Australia have named an unchanged squad for the fourth cricket Test, as they chase a series whitewash over India in Adelaide starting January 24.
Australia are in high spirits, having defeated India by an innings and 37 runs, and are chasing an unprecedented 4-0 thrashing of the world No.2 team on home soil.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc hasn’t given up hope of retaining his spot in Australia’s starting XI for the fourth Test against India in Adelaide despite the likely return of off-spinner Nathan Lyon.
The 21-year-old left-arm quick performed well in Australia’s crushing third Test victory at the WACA Ground last week, taking four wickets in the match as part of a four-man pace attack.
Chairman of selectors John Inverarity on Tuesday named an unchanged squad of 12 for the Adelaide Test, all but confirming Lyon would be a starter at his home ground in the process.
“A spin bowler has always been a priority in Test matches at Adelaide Oval and it is very likely that Nathan Lyon will replace one of the other bowlers in the final XI for the fourth Test,” Inverarity said.
That would mean Starc will have to hope speculation is true that Peter Siddle, who has played in Australia’s past eight Tests, will be rested for the dead-rubber fourth match against the Indians.
“We’ll go down to Adelaide and have a look at the pitch down there and, if all goes well, we’ll have a spot in the 11,” Starc told reporters in Sydney ahead of Wednesday’s Big Bash League game at the SCG where he and fellow Test player Brad Haddin will line up for the Sydney Sixers against the Perth Scorchers.
“Any game you get to play for Australia is a pretty special moment. I’m just enjoying any chance I get and hopefully I can play a few back-to-back.
“At the moment though, I’m really just looking forward to Wednesday night.”
The brutal display by Australia’s quicks in Perth, where they wrapped up the win inside three days, may well work against Starc though with Inverarity suggesting the need to rest Siddle may not be as urgent as thought.
“The extra two rest days because the Test finished early has meant that there is reduced concern about excessive workloads for the fast bowlers,” Inverarity said.
Starc also backed under-fire wicketkeeper Haddin to use Wednesday night’s Big Bash game to find form ahead of the Adelaide Test.
“As we saw in the first game he played for the Sixers, he was right on the money there, hit 70 for us and pretty much won the game for us,” Starc said.
“Brad will be looking to come in and hopefully make his mark on the game on Wednesday night.”
Squad: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice capt), Ed Cowan, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mike Hussey, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, David Warner (12th man to be named).
Red Kev
Guest
In terms of "feast or famine" every Australian batsman since the end of the Ashes series has at least 3 single-figure dismissals. Except Usman Khawaja who has only 1 (from 9) and Ed Cowan who has also has 1 (from 4). I personally both should be part of the lineup going forward, Australia needs steadying batsmen as well as Warner-Watson-Clarke style attacking batsmen.
Red Kev
Guest
You cannot use the word Bradman while referring even tangentially to Shaun Marsh.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
absolutely, I looked at the last few outings of the Katich-Watson opening pairng against the Hughes-Watson opening pairing. Niether Katich nor Hughes overly justified selectorial faith - but, Watson was the stand out, having averaged about 65 in the India-Ashes series with Katich, after that, his average batting with Hughes fell right away down to around 25. He also was more regularly the first out - although, Hughes invariably followed next. Point being - Watson as an opener or even top 3 should be questioned. Certainly it should be questioned if he is intended to play as an all-rounder. Funny thing now, with Mitch Johnson conveniently injured, the bowling attack is looking brilliant and there's far, far less need for a bowling Shane Watson. Or a Dan Christian. Heck, even Siddle has outscored Michael Clarke 7 out of last 10 times when both have batted in an innings!! (actually, Siddle outscored Clarke in all 5 of the last shared innings', and only in Sydney did Siddle not play - that Clarke was 329* might've been a mountain that Siddle couldn't scale I guess goes without saying). Actually, Clarke's feast or famine needs to be reviewed. His average going back to Colombo is bolstered by 4 centuries providing 731 runs at 243.67. Outside of that, 9 innings for 93 at 10.33 with HS of 31. The combined tally is 824 runs at an average of around 69. That 2 in every 3 innings he's unlikely to get more than a handful of runs is a little concerning - but, granted, the recent pitches have been 'challenging'.
Happy Hooker
Guest
Hey that's not on Schtumpy - bringing facts and logic to the argument!
Oracle
Guest
Affirmative, and obviously Haddin as alleged Vice-Captain (what a disgrace to the title) is right at the head of the boys club. As Tim Watson famously once said, the fish rots from the head.
Disco
Roar Guru
So, Cricket Australia's employees are above criticism are they?
John
Guest
I would say that the selectors do not want the rubbish thrown at them that the selectors who dropped Bradman after his first test copped.
Schtumpy
Guest
Marsh has proven over 68 matches that he isn't good enough. 68 matches, the vast majority against Shield attacks at an average of 38 shouldn't be good enough to get a single Test cap let alone be retained when unable to score runs.
Chris
Guest
Honestly, you guys will always find something to have a go about. If the captain and coach were not on the selection panel you would find a way to make it Clarke's fault who the selectors didn't drop, just as was the case with comments made about teams picked in the Ponting era. All this carry on about selectors having the 'cojones' is ridiculous. It's easy from the armchair. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Disco
Guest
For these players, a score is forever "just around the corner" so dropping them is never necessary.
Disco
Guest
Boys' club much?
Disco
Guest
Marsh has barely hit anything either!
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Just as Ponting should have been dropped after the Ashes. The selectors (new or old) have a collective lack of cojones.
Jason
Guest
What if Haddin now scores a blazing ton? Presumably the selectors will be forced to pick him for the WI tour. He really should have been dropped after the NZ series.
Johnno
Guest
This new aussie regime is playing favourites and jobs for the boys or who micheal clarke likes as a person. And micky arthur was former coach of WA cricket would he be so lenient on shaun marsh if Shaun marsh was not a WA boy, i am not so sure. That is why i think a captain should never be on the official selection panel, they can have a say in private to the selectors but should have no formal power.
jameswm
Guest
Nah they were never going to change anything mid-series. The big questions will come if Haddin is ordinary again and one of Wade or Nevill has a storming end to the Shield season.
Brendon
Guest
Wouldn't matter if all the wicket keepers in Australian 1st class cricket hadn't played for 5 years ... they would still be better than Haddin. I dont know how they can suggest with a straight face that Haddin is the best keeper available in Australia right now. The whole "don't change a winning team" mentality is just another relic from cricket's amateurish past. If a general manager or manage in MLB started saying things like that they would be laughed at. And rightly so. There are so many things wrong with the "don't change a winning team" mentality.
langou
Roar Guru
I also disagree with the "don’t change a winning side" mentality, however to change now would be a bad idea. With no shield cricket on at the moment, there is little basis to claim that anyone is in better form than the blokes we have now. Take Khawaja for example; the bloke hasn't had a hit since the Hobart Test, so to throw him in now would be harsh. A much better idea would be to leave the side as it is and reassess when it comes to the Windies tour. The team would then be picked on a combination of Test form against India and Sheffield Shield form for the remainder of the year
Red Kev
Roar Guru
While I agree with you I was looking at stats again (I was compiliing a whole list about Ponting for inclusion in a letter to John Inverarity - I wrote to Robbie Deans about Rocky Elsom too - not that it did any good but when you feel strongly about an issue it's best to try and do something about it) and Shane Watson coming back is not supported statistically at all. Certainly he should come back - AB Medallist in back-to-back years, one of our best performers in recent times. Yet of all the players tried since the end of the last Ashes series (undoubtedly Cricket Australia's low point) his performance is the worst (well second worst - Brad Haddin is actually the worst performed since Feb 2011). Just for interest and discussion's sake: Since the end of the Ashes series (Australia’s lowest point) Warner (63.83) and Cowan (41.50) have been blooded. Clarke has averaged 61.33 Hussey has averaged 53.27 Ponting has averaged 37.07 (has two half-centuries and a century in his last four innings, however before that century went 33 innings at 32.44 over two years) Marsh has averaged 33.11 (however has has 14 runs in his last four innings) Khawaja 29.29 (dropped – only one single figure dismissal but also a top score of only 65 in 6 tests) Hughes 27.69 (dropped) Watson has averaged 20.22 is currently injured and first in line to return to the test team.
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Neither Clarke nor Arthur (both selectors) seem to be willing to countenance the idea of this being a dead rubber. But the series is already won and surely it would have been a good time to try out one or two new boys. Inverarity, Marsh and Bichel outnumber the captain and the coach _ perhaps they did lack cojones when push came to shove. Watson would definitely have come back if fit, possibly in place of Marsh. The only debate now is which quick makes room for Lyon. Starc is the logical 12th man.