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With the Ashes approaching and increasing amounts of work/study to procrastinate from it’s time to take stock of Australia’s side and prospects.
In recent days we have had Ricky Ponting’s views (albeit via Murdoch press) bandied about the world begging for a return to better days, with better captains and better batsmen.
Fair enough – to a degree. Regarding the captaincy, Michael Clarke has been a revelation on the field with his tactics and skill.
He treats his bowlers as skilled weaponry to be deployed at specific times to further weaken the opposition, while dragging his batsmen into battle behind him with force and finesse.
The loneliest place appears to be at his war council table, where a dearth of ideas and support has seemingly held Australia back from creating the great the counter-offensives it needs.
With that in mind, here are what I believe to be the men that can start it off in Brisbane:
1. Chris Rogers
2. David Warner
3. Shane Watson
4. Michael Clarke
5. Steve Smith
6. George Bailey
7. Brad Haddin
8. Mitch Johnson
9. Peter Siddle
10. Ryan Harris
11. Nathan Lyon
Johnson and Warner get the nod for their potential devastation and to show the world how people can prosper under Captain Clarke. Bailey offers a cool head, cooler hands and compliments Haddin and Smith in the think tank.
This side does however require a bit of forward planning: Haddin, Rogers and Watson will not be long for this world (one-eyed, old and well… Watson).
The second push will see the likes of Hughes, Khawaja and the second coming of Cowan reach their potential in 2014/15 before heralding Maddinson, Silk and Co.
With any luck one day we will finally see the trio of Starc, Cummins and Pattinson all bowling missiles down to a battered and beaten England.
Australia can beat England this summer. I believe they will too.
But the Gabba is the first battle only. It’s now Australia versus the world – and it will be longer than a six day fight, this war will take years. But it can, and will, be won.
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