At a time when more players are putting their hand up to be dropped from the team than selected to play, you’d think it would be easy for the selectors to give a few domestic toilers a chance.
Here are my top three should-be Ashes players:
Callum Ferguson
I was never a fan of Callum Ferguson or his wonky batting stance but this is a selection totally bereft of my emotional disposition.
He would happily wear the baggy green with pride and adhere to team policy and captain’s instruction unlike a select few in the current top order.
He would stride to the crease after Chris Rogers has taken the shine off the Duke, after Phil Hughes has guided a Jimmy Anderson Irish swinger down gully’s throat and rotate the strike with Pup as the captain breaks another Test batting record.
Although he didn’t set the world alight in terms of century-making, he averaged a nudge under 40 in 12/13 and I’m a current-form selector. Callum takes Ed Cowan’s spot in the squad.
Stephen O’Keefe
I’m sure I’m not alone in picking O’Keefe as a bowling all-rounder but I’m equally as sure that this selection will garner a fair bit of backlash.
His first class batting average of 30 is nothing to sneeze at but it’s his bowling average of 26.49 that earnes him a plane ticket.
Nathan Lyon is a good Test spin bowler – despite some public opinion suggesting otherwise – but he is comparatively a much poorer bowler than O’Keefe.
Lyon’s overall domestic bowling average is 38.89. O’Keefe is getting better, a fact backed up by his 12/13 Sheffield Sheild average of 22.2.
I believe Lyon’s selection was made just so Australia had a ‘specialist spinner’ but the question needs to be asked: Why pick a ‘specialist spinner’ when we have an all-rounder that is also a better bowler?
Stephen obviously takes Lyon’s spot in the team.
Trent Copeland
In my opinion this guy epitomises Test bowling. Although he won’t knock anyone’s block off (nor will he go around smashing stump cams!) he will bowl line-and-length and frustrate the heck out of opposing batsmen.
He’s not a record breaker by any stretch of the imagination but he will regularly bowl at two-an-over and give Starc, Siddle or Pattinson an opportunity to grab a wicket at the other end.
His first class bowling average sits pretty tidily at a touch over 24 and he’s no stranger to notching up five-wicket hauls.
All of this should warrant selection so it’s a wonder his surprising run-making ability doesn’t get him over the line.
He’s scored a century and two half-centuries in first class cricket and has proven it no fluke with a 12/13 Shield average of 34.72.
The above players aren’t world beaters but, as they say, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Cav
Guest
As I have said before,Jackson Bird is the word. Yes he had one injury not three or four, just coming back, good three wick haul in his last game. If he gets his chance he will deliver. Cannot remember when he was in a team that lost a game..
Clavers
Guest
I agree with O'Keefe (should have been on the India tour). But in my opinion Chris Hartley should have been one of three. Comfortably the best 'keeper in Australia. Both Haddin and Wade have missed more chances in a series than Marsh, Healy or Gilchrist ever did in a lifetime.
Aakash bhat
Guest
Johnson looks in nice form.His previous performances on english wickets is the reason he's not picked in the squad.
Alex
Guest
Copeland is a sound replacement. But most likely the selectors will call up Johnson before anyone like copeland or coulter Nile
Kalon Huett
Roar Rookie
The thing that bemuses me about O'Keefe consistently being ignored is that he reminds me so much of Jadeja for India. Any selector trying to work out why O'Keefe keeps getting wickets even though it seems like he's a short left-arm orthodox bowler with a simple action and no big tricks, ought to watch what Jadeja is doing at international level right now. O'Keefe makes batsmen play, and his skiddy little round arm action can get the ball to grip on the surface and turn unexpectedly. I've seen him bowl some absolute rippers. The fact he can get one to spin out of nowhere (unlike Doherty most of the time) makes O'Keefe's straight darts even more dangerous. He's always in with an LBW chance to the right-hander. I feel confident he'd outperform Lyon in England, and his low-order runs could prove more than handy given our flailing batting order. In fact the way our batting has been going, I think picking bowlers who can bat is more of a priority than ever. We don't have the luxury of banking on our top six. When your 7 to 10 are more than capable run-getters it makes things very hard for the opposition. Pattinson, Starc, Siddle, O'Keefe, Agar, Faulkner are all better than average low-order batsmen and this could prove the difference in a tight series. Having said all that, I'd pick Agar over O'Keefe, Lyon and Ahmed.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Maybe it's that's 20-30 extra KGs holding him back. How's he gonna rotate the strike?
Simoc
Guest
Complete rubbish Mr Shervey once again showing off those that study statistics and are clueless about cricket. O'Keefe has Ozs only turning track all to himself and Copeland is not with in cooee these days. He was from the last mob. Ferguson has just not gone on with it though he is capable.
Josh
Guest
Cosgrove ? Why don't Australia ever pick Cosgrove
Aakash bhat
Guest
Kumble was a spinner
around 95-100 kph.
JGK
Roar Guru
How fast did Anil Kumble bowl?
Aakash bhat
Guest
Ferguson and keefe are nice choices but its copeland's pace that will keep him from getting selected. He's young so he must bowl at around 85 miles/hr.78m/h in int. Cricket is unacceptable
JGK
Roar Guru
Of the three mentioned I would only agree with SOK. Ferguson has consistently failed to deliver when an Australian spot has been up for grabs. Let's move on.
MervUK
Guest
Frankie does often talk nonsense... but as an englishman i have to admit div 2 is poor, although I've seen little of copeland
jameswm
Roar Guru
Speaks his mind - Clarke won't have that.
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Ferguson is no mug with the bat. I could probably leave him out of the team - I think he would just take a call-up with two hands and not take it for granted like Warner and Watson.
doozel
Guest
Don't know how SOK is not playing for Aus. Best figures for any spinner in first class cricket and can bat. Also seems like a top bloke, came to my kids presentation and was great, well spoken and went out of his way to talk to the kids. Also been great at any Sydney Sixers events.
John
Guest
He gets test players out in Division 2 as well (Prior, Sarwan very cheaply to name just two), as does Jimmy Anderson. Don't rate him either Frankie? and you didn't answer the question re who your Ashes replacement bowler would be? How you can you say his bowling would get trashed in Div 1, he didn't get trashed at all, by anyone in Sri Lanka on flat as pitches!
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
We wouldn't need Copeland. Our fast bowling is very good. O'Keefe should be there, he should have been in every test side for the last 2 years, but he's surely made an enemy with the wrong person at cricket Australia. Then we come to Ferguson. Personally, I don't rate him. He's had ample time to develop his first-class cricket and hasn't managed to lift his batting average out of the mid 30s. And we wonder why the Poms are so confident, when people are barracking for guys like Ferguson to get a test call up.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Copeland took his wickets in division 2 of the County Championship. Div 2 is considerably lower standard to Div 1 Copeland's 73-76mph bowling would've got trashed in Div 1.