For a nice change, the XI to take on England at the Gabba in ten days time is almost settled.
The much-maligned, made-for-TV squad announcement will take place tomorrow, with a Sheffield Shield round still to play before the real stuff starts, but at least a number of candidates have already presented strong cases for the vacant No. 6 position.
George Bailey
The man considered most likely after a stunning ODI year (1098 runs at almost 65), Bailey goes into the summer with a sound knowledge of his own game and supreme confidence against international attacks.
Critics have seized on the perfect conditions presented to Bailey in India, where harsher fielding restrictions and a surfeit of boundary balls led to record totals from both sides, while his technical foibles on the cover drive and against the short ball will be thoroughly tested.
Runs are runs though, and Bailey has those in truckloads.
Throw in astute leadership when the Aussies are crying out for it and you have a tempting case to throw him in.
Alex Doolan
Now a perennial contender, Doolan was arguably the most impressive batsman in the opening Shield round and backed up with a tidy cameo opening for Australia A.
Like many names on this list, he possesses an average overall first class record, but has been the most consistent performer across the last two seasons.
An unbeaten 166 against the touring South Africans (including Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander) last year still lingers strongly in the selectors’ minds.
Chris Lynn
Earmarked as a future Test player for a number of years now, Lynn has put his name into the ring with a strong start to the year.
The 23-year-old warmed up for the Shield season with 198 runs at 49.5 in the successful Ryobi Cup campaign, followed by 175 for once out against the touring English and a brace of 50s versus Tasmania.
Would be an unexpected choice, but with a balanced technique and a sound knowledge of the Gabba surface, his inclusion could prove to be a masterstroke.
Usman Khawaja
Tough to read. Imperious in the Ryobi Cup, scoring 426 runs at 71 and taking the match award in the final with a superb century, but twin first class failures, including a short stay against England in no-win circumstances, mean question marks on his temperament remain.
Would be in a head-to-head battle with Doolan if Shane Watson’s injury troubles provide a vacancy at first drop.
Shaun Marsh
Marsh gets a guernsey in this list simply because many others are mentioning his name.
While there is no doubting his class when firing on all cylinders, Marsh still seems to be resting on the laurels of his debut series.
Since his annus horribilis against India in 2011/12, he has failed to put together a strong case for inclusion; indeed, his last first class century was his sparkling 141 on Test debut more than two years ago.
His limited overs form continues to be solid but he pales in comparison to others across all formats.
A gamble worth taking if there were no strong candidates – not the case here.
Phil Hughes
The one-time boy wonder just can’t get a good go at it.
A promising third crack at Test level was cut short after twin failures at Lord’s, but there were some good signs in the one day series in India, where he threw the textbook out and trusted his eye, which is what got him in the team in the first place.
Comfortably possesses the best first class record of all contenders, but is that good enough to again front up to his Ashes demons?
Has been a shadow of his former self since his first omission in 2009.
Cameron White
Has stormed back into contention with a man of the series performance in the Ryobi Cup and some good innings in the Shield.
Failed in his only series in 2008 and his technique is perhaps too one-dimensional to take on England’s pacemen.
Rank outsider.
James Faulkner
A smoky for the third quick’s position, Faulkner will come into calculations as an all-rounder should Watson’s hamstring prevent him from bowling.
Not out of place on debut at The Oval, his outrageous century in India should give him the belief he can replicate it on one of cricket’s biggest stages.
My verdict
Will Bailey take the Mike Hussey or Michael Bevan route? Australia will be hoping for the former, as they do not have enough time to take a losing gamble, so whichever way they go will be a bold call.
I would take any of Bailey, Doolan or Lynn.
There is no reason why Doolan’s languid consistency couldn’t be transferred to an Ashes series, while the Queenslander has many positives on his side: form, age, technique and runs against the Old Enemy.
Although it is difficult to look past Bailey, the selectors must ask themselves who is most likely to score big and score often against an attack that is anything but the pop gun offerings India served up.
Purple patches at the highest level mean everything though, which tips the scales in Bailey’s favour.
ScottUK
Guest
It just strikes me as very odd. He's a very economical bowler, in the McGrath mould. Seemed an almost like-for-like replacement when McGrath retired to provide some stability. Ah well, Australia's loss is Sussex's gain ;-)
Bearfax
Guest
Some cricketers. like Steve OKeefe, seem to miss out on selection despite creditable figures. Steve Magoffin, who now is playing successfully in Englsish county cricket and is still only 33 has a first class bowling average of 24.7 with a career best of 8-47, so he was up to what should have been test standard. Well over 6 foot tall, he was apparently quite an intimidating medium fast bowler who could also swing the ball. Seems he's lost to The Old Dart for now. Some who believe in conspiracies would suggest he missed out because he was born in Queensland and played for West Australia. Should be an interesting topic. But I think he should have been given a guernsey at some time in his career given out recent struggles.
ChrisUK
Guest
They aren't going to play Onions and Anderson in the same side. He can come over from South Africa if needed. Where it would bite England on the bum is if Anderson turns an ankle in the warm up....
ScottUK
Guest
Slightly off topic, but can any Aussies shed some light on why Magoffin has never got the gig at test level? I know he was around during the McGrath, Gillespie, Lee etc era, but he's still taking wickets for fun over here. His first class bowling average is excellent, but never seem to have heard his name mentioned?
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
I might use this 3000 run stat to back up my constant Klinger callup spam on this site :D I feel he'd probably do a better job in tests than Bailey.
Dan Ced
Roar Rookie
People put him in the too hard basket when he got dropped last time. If he bowled pace instead of spin he'd have a better chance. as a Watson replacement because his batting is great atm. We already have a spinning all rounder in Smith, sort of.
Bearfax
Guest
Or was it purple pumpkin people eating in the purple pumpkin patch
Bayman
Guest
Well I saw this thing coming out of the sky.... ...but I was never quite sure if it was a purple thing which ate pumpkin people...or a purple pumpkin thing which ate people. Any clues? In any case, it was certainly different from a purple patch...unless it was a patch of purple pumpkins which is similar....
Bearfax
Guest
You are quite right purple pumpkin person. And I was wondering what I would have for breakfast.
Black Serenade
Guest
purple patches is one thing. purple pumpkin people eaters is another.
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
Lets not play an opener at number 6. Play a number 6. Sounds simple, but did not happen in last series.
Richard
Guest
White hasn't been performing in ODI's so it is silly to compare him with Bailey. So far Bailey has been an outstanding success at international cricket from day one, he hasn't put a foot wrong. Plus he has been our best bat against the poms in ODI since he starrted. He is the captain of our most successful domestic team over the last few years and apart from last year he has a great record in red ball cricket.= He is a walk in to the test side at no6
Gharner
Roar Rookie
Was probably a bit harsh on White, but I can all but guarantee it's what the selectors are thinking. The 2008 selection was ridiculous (for playing him as a spinner) although it's beyond doubt that he didn't do enough with bat or ball to stay in contention. Several factors come into play when it comes to extra chances: timing is key for everyone, but for Rogers it was form combined with circumstance, Warner often goes back and makes runs (as well as his X-factor in all facets of the game - similar to White but overall more devastating), and Hughes and Khawaja have, to name two points, age and superior records to fall back on.
Gharner
Roar Rookie
Agree 100%. Easier to dispense with Haddin now that Bailey comes in as an extra leadership option. A strange scenario given he set an almost untouchable keeping mark in his last series, but he did drop the odd catch and his batting in recent years (save for Trent Bridge) has been frustrating to say the least. Hartley on the other hand is safe as houses and his batting has got better with age. He also has big game runs to his name, in the form of the 2011/12 Shield final. It's perhaps time that we preferred a grafter over a flyer, considering the flimsy state of our batting order and the propensity of our tail to make runs.
Gr8rWeStr
Guest
Completely agree Bearfax! He did play against England last time they were out here, took 4/88, including Cook and Pietersen, in England's only real innings. They still thought Doherty was a better option, at least for the first 2 Test, then plucked Beer for the 5th.
Simon
Guest
You're on to something there. It is an absolute shame he isn't given this opportunity in the invitational Xl to prove a majority of people right, that he does belong at the international level. Another player who the selectors have ignored is Katich. Who by the way has an amazing first name. In the top ten for most runs scored this year over all formats and out of every batsman in the world and has an average of 60+... More outstanding is the player on the top of that list with 3,000 runs this year is Micheal Klinger.
Bearfax
Guest
Thanks Simon. But the question is still posed. How can someone with figures so much better than the rest of the field, be ignored even as second or third choice. Something smells bad there.
Simon
Guest
Invitational Xl* and he isn't playing in it anymore, got called back into FC
Bearfax
Guest
The cricketer I feel most saddened for is Steve O'Keefe. I like Lyon, and think he's doing a pretty decent job as Australia's spinner. But in first class stats,in spinners, there's O'Keefe and then there's daylight. Zampa is in fact one of the closest to his average of one wicket every 26, with a wicket every 29. The rest including Agar, Ahmed, Lyon etc are all in the 30s. He also has a better batting average than the other spinners with 29. And he's only just turning 29 years of age. Who in the administration did O'Keefe insult?. I'll be very interested in seeing how he performs against the Poms in the upcoming match between the Chairman's X! and England. If he takes a clutch of wickets, questions need to be asked again.
Clinton
Guest
I can't understand why Cameron White is even been mentioned in articles and comments about playing for Australia. In Australia over the last 2 years he has averaged 28 in the shield and 18 in the Ryobi cup. If he wasn't such a good captain he would have probably been dropped from the Victorian team. We cannot be seriously thinking about selecting a player that should be playing grade cricket. I can understand that times are tough for the Australian team but we are surely not that desperate yet.