Australian cricket selectors have named an extended 17 man Ashes squad today, surprising many who expected the final squad to be named this morning. Andrew Hilditch said it was prudent to wait until the round of Shield games are completed as well as the Australia A game before announcing the Ashes squad.
The selectors met on Sunday to choose their squad for the first Test against England, with indecision resulting in 17 cricketers being named for the Gabba clash starting on November 25.
Vice captain Michael Clarke has been included despite a worrying recurrence of his back injury, while Doug Bollinger was picked on the strength of bowling 10 overs in grade cricket after his stomach strain injury.
Opening batsman Simon Katich (thumb) has been named after batting for the first time in six weeks in grade ranks on Sunday, albeit for 94 runs.
The four-man selection panel chaired by Andrew Hilditch resisted calls for generational change and retained ageing batsmen Mike Hussey and Marcus North.
England captain Andrew Strauss has seized on the conjecture surrounding the Australian team, saying it will work in the tourists’ favour.
“Everyone likes stability and security and knowing where they stand,” Strauss said before his visitors departed for Hobart and their last warm-up game against Australia A starting on Wednesday.
“And in Australia’s case, that is not the case – then that could be a good thing for us.”
Clarke’s long-time back injury flared when batting for NSW in their Sheffield Shield game against Victoria, preventing him fielding the next day.
The Test linchpin batted at number eight on Sunday in obvious discomfort.
Katich and Bollinger will play for the Blues against Tasmania in a shield game starting Wednesday.
Bollinger’s return will decide his short-term Ashes fate, with the left-arm quick to be named in the squad amid fast bowling uncertainty.
Searching for form, paceman Mitchell Johnson bowled 11 wides in a lively 10 over spell of 1-24 in grade cricket in WA on Saturday.
Queenslander Ryan Harris charged into first Test contention with a nine wicket return in Tasmania – but much will depend how he pulled up from his initial first class outing in six months following knee surgery.
His Bulls captain James Hope had no doubt Harris should be picked against the Poms.
“I think he’s in the best four bowlers in the country,” Hopes said.
“I’ve always said that and when he’s going flat out, (Ben) Hilfenhaus-Harris sounds like a pretty good opening bowling combination for the first Test.”
Hilfenhaus and Johnson are certain to lead the bowling brigade, with Harris and Victorian Peter Siddle vying for the third paceman’s spot.
Offspinner Nathan Hauritz is also nervously awaiting the final selection announcement after a lean Indian tour and uninspiring returns since returning to Australia.
Hauritz’s struggles may have prompted selectors to include legspinner Steve Smith, who will get a chance to further his claims when playing for Australia A against England in Hobart from Wednesday.
The Australian Ashes squad:
Seventeen-man Australian cricket squad named on Monday for the first Ashes Test against England at the Gabba, starting on Thursday week:-
Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke (vice-capt), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Callum Ferguson, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris, Xavier Doherty.
Bayman
Guest
Tony, Don't worry, the selectors HAVE taken a punt on form. They've picked Mitchell Johnson!!!!!
Bayman
Guest
Is there any room on your bench, Lolly? Like you, anger has long subsided to be replaced by an almost incredulous desire to be witness to more humiliation and embarrassment. It wasn't quite like mouth open, jaw dropping horror but it was close. The very idea that we are holding a function to name 17 possible players like some game show (come on down, Michael Clarke!) to appease sponsors and broadcasters is mind boggling. It confirms a long held view that professional sport these days is controlled way too much by marketers to be taken seriously. The fact that it absolutely bucketed down somehow seemed very, very appropriate. A disaster with two men and a dog in attendance and every one of them holding an umbrella. It was almost laughable. The players must have been embarrassed, I was embarrassed and, I hope, CA was embarrassed. Let's not ever do that again, hey guys. Those who were there - I was not one of them - reported hearing a strange noise throughout the event. I believe it was a visiting group of Englishmen who kept whispering, "Hey, check out these turkeys - what the fu*#!"
Bayman
Guest
David, I can remember a fellow called Walters who was picked, at 19, to debut in the first Test of an Ashes series. Admittedly, he struggled to 155 and then pushed and prodded to another hundred in the second Test. All I'm saying is that it's been done before. Other Ashes debutants include Mark Waugh and Greg Blewett who both scored centuries while battlers like Bradman and Lawry took two tests to reach a hundred. If you don't ask, you won't find out. Just as an aside - read non-Ashes - in 1963/64 Australia played South Africa in Brisbane. This match was famous for Colin Egar's no-balling Ian Meckiff for throwing. What's also interesting about this match is that 8 of the 22 participants made their Test debut in the game. For Australia it was Alan Connolly and Tom Veivers. For South Africa, their six debutants included Denis Lindsay, Graeme Pollock and Peter van der Merwe (subsequent captain). Your logic would probably suggest Australia was no opposition against which to introduce the South Africans. However, by the end of the series Pollock was the best young player in the world (I saw his 175 in Adelaide) and a couple of years later Lindsay was butchering Australia's bowling in South Africa (as, indeed, was Pollock - again). The truth is there's no good time to introduce new blood - but there's no bad time either. It simply has to be done and we may as well find out if they're up to it sooner rather than later - it'll save a lot of time.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
TJ, Might as well lose with that line up as with the current, not such a bad team but with no-one captaining the side then it is a lost cause. Michael Clarke is in no way capable of leading a test side to anything but a thrashing. No leadership = No chance.
Sports Writer
Guest
Not a bad outfit...probably a lot better than the selectors will do! I still think they should try dropping Watson to #3, and even put Hughes up to regain our lefty opening combination. Also I think Hauritz should be dropped like a hot potato :P maybe start blooding Smith or someone
Fisher Price
Guest
Spot on. Much of it comes back to our old mate from the Apple Isle.
TJ
Guest
The side should be: Watson Katich Hughes M.Clarke (Capt) Kawaja S.Smith Haddin Haurtiz Starc Cameron Bollinger
Lolly
Guest
Yes, you would think that no-one had ever been selected to debut in an Ashes series before. Such a weird take on players, that someone in dire long-term form but with experience is somehow more vital than a new player with younger legs and in decent form at first class level.
Lolly
Guest
Is anyone finding this funny? I've gone beyond anger for now, (it might come back once play starts as Marcus North drives me nuts) and am watching the circus with amusement. I think it's hilarious how a touring team is better prepared, better organised, is probably choosing it's best players, and getting better match practise than Australia at home. And now we have the 17 man pick with everyman and his dog, but not Phil Hughes, being chucked in 'in case'. How must Haurtiz feel with Doherty nipping at his heels? At least Doherty has taken a five for BEFORE he got selected for Aus.
Goodfella
Guest
I agree 100%. Who Ponting wants Ponting gets, but I've a feeling his days of ruling the roost are numbered. Whatever his merits are as a batsman (and they are still considerable), his legacy as a captain (and shadow selector) is shaping as dubious at best.
jameswm
Guest
Consider it this way. The young guys either won't get in (if we're doing well), or will get in with a job to save us in their first test. It's a lose-lose for them. And by the way - I don't agree with the proposition that an Ashes series is the wrong time to blood someone. If they're up for test cricket, then they start at the time they're ready and better than the incumbent - whether that's an Ashes series or a Bangers game in Darwin.
Sports Writer
Guest
Why not save us all the embarrasment and cut them both now, and bring in Doherty and Khawaja/Hughes/Ferguson for the first Test? I can just see the selectors tossing these young players in for the 3rd or 4th Test when the series is basically lost, which will put even more pressure on them to suceed. I agree it would be a bad idea to drop "multiple" experienced players, but better to do it now than when the series is already lost
David
Guest
CA had penciled in the announcement for this date awhile back. Nothing the selectors could do to change that. I think it's good they've named a large squad as a way of still keeping players in contention. To the people calling for young players to jump into the side does anyone honestly think the australian cricket team is going to drop multiple experienced players to blood young players in the first test of a crucial ashes series? Australia do need to introduce young players but this is a process that needs to happen in the new year after the ashes series (or in my opinion should have happened throughout this year leading into this series!). It's too late now for them to make large changes but i expect afew changes to happen through out the series when people fail to perform. I don't see any youngsters comming into the side for the first test but if we lose i expect Hussey or North to be cut.
Tom Dimanis
Roar Pro
Promotional purposes or not, it is a joke. The world's gone topsy turvy, Australia is the new England and England are the new Australia. I wonder how many players Australia go through before the commencement of the 5th Test? I really hope Doherty plays instead of Hauritz.
Mick of Newie
Guest
What sort of promotional benefit do you get from naming 17 players including 3 fit spinners and 2 spare batsmen (to cover 1 injury). It is a clear statement to England that we do not have any idea who qwe should be picking.
Sports Writer
Guest
Exactly right. This public announcement of the squad was just an effort to cool tempers about the Aussie team, but we all know there will be hardly any changes from India
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Even though there is new blood in the extended squad, none of them will get a run. It is all just a PR stunt to say 'we are looking at fresh faces' but the truth is Ponting will make it known who he wants and that's what will happen, the old guard, punters mates, will be picked in the final 12.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
"Naming the test squad today is for promotional purposes….." If for no other reason, that's enough for us to deserve to lose.
Sports Writer
Guest
Sorry Sheek, change selection panel to CA, sponsors and broadcasters
sheek
Guest
Sports Writer, If you had been reading your mail, you would have realised this decision to name the test squad today was dumped on the selectors by CA, sponsors & broadcasters. Consequently, the selectors went for a 17 man squad to ensure they had all bases covered. They would have preferred to wait another week to announce a 12 or 13 man squad, but the decision to announce today was taken out of the selectors' hands. Naming the test squad today is for promotional purposes.....