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The first Test against New Zealand starts in Brisbane next Thursday, and who will represent Australia is a riddle.
Although Australia did reasonably well in their recent tours of Sri Lanka and South Africa at Test level, the batting, bowling and wicket-keeper selections are in a state of limbo.
There are only two certainties in the Australian line-up despite their stirring two-wicket win in the recent Johannesburg Test.
Skipper Michael ‘Pup’ Clarke is one after his 151 in the first Test at Cape Town and 18-year-old fast bowler Pat Cummins, who made a brilliant debut in the epic Johannesburg Test, is the other certainty.
Firstly, who will open the batting? Shane Watson is carrying an injury and is unlikely to be fit.
His opening partner Phil Hughes’ form resembles a yo-yo which goes down but rarely comes up.
Will the selectors take a punt with T20 specialist David Warner to open against the Kiwis?
I was impressed with his century in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia at Bankstown Oval in Sydney a fortnight ago. He demonstrated solid technique to start with and attacked only after he was well set.
Or will the selectors go for Shaun Marsh as an opener? But is he fit?
Why were other promising openers Phil Jaques and Chris Rogers dropped in a hurry? So many questions!
Usman Khawaja played with increasing confidence in the second innings of the Jo’burg Test and should be persevered with. In view of so many ifs and buts and maybes, he should bat at no. 3 on the ‘Gabba’.
Captain Clarkey is a sure thing. To quote Ian Chappell from the current issue of Inside Cricket, “Clarke will be fine on the field. Tactically he is well equipped. Off it, there are too many people [for him] to tell to bugger off… Leave ‘Pup’ be and he’ll succeed.”
However, there are question marks over Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey. Hussey was in tremendous form, both in one-day internationals (ODIs) and Tests in Sri Lanka and in ODIs in South Africa, but his Test form in South Africa was woeful; only 60 runs in four innings, averaging 15.00.
Ricky ‘going, going, not gone’ Ponting will pad up in the Brisbane Test, thanks to his timely 62 in the second innings of the Jo’burg Test.
Also injuries to other batsmen may have lengthened his career.
In the same way, baby-faced wicket-keeper Tim Paine not being fit will ensure Brad Haddin will play in the first Test in Brisbane. But how long will he continue?
Cummins apart, bowling selection is another conundrum. None of the other quickies put the fear of God into batsmen. Trent Copeland is no Jeff Thomson but he can bowl line and length and he should be selected in next week’s Test ahead of Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle.
Spinner Nathan Lyon has done reasonably well so far and should be given more chances.
New Zealand skipper batsman Ross Taylor looked confident as he landed in Australia. “I’ve learnt a lot from Shane Warne when playing IPL in India.”
The series against New Zealand should not be taken lightly as they are fresh and have nothing to lose. Australia is a tired team having played too many Tests and ODIs in the last few months.
But the final day of the swinging Johannesburg Test must have lifted their morale.