At present being a member of Australia’s top-seven must be a bit like playing musical chairs – when the music stops, grab a seat.
Or perhaps, more correctly, slump down in the one the selectors have slipped behind you.
Australia headed to England with major questions over its Test batting line-up.
It will return home without the Ashes and with about as many questions still unanswered.
Since the retirement of Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey during last summer, Australia’s selectors have tinkered with the batting more than a mechanic would with a dicky engine.
Usman Khawaja has been discarded for tonight’s final Test at The Oval with Shane Watson to bat at number three while all-rounder James Faulkner will debut and bat at number seven behind Brad Haddin.
Working backwards, this is how Australia’s top-seven has looked over the past eight Tests:
The Oval – Rogers, Warner, Watson, Clarke, Smith, Haddin, Faulkner
Chester-Le-Street – Rogers, Warner, Khawaja, Clarke, Smith, Watson, Haddin
Old Trafford – Rogers, Watson, Khawaja, Clarke, Smith, Warner, Haddin
Lord’s – Rogers, Watson, Khawaja, Hughes, Clarke, Smith, Haddin
Nottingham – Rogers, Watson, Cowan, Clarke, Smith, Hughes, Haddin
Delhi – Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Smith, Wade, Maxwell
Mohali – Cowan, Warner, Clarke, Hughes, Smith, Haddin, Henriques
Hyderabad – Cowan, Warner, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Wade, Henriques
Some of the changes through those matches were forced through injury – Clarke at Delhi and Wade at Mohali – while Warner was a scratching for the opening two Ashes Tests having been suspended by team management and Watson was infamously omitted for disciplinary reasons at Mohali.
In the main, however, it has been at the selectors’ behest that the batting order has had so many faces.
Faulkner will be the third young all-rounder to be blooded following cameos from Henriques and Maxwell in India.
Across the past eight matches Watson will have opened, batted at three, four and six.
Skipper Clarke will have occupied three, four and five.
Along with Khawaja, Hughes and Cowan it means that Australia will have used five players in the pivotal number three spot in the space of just eight matches.
For anyone who has watched Fox Sport’s coverage of this series you will have been privy to Allan Border’s thoughts on what needs to be done.
His philosophy is succinct – “pick and stick”.
Steve Waugh has taken up the same mantra in recent days while Matthew Hayden has also been critical of the chopping and changing.
With the exception of Rogers (344 runs at 43) and Clarke (346 at 49), there has been precious little to get enthused about – and it needs to be remembered that Rogers turns 36 in ten days’ time.
Behind that pair, the next best series averages belong to James Pattinson (36) and Ashton Agar (32) – hardly a glowing recommendation for supposedly the country’s best willow wielders.
Watson has once again shown a serious flaw in his technique with his susceptibility to being trapped in front by the full swinging delivery.
Hughes returned to the Test arena late last summer with glowing reports on how his newly modified technique would place him in good stead as he looked to restart his career.
He was made to look inept at times to spin in India and with the exception of his fighting unbeaten 81 in Australia’s first innings of this series his remaining three knocks produced a mere three runs before he was jettisoned once again.
While few batsmen have done much to enhance their prospects of long term places in the team it is surely time that the selectors anointed a top six plus a ‘keeper and stick with it for a good few Tests.
The constant changes in the order and the revolving door policy in and out of the team has done little to build some sort of core batting unit.
Once the home Ashes series gets underway, it is imperative that the selectors have settled on a preferred batting line-up and that they allow it an opportunity to bed down.
It may be a matter of going beyond the current touring party in order to find the right candidates but whoever they end up being, Border’s “pick and stick” philosophy has a lot going for it.
Bayman
Guest
" This squad was selected before Mickey Arthur was sacked. I’m not sure it’s the squad that would have been selected to tour if Boof had been coach at the time of selection." I think you're right!
Bayman
Guest
Kev, In regards to Khawja you may be right. He probably is a reserved type of guy - but there's a calm, serious look and there's a 'the world's against me' kind of look. Usman displays the latter - and, no, I spent no time with him at all although I did have a very brief chat with him at Worcester. On the subject of pitches I presume you didn't notice the clouds of dust flying on the first day at Trent Bridge and Lords. Australia, packed as they were with left-handers who struggle against spin, and not a blade of grass to be seen. I agree it's possible the groundsmen were having trouble growing grass in England's hot summer but, frankly, it's more likely they were told what to prepare. The roughness of the pitch also helps rough up the ball which helps reverse swing (Anderson's forte). I agree atmosphere helps swing and English summers, especially hot summers, also tend to be humid. As someone who was there for the first three Tests I can tell you it was an open secret that these wickets were prepared for Swann. The Poms were open about it and the Aussies had no doubt. As for accepting reality I reckon I can do that with the best of them - others however think Khawaja is Test quality. As for Lehmann and the selection for the current Test, I repeat, he's having a look with next summer in mind. Having said that, this Oval track is flat and it's possible he thinks if everyone bats to their supposed ability they should be able to survive and thrive. Watson, strangely enough had made 176 (yes, I'm surprised too) while Smith and Haddin have been reasonably consistent (compared to some others), Faulkner can apparently bat and Starc made 60 odd last time out while Harris has been handy. Perhaps Lehmann and Clarke felt they needed an extra bowler at the Oval. As for Usman, there's only one cure. Runs, and by the truckload. Right now he has not convinced anyone he's up to Test standard (a stylish thirty odd on debut has long since lost any credit points). Smith has gone past him, Hughes still has a better record, and Shaun Marsh is back waiting in the wings.
Bearfax
Guest
Look I'm pleased to so far be proven wrong on this one. I thought Oz would be thrashed. Seems Watson had other ideas. Well done Watto. About time you showed us your first class form rather than you test form. And I'm pleased with the progress of young Smith who I think has just about cemented his place in the side. Thought with the toughness he was showing earlier that he would eventually make it. He'll be one of our best in a few years. As for Hughes and Khawaja, Australian selectors must not shove them aside. Hughes was beginning to show real grit and Khawaja as usual is the scape goat for Australia's losses when he has played so few tests. Both are very talented and need to be persevered with. They'll come good if confidence is shown in them.
compo
Guest
how embarassing for us Watson -haters. he's on 150+ and going great guns. maybe he's on a promise as his missus is there to watch him? (for the first time this series ?) or was it the knock to the head from Broad, did it scramble his brain and now he thinks he's real batsman ... and performing like one ?? anyway good to see, maybe we need his blokey experience as he shows S.Smith how "us blondes do it" ... - eating humble pie as i write....munch munch -
Bobbo7
Guest
Hughes has 21 first class hundreds which is much better record than many of the others. They should stick with him for 12 months and see how he goes rather than selected drop all th time
Peaches
Guest
All the times we laughed at opposing countries doing what we're doing now. We're in panic mood. Pick the best young players (which include Khawaja and Hughes) and stick with them. They are the best we have. This chopping and changing is affecting their confidence and our confidence in them. Steve Waugh didn't score a test century for a long time. I'm thankful he isn't playing in the modern game as we wouldn't see him become what he did.
Beardan Returns
Roar Rookie
I'd suggest being 80 not out at lunch, he is going a bit better than Khawaja did Red Kev, you nuffy.
Bearfax
Guest
They did Omar but if you check back you'll find they were given a lot longer than Khawaja to try to settle in. Hayden was dropped after his first test because he was replacing someone else injured. But then he was given. like Cowan, a significant number of tests before he was dropped again. The most Khawaja has played in succession is three tests. That's plain dumb selection.
Omar Little
Guest
Didn't Hayden, Ponting, Langer, Martyn etc get dropped if they didnt score? They had to take every opportunity or be dropped. They all made it on their return. Stop being so soft nowadays. Thats the problem.
JimmyB
Guest
Did you guys happen to watch the last Ashes series in Australia? Just checking.
JimmyB
Guest
It's called a joke Simon.
TJ
Guest
Faulkner - 130 odd wickets at less than 23 at FC level, with big performances in shield finals deserves a chance. Even if he isn't one of those players of 'significant potential' from NSW.
Bearfax
Guest
What further amazes me is that the old media supporters are starting to push Shaun Marsh's barrow again. Are they loopy or just related to the guy. He says he has done well for Australia A. He did as a one day player which is his forte. His scores in the longer form of the game for Australia A were 13,24, 5 and 11 which averages out at 13. Someone needs a boot in the head to get their common sense going....HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR TESTS FULL STOP. Maddison may have a claim as does Doolan, who both performed well. But again the guys we've got in the present test squad, and that includes Khawaja and Hughes, are the best playing in Australia at present if we ignore Kattich, Rogers and Clarke. These guys need time to develop. Seems obvious to me being a top cricketer doesnt automatically convert to a good selector.
buddha9
Guest
that was the message to Khawaja -- leap in there at number 3 and bat like Boon Chapell and Ponting -without a chance to get acclimatise to test cricket by playing at 6 for a while like everyone else
BK
Guest
But he's a right hander - that's all that counts for now
Aussie in London
Guest
2 wickets... sorry
Straight Ball
Guest
Have some while Faulkner makes a difference.
Aussie in London
Guest
Then why was he the opening batsman for the first few tests? And if you judge him on his bowling he's only averaged 10 over's per innings in the Ashes so far with only 2 innings. He's an alrounder alright; he cant bat, and he cant bowl!
Aussie in London
Guest
... and when Turner was picked for the tour match with NO first class cricket to his name. Not sure if that's down to the same selectors for the tests, but shows the mindset of the upper echelon at CA.
JBtoo
Guest
Yeah it's all Clarke's fault that the batsmen haven't performed. What complete BS.