle’s record. Pattinson and Cummins, when fully fit, will battle it out once Harris retires.
Watson’s spot is under increasing doubt, especially with the emergence of Mitch Marsh. Watson will need to contribute with bat and ball to hold onto his spot past this series, with Cowan in red-hot form in the Shield.
I’m not a fan of overreacting, especially while you’re winning, but with another Ashes series around the corner, every decision should be made with that in mind.
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