When Ricky Ponting called it a day after the Perth Test, he left the obvious question of who was going to replace him.
Phil Hughes was the immediate answer and that seemingly solved the dilemma of the identity of the sixth batsman in the Australian line-up.
Fast forward to the current day and no progress has been made on this issue, and if you add the unexpected retirement of Mike Hussey to the mix, there is some serious head-scratching to be done.
Two of the three main men gone and hardly a queue lining up to take their place does not a healthy scenario make. If I were an Indian or English bowler, I would be licking my lips in anticipation of what I was about to face.
Take Michael Clarke and probably David Warner, who is consistently debunking the myth that he is a short format cowboy, out of the equation and you are looking at an exceptionally callow top order.
Ed Cowan has the temperament to succeed at the top level but not the game to do so. Phil Hughes, while showing some promise, is yet to be given an examination by a Test attack worthy of the name and then there is, er, nobody.
I would include Shane Watson in this but he’s filling in another medical insurance claim form and when he does play nobody seems too sure where he fits in.
And while Matthew Wade is a good, solid performer and took his chance at Sydney, he is not a number six at this level.
Those in charge missed a golden opportunity to give someone a run out at the SCG and the outcome is that the waters have been muddied even further.
That this situation came about because of the ridiculous rotation of the seam bowlers makes it even more ironic.
‘We’re worried about our bowling line-up despite the fact that there is a far bigger issue staring us in the face’ is so lacking in any kind of thought that it is almost funny.
Leaving Mitchell Starc out at Melbourne with the softener that he would play in Sydney had backfire written all over it and that, with the Sri Lankans offering next to no resistance, is what came to pass.
This in turn, saw Wade move up to six and all four seamers given the chance to boost their averages. But in both India and England, Australia will need more depth in the batting if they are to prosper.
Watson has to return even if he can’t bowl. He was making a decent fist of opening the batting and if he is one of the best six players then he should play. If that means he replaces Cowan, the order would look stronger for it.
That leaves the middle order to sort out. Usman Khawaji looks a cert, but who else comes in is a guess I’m in no position to put forward.
Wade could stay at six but, similar to the South Africans, that would necessitate a specialist batsman a place further down the order.
The upshot is somebody is going to be awarded a gilt-edged opportunity somewhere down the line. For Australia’s sake I hope the hierarchy know who that is.
Just a final thought on Mike Hussey’s retirement. I was fortunate to play alongside him for a season at Northamptonshire and he obviously had the makings of the cricketer he turned out to be.
He is a fantastic player and a great bloke and it was good to see him go out at the very top.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Hauritz has more wickets and a better strike rate, but a worst average than Lyon. This is mainly down to the last tour of India, where Ponting's clueless handling of Hauritz got him hammered by the Indians. After the India series I'd say Lyon's stats will be worst than Hauritz's
Baggy_Green
Guest
Think of it situation wise...OZ would need Watson and Warner at the top to start aggressively against the weak indian bowling attack..that would be half the job done..Hughes is doing well at 3 and Clarke at 5, so leave them there.Khawaja is the 1 and only choice for no 4 spot..wade is best at 7 though he is a terrific bat and personality IMO...that leaves only the no 6 spot vacant .... for that i would like to suggest Mark Cosgrove ...give the guy some responsibilty and a specific role...he sure has the experience, class and the record to pull it off.. i strongly doubt though that its gonna be George Bailey !!!! Also take Burns and Doolan with the team to give them exposure.... An awesome line-up of batsmen is coming up though - Maddinson , Patterson , Lynn , Burns, Handscomb , Marcus Harris , Scott Henry and Travis Head ....
Steele
Guest
I like the idea of a batting allrounder, like a maxwell, smith, or a d.hussey. This is because they average around the same mark as our traditional batting prospects but have a little extra string to their bow, in that they all can bowl a little and field amazingly. ( unsure of maxwell feilding.). I just feel we will struggle to get the 10 wickets required against the Indians and poms especially if another frontline breaks down mid game.
The no. Three
Guest
Watto is Clarke's (VC), therefore, if no-one has noticed, Clarke will get what he wants...!!! If you are picking test teams, keep in mind, Watto will be at 4, Clarke wants to be at 5, Siddle will be first bowler picked-which is fine, Pattinson will be the next-which is fine again, Johnson has a case as an allrounder and Cowan will open with Warner. The rest is up to you. Picking a team will then start looking like what it will be in reality, ie. Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Clarke (c), wade, Maxwell (spin in India), Siddle, Pattinson, Lyon, Bird and Johnson at 12. Then others to follow.
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
Next team to play test matches in India in February on those "slow turners" they have over there. Hughes Cowan Clarke Warner Henriques Doolan Wade Siddle Lyon Starc Putland 12th man Bird Really cannot believe nobody is talking about Putland. An in swinging tall left arm medium fast bowler, this guy is a beauty. People just are not watching those free web casts of Shield cricket I guess. We need two spinners who can get us those 20 wickets a match there. Anymore decent slow and swing bowlers out there we have not touched?
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
Hmm, Usman is not averaging even 40 at Shield level and you want him to play tests? His record at the highest level has been pretty so-so and he had a fair crack already. Give someone else a go. The Shield bats so far this season have not really been knocking down the door for selection. We have a very average bunch at the moment. Most runs Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave BF SR 100 50 0 4s 6s PJ Hughes 5 10 0 518 158 51.80 891 58.13 1 3 0 69 0 (South Australia) CJ Ferguson 6 11 0 463 164 42.09 1002 46.20 1 1 0 53 1 (South Australia) UT Khawaja 6 11 0 438 138 39.81 752 58.24 1 3 1 61 6 (Queensland) AJ Doolan 5 8 1 409 149 58.42 738 55.42 1 2 0 60 2 (Tasmania) MJ Cosgrove 6 10 0 373 104 37.30 687 54.29 1 2 1 51 2 (Tasmania) RT Ponting 4 6 3 355 162* 118.33 587 60.47 1 2 0 38 9 (Tasmania) BCJ Cutting 5 9 0 348 109 38.66 362 96.13 1 1 0 29 16 (Queensland) CJL Rogers 6 10 2 340 125 42.50 731 46.51 1 0 0 43 1 (Victoria) BJ Haddin 4 6 1 337 114 67.40 541 62.29 2 1 0 42 4 (New South Wales) MC Henriques 4 6 2 314 161* 78.50 470 66.80 1 2 1 34 6 (New South Wales)
WW
Guest
Who said anything about a bits and pieces player. We want a genuine all rounder but frankly most fans expect a morphing of pointing and McGrath. That's a pipe dream. An all rounder is not a specialist batsman nor a specialist bowler. A decent all rounder, one that averages around 35 with bat and 30 with the ball will balance a mediocre side like the one we have.
Grover
Guest
..but who's going to take the 20 wickets a Test to match his heroics?
Mark T
Guest
You're certainly right that it is a massive call but in saying that Clarke, Warner and Hughes are really the only players who I think can stand up. Cowan, I'm not sure will even make it to the Ashes and Watson's position is very fragile too given his injuries and lack of form. Khawaja could replace Hussey but he didn't do exceptionally well in England last year. Hughes is a far better player now than he was in his debut tour to South Africa. And he averaged 83 and 100 in the limited overs competitions in England. His first class average in England was 35 but I think that was more down to juggling the formats than anything. Spin in India will be difficult but Hughes has done well against spinners, he's hit them out of the park many times and I think that he'll improve. If Hughes can't stand up, then the Ashes are gone. Even Clarke doubles can't save Australia. No.3 is an extremely important position.
WW
Guest
Don't we need to take 20 wickets anymore? 2009 ashes we played 6 batsman and yes we scored 8 of the 10 centuries that series but we failed to take 20 wickets in 4 of the five tests.... And funnily enough we lost the series. If we do the same in 2013 we truly would be a bunch of mongs
sittingbison
Guest
completely agree
sittingbison
Guest
his 80odd was laborious, including some mistimed terrible slogs including the one that got him out straight after Clarke putting us in a jam. And he was dropped on 30 by replacement keeper Sangga (with a sitter). He is woefully out of form. Forget the 43 opener average, thats going back four years. Look at Boxing Day 2010- Boxing Day 2012 results, two years 12 tests no centuries, average 24. Including opening for 2011. And he is now in his 30s. Watson has a temperament problem, failing after 50 and getting out at breaks. He has a technique problem getting bowled or LBW in majority of dismissals.
sittingbison
Guest
once again you have tow all rounders in the top six, not specialist batsmen. We can only afford ONE all rounder in the top six because Wade is solid enough at 7, even thats not ideal. And given Watson cannot bowl, he has to go. He is NOT one of the top six batsmen in the country
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Why do we have to have a left-arm fast bowler? Why would we even consider Hauritz? Why do we have to have an all-rounder? For fairness' sake, I'll give you my preferred team: 1) Warner 2) Cowan 3) Hughes 4) Clarke 5) Khawaja 6) Watson 7) Wade 8) Pattinson 9) Siddle 10) Lyon 11) Bird/Hilfenhaus I've got Watson in there only until a better batsman announces himself. Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques need not apply.
Sunil
Guest
I agree with you mate , Khawaja has to be selected ahead of Maxwell whose bowling nor batting will be good enough at test level, another option would be to take Cowsn out and watto opens which allows khawaja to come in at 4 but still I would bring another all rounder then maxwell
Sunil
Guest
I like Hughes but he will struggle against the Indian spinners, in form Hughes and khawaja is good for Aus cricket
Dadiggle
Guest
Australia rotating bowlers my arse. They are swopping the bowlers out according to the the pitch they are going to play on. In Australia the pitches have bounce, the ball skids on it with little to no seam movement hence South Africa's seamer struggled at first. Then Australia is using a Kookaburra ball which is a lot softer than the SG used in the sub continent. The trick is to knock the laces off it where the rest will have a easy time batting. Those Kookaburra balls gets old very very quickly and once they are old the bowlers are cannon fodder. A ball that comes onto your bat you do not have to worry about timing you can cream iit to any part of the field with ease. You must just get in. We have seen this with AB de Villiers and how easy he started to cream it around. That why Hussey can Clarke can come in at 3 4 down and smack tons with ease.
Demonoid
Guest
Yep Siddle is a definite inclusion when fit. Has proven himself time and time again. Does not always get big bags of wickets (although he cleaned up in Hobart), but he consistantly remains the go to bowler for Clarke to break a partnership - (e.g. SL captain Jayawrdene in the Sydney test). And his wickets are always top/middle order batsmen - hardly ever the tail.
Disco
Roar Guru
Smith is probably better than Maxwell, seeing as he's a better fielder and bowls legspin.
Disco
Roar Guru
Dominated?! He actually ended up limping to an average of 40 this past county season for Worcs.