Of the 16 players to tour India (including Brad Haddin but not Jackson Bird) only five of them make my Ashes squad and the other 11 – enough for a whole team! – are sitting on the couch watching in August.
So who makes the squad?
Those five from India are Michael Clarke, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson.
For the Ashes you need six batsmen, a keeper and four bowlers (one spinner and hopefully a couple who can bat a bit). The order looks like this:
1. Chris Rogers
2. Hughes
3. Khawaja
4. Clarke (c)
5. Shaun Marsh
6. Joe Burns
7. Tim Paine (wk)
8. Steve O’Keefe
9. Siddle
10. Pattinson
11. Ryan Harris/ Bird
Other players in the squad would be George Bailey, Chris Hartley, James Faulkner and Ashton Agar.
This team has more batting depth because Tim Paine is a good batsman at seven and Steve O’Keefe can bat a bit, as can Siddle.
The decision between Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird is tricky, it depends on ‘Rhino’s’ body and whether it is up to the task of five days’ bowling.
Hartley and Bailey add experience to the squad, as does Rogers. And it is essential to have a back-up gloveman on tour in case Paine gets injured.
If England produce a turner (unlikely because they won’t have the weather) then Agar can play instead of a paceman and if there’s no spin at all (like the WACA) then Faulkner replaces OKeefe.
So Roarers, does this squad look better than the one that went to India?
Nick Richardson
Roar Guru
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4gGNatKTnY
Ash Lemson
Roar Rookie
Sorry a few mistakes when I said true I meant to say true pitches
Ash Lemson
Roar Rookie
while the top 6 isn't perfect, its the best I can come up with, the pros for OKeefe is that he can support the batting line up as well, also Marsh and Burns are better batsmen than there shield average suggests (especially marsh) and believe that they are better than Warner or Smith. Before everybody starts bagging me for picking Phil Hughes yes I would never play him in the subcontinent he is a better batsmen than Cowan on true and his record in county cricket is outstanding.
JGK
Roar Guru
If you take out "spin" Hughes has only played 3 tests against the most pedestrian pace attack in world cricket. In my mind, he hasn't improved at all. Can score big runs in benign conditions. Rubbish everywhere else.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Most players who get selected young get dropped at some stage. Boon was dropped I think four or five times before years as a better than solid #3. Being dropped isn't a big issue so long as the player comes back better. Hughes seems to have done that (except against spin), whether well enough remains to be seen. He may well get dropped again and come back better again, or dropped and never recalled.
TedS
Guest
You know what they say about exes - they are your ex for a reason. And CA broke up 3 times with Hughes and then got back together again. If it didnt work out the first time, its not gonna workout the 7th time.
Mr Toad
Guest
'Does this squad look better than the one that went to India?' Almost a rhetorical question - name any squad and the answer would be yes! But thanks for putting a side forward. Pretty much agree with the bowling line-up though possibly preferring Lyon as spinner. Your top-6 is a nightmare, but just like every alternative being bandied about. Agree heartily with Rogers and Khawaja (maybe not at no. 3, though), and Clarke picks himself. It kills me to admit it but would prefer Cowan to Hughes. Not just because of somewhat better performance in India, but because Hughes, despite domestic form and technical modifications has not yet been really tested against quality swing bowling, and in my view will fail badly. Not to Marsh and Burns for reasons given above. Alternatives? I'd persist with Smith for the time being and consider batting warner at no.3, hopefully after cowan/rogers have bored the poms witless for at least a session.
Stephen
Guest
Khawaja and Burns are 2 bright spots in the batting lineup, Khawaja is ready now and i am predicting Burns will be ready by next year
Stephen
Guest
I am dissapoitned with Arthur as well. I just want him picking our best team which i don't think we have. Enough has been said on KHawaja's inclusion so i won't say anymore on that. But on top of that we need another good spinner to support Lyon, perhaps a Beer or Holland or SOJ. We also need to bring Rhino back in, he was amaziing in the shield final.
Red Kev
Guest
Burns needs to play for Leicestershire as contracted, not be drawn into an Ashes squad as a backup batsman who never plays. It will benefit him and Australian cricket far more. If he plays well and starts the next shield season well he'll come into calculations for the return-Ashes in Australia.
St Mark W
Guest
No! Hughes is border line, especially since he was found out by the English bowlers last time he played in England Shaun Marsh 2012/13 season avg. 19, complete disaster last summer at in Aus. against India Joe Burns 2012/13 season avg. 34, although he did finish the season well Tim Paine 2012/13 season avg. 30, although he did keep reasonable well in Shield final George Bailey 2012/13 season avg. 18 Ashton Agar, has only played 5 Shield matches
TedS
Guest
Jealous?
TedS
Guest
The cardinal mistake you made, my dear Watson, is not to mention Arthur's imminent, inevitable, necessary sacking. Fire the guy and then we can look at your list.
Robert
Guest
Not a bad side.Well balanced.Probably wouldnt throw Burns in just yet though,like to see him score bigger in a shield season first or he maybe put in the S.Smith category. Lyon deserves to go too. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
JGK
Roar Guru
No.