With the second Test in Hyderabad all said and done the embattled Aussies will now have to win the last two Test matches to keep their hands on the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
However, a small part of me hopes this unlikely scenario doesn’t become reality.
I will begin with our batting. The Indian spinners have toyed with Phil Hughes in his four innings this series, he has salvaged just 25 runs at an average of 6.25, including two ducks.
Coming from a young man who is one of the most talented young players in the world, I do not see how the Australian selectors can pass this off as acceptable.
Number three is the most important batting position in the side and Phil Hughes looks too fragile since he’s taken the role.
Secondly, I do not understand the banter and discussion regarding Ed Cowan, for me personally I give him a big, fat tick since he made his début.
Prior to this series, he was averaging 32.82, which doesn’t do him justice. He’s a much better player than that and I admire how he knuckles down and wants to play the long innings.
He has had a spree of scores around 40 runs and I do believe he needs to go on with his starts.
Given that, I would like to see the selectors give Cowan a chance at three. I think the opening role has been a par performance, but I see more opportunities for him at three.
I see him as a player who can steady the ship if an early wicket falls, as he takes his time and doesn’t give his wicket away easily. A skill I believe to be an important element of that position in the order.
Regardless of where he bats, I see Cowan – although 30 years of age – improving with more time in the Test arena. He needs to be there.
Then, there’s Pup. 329*, 210, 259*, 230. There’s nothing worth mentioning around him. I don’t care what position he bats, he needs support.
Whether you bring in a player like Rob Quiney who knows how to hold his own, or you bring in a player like Usman Khawaja who I regard as a “quiet achiever” (as he gets runs and receives no praise for it) I don’t mind.
As long as someone can stick around with Pup long enough to salvage something in the runs column for the Aussies. Henriques did it in Chennai.
Watson for me isn’t an automatic selection. He need centuries, not 20 odd. Especially when he gets out to an appalling shot like he did in the first innings of the Hyderabad Test match.
He doesn’t value his wicket. In saying this, if he is picked in the side, it’s as an opener, enough said.
Although the bowlers have struggled on this tour – managing 22 wickets for 1,125 runs – I still think we have the right combination as far as the seamers are concerned.
With the likes of Pattinson, Starc, Siddle, Johnson, Hilfenhaus and Bird, throw Cummins in there and you’re sorted.
It’s the spinners that need work, yet everyone is saying that it’s not.
Stuart MacGill has recently been appointed as Australia’s spin mentor. One of the first things he said was that Xavier Doherty is not a Test standard bowler.
A couple of days later, Doherty is our frontline spinner when we have our backs up against the wall, and isn’t doing anything that will seemingly get us out of the situation any time soon.
This just shows the standard of our spinners. I hope that having Stuart MacGill in and around the Australian team will spark some better decisions on the selection panel – why Steve O’Keefe didn’t go to India I’ll never know – and guys like Adam Zampa, Michael Beer and Fawad Ahmed will get a look.
I doubt much will change on this tour of India, the last two Tests will result in huge defeats as the first couple did. But here is my side for the first Ashes Test where Australia need to bring their A-game.
1. Shane Watson
2. David Warner
3. Ed Cowan
4. Michael Clarke (c)
5. Usman Khawaja
6. Moises Henriques
7. Matthew Wade (w)
8. Glenn Maxwell – May surprise a few with this choice. Why have a spinner that can only take wickets and will most likely fail anyway? I believe we should take a spinner that can also make plenty of runs with the chance of snaring a few Poms!
9. Peter Siddle
10. James Pattinson
11. Patrick Cummins
I hope I have helped you all think outside the box a little bit with regards to the Ashes team.
Cricket Australia need to do something.
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