The return Ashes series Down Under begins in just over a month at the Gabba in Brisbane. With that in mind, here’s what I think should be the team for the 1st Test.
I have picked this team on the basis of form and the players who are most likely to be unfit for the 1st Test miss out.
1. Michael Klinger
My pick to open in the 1st Test. He has got a classic textbook technique and is a real Test batsman, unlike David Warner, who is not suitable for Test cricket (because of his off-field antics) and is struggling with form at the moment.
I think Australia really need batsmen who can apply themselves at the crease for a longer duration.
2. Chris Rogers
He has proved and shown the world that he can still do well at the highest level.He needs to find out a way to play against Graeme Swann and try to rotate strike more often when Swann is bowling instead of playing/defending/struggling for six balls during the over.
3. Shane Watson
He needs to score consistently.
4. Michael Clarke
He is our best batsman and the whole country expects him to score well. A 500-runs series is what he should be aiming for.
P.S. All this drama about him being unfit for the 1st Test is only a way of keeping the BCCI quiet.
5. Steve Smith
A really good player of spin and plays with an attacking mindset.
Doesn’t look the most comfortable player at the crease, but can score quickly, and has time and again shown that he can play well under pressure. I’d like to see him bowl more frequently.
6. Joe Burns/Nic Maddinson/Callum Ferguson/George Bailey
There are almost eight batsmen who are in contention for this spot, but my pick will be either of the above four.
Burns He’s one of the better players in the country right now. If he scores well in the early Shield games, he’ll be my pick for the 6th spot.
Maddinson He is one of the best young batsmen in the world right now. He’s a batsman with an attacking mindset and can be a real asset to the team.
Ferguson Good composure, great technique, but not many runs under his belt in Shield cricket. But if he performs well in the India series, he can crack the squad.
Bailey He’s the most improved batsman in the recent past. But this improvement that he has shown is in the shorter formats. If he scores well in the Shield trophy then i’ll pick him for his leadership qualities, his composure and consistency. If he plays, he’ll bat at five and Smith will come at six.
7. Brad Haddin
Needs to bat better and not throw away his wicket like he usually does.
8. Mitchell Johnson
He is Johnson 2.0 now. This version is better because it’s less erratic and more threatening than the old Johnson. Can bat as well.
P.S. And who doesn’t want to see the Barmy Army singing funny songs about him?
9. Peter Siddle
He has a habit of performing well in the 1st Test of a series and hopefully he’ll do the same this time around too and help us win the opener.
10. Ryan Harris
He’s one of the best in the world. Can seam, swing the ball both ways, has a great bouncer and is a genuine wicket-taker.
I said it before and i’ll say it again, if Harris plays all five Tests (and batsmen do their job properly), the chances of Australia winning the Ashes become 50/50.
11. Jackson Bird/ Chadd Sayers
If Bird is fit, then he should play and if he isn’t, then Sayers deserves a chance.
I know I’ll get some stick for not including the fan favourite Nathan Lyon, but he hasn’t impressed me much to give him a place in the squad.
It’s not an overkill with four pacers plus Watson, but the way I see it is the four best bowlers available plus Watson.
Aakash bhat
Guest
Rogers needs to score some runs in this ashes.
justin quintner
Guest
Love my new favourite player ..go Chris Rogers.. enjoy the limelight .. mate ..youe deserve it !!!
Bobbo7
Guest
Bailey should get a game. A good head is what Australia needs right now. He has stepped up in the one dayers and should be selected.
A punter
Guest
What does he have to do to get a run??? It seems our only chance is to sack the CA management and start again.
A punter
Guest
Ben Cutting!!!
Aakash bhat
Guest
He is more suited for perth
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Ben Cutting for me in Brisbane
Aakash bhat
Guest
You are still thinking about the guy who bowls to the left who to the right who bowls shite.he has made some changes in his action and all the former greats are saying that he should be picked.
Stu
Guest
Okay, I'll bite. He's only played two tests at the Gabba, and he took 7 wickets against New Zealand (4/69 in the first innings, 3/19 in the second) and four against South Africa last year (2/136 and 2/41). Those are hardly disgraceful figures and suggest he's quite useful on that surface (which has always been kind to spin bowlers after day three; Warne loved it there).
Hoff
Guest
People who dont know cricket and write about it annoy me. I will start with Nathan Lyon, he is the best spin bowler in the country at the moment and has proved this in the last ashes series (after the ridiculous Agar experiment was over) by taking 7 wickets in the fourth test against one of the best batting line ups in world cricket at the moment. He consistently troubled KP, and he is one of the main threats to Australia this return series. So he must play. His test bowling record would be better of by 10-15 wickets by now if Matthew Wade could do his job over the past two years. Your comments about Steve Smiths technique is interesting, because I don't think it matters how he looks as long as he scores runs. If he can makes runs looking uncomfortable that's fine with me. I don't know about you, but facing a 145+ delivery from Broad, Finn and alike would make me uncomfortable to. Next, Number 6 must be George Bailey. He is at the moment the in form batsmen in the Australian cricket system along with Clarke, Smith and Watson and has been a proven run scorer for Tasmania in the Shield (on the hardest pitch and conditions to bat on at bellerive oval in the country) apart from the last season which he was playing with an injured wrist which makes batting difficult.
Adam
Guest
A massive no to Mitchell Johnson. Bowling with the white ball is not the same as with the red ball.
Aakash bhat
Guest
If aus plays a spinner then it has to be O'keefe.
Smithysnumberonefan!!!
Guest
1. Chris Rogers 2. Michael Klinger 3. Shane Watson 4. Michael Clarke (c) 5. Steve Smith 6. Alex Doolan 7. Brad Haddin (wk) 8. Steve O'keefe 9. Peter Siddle 10. Ryan Harris 11. Josh Hazlewood 12. Joe Burns. This side, wily enough, has the potential to a handy one. Please CA consider Steve O'keefe!!!
Aakash bhat
Guest
Tendulkar announces retirement
Jay
Guest
Play 2 spinners and throw the Poms for a loop, do the unexpected otherwise you are going to be hammered
Aakash bhat
Guest
Read the last line of the articlemate
Josh Conway
Guest
For a start, Nathan Lyon has got to play, becase you've got Watson in the team too. Secondly, having Klinger is silly. If Australia wanted an alternative to Warner, it'd be someone inside the system, a la Cowan/Watson. And Nic Maddinson, while showing potential, isn't up to International level yet, let alone the first Ashes test of the summer. Bit of blind faith being shown. If Pattinson and Starc are fit, they vie for the last seamers spot, Sayers not near the reckoning yet.
Aakash bhat
Guest
Touche!@chris
Aakash bhat
Guest
Whats lyon's record like at gabba?how many 5 wicket hauls has he taken at gabba.How many matches has he won for aus at gabba?
Hookin' YT
Guest
Thats a 0-5 side. The mention of Bailey and Johnson and no spinner. England won't have to bat twice...all summer.