In the wake of the capitulation of the Australian Test team in India over the last two months, the national selection panel will have no choice but to drop several players from the squad for the Ashes.
I wrote an article on December 14, 2011 entitled “Australian cricket needs to bloody the axe” in the wake of our loss to New Zealand on home soil. I predicted Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey wouldn’t make it to the next Ashes and now the selectors find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Of the 17 players selected to tour India, seven of them will be watching the Ashes from their couches in Australia.
David Warner, Shane Watson, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty should all be dropped.
Warner, to teach him a lesson. As an opener he needs to learn patience and circumspection and how to build an innings. He has a future as a Test player but for now he will do his learning in the Sheffield Shield (he’s only played 30 first class matches in his career, 19 of them Tests).
Watson, well I wrote an entire article on his shortcomings, two years averaging 24.1 is simply not good enough as a batsman.
Maxwell was never Test class and his selection disgraced the baggy green.
Henriques might one day be the all-rounder Australia so desire, but he’s not there yet. One first class century in his entire career shows he isn’t ready. Make him play county and Shield cricket for a few years.
Johnson has done his dash. He is no longer as threatening as he was and there are simply better bowlers around.
Starc is dropped for further development, there are better bowlers for the Ashes and he will have a long international career if he can stay fit, but for now let him recover from surgery and play some more first class cricket.
Maxwell and Doherty were never Test class and should never be seen again.
So who does make the plane? I would select a 16-man squad consisting of Ed Cowan, Chris Rogers, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Michael Clarke, Steven Smith, Alex Doolan, Matt Wade, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jackson Bird, Nathan Lyon and Steve O’Keefe
Cowan and Hughes both appeared to learn during the Indian series, something the other batsmen did not. They are both something of a gamble to select but have earned some faith.
Rogers is someone I would not normally select. At 36 I would normally ignore him as too old, but these are desperate times and his form is very good – he has averaged 43 over the last two and a half years at first class level.
Khawaja gets a gig based on the fact his reputation was not tarnished by the Indian series and that his last two county stints in England have yielded averages of 39.9 and 48.8.
Smith has matured and takes the last batting spot after Clarke, while Doolan gets the backup spot ahead of David Hussey, George Bailey and Shaun Marsh, who have all had poor seasons, and Joe Burns, who will get the experience of playing county cricket for the first time this year.
Haddin impressed in India, and like Rogers is in good form, so gets the backup spot behind Wade. Wade’s keeping was not as poor as many made out in India and it is a difficult place to keep – even Dhoni looked ordinary. Even so, Haddin might even get the nod for the Ashes just for leadership reasons as an on-field vice-captain.
Harris and Hilfenhaus get recalled for the Ashes and Bird re-joins the side, all three will do very well in English conditions. They join Siddle and Pattinson, who were standouts for Australia in trying Indian conditions.
O’Keefe gets a deserved call up as the second spin option behind Lyon, who was also wrongly maligned for his work this summer.
What do you think Roarers? Would you bloody the axe?
Bearfax
Guest
+ as many as you like.
JP
Guest
+5
Dan Ced
Guest
Fair point, I dare say if Cowan was playing shield his average would tank. Seemed a very good season for bowlers this season in shield!
Bearfax
Guest
I can follow some of your points Dan Ced and maybe Faulkner has a case, certainly Rogers does and I agree with your point about Cowan, though we're a little short on openers at present.. But I have to agree with Red about Klinger and the same goes for Ferguson who at 28 years is averaging only 36 at FC level. Not good enough for tests mate. A good one day player, but as has been shown time and again, being a good one day player doesnt automatically make you a good FC or for that matter test player. Overseas bowlers would eat him alive. By the way Cowan has a FC average just short of 40. You've knocked him but you're promoting someone with less success at FC level in Klinger and Ferguson
Dan Ced
Guest
I quite like your squad there, although I'd take some different reserves. Ahmed cannot be rushed so swiftly to the side, taking OKeefe is good enough (smith can spin if desperate) I'd take Callum Ferguson, and Chad Sayers as reserves, partly due to me being from Adelaide..partly due to their form. I will give Wade the benefit of the doubt and take him as reserve. We know they won't pick Cosgrove because they don't like big butts, sadly. I think Doolan is overrated at this point, but he could change my opinion next season. I wouldn't take him to England this year. If Watson bowls he should be there, if he doesn't bowl, leave him out. I think Cutting deserves a chance.
Dan Ced
Guest
They should've picked Klinger when he was best Shield batsman 3 years running.. since they gave Botha the captaincy Klingers battling has gone to sh*te. I think Callum Ferguson needs a look in, he has succeeded at an international level before and was unlucky with injury. I like Faulkner but not sure about him being in the test team. Rogers stats look solid lately, but I haven't seen enough of him. Seems the general consenus is that Paine or Hartley should be backup keeper (or first keeper) I have liked Ludeman this season with the gloves, give him another season and he might be in peoples calculations for national selection. Sayers got most wickets in the shield this season, he would be a more dangerous Siddle, but again not quite ready for the main stage. P.S. Cowan still being in the team is a prime example of the selectors wanting us to lose. You cannot reward mediocrity.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Commenter above mentioned phil Jacques and that's a good call. Had his back not given out on him at the worst possible time, he could be one of australias best ever openers. After 11 tests phil looked the goods(3 100s, 50s.). If he was healthy could have played 50 tests by now and is still only 33. Think of how he could have made a difference over the last few years. Aggression and patience mixed together. Its a shame
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
my ashes squad would be first XI Rogers(averages 50, lot of county exp) Hughes(hes an opener, let him open) Khawaja(best number 3 available) Cosgrove(heavy county exp, talented player) Clarke(best at 5) Smith(looking more secure as a batsman, great fielder, future captain possibly) Paine(in form with the bat, better keeper than wade or haddin) Pattinson(if healthy first bowler picked) Harris(aggressive and in form) Lyon(if he bowls slower and with more air like last test, can be dangerous) Bird(Possible Mcgrath/stuart clark like bowler) Reserves Doolan(1st batsmen in if anyone above fails) Wade(Backup keeper, game needs work) Faulkner(could be dangerous in England) McDonald(All rounder with county experience) OKeefe(2nd spinner depending on pitch) Ahmed(Play him in pre test tour games to see how he goes, and if lyon fails he should be next) Cutting(If healthy, excellent long form bowler, and aggressive batsmen Silk(There for the exp, shouldn't play) Coach Lehmann. Non BS successful aussie coach should be the national coach.
Deep Thinker
Guest
2 changes from your team. 1 - Keep Warner, drop Cowan. Cowan is 30 - he should be at the peak of his career by now. If he is still working it out, it is too late. I can't see him developing into the opener the selectors are hoping him to be. Warner on the other hand has done ok over his career. He is a potential marquee player for the side, and needs to be perservered with. I've seen gritty innings from Warner - he carried his bat against NZ at Bellerive, and I recall another gritty century in an ODI. I think he is still working his game out - suffering from being starved of FC cricket by NSW - but in the absence of viable alternatives, I think he should learn on the job. Picking Cowan over Warner is not in the teams short or long term interests. 2 - Hilfy - I really want to pick him, but I can't. I think he has been very hit and miss over his career - 1 good season, 1 bad. I think Faulkner has a lot of potential and should be picked. He is ready to test his skills on the highest stage, and has a bit of mongrel in him - which the team currently lacks. I also would like to pick Johnson - he showed good form in Oz - and after sitting around in India,came in for the 4th test rusty and on a wicket offering nothing to pace bowlers. I still think he is the most dangerous of all the bowlers - provided he is bowling well. Problem is, I can't find space. If you are desperate to push Warner out of the team, if I was the NSP, I'd be tempted to coax Jaques out of retirement for the Ashes. His county form has been solid. Smith - he only stays because of his performance in India. i don't think he is a long term option, but must admit, he looked good over there.
brother mouzone
Guest
+ infinity
A Punter
Guest
Who says there must be an alrounder in the side?
A Punter
Guest
He should never have been selected for that tour based on his form.
A Punter
Guest
"The selectors haven’t used the Shield as a guide to selection so far this season" This is a major reason for the bewildering selections.
Nudge
Guest
Great call rotating siddle and Harris. Very similar bowlers
Nudge
Guest
I'm not saying smith will never be any good bearfax just saying he's not ready and not in top 7 batsmen in those conditions. Clarke Warner Hughes Watson Cowan khawaja will all board the plane before smith. I would have s marsh as spare bat.
Nudge
Guest
It's good to have a left armed because then you have someone to angle the ball across. Remember 6 of there top 7 are right handers
sittingbison
Guest
I think his domestic form has been heavily influenced by the T20 and ODI this season. I believe he has the experience and temperament required to come good. And the Ashes is still months away, so current form doesnt really mean much. Neither Bailey or Voges will prove to be a Mike Hussey, but they are steady. We could do with a dose of steady after the India debacle....in fact after the past year of two if you take out Clarkes double centuries and Husseys centuries. Two years of Cowan getting 30, Warner hit and miss, whoever at 3 doing bugger all, Watson getting 25 at 4 has killed us and applies tremendous pressure to 5 and 6. Thus some old hard pros. And I actually believe SOS has turned the corner, he has been a mess of personal demons as evidenced by his Australian stint and implosion for WA at the beginning of the year but looks to have discovered some inner calm as evidenced by his late season form. I would not be averse to his call up.
Bearfax
Guest
Could answer that Red but I think to save goodwill, I'll concede defeat. We'll just have to accept we see things differently in this issue. Mind you on most issues I agree with you.
Red Kev
Guest
Why does Warner get to do his learning at test level?
Bearfax
Guest
Just to get it in context Warner averaged 24.5 in India. Hughes averaged 18. And both of us support Hughes being retained. Where's the equity. Doesnt matter how he scores runs as long as he scores them. If he doesnt then drop him. Same applies to all.