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Where once there was certainty in Australian cricket that Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden would deliver, now there is only hope that they might.
Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said the ageing warriors were culpable in Australia’s deflating loss to South Africa in the first Test in Perth, but conceded his panel has little option but to stick with them.
Hayden and Lee were retained on Tuesday in a 13-man squad for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, with young offspinner Jason Krejza made the predictable scapegoat for the loss in Perth.
Krejza was replaced by spin contemporary Nathan Hauritz, who showed decent control against New Zealand last month.
Tasmanian swing merchant Ben Hilfenhaus was also added to the side, as the Australians search for a more potent new ball combination while also allowing Mitchell Johnson to claim his preferred role at first change.
Despite the fact their changes tinkered at the fringes, Hilditch said he and his panel would be loath to place undue pressure on younger players as they tried to rebuild, instead pressing Lee and Hayden to revitalise.
“All senior players have got to step up, we’ll be very reluctant to look at younger players and say they haven’t performed,” Hilditch said.
“If we’re going to rebuild successfully it is the senior players who have to step up.”
Hilditch denied that at 32 and with his pace slackening, Lee had to be near the end of his days as a Test match tearaway.
“We don’t think Brett’s at that stage (the end), he’s a really fit person, he’s got a perfect fast bowling build I’m told by all the specialists,” he said.
“Most think with the right core strength and conditioning programs he can actually bowl faster, so that’s going to be the key over the next six months before the Ashes.
“We think Brett can get back to his very best but like any other player he has to perform, and it is particularly important that he performs when we’re trying to rebuild.”
Hayden, meanwhile, has looked ever more ponderous at the crease since he returned to the side in India after an Achilles problem.
His minimal footwork does not auger well, either for the rest of the South African home and away series or the Ashes in England next year.
Nevertheless, Hilditch said Hayden was desperately needed until well into next year.
Potential replacements Michael Klinger, Philip Hughes and Chris Rogers have all topped 650 domestic runs so far this summer, Klinger the runaway with 904 at 90.6.
“He’s one of those players we’d not want to lose before the Ashes. that said he’s going through a really rough time, it just couldn’t be going worse for him,” Hilditch said.
“We’ve just got to back our judgment, and our judgment looking at him in the nets, looking at the way he’s moving, the way he’s catching, there’s no indications that he’s not just around the corner from a big score.
“The three top run scorers in domestic cricket at the moment are all opening batsmen, so there’s some good talent there, but you can’t replace Matthew Hayden easily.
“We’re all just hoping he’ll get back to his best.”
Meanwhile, more than 35,000 tickets have been sold for Boxing Day, a figure on par with last year’s match, when 68,465 fans attended the first day of the Test between Australia and India.
Fine and sunny conditions are expected on Boxing Day, but showers have been forecast for the second and third days.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Matthew Hayden, Ben Hilfenhaus, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Simon Katich, Brett Lee, Peter Siddle, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson (12th and 13th men TBA).
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