Ed Cowan’s position in the Australian Test team is on shaky ground after the selectors revealed they’ll consider moving Shane Watson back to opener.
Injury-prone vice-captain Watson has given up his allrounder status, declaring he wants to be considered as a batsman only.
Watson was only moved down from the top of the order to help manage his workload, but now he won’t bowl there’s nothing stopping him from slotting back into his best position at opener against India next month and England in July.
Australian coach Mickey Arthur acknowledged that was a genuine possibility while also revealing in the aftermath of the series win over Sri Lanka that Brad Haddin would definitely go on the Ashes tour as a back-up wicketkeeper.
“If he (Watson) is not bowling it’s worth the consideration,” said Arthur. “It will certainly be worth the chat.
“I still maintain that I felt No.4 was a really good fit but that was (with) Shane Watson bowling some overs as well.
“Watto wants to come back as a batsman. He feels every time he bats and then gets injured bowling, he loses a bit of momentum with his batting.
“Maybe he does (open again), maybe he doesn’t, but it’s probably too early to even discuss it.”
Despite a century to begin the summer against South Africa in Brisbane, Cowan is now on thin ice, averaging just 32.81 from 13 Tests.
The Tasmanian looked out of sorts in his two innings against Sri Lanka in Sydney and has missed too many opportunities to cash in on good pitches.
On the other hand, Watson averages 43.67 as an opener, far better than he fares elsewhere in the order.
Cowan is unlucky that domestic scheduling robs him of a chance to find decent first-class form and press his case before the team departs for India in early February.
Tasmania don’t play their next Sheffield Shield game until February 6 and as a longer-form specialist Cowan won’t play in the ODI series.
The decision to stop Watson bowling for at least the foreseeable future means Australia is also on the lookout for their next allrounder.
“We want an allrounder all the time. I think that’s quite important for us,” said Arthur.
Spinner and lower order hitter Glenn Maxwell, who was 12th man at the SCG, is a near-certainty for India. Batting option David Hussey also bowls useful off-spin.
Paceman Mitchell Johnson is now also considered to be of allrounder quality by selectors, although the balance of the team in the third Test in Sydney with five bowlers was debatable.
Other allrounder options like Moises Henriques and Dan Christian weren’t picked for the first two ODI matches.
Meanwhile, Australia will give an Ashes recall to 35-year-old Haddin and will also consider taking the NSW gloveman to India as shadow for No.1 Matt Wade and as another middle-order batting option following his return for the ODI team.
“We’ve looked at a full group of 20-21 players (including Haddin) that needs to be cut down to take to India,” Arthur said.
“Whether we take two keepers I’m not sure. I do know we’ll be taking two keepers to the Ashes in England.
“It’s important we know who our second keeper is and he’s comfortable knowing exactly where he stands as well.”
The Kebab Connoisseur
Guest
What is his batting average in Sheffield Shield the past 12 months? He only has 43 over his career, it is a big step up to test level. He has only 1 x 50 in all the innings he has had so far. A lot of starts which suggest "concentration" problems if you are getting out in your 20s and 30s a lot. He will get back in sooner or later, but he did not really set the world on fire when he had the chance. Who else is around?
dcnz
Guest
I cannot believe the lack of thinking re the Ashes. Maybe few watched England break India down on the sub-continent. In order to bat long, a la, Cook, Trott, Root, Crompton, KP, and win the Ashes, Australia needs players that can bat for sessions and sessions...and amass large scores. I don't think Watson can do that. Plus Anderson, Broad, Finn, will find a way to get him LBW for 10 to 30. I would actually bank on Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Khawaja, Clarke, and 6, well, dunno, maybe SOK as a wild card. but the NSP have lost me.
Disco
Roar Guru
No! You can't have a dig at Cowan! Don't you know he's a good bloke? He gave last year's Anzac address to his fellow troops after all.
Disco
Roar Guru
Flintoff also bowled something like 22 overs in a one spell during the last Test of that series. Watson barely manages to bowl five.
Disco
Roar Guru
Perhaps he's not seen as a 'good bloke' whatever that means. It seems to keep others in the picture.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
I have no confidence that Khawaja will get a test. What is the point of getting an "all rounder" if they can't bat 1-6 or have to be protected by a wicket keeper at 6? Arthur makes statements but no one is asking questions. Like "you've just lost Ponting and Hussey, Watto is injury prone, shouldn't you be prioritising the middle order?"
sittingbison
Guest
completely disrespectful and disgraceful to the incumbent Cowan for Arthur to be talking about Watson opening. Invers and Arthur have lost the plot with their comments, and it once again shows the coach (and captain) should not be selectors. BTW neither Cowan nor Watson should be batting.
hugh jarse
Guest
Interesting that people believe that if Watson doesn't bowl, then he won't break down. Can anyone see a star in the east?
Red Kev
Guest
You mentioned injury cover, I was using Clarke as an obvious example ... I thought it was fairly straightforward, but maybe I needed to use bigger letters, shorter words and colourful diagrams for you to get it. Bowlers getting injured have nothing to do with the batting order nor opening partnerships. Is it misleading to post that Watson opened in 2011 and averaged 32 ... exactly the same as Cowan! Is it misleading to post that Watson has only played 16 of the last 25 tests and every single absence has been injury enforced!
Rob Barrow
Guest
I think the problem with Cowan is that at 31 with an average in the 30s in boht shield and International he is not going to improve much. He looks out of his depth and is always trying to talk himself up. I thought he would get it right in the Sri Lankan series but failure against such a weak attack was not acceptable, get Watson to open and Khawaja in at 4 and Ferguson at 6.
Rob Barrow
Guest
RedKev is right, Maxwell is not good enough to be an allrounder, take a quality all rounder and that's great but don't force the issue when there isn't one fit to take yet, Mcdonald would have been good had he been fit
Craig2
Guest
Khawaja is a must for the test team. Cowan is the batsman that should move over.
Craig2
Guest
You are absolutely correct WW
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
When Australia won 16 straight tests, did they have a 'genuine allrounder'. No. When the poms ascended to number one in the world did they have a 'genuine allrounder'. No. All-rounders are luxuries. They have to be good enough to play as a specialist batsman, or a specialist bowler. They can't just be bits and pieces of both. That's what the English sides of the 90's and early 00's were made up of. Bits and pieces all rounders. If you have the luxury of a world class all rounder, you play him. If not, then you add a batsman. There's nothing five bowlers can do that four bowlers can't.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Clarke's leggies? You're definitely a 'casual' fan of the game. But most of what you're saying is very true.
Red Kev
Guest
I am listening, you are just wrong. We don't need an allrounder. Form is important, but not when it is the only form you've ever shown - i.e. Christian, Henriques, Doolan.
Rohit
Guest
Jim i like your side, personally i think Smith would be a better all rounder then Maxwell as Maxwell's offspinners are part time at best, plus it may encourage Smith to work more on his leg spin. This is the team I'd pick purely for India. It's not at all the same side I'd pick for the England tour. 1. Watson 2. Warner 3. Hughes 4 Khawaja 5. Clarke 6. Wade 7. Paine 8. O'Keefe 9. Siddle 10. Lyon 11. Bird. To be successful in India, a side must have batsmen who can play spin (hence no Cowan), the best W/K standing up (Paine, IMO, is the best Aus has) and two spinners, one who turns the ball in and one who turns it away. Khawaja is important for the top order as he gives us more reliability if there is a collapse as he has a reputation for scoring in tough conditions. The two seamers need to be the steadiest, most accurate bowlers, since they are going to have to bowl for long periods on unresponsive wickets. Wild bowlers get taken round the park in India. I'd have Copeland in the squad, too, he's ideal for the conditions. I don't think it's a great team for Indian conditions, but it's the group whose strengths best match what is needed.
jameswm
Guest
A century and a binch of dud scores against both SA and SL. I think if Watson doesn't bowl, he takes Cowan's opening spot. If he's bowling, Watson bats at 6. There's the conundrum.
WW
Guest
you are not listening! IN THIS CURRENT AUSTRALIAN SIDE WE NEED A GENUINE ALL ROUNDER IF WE ARE TO WIN BACK THE ASHES AGAINST A BETTER SIDE! we then need to play 3 excellent team performances to win 3 of the 5 test matches or win 2 nad hope for 2 drawa. Thats the best we can hope for and it will not happen if we go in with an unbalanced side. Henriques is in form and i read your comments banging on about in form young players.... is it because he is not a queenslander... i think so!
Red Kev
Guest
All rounders have to considered on their merits INDIVIDUALLY. They are not required in test sides, no.6 does not have to be an allrounder, you are the one that has lost all perspective. That is Henriques first ever first class hundred - you DO NOT give a guy a test cap for that. Christian was swooped on my Uncle Arthur last year for showing a glimmer of form as well - what has he done since? These guys need to prove themselves as genuine first class cricketers before being put into Test Match cricket. Henriques averages under 30 for his career, this season is not evidence of class. If he can finish averaging 50 for the season and do it again next season he should be considered.