For Shane Watson the decision to take a break from bowling would have been heartbreaking.
For the likes of Dan Christian and Moises Henriques it’s provided fresh hope of a maiden Test cap.
Christian and Henriques, who have both played Twenty20 and one-day cricket for Australia, are among the list of allrounders who have come into contention for the Ashes after Watson elected to focus on batting.
National selectors are expected to field a spinning allrounder in the upcoming Test tour of India.
However many pundits have called for a medium-pace all-round option for the Ashes battle that follows, with the feats of Andrew Flintoff in 2005 still fresh in their minds.
Mitchell Johnson performed the role at the SCG Test, but some have questioned whether his batting will hold up against a more fearsome bowling attack.
It leaves an open field, even more so given Andrew McDonald’s injury concerns.
Henriques felt he was more mentally ready for the rigours of international cricket, but didn’t want to get picked on potential.
“Whether you’re a bowling allrounder or a batting allrounder, you can’t just be in the team as a bits-and-pieces player,” the 25-year-old said.
“You’ve got to be good enough to be picked in the team as a bowler and a batter.
“I’m hoping, with some better performances after Christmas, that I can prove that.”
Christian, 12th man in two Tests last summer when Watson was sidelined, admitted he was a “bit disappointed” to be left out of Australia’s squad for the one-day series.
However the 29-year-old was upbeat there would not be the same dearth of seam allrounders in future Australian Test teams.
“If they are looking for that allrounder position, I’d love to do it if I’ve got the runs and wickets behind me,” Christian said.
“Personally I don’t think a spinning allrounder is the best way to go. You need a seam allrounder and there’s quite a few of those around the country.”
Henriques impressed with a tally of 314 runs and 13 wickets from four matches in the first half of the Sheffield Shield season, but didn’t want selectors to call him until he had a mountain of both.
“I’m 25 and happy to keep learning my craft … as much as I’d love to play for Australia as soon as possible, I’m not in any great rush to get there,” he said.
“If I do get there, I want to make sure I’m playing as well as I can.”
JamieJ
Guest
Surprised at myself (albeit pleasantly so) to have forgotten the name of O'Keefe here. He must be somewhere under consideration to go to India, as he can bat a bit and is light years ahead of Maxwell in the type of spin bowling that actually gets wickets, as opposed to darts fired in at the pads in the limited over games.
Red Kev
Guest
There are 13 names in that ODI side, 2 have to miss out and at least 1 will be a batsman, Khawaja hasn't gotten an ODI debut yet.
James
Guest
Maxwell doesn't deserve test cal up yet, it has to be either Henriques or Christian with Hopes as an outsider but his age may work against him. As far as I can see their are two prime candidates to replace Mike Hussey in the Test team, Dave Hussey and Khawaja. This ODI series presents a perfect opportunity for a bit of a shoot out against some decent spinners but D Hussey's poor shield form this season will count against him.. If they both bat at the same level, personally I would go with Usman due to his age and also better shield form this year but perhaps we can take David as a backup.
jameswm
Guest
Rubbish Flintoff was an occasional hitter and worked out by good bowlers. He was a 7-8. Nowhere near as good a bat as bowler. Miller was a better bowler, he was an on/off big hitter that team could afford to play at 6. Kapil Dev and Imran Khan were among the great fast bowlers of their time, but not remotely near that level as batsmen. They were no.7s, which is where bowling all rounders bat. Neither was a legitimate test top 6 batsman. You can't just pick a world class all rounder WW, you have to have one. We do, but he's injured.
James
Guest
Pope Paul i have been as frustrated as anyone wth Khawaja's treatment, but i think the selectors are rewarding him now with ODI debut and I am confident he will be a starter in the Indian series, the thing i like most about him is that his runs this year have come when the team has been in trouble.
WW
Guest
yes watson is a fine allrounder with a good record as such. but he's not going to be bowling anymore apparently. if we play an extra batsman at the expense of a genuine all rounder in england it will do four fifths of f all as it did in 2009. who that all rounder is time will tell. at the moment it seems wade is being picked as the no 6 bat so that we can play an extra front line bowler. i don't mind that as long as we don't kid ourselves that johnson is going to average no ore than 20 odd.
WW
Guest
oh have the changed the laws to such that we no longer need to take 20 wickets? beacuse last time i checked playing against south africa and england thats been the problem. we need a fourth seamer particularly a medium pacer that will suit english conditions... the pace bowling we have is completely over-rated otherwise why did we not beat south africa at home nor beat england these past 2 series? don't get me wrong we have a lot of decent pace bowlers but none of them at the moment are a dennis lillee or a glen mcgrath capable of winning tests pretty much on their own. If for example Peter Siddle is our best pace man we are in big trouble come the ashes. i don't think we should ever play an extra batsman at the expense of our bowling attack unless we have a bowling attack with players in the ilk of mcgrath and warne... which currently we don't. as for giving up one of the 6 spots... this is only new phenomenon that a no 6 needs to be a specialist batsman. a no6 does not need to average more than 35. Keith Miller averaged 36.... he is widely regarded as our best ever all rounder and would be an automatic pick in our best ever 11 and yes he would be picked at no 6. if the top 5 don't produce the goods then they are the wrong top 5. plus lets not forget most of our tailenders cna all hold the bat. a specialist batsman at no 6 is foolish.
matt h
Guest
With Clarke's dodgy back I am happy to give up on his bowling to ensure he is fit to bat. If Clarke is missing from the batting order we are seriously screwed
matt h
Guest
You're wrong WW. With our current batting line up we cannot afford to give up one of the 6 spots to a 30 average (although with Cowan we appear to already be doing so). The allrounder for us probably needs to be a batting allrounder like McDonald unless we are confident that Wade can play 6 and contribute a 45 plus average. A bowling allrounder is a waste for us at the moment becasue pace bowling is where our depth is.
matt h
Guest
Mark maybe you did not get to see the young Botham pre injuries, etc. He was a brilliant swing bowler
matt h
Guest
On your criteria, Watson is just perfect, and if fit that's actually true. Henriques has one century in his first class career. No chance yet (but he is still in his mid twenties so he may yet come good). If you want an alrounder for the Ashes at this point you only have a few options: - McDonald at 6 if fit - Wade at 6 and Butterworth or Faulkner at 7 - Maxwell at 6 if he turns out to be a gun
matt h
Guest
If you look at Botham's early career pre injuries he was definitely a gun bowler and at one point held the world recrds for wickets taken
matt h
Guest
Old Jimmy Hopes is a bit long in the tooth now, but he would have been worth a shot a few years back when he was a regular in the one day team. I think Luke Butterworth is another possibility, and if Mitchell Marsh can get his head and body right he could turn out to be the best of them all.
WW
Guest
Miller, Botham, Flintoff, Dev and Kahn were all genuine all rounders... neither batting or bowling they batted at 6 and were important parts of the bowling attack what i am saying is we are looking for that calibre of player
Felix
Guest
Good point RK. I think he should be bowling himself and Warner a hell of a lot more. Warner lands them alright, and with a bit of solid coaching and practice could go beyond casual part timer to a 6 overs + an innings bowler. I mean he got Amla out stumped...which is a miracle given Wade's keeping ability!
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Rob and Praveen, don't believe Khawaja is playing a test match until he takes strike.
WW
Guest
if you play enough games you'll take lots a wickets if indeed you can bowl.... and there is no doubt he can bowl. only five 5 wicket hauls in 159 matches suggests hes not bad with the ball but not great either... kallis is still a decent bowler but for mine he hasn't been a genuine all rounder for some time. he's a batsman that can offer a little bit with the ball. i want to be clear he'd be just about my first pick player in my team of this century... but only as a batsman that can bowl a bit... not as my all rounder. my no 6 and all rounder of this century would be the completely under rated Chris Cairns who IMHO was like having a Freddie Flintoff that actually took bags of five fors.
Rob
Guest
Red Kev I am sure Khawaja is a certtain starter for the next test. At the moment he is going through a purple patch and we will be fools not to take him as Hussey's replacement or Cowan's replacement if Watson takes the opening slot. Looking forward to watching him bat in the One dayers.
Praveen
Guest
Red Kev i am sure this time Khawaja will get selected, the fact they got him in the One day side shows they are rewarding performance. I think he will play a big part in the Indian series and the ashes.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Looking forward to it. I think they have just about used up his role as Clarke's standby. They can't put him on standby for Watto because he will actually get a game. I'm going for "team balance".