When I glanced at the 17-man squad selected for the Indian tour, it actually gave me mixed feelings.
I did not have any problem with the fast bowling picks, but there was little concern about spinners and a huge concern about batsmen!
It’s actually unfortunate that Michael Beer was injured, since he has the ability to do what Monty Panesar did to the Indians.
Why was Steve O’Keefe left out despite showing so much promise?
There’s no better place than the sub-continent for him to showcase his skills.
Coming to the batsmen, I have some serious concerns about the selectors’ ideas.
For sub-continent, you need to pick batsmen who play spin better.
If some blokes have shown that ability in the past, why not go for them? Inclusion of Brad Haddin/Tim Paine as a batsman would have been a big boost.
Both are excellent players of spin. Paine especially was good in the last tour in 2010.
We assume Haddin was left out because of his age, but what about Paine?
He has years of play left in him!
Paine also proved in 2010 that he has the important virtue needed in the sub-continent, “patience”.
Paine’s selection would also be justified on the grounds of a “spare keeper” role!
Another who should have been considered is George Bailey.
His his ability to play the ball is essential on the slow wickets of the sub-continent. He should have been considered.
The XI for the first Test should not include Usman Khawaja because of his discomfort in playing spinners.
Steven Smith or Glenn Maxwell will be more suited, given the fact that both play spinners well, at least better than Khawaja. It would be a risk to name Usman as a first choice in the XI.
So, my XI would be as follows:
Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Matt Wade, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon. 12th man: Mitchell Starc
Daz
Guest
I'll give my 1st test from squad and leave it at that. A quick one though. While Cowans record is far from impressive, Watson is very lucky to be even in India based on test form as a batsman. He has a no better average than Cowans in recent times and is injury prone. Warner Cowan Hughes Clarke Watson Khawaja Wade Siddle Starc or Johnson Bird Lyon
Dean Woodward
Guest
How can Cowan get respect when he is averaging 32 after 13 tests in a row. Give Khawaja half that or give Cossie half those number of tests in a row and you will have a much better player then Cowan. His worst quality is that he is always talking himself up and passing judgement on other players as if he is a senior team member.
Dean Woodward
Guest
Looks like Henriques and Agar will be donning freshly sewn Baggy Greens for the first test and good luck to them! Doherty is never going to be test class. Agar looks to have a bit about him, he looks to be quite tall too which I think is a big bonus on Indian tracks. Has anyone actually seen him bowl? I'd be happy with Siddle, Starc, Henriques, Lyon and Agar as a five man attack. Khawaja will star in this series along with Warner but the real test will come in how Lyon does, it will either make or break his career.
Dean Woodward
Guest
My batting lineup fo test cricket would have Khawaja for sure. Under Lehman he has improved not only his fielding and running between wickets but also got more aggression in his batting, those who saw his innings in Big Bash would have got a glimpse of this. It’d be nice to see D Hussey get a berth, but Khawaja is the obvious choice instead.I also think that D Hussey has been unlucky throughout his career. I recall his double ton against NSW at Newcastle a couple of seasons back when Victoria needed heaps on the final day to pull off an unlikely victory. This Shield season David Hussey has scored 120 runs at an average of 17.14. His top score is 37. While he has had a very good domestic career I think he’s missed the boat and clearly its Khawaja's turn, what we don't want is another mistake and miss the boat on Khawaja.
zatoo77
Guest
South Africa have beat India in India using pace. Our resources are much closer to that of South Africa ( lots of good fast bowlers) to that of England ( a good fast bowler and a good spiner with reasonable support)
Amith
Guest
Spot on Carmelo, Wade shouldn't be at 6, it has to be an established batsman and I would get Khawaja in there at 6.
Dean Woodward
Guest
Agree with Sanjay's team.
Dean Woodward
Guest
I hope we go with your prerred 11
Dean Woodward
Guest
Joshua let not make our teams based on one innings Varun is right in that if you look at Khawaja's innings in shield you will see that he handles spin well. Surely Khawaja must take Hussey's spot, he was stand by batsman for Clarke and has been behind Hughes in shield scoring not to mention Ryobi(2nd) and Big bash scoring.Wade should not bat at 6 as that just makes our batting weaker. For some reason commentators like yourself always find a hollow reason not to pick him, first it was his fielding which he showed in the first one day game is a myth. Now that he can't play spin, watch domestic cricket and you will see how well he sweeps the spinners and uses his feet to them. Give him half the games in a row that Cowan has had and we will have a solid test batsman
Varun
Guest
Bud i see your logic in khawaja however I have seen a couple of his big shield innings on stream Against SA and NSW and in each he was great in using his feet to spin similar to how Clarke uses his feet, we need to get him in now done has time to get ready for the ashes rather ten bring him in just for the ashes, Hughes and Cowan are worst players of spin then khawaja but you keep guys like Hughes and khawaja because they are out future test stars
Amith
Guest
Joshua you need to watch more shield cricket mate, Khawaja has been very good in using his feet to spin this season and is a natural sweeper mainly because he played alot of cricket at the SCG. Having Smith ahead of him would be completely wrong mate.
Jules
Roar Rookie
Well done, Red Kev, we've all been too keen to accept the idea of batting Wade at six despite our batting frailties and seem to have forgotten that Clarke bowls very well in India (it was comforting to see him bowl a bit in a recent ODI). For Calcutta (which doesn't seem as much of a rank turner as some of the others), I'd go with your team but play Starc instead of Bird for left arm variety, yorkers and the chance of Akram style reverse swing. Bird will have his chances in England.
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
You've got it right mate! But i believe Paine can be considered based on his past exploits against Spin and India!
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
Like and Agree with you mate!
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
Hi Andy, My XI was from the squad that was picked! As i've mentioned, O'Keefe would have been the best pick, since he can bat too.See Aussie quicks actually do better than spinners(Except Warne) in the sub-continent.Kindly remember Galle(the world's biggest turner) where Aus won with Lyon+3 quicks! Lets frankly agree that we dont have a Swann or a Paneser! We have to play Wade at no.6 not because he is a fantastic batsman! I am sure he has the ability to develop in to one sooner but when compared with our potential no.6s --> Max,Henriques,Smith and Khawaja, he is better. And concerning Khawaja, i stick to my view that he is poor against Spin when compared with Steve Smith.Let me clarify that i am suggesting Steve Smith here only as a batsmen not as an all-rounder.Khawaja in the practice game played when the ball was new and he scored less than SS, who had to deal with the older ball that gripped and turned! Khawaja would be surely there within the best 6 for my ashes pick though! The second spinner ofcourse would be the skipper! I believe he can bowl 10 overs per day atlest...the quicks should go with the stump-stump line consistently which would make the batsmen attack Lyon and Clarke, there by giving wickets! As i see it, this is the best strategy in the sub-continent as the ball would swing for a very less time! Surely i would have picked Tim Paine! If Max is here irrespective of his first-class record, why not Paine!
AndyMack
Guest
James and renegade.... So we play 3 quicks because it is our strength. So when India rock up in Perth one day and pick 3 spinners because they "want to play to their strengths", would we say thats a good move, or you guys havent considered the conditions very well?? Prob the latter. Time will tell i guess.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Disco You mean the 2009 Ashes series where Anderson's 12 @ 45 was a real benchmark? Yeah he was really destroying Australia hey? 2010/11 Ashes series was the only time the buffet bowler has every had a stand out series against Australia.
Disco
Roar Guru
What, like the Aussies slaughtered Anderson in the last two Ashes series? Your bias is embarrassing. Hughes couldn't even handle Chris Martin.
John
Guest
Sorry buddy I have to disagree not putting khawaja My 11 for 1st test Warner Watson Hughes Khawaja Clarke Wade Henriques Johnson Pattinson Siddle Lyon
Matt F
Roar Guru
Absolutely James. It will be at least 12 months before we might know. I would still prefer to pick six specialist batsmen myself but, given the selectors have strongly suggested that they'll pick an all-rounder, it's between he and Maxwell for a test spot in around 2 weeks. On one hand we have Henriques who, even if it is just a purple patch, is at least performing well right now. On the other hand we've got Maxwell whose season highlight is a slogged 50 against the WIndies.....