Though the Australian summer threw up plenty of questions, there is one issue over which there is no room to move for the upcoming tour of India – we need our best bowlers on deck.
We have so many options. So much depth. But, for example, do we select Nathan Lyon?
Batting-wise, will Shane Watson have had enough match practice to be included for India?
There are so many possibilities and questions to be answered over the coming weeks. Regardless, here’s my chosen line-up:
1. David Warner
Warner has made good start to his Test career scoring 1068 runs at 44.50, with a strike rate of 75.15 including three hundreds and five 50s. If Warner backs himself, he could have a huge series.
The only issue is that Warner has struggled with spin in the past, and if he thinks Australian pitches are tough against spinners, beware of India.
2. Ed Cowan
This is the time when Cowan can show what he’s made of. While he has had a mixed start to his Test career, he has shown glimpses of his best.
I still think opening with Warner and Cowan is useful, as you have the quick scorer in Warner and the one who really digs deep and stays at the crease in Cowan. Setting fields with this combination could be a nightmare.
3. Phil Hughes
It’ll be very interesting to see how Hughes handles the conditions in India. He may struggle. In saying this though, he has improved his technique dramatically and matured as a cricketer.
4. Shane Watson
It seems Shane has given up bowling, which could help him concentrate on getting back to form with the bat. Only two Test centuries is disappointing for a cricketer who has loads of talent, but with his mind firmly on batting he may just add to that list of centuries in the near future.
5. Michael Clarke
Australia’s best batsmen and most experienced player, Clarke’s aggressive captaincy tactics and bowling changes have paid massive dividends.
It’s simple – if Clarke fires and makes the right decisions, Australia will win.
6. Matthew Wade
Most of the country will agree to that his keeping needs vast improvement, but when in-form and on song, his batting is brilliant and entertaining. The conditions will test Wade’s keeping ability, as will his job keeping up to the spinners.
If Wade has a poor series, Australia may look to the experience of Brad Haddin, but I’m confident Wade can show his recent good form in India.
7. Moises Henriques
On his day, Moises is the complete all-rounder. A powerful and clean hitter, handy medium-pace bowler and terrific in the field, he can be the complete package. And the numbers back him up – across the first half of the Sheffield Shield season, Henriques has averaged 78.5 with the bat and 17.69 with the ball. That includes 161* against Tasmania.
Turning 26 next week, it seems he’s finally showing his potential. His recent performance with the ball in the ODI against Sri-Lanka was outstanding. You just feel it’s time for him to get a chance. I really do hope if given one, he takes it with both hands.
8. Mitchell Johnson
While it is hard to see him becoming a complete all-rounder, he is a very capable bowling all-rounder. If he can get his radar, right the Indian batsmen will have to watch their backs.
Mitchell Starc would be very close behind. 50/50 call between them.
9. Peter Siddle
He is the team’s heart and soul. There is no doubt he will ready to fire. If he bowls well, with a hint of movement and swing, he will cause problems.
10. James Pattinson
If fit, Pattinson will take the new ball with Siddle. He is a dangerous fast bowler, and despite only playing seven Tests, 31 wickets at an average of 22 is a phenomenal start to a career.
Fingers crossed he bowls plenty of overs in the Sheffield Shield and is match fit come India.
11. Nathan Lyon
His stats show he is Australia’s best spinner since Warne. 61 wickets at 32 is a decent start, and the spinning wickets in India will help him.
I’d like to see him drop the pace of his deliveries and take his time between balls.
Over to you Roarers. And go the Aussies!
Cav
Guest
Watched Hauritz recently and he was the best spinner all season. I have not seen much mention of him, is there a reason?.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
My side would be: David Warner Tim Paine Phillip Hughes Usman Khawaja Michael Clarke Matthew Wade Steve O'Keefe Peter Siddle James Pattinson Nathan Lyon Jackson Bird
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Let's face it, with Lyon non threatening at the best of times, we need a seam bowling all rounder in the starting XI against India. If Watson isn't bowling, he shouldn't board thr plane. The problem is we don't really have a back up seam bowling all rounder half as good as Watson. Henriques, Christian or Cutting won't get the job done. Therefore to get 3 seamers in. We have to have Steve O'Keefe at 7. Tough luck on Khawaja unless he opens and walking wicket Cowan is axed.
Varun
Guest
Yes khawaja is a must and must replace mike hussey, give the kid the full series in India and you will have a match winner, take Moses as the backup player
Jake
Guest
In terms of bowling average he is the best since Warne, however Hauritz took more wickets in less test's at a slightly higher average. That to me makes Hauritz the best since Warne. Also, you mention that Pattinson will open with Siddle, it is very rare that Siddle opens; he normally bowls first change.
aggregated drupe
Roar Pro
Why have you put Cowan in. Watson is a test opener, put him there. Why no Khawaja? He is a young talent and will dominate world cricket with Hughes and Warner for the next decade. Bailey, Burns and SO'K are all better than Henriques. He averages 29 with the bat and gets only two wickets per game.
aggregated drupe
Roar Pro
Great team TGT agree with it fully.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Me too, no more Xavier Doherty in tests, ill go for Pakistan for good measure
Johnny G
Guest
Well said.. Henriques batting worries me sometimes though, and I would go with Watson to open over Cowan.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
That's the same sentiment I've just laid out. Three quicks and a spinner could work, but I think a two-two split is the way to go. And for goodness sake, can the second spinner be SOK? He's the only spinner in Australia with a first-class bowling record that looks anything like that of a bowler. If I see Xavier Doherty, or some other guy with a bowling average of 45 odd is in the touring squad I'm going to start going for a different country (probably the Windies, they suck but at least they're cool).
bigbaz
Guest
Yea good side GT except for Watson,he shouldn't be anywhere near this developing outfit.I'd be happy to see that side for the ashes but I agree we need to discover a new opener (not Watto)
Brett McKay
Expert
I think we might be forgetting where Australia are about to tour. There is just no way that India, after being out-spun at home by England will serve up greentops and pace-friendly conditions for Australia. There will need to be two spinner in some shape or form for probably three Tests, with perhaps only Mohali offering some pace and bounce. I think going into the Indian Tests with three quicks and allrounder that bowls seam-up would be rather playing into India's hands..
JohnB
Guest
Or have O'Keeffe batting 8 and playing primarily as a second spinner, with 2 pace bowlers and Lyon behind 6 batsmen and Wade.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Watson has experienced all his success at the top of the order. Opening suits his batting style, you're trying to make him something he is not, and that's a number six. Why is number six his position? He's never achieved anything there and likely never will. If he's opening at Shield level and doing well, then he'd easily the best long term opening batsman option we've got to go with Warner. Joe Burns has a better first-class record than Baily, is the next most talented young batsman in the country and is bound to play for Australia in the future. He's the perfect player to carry as a spare batsman, get in and around the Australian set-up and develop as Mitchell Starc has done so lately. Personally, I think he's as good as any other option and might as well be in the first XI.
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
Okay so let me get this right. Our batting is our clear weakness, so you sacrifice a batsman, to bring in a bits and pieces all-rounder who isn't good enough to be a batsman or good enough to be a bowler and who bowls seam when we're touring the sub continent? Right.... You're also not planning for the future by leaving out the next man in line, Usman Khawaja, who is almost a certainty for the Ashes but would be robbed of valuable test experience in place for Shane Watson. Watson will only be there for the first two tests anyway, is out of form, questionably fit and should only be considered as an opener, because that's the only place he's ever had any success as a batsman. My side is; 1. Warner 2. Watson (for the first two tests and then Cowan [sigh] for the third and fourth tests) 3. Hughes 4. Khawja 5. Clarke 6. Burns 7. Wade 8. Siddle 9. Pattinson 10. Lyon 11. Bird 12th man O'Keefe (to come in for a quick if we need two spinner, not to play as an all-rounder) You can take that team to the Ashes too. As a matter of fact, you've got a side there for the next couple of year, excluding Cowan of course (he stinks).
Vivek
Guest
Agree 100% Red Kev, for the Indian series bring in Khawaja at 6 to ensure we don't have the 74 all outs in the coming sres.
Peter
Guest
Jamesb i see your points and they are valid points, i am not convinced on Cowan as well, but the selectors may decide to give him the India series, If he fails in India then he can be removed from the team and you can get this squad. But for India i think we will have Cowan at the top and Khawaja at 5 but not sure where Watto will bat.
Peter
Guest
Agree with Red Kev and Sunil, our main problem has been all these top order collapses, and we just lost one of our best batsman in mr.cricket, you don't replace that with an unproven allrounder, you need someone like Khawaja, a guy who is known for scoring in tough conditions and we all know that its our batting that will be the key to winning the ashes. Get Khawaja in at 6 and that way you have Wade in at 7 to give us the best chance to win in India but more importantly England.
Sunil
Guest
Disagree with this article, our issue has been our batting collapses and we need someone like khawaja to strengthen it, we just lost Nike hussey who was our best batsman with Clarke so we must replace him with the best batsman that we have and that is khawaja, moses Is not ready yet for test cricket
Matt F
Roar Guru
Agree Kev. You've said pretty much exactly what I was going to say