Australian Ashes squad 2009
The profiles for each member of the 2009 Australian Ashes squad tour of England are listed below.
RICKY PONTING (capt) Age: 34
M Runs Avg
Career: 131 10960 56.20
Ashes: 26 1978 48.24
The skipper will be determined to ensure the 2005 Ashes series loss was a one off under his watch. By his lofty standards, his numbers have been a little down of late but still played some key knocks in testing conditions against South Africa to show he remains Australia’s man for a crisis.
MICHAEL CLARKE (v-capt) Age: 28
M Runs Avg
Career: 47 3204 47.82
Ashes: 10 724 51.71
Pup returned with his tail firmly between his legs following the 2005 series. A much more resolute batsman compared to the more free-wheeling ways of his youth. A key plank in the middle order.
SIMON KATICH Age: 33 (34 on Aug 21)
M Runs Avg
Career: 38 2649 43.42
Ashes: 6 263 26.30
Has never truly made his mark on an Ashes series. Played one Test in 2001 before battling against England’s devastating pace quartet in 2005. A much more relaxed campaigner these days. There will be plenty of focus on his fledgling opening partnership with Phil Hughes.
PHILLIP HUGHES Age: 20
M Runs Avg
Career: 3 415 69.16
Ashes: – - -
The Macksville Marvel has stormed onto the international cricket stage with his sterling performances against South Africa. Has spent the lead-up plundering runs for Middlesex so he well and truly knows Pommy conditions. But has he handed them a chance to spot a weakness?
MICHAEL HUSSEY Age: 34
M Runs Avg
Career: 37 3041 55.29
Ashes: 5 458 91.60
His numbers have been as lean as an Olsen twin in the past 18 months – his Test average sliding by almost 30 runs to 55.29. Mr Cricket must start scoring soon with Shane Watson in the touring squad and classy youngster Callum Ferguson waiting in the wings.
MARCUS NORTH Age: 29 (30 on July 28)
M Runs Avg W Avg
Career: 2 160 40 2 49
ASHES: – - -
One of the real bright spots in Australian cricket this year. Grabbed his chance with a century on debut in Johannesburg and showed he could do a job with his tweakers at international level. Importantly has plenty of county experience and knows the conditions well.
BRAD HADDIN Age: 31
M Runs Avg
Career: 15 901 37.54
ASHES: – - -
He’s done a valiant job in filling the gaping hole left by Adam Gilchrist. Has been prepared to shoulder a massive workload as his teammates took turns having a rest. But just like Gilchrist has had his off days with the gloves. Hopefully his glovework won’t prove too costly.
MITCHELL JOHNSON Age: 27
M Runs Avg W Avg
Career: 21 694 34.70 94 28.01
ASHES: – - -
Emerged over the summer as the sport’s newest superstar – and potentially the all-rounder the nation has been craving since Keith Miller quit more than half a century ago. His head to head with Andrew Flintoff could be series defining.
PETER SIDDLE Age: 24
M W Avg
Career: 7 29 27.65
Ashes: – - -
With Brett Lee and Stuart Clark sidelined, the former wood chopper has been a breath of fresh air in the past six months. Bowls with serious pace and has a snarl to match any fast bowler. But best of all will bust his gut for his team.
BRETT LEE Age: 32
M W Avg
Career: 76 310 30.81
Ashes: 18 62 40.61
Coming back from his ankle and foot surgery – there are still question marks about Lee. Has never reached great heights in England. But the prospect of being a strike bowler in a four-pronged pace attack instead of a workhorse in a trio could suit his style.
STUART CLARK Age: 33
M W Avg
Career: 22 90 22.96
Ashes: 5 26 17.03
Has had a phenomenal start to his career with his nagging line and length proving to be like water torture to batsmen. Jury is still out on him though following elbow surgery. Anywhere near his form of the past three years there must a spot in the side for him.
BEN HILFENHAUS Age: 26
M W Avg
Career: 3 7 52.28
Ashes: – - -
Could the Tasmanian bricklayer be Australia’s X-factor? The swing bowler was better than his figures from the tour of South Africa suggested. In the swing-friendly conditions of England he could be a massive hit.
NATHAN HAURITZ Age: 27
M W Avg
Career: 4 14 32.28
Ashes: – - -
Shane Warne spoiled cricket fans by setting spin bowling standards that the likes of Hauritz will never come within cooee of reaching. But this Queenslander turned New South Welshman is a dependable off-spinner who will do a job if needed tying up an end while the quicks are rotated.
SHANE WATSON Age: 27 (28 on June 17)
M R Avg W Avg
Career: 8 257 19.76 14 35.57
Ashes: – - – - -
Could fracture his jaw brushing his teeth. An appalling run with injury has meant that he is yet to cement his name in the Test side. Showed signs of it all coming together in India before his latest affliction. An unquestioned talent and selectors have again shown faith in his fragile body.
ANDREW MCDONALD Age: 27 (28 on June 15)
M R Avg W Avg
Career: 4 107 21.40 9 33.33
Ashes: – - – - -
After coming in against an in-form South African side, has made the most of his opportunities with the ball. Not so much the bat although his half century in Cape Town suggested he was finding his feet in that department as well. Lacks the star power of Andrew Symonds but that ain’t always a bad thing.
GRAHAM MANOU Age: 30
The veteran South Australian wicketkeeper earns a call up as back-up gloveman ahead of rivals Chris Hartley and Tim Paine.
