- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Fresh off a 5-0 whitewash of arch-rivals England, the Australian Test squad to tour South Africa has seen the inclusions of Shaun Marsh and Alex Doolan while George Bailey has been dropped from the side.
After such Ashes dominance, many Australians may believe that we are a good chance against our next international foe.
I have some questions about the side that has been selected. Yes, Australia won the Ashes 5-0, but let’s face it – England played like absolute rubbish.
How will our side’s top order fare against the best bowling attack in the world, facing the likes of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel without another innings-saving knock by Brad Haddin or Steve Smith?
This is why I question the strength of the side especially, the number three spot.
I respect all the training and hard work these cricketers go through, but Shane Watson has been under-performing for a few years now.
If this were any other cricketer, such as Phillip Hughes or Usman Khawaja, they would have been dropped to refine their game and have an opportunity to get back to that level after they prove themselves.
This doesn’t seem to be the case with Watson.
Sure, he is no Ponting, but as a number three batsman – who traditionally are meant to be the best bat in the side – he continues to throw his wicket away after countless starts and scored just the lone hundred against a struggling English outfit.
I think it is time the selectors gave Watson a reality check and dropped him. Give him time to redevelop his technique and find himself back in the Australian side in good form, like his dream run a few summers ago and retire on a high note.
On that note, the side I would select to play the first Test would be as follows:
1) David Warner
2) Chris Rogers
3) Shaun Marsh
4) Michael Clarke (C)
5) Steve Smith
6) Shane Watson (since it impossible for him to be dropped)
7) Brad Haddin (VC)
8) Mitchell Johnson
9) Ryan Harris
10) Jackson Bird
11) Nathan Lyon
Some may question my inclusion of Bird over Siddle, but I personally think he would add more bite to our attack and better suit Darren Lehmann’s game plans and aggressive coaching style.
I would have also liked to see Xavier Doherty included in the squad as a backup for Lyon, but I guess time will tell how both their respective careers turn out.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.