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Australia is expected to select at least one all-rounder as a backup for Shane Watson in its next Ashes squad.
Following on from my recent pieces on Australia’s pace and batting options for the series, I have assessed their all-rounder choices.
I have given each player an “Ashes rating” based on how likely it is they will be picked in the squad.
James Faulkner
23 years old, first-class record: 1379 runs at 30 and 138 wickets at 23. Ashes rating: 9/10
Faulkner’s debut in the final Ashes Test was impressive, even if much of his success came in situations more akin to limited overs cricket as Australia tried to force a result in the weather-affected match.
The left arm quick snared 6-98 as he displayed the variety of deliveries – slower balls, cutters and subtle swing – which have made him such an effective Shield bowler for Tasmania.
He also cracked 45 runs in quick time as Australia cantered towards declarations in both innings.
In the wake of the series, Aussie coach Darren Lehmann indicated Faulkner was viewed as a backup all-rounder covering for Shane Watson rather than as a frontline paceman.
To this point, his canny bowling has been his strong suit at first-class level, although he has played many pugnacious innings for Tasmania at important stages of Shield games.
Glenn Maxwell
23, first-class record: 1221 runs at 39 and 35 wickets at 35. Ashes rating: 5/10
The Victorian’s hopes of making the Ashes squad may rest on the form of frontline spinners Fawad Ahmed and Ashton Agar.
Should both Ahmed and Agar flounder in the lead up to the Ashes, the selectors may well decide to pick just one spinner, Nathan Lyon.
If so, that could persuade them to include Maxwell in the squad as a second spin option should one of the tracks appear spin-friendly or more likely as a solo spinner at the WACA to complement an all-pace attack.
Maxwell showed in his two Tests in India that, while admittedly a loose bowler, he has a knack for taking wickets.
He collected seven wickets at 28 but failed to discharge his primary duties with the bat.
Maxwell showcased his aggressive batsmanship against South Africa A last month, caning 155 not out from 186 balls, albeit on a very flat track.
Moises Henriques
26, first-class record: 2150 runs at 32 and 86 wickets at 28. Ashes rating: 4/10
The New South Welshmen made a brilliant entry to Test cricket in February, scoring 68 and 81 not out amid a faltering Aussie batting line-up.
However, that dream debut was quickly erased as he was dumped after scoring just seven runs in his next four innings.
As opposed to Faulkner, Henriques is more of a batting all-rounder. He is a reliable operator with the ball but lacks penetration.
Henriques’ challenge is to overcome his reputation as a “bits and pieces” player – one incapable of gaining selection on the strength of their batting or bowling alone.
He went some way towards building a case for inclusion in the Ashes squad with solid displays on the recent Australia A tours of Europe and Africa.
Henriques scored 249 runs at 42 and snared six wickets at 23.
Runs will be his currency early in the upcoming Shield season.
Andrew McDonald
32, first-class record: 4573 runs at 40 and 201 wickets at 29. Ashes rating: 3/10
If not for a horrid run of injuries, McDonald would very likely have worn the baggy green in the past two years, adding to his four Tests from 2009.
The Victorian’s form with the blade has been supreme when he has managed to make it onto the field in recent years, scoring 1031 runs at 54 over the past three Shield seasons.
He is renowned as an ultra-reliable seam bowler who is notoriously difficult to score off, as he showed in his brief Test career taking nine wickets at 33 while conceding just 2.45 runs per over.
Realistically, his only chance of making the squad is if Faulkner gets injured.
Luke Butterworth
29, first-class record: 2319 runs at 27 and 205 wickets at 24. Ashes rating: 1/10
Perennially overlooked by the Australian selectors, the Tasmanian is very unlikely to make the Ashes squad unless all of the above players get injured.
His lack of pace – he operates in the mid-120kmh range – appears to have held him back from playing Test cricket as a frontline bowler.
A languid stroke maker, Butterworth has the capacity for making runs under pressure but a career average of 27 suggests he has not fully exploited his considerable talent with the blade.