Ed Cowan is key to Australian cricket’s chances in 2013, and should be retained in the first team for many years to come.
As with most Australian openers, he’s had a slow start to his career: Matthew Hayden’s first 13 Tests produced an average of 24 and Justin Langer’s 33.
Cowan currently sits on 32. Not a fantastic average, but not as bad as the Australian cricketing community’s high expectations may suggest. This is worth riding out.
Cowan averages 76.1 balls faced per innings compared with David Warner’s 53. This does not excuse the 10 run difference in averages, but it will be much easier for Cowan to increase his average than for Warner to increase his patience at the crease.
As a far too emotionally invested cricket fan, the more balls Hughes and the middle order watch before batting on day one, the better.
Cowan is crucial to the balance and maturity of the side. At present we are running with a team of hot-headed young blokes.
Cowan is the level-headed, intelligent thinker the Australian side so desperately needs. He will be crucial to the mental stability of the side through the next six months on tour overseas.
He is the consummate, measured professional among the aggressive, less patient generation of Warner, Hughes, Wade and the young quicks.
Also, Cowan’s form in England in the past 24 months has been great: 12 innings for 500 runs at 46. This experience will be incredibly valuable.
The biggest challenge for Cowan is obviously Shane Watson. Though with a selection policy so geared to long term success, who would back Watson? He’s broken.
He can’t see out a Test summer, but insists on playing all three forms and the IPL. It’s ridiculous.
If he is serious about playing Test cricket for Australia, he should do what most older and more injury-prone cricketers do: stop playing short form games. If he doesn’t want to do that, he should be ready to get injured – again.
Experience in England is key. The ability to see out the English opening bowlers is going to be crucial, especially with the increasingly shallow middle order.
Cowan’s level head, maturity and patience will be a must for the side moving forward. Micky Arthur will not be throwing him out lightly.
MrKistic
Guest
No, Watson is the number 4. Get used to it.
Deccas
Guest
I reckon I could find room for marcus north in there
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
I'd be looking at a similar lineup! Based on the tour matches I'd have to say Watson Warner Hughes Khawaja Clarke (likes to bat at 5, so we'll let him) Wade Henriques Siddle Pattinson Lyon Bird Cowan would be stiff to be dropped as he has performed well so far, but I'd rather the hard decision be made now rather than during the Ashes. I'd also have Maxwell on standby if it's a raging turner and any of Hilfenhaus, Cummins or Starc if fit.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
Marsh bats in the middle order in first-class and Test cricket - that's a middle order batsman as far as I'm concerned. Agree re Cowan - Surely the more talented player gets picked if it's an 'investment'.
Deccas
Guest
the average of their opening partnerships. I read it on espn recently but cant quote exact figures. I think the average of their opening stands is in the low to mid 40s, smith and Peterson come in in the high 30s.
Daz
Guest
Sorry Dean but wasn't justifying his place, I was talking bout the team.
Amith
Guest
nmj1654 yes very good analysis on Cowan's weakness's, and yes i also see Shaun Marsh as a better opener then Cowan. My lineup for the first test would be Watson, Warner, Hughes, Clarke, Khawaja, Henriques, Wade
Dean Woodward
Guest
Daz don't justify Cowan's spot by looking at how the team has gone, He has not done enough to warrant a position. Watson, Warnre, Hughes, KHawaja and Clarke is the attack for the ashes.
Dean Woodward
Guest
No mate Marsh is not a middle order batsman, he has always batted at opener or 3. Though he is better then Cowan.
pope paul v11
Guest
In one innings I hope DC. Blow it, I'll back Ed for a ton
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
Marsh isn't an opener. He is a middle order batsman. I am suggesting he would function better than Cowan as an opener. Please take the time to actually read my comment.
Richard
Guest
Marsh, you have got to be kidding! We have three openers in the team we don't need anymore. The problem is the middle order.
dcnz
Guest
Well well, passionate debate, surely all of us armchair experts should make a call as to who will actually notch up a test century. I am picking four players to get past the ton mark. - Captain King Pup - i am stoked for him. - Shane Watto - about time mate. - Phil Hughes - the ugly duckling will show his style! - Matt Wade - he is pretty gutsy. ends
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
Right, Hughes is a key person...he has the ability to play well in slow, testing wickets!
Joshua James
Roar Rookie
i agree with Tra here 100%...We cant develop greats in one day! Give time to Cowan, he will surely improve and prove to be a future great! looks like out folks want instant heros, which can be true only in movies...
Daz
Guest
Good article Tra, certainly got everyone going. Everyones entitled to their opinion and the only fact is time will tell. It is hard to go by half baked form in a few shield and one day games, oh and thaty other meaningless hit and giggle. In the time cowan has been in the side, Watson has averaged 31.45 and had a strike rate of 44.4. Very similar to Cowan, 32.82 and 43.1. Add to this the fact that Watson could only manage to play 6 tests in that time. Despite the Aussie team being chopped and changed, not to mention the fact that our cricketers aren't as good as the champions we have had in recent times ( how could they possibly measure up ) we have done remarkably well in recent times. We have won 9 out of 13 tests and had the better of an outstanding Sth African team in 2 tests. A couple of determined innings in those tests prevented us from winning both. That can happen to the best teams as your opposition wants to win as much as you do. Good luck to the Aussies and I hope they prove a few of us wrong.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
They were the highest scoring and highest averaging opening partnership of 2012 in world cricket.
nmj1654
Roar Rookie
The problem is that Cowan is too old for improvement. To be a successful opener for a long period of time and to craft the innings at the top of the order that Australia so desperately need, a wider range of shots must be available and Cowan simply lacks that. His runs come almost exclusively square of the wicket and through the covers, with short punchy singles every 4 or 5 balls his forte. While I do agree that the more balls Hughes doesn't face in the early stages the better, having an opener with a wider shot range and the years to improve the average would be of much more interest to the man with the sorest shoulders in cricket, Michael Clarke. I'd suggest Shaun Marsh as an opener - we need not hand out another baggy green, he has proven his effectiveness on subcontinental pitches, and he is an excellent fielder. While his last Test series against India was beyond a mess, his experience and his ability to bat as long as Cowan can but not look so consistently unstable could be a top-order boon. Another option is to bring in a wise old head, Chris 'Buck' Rogers. He has enormous first-class experience in Australia and England, averages in excess of 50 in Shield cricket and has experienced Test cricket before albeit fleetingly. There's no point playing a journeyman such as Cowan when we can bring in someone who does just the same but will average 10 more - and not talk himself up to the media while he's at it.
tra
Roar Rookie
I'll happily eat humble pie at the end of the Ashes if need be, but if I were putting money down I'd have it on Cowan averaging higher than Watson this time next year.
Varun
Guest
People forget that watto is 2 time AB medal winner, how many does Cowan have, Watson,Warner, Hughes, khawaja and Clarke is the lineup for the ashes