With a horror tour of India finally over and done with and the Sheffield Shield season wrapping up, the focus of Australian cricket can now shift 100 percent to the upcoming Ashes series in England.
There is no doubting that the selectors will have their work cut out for them, but it is not all doom and gloom.
Here is my touring squad for the series in England and my reasoning behind each selection:
M. Clarke (c)
S. Watson (vc)
D. Warner
E. Cowan
P. Hughes
U. Khawaja
M. Wade
T. Paine
M. Henriques
J. Faulkner
M. Starc
J. Pattinson
P. Siddle
R. Harris
N. Lyon
Even with his dodgy back and hamstrings, the skipper Michael Clarke will be the first on the plane and will be leading his team through a highly anticipated series.
His form since taking over as captain has been outstanding and he will be looking to further those fantastic numbers.
The man at the centre of many debacles, Shane Watson deserves a shot at Ashes glory.
If fit, his credentials and skills are second to none and along with Dave Warner he is a matchwinner with the bat.
Depending on his ever unreliable body, if the vice captain is able to bowl even just a few overs here and there, that would add a lot to our attack.
Dave Warner will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders at the top of the order, with his x-factor with the bat and in the field.
After a tour of India that showed glimpses of his heart and determination, there is no doubting that he is poised for a big series.
Along with his opening partner Dave Warner, Ed Cowan will have a huge role to play in the Ashes series with opening partnerships being crucial in putting scores on the board.
As one of the hardest working men in Australian cricket, Cowan has showed that he has that ability to do the hard work and grind out an innings.
Phillip Hughes is that name that always seems to stay with the current Australian cricket team.
Having had a couple of goes at Test cricket, these back to back Ashes series could be career-defining for the young man who currently resides in Adelaide.
As my back up batsman I have selcted Usman Khawaja. Like Hughes this guy has infinite talent and just needs a serious crack at Test cricket to make a name for himself.
After a great domestic season, this guy deserves to be on that plane to England.
The first choice wicketkeeper for my touring squad is of course Matthew Wade. This guy has not done too much wrong since being handed the reigns as first-choice wicketkeeper in all three forms of the game.
With England keeper Matt Prior in good form, Wade will need to make sure that he contributes with the bat and puts in a solid performance behind the stumps.
Every touring squad in my opinion should have a back-up wicketkeeper.
Tim Paine who was once touted as a future captain of the Test team is my selection.
He is arguably the best pure gloveman in the country and is starting to re-find his form with the bat.
One of the few highlights from the tour of India was the form of all-rounder Moises Henriques.
Although his numbers in the end may not show it, the fight that he showed is something that the Australian team needs at the moment.
His enthusiasm around the group would come in handy as the lengthy tour drags on.
Out of the limited-overs matches during the Australian summer we learnt one thing, when James Faulkner is playing for Australia he will always repay the faith and make it work with the bat and ball.
His passion would be a huge boost and if he was to be given the chance, there is no doubt he would not let his country down.
Mitchell Starc will be on that plane to England. This guy is the future of our pace attack and could be a huge factor in English conditions.
With his incredible height and ability to swing the ball back into right handers, it would be fair to say that he will be making a few of the English batsman a bit nervous.
Along with Starc, James Pattinson will be a part of our pace attack coome the first Test. With his ability to swing the ball and get the ball to hit the seam this guy could prove a dream partnership with starc as new ball bowlers.
The experience in the attack comes from this man, Peter Siddle. The lion-hearted Victorian has shown that he is willing to give his all for his team mates and his country and deserves to be picked in the team for the first test.
My back up bowler is Ryan Harris. One of the unluckiest men when it comes to injuries, Harris has shown he is more than capable to dominate on the International scene.
His performance in the last games of the Shield season shows that he is ready to dust off the baggy green and make his Test comeback.
My spinner is of course Nathan Lyon. The man has shown he is willing to do the hard work.
His statistics are as good as any off spinner that has played for Australia to date. So until there is another spinner in Australia capable of playing Test cricket, Lyon deserves to be our number one.
With my squad chosen, this would be my line up for the first Test:
E. Cowan
D. Warner
P. Hughes
S. Watson
M. Clarke
M. Wade
M. Henriques
P. Siddle
J. Pattinson
M. Starc
N. Lyon
Shane watson
Guest
Thats right. I want to see some changes thats like 1)warner, 2.ed cowan. 3. P.hughes, 4.m.clarke. 5.a.voges. 6.wade. 7.starc 8.siddle 9.pattinson 10.harris 11.lyon
A Punter
Guest
Henriques and Watson? You must be obsessed with "allrounders" like John Inveratiry. Neither of these are good enough at test level with either bat or ball. SIX BATSMEN!
Greg Were
Guest
This should be the squad but it won't be: Clarke Warner Wade Cowans Hughes D.Hussey Watson J. Bird Cummins Pattinson Sayers Harris Lyon S. Smith Paine Faulkner
snow
Guest
I would include Jackson Bird in the squad instead of Harris. He's economical and is the type of bowler that could do very well in England. You also don't need both Henriques and Faulkner in the squad - they both fill pretty much the same role. I would take Faulkner and include Steve Smith instead of Henriques. Smith batted well under difficult circumstances in India when he finally got the chance and would provide a level of support in the spin department for Nathan Lyons. He is also capable of scoring quickly if the situation demands. Although I like Paine as a keeper I wouldn't take a second keeper. Hughes can always don the gloves if Wade gets injured in a match and these days it's fairly easy to fly out a replacement if the injury puts him out for the following match. I'd take Mitchell Johnson instead. It's a long series and you need depth in the pace department. Johnson is useful with the bat and provides a genuine pace alternative to Starc and Pattinson if either gets injured, loses form or just needs to be rested for a match. This would be my squad... M. Clarke (c) S. Watson (vc) D. Warner E. Cowan P. Hughes U. Khawaja M. Wade S. Smith M. Johnson J. Faulkner M. Starc J. Pattinson P. Siddle J. Bird N. Lyon
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I don't have too many issues with your squad but I would make 4 changes ..... Watson, Harris, Lyon and Henriques would stay at home. If Watson does not play as a pure all-rounder who shoulders a fair percentage of the bowling then he does not deserve his place on form during the last 3 years. Harris maybe fit now, and may play a full first test but history says that he will break down soon after that. Australia cannot afford that on a long tour. Yes Henriques did ok in India and could well be a great performer in England but I have left him out because I don't believe that we need an all-rounder. Lyon has had multiple chances but he is not a big turner of the ball, nor does he seem to get much bounce or deceive with flight. He should have salivated at some of the Indian pitches but struggled. Those 3 places I would fill with Alex Doolan ... a good steady performer for the last 3 years ...... Silk .... a promising young batsman on the rise ..... J Bird ..... probably an ideal type of pace bowler for English conditions plus his performance demands a place .... Stephan O'Keefe ..... the form spin bowler in Australia over a number of years (check his stats). With Watson omitted I would pick Warner as the vice captain
Daniel
Guest
6 BATSMAN!! If India isn't enough proof the allrounder at no 7 doesnt work i dent know what is... From your team i would lose paine, henreiques and Watson for Haddin, Cosgrove and Smith... Haddin has an ashes record and first class season to die and the experience and discipline to lead, unlike Watson... Cosgrove's my back up batsman and its time his excellent and consistent shield form are rewarded regardless of his size... I was never a fan of smith but he showed fight down the order india and his exclusion after being the next best batsman after Clarke would be disapointing Cowan Warner Hughes Clarke Khawaja Smith Haddin Starc/Faulkner Siddle Pattinson Lyon
arpit
Guest
Jackson bird has to be selected and should be playing as much as possible cuz if he doesn't we are gonna loose! :(! He has got the element of surprise as well as the ability to stop the flow of runs! And gets the early breakthrough!
Lancey5times
Guest
Six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman six batsman
Ash Lemson
Roar Rookie
That looks a little to familiar to the team that played in Chennai and what happened there. Warner ,Cowan ,Watson ,Henriques, and Wade all need to go being replaced with Rogers, S Marsh, Burns, OKeefe. 1St test team 1. Rogers 2. Hughes 3. Khawaja 4. Clarke 5. S Marsh 6. Burns 7. Paine 8. OKeefe 9. Siddle 10. Pattinson 11. Bird or Harris Also take Bailey, Hartley, Agar, Faulkner and Voges