The Sydney Test is a special occasion for the players and spectators. The Australians have retained the Warne-Muralidaran trophy and I’m looking forward to watching them send off Hussey on a winning note, something that they weren’t able to do with Ponting.
Invariably, the excitement which builds with the Tests being played at this time of year leads to everyone starting to speculate over the most important series the Australians play – the Ashes.
So I thought I would join in the fun and speculate on the likely 13 to make the trip.
But first, let’s look back for a moment at the 2010/2011 squad that played against the Poms:
• Ponting – Retired
• Clarke – Will lead the new squad
• Katich – Retired
• Watson – Will play a key all-rounder role
• Hussey – A shock retirement
• North – Has missed his chance at this level
• Haddin – Not currently seen as the number one Test keeper
• Doherty – Now seen more as an ODI specialist
• Smith – Hasn’t been seen in the Test team for some time after coming back to domestic cricket with a big thud. Also, now viewed as more of a T20 ODI player
• Johnson – Has fought hard to be back in the mix; might be part of the touring party
• Hilfenhaus – Will be there unless injuries continue. Has struggled in Ashes years
• Siddle – Has grown into the back bone of the Australian pacemen; will be the leader amongst the young group
• Bollinger – On his way out, even though he is performing well in domestic cricket
In my view, most of this squad won’t be considered this time around and I can only see three players that pick themselves. So it’ll be a young side full of enthusiasm.
If I was selecting the squad in batting order, it would look something like this:
1. Warner – Not yet the mould of a traditional Test opener, so even though he doesn’t have the consistency, he does have the capacity to win you a match. That X-factor is hard to leave out.
2. Cowan – has proved that he is vital cog in the batting line-up and provides the perfect opening partner to Warner as he is the stable, more reliable player.
3. Hughes – since the retirement of the great Ricky Ponting, Hughes has been given a chance. He has just come off a successful English summer and would be used to the conditions that he would face in July/August 2013. The question is – will his performances hold up through the Test series in India? That will determine his place in the team.
4. Clarke – should slot into this position due to his wonderful performance over the last calendar year and would provide some stability to the top order as that seems to be an area of weakness based on our last series against South Africa.
5. Watson – with the revelation of him wanting to remain a Test player, and being seen as just a batsman, he will work extremely hard and his experience might get him over the line with such a young batting line up.
6. Johnson – the No. 6 position should be held for the genuine all-rounder, and at the moment, that seems to be Johnson. His effort with the ball has recently been effective.
7. Wade – is now seen as the number one wicket-keeper and has done a relatively good job behind the stumps. He also adds to the batting as an explosive hitter.
The next three spots become harder due to the amount of fast bowlers that have been injured this season.
This Boxing Day Test will see our seventh fast bowler used this summer.
The combination that I would like to see for the Ashes is:
8. Siddle – the spearhead and work-horse of the team.
9. Starc – showed in the last Test what he is capable of if he gets it right and gives a point of difference as the only left-arm quicky.
10. Pattison – has performed extremely well when fit and will be part of this Australian side for years to come.
11. Lyon – despite some criticism over his last few Tests, Lyon is still a relatively young spinner who has only played close to 50 First-Class matches. He will continue to develop his art and get better in assisting Australia finishing teams off.
Of course, an Ashes series means a long tour.
So Australia will take a larger squad than it usually carries at home and other players that will be considered will be Hilfenhaus, Cummins, and Hazelwood, with a possible dark-horse in Faulkener, who has impressed at the domestic level.
It would be remiss of me not to mention newcomer Bird, who performed extremely well on debut and has already encouraged comparisons with Glenn McGrath, something that this Australian team has missed since his departure.
He will put a lot of pressure on Hifenhaus to hold his spot.
The back-up keeper will be Neville, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Khawaja is taken along to be part of the set-up.
So how will they go?
With the loss of Ponting and now Hussey, it exposes a very young batting line up.
There is some stability with our bowling line up, and at the end of the day, in order to win a Test match, you have to bowl out a team twice.
Australia can call upon a number of fast bowlers to do the job.
A lot can happen in the next six months. If Cricket Australia can reduce the amount of injuries amongst their young fast bowling brigade, Australia will be in a very good place to win.
But cricket is a funny game.
Stuie
Guest
The lineup should be Warner Cowan Hughes Clarke D. Hussey Wade Watson Johnson Siddle Pattinson Lyon Take Khawaja, Neville, Cummins, Starc, Bird and Doherty along as well.
Professor Farnsworth
Guest
1. David Warner 2. Ed Cowan 3. Phillip Hughes 4. Usman Khawaja 5. Michael Clarke (C) 6. Shane Watson 7. Matthew Wade Yes, I chose Khawaja but he was going to be in the team anyway. 8. Peter Siddle 9. James Pattinson 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Jackson Bird Mitchell Johnson will be in the touring party but as a replacement allrounder for Shane Watson. Patrick Cummins and Mitchell Starc are the replacement bowlers and last Mitchell Marsh could come as an allrounder well as Tim Paine but a replacement wicketkeeper or specialist batsman.
TJ
Guest
Would love to see James Faulkner and Joe Burns receive more national media attention and an selection opportunity in the test side. Faulkner's first class record (107 wickets at 22.8) is vastly better than much heralded pair, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Watched by the Sydney based national media those two have been earmarked as 'test' quality players. Personally I believe performance in the Shield should promote selection, otherwise why have the shield. It seems that to be selected as a bowler you need to fit a certain criteria including having pace. Vernon Philander proved that you don't need to be quick. That pace myth kept him from being selected for RSA as he lacked test pace, despite his FC average at the time being 19 from over 50 first class matches, which is just amazing. And that myth that because Faulkner plays for Tasmania he has a bowler friendly deck should not count against him, as highlighted by Jackson Bird's performance last week. Faulkner has taken wickets all around the country and there have been many heralded bowlers go to Tassie and not take wickets. It's the same type of myth that suggested Brad Hodge had a weakness outside off. Joe Burns has a similar first class record to when Khawaja was first selected and has scored crucial centuries in key shield matches. Hopefully, he is not treated as many QLD batsmen have historically been treated - score mountains to prove yourself while others who have been earmarked get the opportunity to develop themselves in the test arena.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Sorry, another typo (I am the typoking) - that should have read " England’s all-rounder hunt for the 15 years between Botham and Flintoff"
TJ
Guest
Like
Mango Jack
Guest
Lol! Ron has scored a few more times than Watson, maybe he should bat at 6?
Mango Jack
Guest
And so they should be looking for him, Brett. I think the concern is that they will try to manufacture one from a conga line of players who are not up to it, wasting a batting spot and damaging our prospects in the process.
Mango Jack
Guest
Will it really make that much difference? Clarke invariably finds himself at the crease within 20 overs anyway, because our top order is not stable enough. It make sense to get him out there earlier so he can bat for longer.
Chop
Guest
The breakdown of this side scares the hell out of me. I don't think it can win the ashes back, unfortunately I think it may be close to the money and the Poms will hand us a lesson in test cricket both over there and back in Australia.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Anyone else see the news that Brett Lee had the charges dropped - and has been offered a spot on CNSW's Board sub-committee! Seems that Lee's suggestion that Dave Gilbert needs to go has been proven...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Nobody has actually said that Johnson IS an all-rounder. Clarke said he's batting "as well as an all-rounder", which is a bit different. And true at the moment. Let's face it, if we all want to pick players in form, you'd be picking Johnson before Watson, even if Watto was fit. What I reckon the selectors have done is recognise that SL is vulnerable to fast bowling, and have selected a team that takes advantage of that. It also allows them to test the theory going around lately that says you can't bowl Starc and Johnson together. As far as the batting goes, if Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Clarke and Hussey can't bat well against this weakened SL attack, then we've got some serious issues. Having said all that, Khawaja must be wondering what he has to do to actually get picked. The selectors do seem to be doing everything possible to avoid selecting him.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
And yet Australia won the game in two and a half days. So much for "on-paper" selection...
dasilva
Guest
Well it looks like Lisa was more accurate than all of us realised. Mitchell Johnson is batting at number 7 as Australia is playing five bowlers Ok perhaps batting at 6 was pretty ridiculous, but no one expected the selectors to picking Mtchell johnson as a top 7 batsman
geno
Guest
No if you actually look at what you said you had actually answered your own question without allowing for a response!
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Positive in this context means offering an alternative and detailed opinion of your own in response to other opinions that you disagree with. Simply saying "Utter rubbish" is pointless and juvenile.
geno
Guest
GENO! Being a captain of a separate side doesn't automatically give you great insight into the Australian Cricket team I again stress UTTER RUBBISH!
geno
Guest
I take it one cannot have an opinion if it is not seen as positive towards the writers?
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
Anything positive to contribute, geno? Thought not.
richard
Guest
Shaun Marsh..!?
Rodney
Guest
Usman should replace Hussey. A batsmen for a batsmen , maxwell is an ok cricketer but in india we are better off with a left arm orthadox spinner than 2 off spinners