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In the wake of the embarrassing demolition of Australia by a rampant India in Chennai and Hyderabad, it is time Australians and the National Selection Panel embrace a truth long known by fat people the world over – one size does not fit all.
It is simply ridiculous to select as though the same XI cricketers who can match it will all comers on the seaming and swinging decks of Australia, South Africa and England will be competitive on the dusty spinning decks of India.
You can’t fight the conditions and several changes need to be made to the first choice XI that would play in Australia when playing India in India.
In places like the West Indies and Sri Lanka where Test match ability is a forgotten art, our “normal” home XI will get the job done.
Watch out against Pakistan though – I would be looking long and hard at the decks in the UAE (or in Pakistan if tours ever restart) before selecting a squad.
I already know what the critics of this idea will say:
“Select your best available players for every match!”
“The best Test match XI doesn’t change just because we’re on tour!”
Except the best XI does change on tour. The best players of spin bowling in Australia are not the same as the best players of pace bowling.
Nor are our bowlers dominant enough to beat teams in all conditions.
We don’t have the once in a generation talents of Ponting, Gilchrist, McGrath and Warne anymore. We don’t even have the perfect professionalism of Mike Hussey to fall back on.
So here is what I would do. The majority of the team (the core if you will) would remain the same, but between three and five of the team would be changed based on the conditions (i.e. be considered subcontinent specialists).
As always the biggest selection issue is Shane Watson – frankly I’m over him, he’s played pathetic poo-brown Test cricket for two years now.
He should be dumped (and flushed) from Test matches to focus on what he does well which is opening the batting and bowling economical overs in limited overs cricket.
The other big call is Phil Hughes.
For mine he has to be dropped out of the side for all conditions. He will work his way back, I actually have faith he will come back probably to replace Cowan as an opener, but for now he’s dropped.
He was rushed back too fast because the NSP was somehow surprised by Ponting’s retirement.
He is too limited a cricketer and is mentally fragile right now. He has nothing but the cut shot to score off when under pressure.
Warner, to be replaced by Shaun Marsh on the subcontinent.
Cowan
Khawaja
Clarke
Bailey
Burns would be my pick for five, but Henriques has a chance right now to make the spot his own. A seam-bowling all-rounder is a good option to have on the subcontinent.
Wade, to be replaced by Paine on the subcontinent.
Siddle, to be replaced by O’Keefe on the subcontinent.
Pattinson
Lyon
Bird
Johnson (12th man as he is still a better red ball bowler than Starc, although as someone pointed out the other day Harris if he is fit should really be found a spot)
I’ll happily justify the rest of the selections in the comments section if need be.
What do you think Roarers, does Australia need subcontinent specialists?
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