This is my team for the return Ashes series in Australia. This team is a side that will win the series and return the urn to Aussie soil.
I’ll start with my openers. The best opening partnerships are between a left and right-hander, usually one the aggressor and the other brings stability.
So my openers that fit those criteria are: Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle.
Siddle will be the rock at the top of the order Australia have be looking for, and Starc will be the aggressor bringing the attack to the opposition.
My middle order will need a good mix of attacking and defensive batsman. My middle order will be: James Pattinson, Ryan Harris, Ashton Agar and James Faulkner.
A lot has been said about Faulkner’s ability to bat at six, but I’m willing to take that risk as he is surrounded by a solid batting order and will be protected at six.
Pattinson was one of the highest averaging batsmen in the last Ashes series and deserved his spot at three. Ryan Harris brings an experienced brain to the middle order.
Ashton Agar is a very inexperienced batsman, but his 98 on debut is one of the finest innings I have witnessed.
My bowlers need to have flare mixed with stability. My bowlers are: David Warner, Michael Clarke, Steve Smith and Matthew Wade.
I have gone with three spinners and one seamer in my squad.
This is because of the troubles Ian Bell has had against the ball leaving him. Warner, Clarke and Smith will all spin the ball right to left, hopefully troubling England’s leading run scorer in the last Ashes series.
Matthew Wade will bring hostility with his blistering pace and ability to get in the batsmen’s head.
So this is my team to beat the English and return the urn to Australian soil. So Roarers do you agree?
Les B
Guest
Watson 12th man?
Les B
Guest
Watson 12th man?
James
Guest
the sad thing is that if this team actually played i reckon the difference between the current australian side and this one would not be that huge
Linedropout
Roar Pro
Unstoppable batting lineup. As for the bowling I'd probably just have Boof at both ends for the first session of each day.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
+1 to comment. +1 to article. Bithohilarious. First thought you were serious with this article. took me to the third 'bastmen', that is after Siddle and Starc. Good to know you haven't lost you absolute mind.
ChrisUK
Guest
Sense of humour failure.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
So long as he walks then I couldn't care less.
Old Alo
Guest
Good stuff -- but maybe we can take it a bit further. Pick the best 11 bowlers in the country, leave a pair of keeping gloves at both ends to speed things up. No batters. Michael Clarke up in a box directing traffic through earpieces fitted to all fielders and bowlers.
Atgm(aakash)
Guest
Really funny article
Spooky
Guest
I've heard Ed Cowan bowls a mean bouncer as well
expathack
Guest
Great lineup. Think you're missing a keeper though. Harris looks like a safe set of hands, I'd probably give the gloves to him.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Top outfit. Will finally confirm that the tail are better than alleged proper batsmen, as they dispatch a cherry ripe pill, propelled at speed by fresh bowlers, all over the shop.
josh
Roar Rookie
Wasn't that one of Steve Waugh's ideas in the 90's, especially in ODI, let the usual tailenders bat in the middle innings so the proper batsman can have a bash against tired bowlers in the death? Don't think he ever did though. If anything this batting order would confuse the English. They can't bowl properly to tailenders, opening with them would get an easy 50 run partnership.
ChrisUK
Guest
This is unfair and outrageously underhand. One of our opening bowlers (Broad) is a bear of very little brain. You will puzzle and confuse him, and quite probably cause his hair to be messed up. Do you want that on your conscience? Do you?
Dicko McDonald
Roar Rookie
Brilliant!! I reckon your onto something, especially with Matthew Wade.