Australia are the champions of the one-day cricket world. But as they head back to the Test arena, who should represent them in the Caribbean?
Should Australia chop and change the side to get the right mix, or stick with the same players for consistency to prepare for the Ashes?
Here’s my preferred team.
David Warner
Has come of age in Test cricket these past 12 months, with centuries against the much-vaunted South African attack as well as two hundreds in an emotional Adelaide Test after the death of Phil Hughes being the highlights. These scores were just part of the reason he averages a tick under 62 from his last 20 innings.
Warner will relish the opportunity to play against the Windies and if he gets going he’ll be very hard to stop.
Chris Rogers
He may be 37 and almost retired, but Rogers has only continued to impress as he has aged. With his batting style quite classical, he can quietly slip under the radar, being the perfect foil for the big-hitting Warner. This is exactly what he has been doing, averaging 41 since coming back into the Test team just over a year ago.
Only eight times has his strike rate been over 60, outlining his slow and steady approach at the crease which is the glue that holds Australia together.
Steve Smith (VC)
What a summer this man has had in all forms of the game. In the coloured clothing he picked up a man of the series award as well as couple of hundreds in the tri-series, and five consecutive half centuries in the World Cup. He scored a record 749 runs from just four Test matches including an emotional 162* and then on debut as captain a jaw-dropping 192, at an average of 128.
Though his unorthodox style looks strange, it sure works, with the 25-year-old future captain had the best summer possible. Will be key at first drop to calm nerves and propel Australia to big totals.
Michael Clarke (C)
The recently retired ODI skipper hasn’t given up on the Test arena yet, and is confident he can make a solid contribution. Having not played a Test since since December, will his body hold up? Let’s hope so because he’s one of the most feared batsmen in the world at his best – his 128* with a severely injured back after the death of Phil Hughes, and his 168 against a ferocious South African attack are proof of that.
His crafty decisions as captain, his wonderful ploys and attacks toward the opposition, as well as his willingness to try new plans or ideas could be the difference between a win and a loss for the Australians.
Adam Voges
The Western Australian skipper has had an unbelievable domestic summer. The 35-year-old has scored a mammoth 1358 runs from just 10 games, he more than deserves a baggy green.
With a high score of 249 and an average of 104.46 Voges has had a year to remember. Hopefully his confidence and form will contribute to many a victory.
Shane Watson
Hasn’t been in the best red-ball form, but after being dropped during the World Cup he responded brilliantly with two half centuries. In the team ahead of Mitch Marsh because of his superior batting, he hasn’t scored a century since the third Test in Perth of the 2013-14 Ashes and could easily be dropped after one poor game.
Watson is much more suited to the role of the number six, where he isn’t under as much pressure to score runs he might not be able to make. His bowling produces wickets, but from the other end. Watto builds great pressure at one end, allowing the batsmen to be attacked from the other.
Brad Haddin
Has been in terrific form this summer. Most likely the Ashes tour will be his last, but he will be looking to go out on a high. He led the race for dismissals in the World Cup, with 16 including some absolute blinders.
Haddin can also bat, averaging just over 33, and will be an important member of the side when Australia need some late-innings hitting.
Mitchell Johnson
One of the first picked for the Aussies. Leader of the bowling attack and rightly so with almost 300 wickets from a career spanning eight years. The ICC cricketer of the Year in both 2009 and 2014 is picked for his ability to intimidate the opposition, not only by bowling bouncers, but making them wicket-taking deliveries.
Mitchell Starc
The best ODI bowler in the world, can he replicate this form in the Test arena? Having played just 15 Tests and only two in a row, Starc hasn’t had a great start to his Test career. But with his current confidence, hopefully he can add to his 50 wickets.
Fawad Ahmed
Had a fantastic summer for the Victorian Bushrangers, snaring a mammoth 48 wickets, 11 more than the next best, with an outstanding economy rate of 3.32. Ahmed is capable of big games, especially on big occasions. In the Sheffield Shield Final against Western Australia Fawad took a record breaking 8/84. Will be looking forward to receiving his baggy green and playing alongside Nathan Lyon.
Nathan Lyon
Australia’s number one spinner got rid of most of his doubters when he bowled seven Indians out in the second innings to not only record match figures of 12/286, but also win the game.
The second highest ranked off-spinner in the world continues to rub salt into the opposition’s batsmen and doesn’t look like stopping anytime soon.
Josh Hazlewood (12th man)
After fitting well into Australia’s side, Hazlewood is unlucky to miss out. Will be picked if the selectors think only one spinner is needed, or one of the Mitchells perform poorly.
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