Ricky Ponting has said that Australia won’t make the same mistakes that they made in 2005. The gravity of that statement will be shown in the selection of the bowling line-up during the upcoming Ashes series.
Ponting’s statement screams out on the cover of this July’s ‘Alpha’ magazine and while the article focuses more on the on-field mistakes of the 2005 side (of which there were many), the Captain must also take heed of the lessons learnt from how he dealt with Jason Gillespie.
Gillespie was not in form right from the start of that series and it was not until the fourth Test that he was dropped in place of Shaun Tait. By that stage, despite the close nature of the previous results England had the ascendancy on the field and took what resulted to be a winning 2-1 series lead at Trent Bridge.
This time around, Ponting may face a similar dilemma when it comes to Brett Lee and Stuart Clark. However, he cannot afford to give either bowler the same latitude that was given to Gillespie.
My view is that Ponting has more to worry about with Lee than with Clark; despite the 300+ wickets Lee has claimed warrants his selection in the touring party. While that may be true to a certain extent, Australia needs him to fire and take wickets right from the start. This is a high expectation for any bowler, let alone someone of Lee’s experience and record.
To win this series Australia must select a side that can take twenty wickets; a very obvious statement but it is one that Australia has had some challenges in fulfilling in recent Test matches.
Mitchell Johnson will lead the attack at Cardiff and despite the fact he is at the early stages of his career, the leadership role is one that seems to have enhanced his performance rather than inhibit it.
Since his debut in India, Peter Siddle has impressed not only with his ability to take wickets but also his willingness to run in and hit the deck hard for long spells; very similar to the role that selector Merv Hughes did during his playing days.
In my opinion, Johnson and Siddle are the only certainties to play in the First Test.
Consequently, Ricky Ponting must choose who would be able to work in with those two in sharing the pace bowling load and at this stage, I feel more comfortable with Stuart Clark being the third paceman as opposed to Brett Lee.
Clark can play the role of keeping one end tight and building the pressure on the batsmen which his colleagues can take advantage of at the other end.
The greater issue is that Lee needs far more overs in his legs than what he will have prior to the First Test. He no longer can rely on raw pace to get batsmen out and Australia have shown that they need more overs to bowl a team out than has been the case in the past.
England have shown that unlike their ‘06/’07 tour of Australia, reputation nor sentiment are no longer a part of their equation with Michael Vaughan and Steve Harmison missing selection in their initial Ashes squad.
Likewise, Ricky Ponting must ensure that neither play a role in the eleven that take the field on July 8th otherwise the nightmares of 2005 may come back to haunt him.
Jason
Guest
Haurible is woeful and shouldn't even be on tour. There are no good spinners in Australia at the moment, therefore don't pick one. I think Johnson, Siddle and Clark should play. Lee looks a spent force and has never been successful in England. But he is a fierce competitior and can bat and field well. Hilfenhaus hasn't really taken his chances and can't bat. Looks like the selectors have discarded him from 1st test selection. As such attack should be Johnson, Siddle, Lee and Clark. With Clarke, North and Katich doing the spinning. A pretty average team all told and North and Hussey's batting is a worry. Still we may just be good enough to beat the poms. To be honest if I had to bet my life on this series I'd bet England 2-1.
Mick of Newie
Guest
If I was an English batsman I would rather face McDonald than Hilfenhaus. Picking McDonald or Watson to bat at 8 would be a negative move. Pick the best 4 bowlers. For me that is Johnson, Siddle, Clark and Hilfenhaus.
Justin
Guest
Watson has to be out now as he hasnt been picked for the last tour match. I think he is the best all rounder in the country but he never gets on the park! The headlines say a bowl off between Lee and Clark in this tour match but I think you can throw Haurible into that as well. If he doesnt take wickets I dont see how he can be picked and with suggestions only about 20% of wickets at Sofia Gardens being taken by spinners this season there is every chance of 4 quicks. I would love to see North score some runs, not convinced he is up to this level yet. If he doesnt and fails in the test then Watson comes into cals providing he is fit (who the hell knows)! Will be intriguing to see whether Katich bowls much in this match. If he does it might be bye bye Nathan.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Sam I didn't see any of the bowlers, I was commenting on the media reports which I read. Its true that Hauritz didn't get the return in wickets but the reports did state that he bowled well either side of lunch beating the bat regularly. My mistake about SA, sorry. Maybe Hauritz was able to build some pressure which helped the seamers to take wickets? Mate, I don't know exactly what occurred over there and neither do you. I simply gave my opinion, nothing more. I would like to see the guy given more opportunity because I believe he is currently our best spinning option. Maybe if Terry Jenner can give Marcus North some heavy duty tutoring then he will become our best option? Its just opinions and conjecture mate. Cheers,
Sam
Guest
Terry, Hauritz didn't go to SA and he was ordinary in Sydney. McGain was the spinner over in SA. And I don't think returns of 0/98 and 1/60 was better than any of the seamers. Every other seamer ended up with 3 wickets except for Lee who took 4. Even Hilfenhaus took more wickets and he is now out of the reckoning.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Sam, Hauritz did ok in SA and he won't give his wicket away cheaply. I'd like to see the selectors give him a go to help build some confidence in his bowling. The reports said he bowled well either side of lunch and was very unlucky, beating the bat regularly on a low slow track. He certainly performed better than the seamers, save Siddle.
Sam
Guest
Another interesting for the Hilfy backers - he bowled 10 no-balls and a wide. Just 2 short of Lee. That topped with being spanked for 7 an over, it doesn't make a strong argument for selection, really.
Sam
Guest
Terry, can an attack with Hauritz really take 20 wickets? Hauritz ended with a massive total of one wicket in the match. Shouldn't be there for the 1st test IMO.
Sam
Guest
Funny. Lee's figures were 4/104, Siddle : 3/68, Clark: 3/101 and Hilfenhaus: 3/101. Now, Hilfenhaus is out of the equation IMO, he got absolutely spanked in the 2nd innings. Clark's lone job was to keep it tight and he ended up going for 4.9 an over. Of the pace bowlers Siddle and Lee were the most economical in the 2nd innings. Of the spinner, well he shouldn't play in the 1st test. He's doesn't even seem to be test quality. I'd go with Johnson, Siddle, Lee and Clark for the 1st test. Hilfy failed to impress and McDonald shouldn't be considered yet, I'd wait for news on Watson. If he can't make it, then McDonald would come into play.
Jameswm
Guest
MacDonald is supposed to be an equal all rounder (equally average at batting and bowling), which is why I proposed him at 8 and Johnson at 9. Agreed though that Johnson has more form on the board with the bat. That was supposed to be a left field suggestion of what the selectors would go for. I didn't mean it was my opinion, but we'll see. And Clark has to be the 3rd seamer ahead of Hilfy and Lee.
Brett McKay
Expert
Drewster, I said the same thing last week, that I can't discount Watson. But I will say again (before Vinay falls off his chair, and I think it was Justin too!) that the big proviso is that he must be 100% fit!! He's a better option than McDonald in my mind..
drewster
Roar Pro
I think Jameswm and Michael C are on the right track with McDonald being the 4th bowler and the the 3 part time spinners. It worked in South Africa so why not try it again. Clark and Hilfenhaus vying for the 3rd seamers role. Watson the dark horse for me
Michael C
Guest
I agree with Jameswm - Andrew McDonald might well be ideally suited to England, and his capacity to tie up and end for long periods showed just how far Krejza for example has to go. (noticed he scored 100 odd in the 'A' game, but, still got belted for too many when bowling). And as Terry said, Lee - shouldn't be there.
Justin
Guest
I dont think we need a bits player at 8, just play another bowler. With Haddin and Johnson there is no need for another all-rounder.
Rickety Knees
Guest
Thanks Brett and when you consider the closeness of the last Ashes when the games and ultimately the Ashes were won or lost by a couple of runs ... Jameswm - that side would work but Johnson would have to bat above Ronald.
Jameswm
Guest
Here's a left field one (sort of) First test bowling attack to be Johnson, Siddle, SClark and Ronald MacDonald to tie up one end, with North, Katich and MClarke there as backup. That puts MacDonald at 8 and Johnson at 9 - very strong batting. What odds?
Brett McKay
Guest
Rickety, just following on from my earlier comment, this today from the tour match report in The Australian: "Australia sent down an extraordinary 38 no-balls for the match with Lee (3-53 and 1-51) the worst offender as he overstepped 14 times including taking a wicket off a no-ball." Old habits, etc, etc...
Rickety Knees
Guest
Agree with you Vinay - I am not a Hauritz fan either and I can't believe that the selectors have decided not to invest further in Krejza. Getting 12 wickets on the sub continent against the best players of spin in the world must count for something! At least Hilfenhaus bowls stump to stump and can move the ball both ways.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Fred- Agree that Siddle ,Johnson and Clark pick themselves. No Hauritz for me and the last spot between Hilfenhaus and Lee. I lean towards Hilfenhaus.
Terry Kidd
Guest
Brett Lee should not even be touring let alone being considered for the first test. He has previously struggled in England, his pace is down and he is inconsistent. I couldn't believe that the selectors chose him rather than Doug Bolinger where this tour could have really helped him develop further. The first test pace attack should be Johnson, Siddle, S Clarke with Hauritz and North to do the spinning backed up by Katich. That is an attack that can take 20 wickets on any track.