Phil Hughes may have saved his place in the line-up for the first Test, after notching two half centuries in Australia’s opening tour match win over Somerset in Taunton.
The Australians cruised to a six-wicket win midway through day four after being set a victory target of 260.
Brad Haddin stayed in good touch with 52no and a big six to finish the job, while bowling allrounder James Faulkner (5no) remained unbeaten in both his innings.
Hughes was under pressure leading into the start of the Ashes after well documented troubles against the moving ball.
But a drop to No.5 in the first innings saw him thrive in an impressive knock of 76no while, in the second dig, he managed 50 batting at his more accustomed position of first drop.
Where Hughes will play is up for debate but it seems likely new coach Darren Lehmann will try to reinvent him as a middle order batsman against England.
With Shane Watson (90 in the first innings) assured of opening, the remaining two spots at the top seem down to Chris Rogers, Usman Khawaja and Ed Cowan.
Rogers is a frontrunner given his proven record in English conditions.
Khawaja (73) edged out Cowan (46) in the second innings rankings but the next practice against Worcestershire, starting on Tuesday, shapes as a shootout between the pair for the first Test.
Cowan has given reliable service but has struggled to go on with the job since his maiden Test century in Brisbane last year.
Khawaja is a favourite of Lehmann through their association in Queensland, but he hasn’t done enough to be assured of selection.
England spinner Graeme Swann would have enjoyed the sight of Somerset slow bowler George Dockrell knocking over three of the Australian big guns on Saturday.
Khawaja and Hughes, who have both struggled against spin in the past, were dismissed by Dockrell and the left-armer also removed the usually rock-solid Michael Clarke for 26, when the skipper charged down the crease.
The Australians are likely to rotate their men quite a bit for the Worcestershire match, wanting to give squad players like Ryan Harris, Jackson Bird and Rogers a chance to impress.
James Pattinson took seven wickets for the match to lead the fast bowlers, while Mitchell Starc finished with six.
buddha9
Guest
There should be two aims for selectors: 1) protect clarke, let him get to the wicket with a decent total on board so maximizing chance for him to make a big hundred ( only one who can). 2) only pick those with good techniques ie, not hughes or warner. Those guys are rabbits in the headlights for English bowlers. I don't care how many they've scored against other sides they aren't good enough to play english attack - you're just tossing away wickets. I'd like to see Usman K at 6 and Bailey at 4 -- bailey's a bloke knows his game and thats important here -- he'll provide better protection for clarke altogether calmer than Warner -- Usman is a compiler much like a young border used to be he can play both games and he'll learn to play it with the tail. Unfortunately for trent bridge we have to play cowen, watson and rodgers - four is really where they're short a batsman -- Usman will have to play there and prob one of the duffers most likely hughes will need to play 6 -- bad selection of batsmen force this issue. The bowlers should be pattison, starc and bird with lyon the spinner -- lyon/bird/watson keep it tight and the other too bowl wicket taking spells, hopefully.
davos
Guest
you could turn that around with Clarke getting out early at 4 ..and Australia really is up s...te creek..get the feeling you probably are a pom James and I don't mind a bit of debate ...but if its an Englishman telling me Clarke should bat up at 4 ...I tend to think there is another reason to leave him where he is ....lol...you are definitely right Clarke has saved our a...e so many times and gone on to make good scores batting 5 that again I would say ...why would you risk stuffing that up ?..
jameswm
Roar Guru
That;'d be my guess at the 1st test team, with 4 and 5 swapped around.
Ads
Guest
A genuine query, when has Warner won Australia a test match?
Ads
Guest
Only thing is that it is broke, Clarke coming in at 5 does great things for his test average, doesn't help the team win games though, things need to change. The best batter in a test side needs to be in the top 4 ideally 3 but I am willing to accept that 3 is a fairly specialist position and so Clarke at 4 is a reasonable compromise. This is particularly true when the sides batting is weak, coming in at 5 means he runs the risk of running out of partners. The folly of Australia filling their number 6 batting position with a bowler/all rounder can not continue. With 4 bowlers and Watson the bowling is well covered, the batting needs to be strengthened.
pope paul v11
Guest
Nice to see them all get some runs. We all agree on who the top six will be, if not the order, don't we? Smith is injury cover and Davey Warner is a bad boy! So they won't come into contention until at least the third test. Faulk will surely only appear as a member of the bowling fraternity and not before his elders have had a ping. Therefore I think they will do this; Watson Rogers Cowan Khawaja Clarke Hughes Haddin Siddle Harris Pattinson Lyon Siddle lack of wickets may have left him to a bowl off with Starc and Bird. Harris also needs a bowl in the next warm up too. Might be tricky fitting them all in for the warm up? Anyway it's taking shape. One thing they will turn up certain of their roles and up for a fight.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
Watson, Rogers, Khawaja, Hughes, Clarke, Smith, Haddin. Watson back where he has a good record, Rogers very experienced, Usman needs a good long run at 3, Hughes away from moving ball and has to improve spin playing, Clarke at his preferred spot, Smith able to graft and attack as well, Haddin a good counter attacker thought reckless at times. Must play 6 proper batsmen, no all rounder needed with Watson used sparingly as a partnership breaker, keeper at 7 as Haddin is not good enough for No 6.
James
Guest
clarke may prefer 5 but it means that the younger players around him dont have that rock to support them if he came in at 3 or 4. clarke will save australia a number of times but he cannot do it all the time, australia need a strong middle order. the middle order batsmen are coming in with the score hovering around 100 odd and having to save the game. how much easier would it be for them to come in after clarke or with clarke already settled and the score 3 or 4 for 150 or something. i think clarke staying at 5 is selfish and will in the long run lose australia more games then it saves.
davos
Guest
because he may do well there...he's a pretty talented batsman when hes on ...he might be on more against the older ball ...or possibly not
davos
Guest
me too...play hughes at 4
Bob
Guest
He has no record of batting at 6. Why pick an unknown quantity?
Bob
Guest
Hughes would need to improve an awful lot against spin to become a success at 5. He's only ever played shield against the new ball so why expect him to master coming in against Swann with old ball. Selectors have too many openers and no middle order players. Boy I miss Hussey.
Macksville Mauler
Guest
Warner at 6
AnthonyDarcy
Guest
Couldn't agree more! That's how pointing, katich, m Waugh among heaps of others got where they did.
Jameswm
Guest
He's scored runs in the last few days. You can't judge him solely on facing Freddy 4 years ago.
buddha9
Guest
just depends which county Brett - some play second division which ain't much chop. Also county attacks are now a clear step down from test level mainly because the best bowlers are always contracted ---- Roger's may make test runs he may not -- Compton made a lot more county runs than rogers and he's struggled in tests recently -- can't find a way to score --- Still if Rogers can lay bat on ball he should be in at trent bridge -- the batting has to protect Clarke give him a platform to make a big score. He;s only one capable of making a big hundreds no one else can --
Danno1
Guest
Arthur, that might have been good for Viv, but the Windies lost 5-1, do we want to wait for the Ashes out here before we are looking at a win?
Praveen
Guest
Khawaja is the best option for number 3, he does this well at shield level and what better time to test him out then the ashes, Watson, Rogers, khawaja, Clarke, Hughes is a good top 5
Praveen
Guest
Rogers has county runs but Cowan has done nothing special, if he fails in the next game he won't be playing the first test
Praveen
Guest
No one doubts khawaja is the best option for 3