Australian Ashes squad: who was unlucky?

It seemed before the naming of the Australian squad for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane only the number six batting position was up for grabs.

It also seemed there were more candidates for the number six spot than you could poke a stump at.

However there are most certainly other players who could have batted at number six or another place in the batting order that seem very unlucky to miss out on the final team.

Here I am going to have a look at those who have missed out.

Firstly, let’s list the squad so we can understand who won’t be on my list of unlucky omissions and why each player made the squad.

Chris Rogers
A clear choice for the opening position. Brings heaps of experience to the Australian top order and had a reasonable Ashes campaign in England.

Has also started the Sheffield Shield season strong. No way could he have missed out.

David Warner
The man who just a short time ago was overlooked for a one day tour after a string of incidents over the last six months and a massive lack of form.

He turned it around here in Australia with three big centuries in the Ryobi Cup, one being 197, and then followed it up with a century and an unbeaten half century in Round 2 of the Sheffield Shield.

An obvious choice after recent form.

Shane Watson
What to do with Shane Watson? His last Test match he scored a sensational 176 and reconfirmed his status in the Australian team after some less than average form with the bat.

However keeping the man away from injury has to be Australia’s biggest concern, as it seems he won’t be able to bowl in the first Test.

However Watson bowling is pivotal to the balance of the team and maybe he shouldn’t have been selected without being able to bowl?

Michael Clarke
The captain, the back injury, the run scorer… Need I say more?

Steve Smith
Clearly a massive talent and only young, has been identified as a possible future leader of Australia.

He hit 138* in his last Test match and has made a strong start to the state season.

A reasonably obvious choice at number five.

George Bailey
Bailey gets the spot up for grabs in the side after some incredible one day form in India and some good leadership skills on display.

Even though his Sheffield Shield average was terrible last year it seems the selectors value his form and leadership.

Brad Haddin
The Australian vice-captain, missed a lot of time out of the Australian squad with Matthew Wade as the keeper but came back to bring some valuable experience to the side and take over as Clarke’s deputy.

Will need to have some big innings to keep his spot in the side after a shocking away Ashes series with the bat

Mitchell Johnson
He could be Australia’s bowling X-Factor. He has pace, swing, bounce and all the rest of it. However accuracy will be Johnson’s biggest problem.

Like George Bailey, seems to have confirmed his spot in the side with some good work in India.

Peter Siddle
Has been the leader of the Australian attack for a number of years now. Always tries his heart out and never gives up.

The fittest player in the Australian squad and has been Australia’s quiet achiever who certainly has his critics, however an absolute no brainer for selection.

Ryan Harris
Has been in and out of the Australian side for a number of years due to injury. Played the last Ashes series and was probably Australia’s best bowler.

Like Siddle, an absolute no brainer for selection. Will be important for Australia’s chances of winning back the Ashes and he needs to stay away from injury for the full five Tests.

Nathan Lyon
The off spinner who needs to be given more credit. He bowls tight and consistent and has way too many critics.

As much as he may be the best out of a very bad talent pool when it comes to spin bowling, he averages just over 30 per wicket in the Test match arena.

James Faulkner (12)
Has performed well in the Australian colours whenever he has been called on in any form of the game.

Sometime in the near future Faulkner deserves a prolonged stint in the Australian team so he can really push to lock down a spot, however I don’t feel it will be during this series.

He might get a game if Shane Watson breaks down but I don’t think Australia can have Brad Haddin batting at six unless he displays some incredible form.

Will probably carry the drinks in Brisbane but has been named in case Watson either can’t play or Australia decide they need the extra fifth bowler, which is a possibility when you consider Ryan Harris could break down at any time and losing a bowler in the middle of the Test match is certainly not an ideal situation.

Now we have the squad, let’s have a look at the players who were unlucky to miss out on the side and could come in later during the series if players who have been selected don’t perform.

Phil Hughes
Has had a very rough last couple of years, trying desperately to cement a spot in the Australian Test side every time he gets an opportunity. However it just doesn’t seem to happen for Hughes.

He was given a shot at opening in the one day Tour of India but, while playing well with consistent scores, was outshone by Bailey.

Either way, with the top order locked down, it may not be the best option to have Hughes batting at six.

However he needs to stay in form because at the first sign of a top order injury he should be the first one to come in.

Usman Khawaja
Like Hughes has struggled to cement a spot in the Australian top order whenever he has received a chance.

Has had a strong start to the State season though, with a big hundred in the Ryobi Cup final and some may argue with this form he is a more than a little bit unlucky to be missing out.

However he could get his chance during the series or in the near future, with some older and injury-prone players in the top order.

Alex Doolan
Doolan has been talked up by the media and Cricket Australia for most of the last two summers after being able to put up a lot of good numbers in State cricket.

Doolan has also managed to play the last two summers in the Australia A tour game. There are certainly enough arguments for why he should be there on November 21.

Shaun Marsh
Played some Tests a couple of years ago and looked promising with a big century early in his Test career.

It was all downhill from there for Marsh, after he averaged less than three versing India and was dropped out the back door and almost forgotten about.

However he seems to have made a resurgence and be back with a chance of playing at some point during the summer.

Matthew Wade
Wade seemed to have cemented the Australian wicketkeeping spot. He was in good form with the bat and seemed to be set.

However Australia then decided they needed experience and brought the shelved Brad Haddin back from the wilderness to play as the vice-captain.

Harsh on Wade for sure but if he can manage to stay in form, then all he will need is an injury to Haddin. Or to just wait for Haddin to retire.

The only chance he will get to play this summer will be if Haddin gets injured.

Fawad Ahmed
The leg spinner who is being talked about as the saviour of Australian cricket.

However since bowling his way into contention by taking six wickets in an inning in the first round of the Shield, he has collective figures of 1/166.

Certainly not anything good and you could almost say he has bowled his way out of contention while Nathan Lyon has been taking wickets for New South Wales.

No way he will get a game without an injury to Nathan Lyon.

Ben Cutting
Bowled really well for Australia A, especially on day four, which should certainly have caught the selectors’ eyes if he hadn’t already with a really strong Ryobi Cup campaign.

There was really only one bowler’s spot up for grabs, which went to Mitchell Johnson, as Siddle and Harris were locked in a long time ago.

Cutting could get some game time during the summer if there is a lack of form or major injury to any of the pace bowlers.

Chadd Sayers
It has been argued a lot, especially here on The Roar about whether he should make a debut.

He seems to be a big hope for Australia in the future but while many will disagree, it won’t be starting this summer for Sayers.

Ben Hilfenhaus
Displayed some good form during the Ryobi Cup and has a lot of experience. Could be picked if injury of lack of form occurs throughout the summer and he is in form.

The experience he would bring to the Australian team would be invaluable.

Doug Bollinger
Like Hilfenhaus, Bollinger is a pretty experienced player and has performed in the baggy green before.

If injuries and/or form affect the Australian bowling line-up he would certainly be up there as a possibility to play a game or a couple of games during the summer.

There you have it, Australia’s squad for the Ashes has pulled no major surprises, and there is certainly plenty of players that want the baggy green if a lack of form hits the Australian team.