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The case for Ed Cowan to play on Boxing Day

19th December, 2011
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Ed Cowan's been hitting runs for fun in the Sheffield Shield. (AAP Image)
Expert
19th December, 2011
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The case for Tasmanian Tigers opener Ed Cowan to be selected for Australia in the Boxing Day Test Match is starting to prove extremely hard to ignore.

There are strong whispers that Shane Watson will return from injury and regain his place in the Test team. However, the word is that he will not have sufficiently overcome his hamstring injury enough to bowl, which means if he’s chosen, it will be as a specialist batsman.

If that’s the case, one would presume he’ll return to his customary role of opening the batting, at the expense of the out-of-sorts Phil Hughes, as the primary reason for all the talk about Watson moving down the order was to ease the burden on his responsibilities, and consequently his body.

With David Warner cementing the other opener’s spot after his brilliant century against New Zealand in Hobart, it will no doubt leave specialist opener Ed Cowan still waiting to earn a baggy green.

Yet if Watson cannot bowl, he surely cannot be 100% healthy, and therefore shouldn’t be selected.

You cannot carry players as passengers in five day cricket. If Watson’s hamstring is not ready for him to bowl, then it’s equally not ready for him to bat all day; a quality you would hope your opening batsman is capable of.

The sentiment about only choosing healthy players is backed up by new Cricket Australia General Manager Pat Howard, who has stated that selected players need to be “100% fit, not 90% or 80%”. By that rationale, if Watson is unable to bowl, he unequivocally cannot be 100% fit, and therefore shouldn’t be selected.

Which leaves the door open for Cowan.

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Frustrated by a lack of opportunities brought on by the Blues depth, the New South Wales-born opener moved to Tasmania following the 2008/09 season. In his first season with the Tigers, Cowan played every Sheffield Shield match, and scored 957 runs at 53.16, good enough to place him second on the competition tally. His impressive season included a career best 225.

Cowan’s progress caught the eye of the national selectors and he was selected to play for Australia A in June 2010. Cowan rewarded the selectors faith with a century against Sri Lanka.

This season, Cowan is averaging 54 in the Sheffield Shield, and has scored three first-class hundreds, including 145 versus New Zealand when he was once again selected to represent Australia A.

If the Sheffield Shield is truly considered the breeding ground for the national team, and Australia A is truly the second XI for the national team, then Cowan must be selected. Otherwise, his non-selection would make a mockery of both the Sheffield Shield competition and the Australia A concept.

Cowan has paid his dues. He has a great technique. He has a traditional opener’s temperament. He’s been successful in the Australian second XI. He’s in-form. Australia have serious issues at the top of the order.

How much longer can this collection of facts be ignored without joining the dots?

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