Shaun Marsh is back, that’s what we have heard. Watson is out, no longer able to take his place on the field, and like many times before, possibly out for the tour.
Selectors have made a strange decision going back to Marsh, which has many bewildered, wondering how can he possibly have been ruled out to begin with?
We heard his calf was not able to recover in time for the first test, yet there he was back playing for Perth.
The fact was Marsh was most likely going to be fit for the first test but was not going to be fit for the now cancelled practice match.
So in hindsight, Phil Hughes should be the one getting the call up now, not Marsh.
On Friday, Hughes impressed onlookers in an intra-team hit out, with a fighting 83 facing the likes of Harris, Lyon, Siddle and Pattinson – Johnson did not bowl to Hughes, which may have shaken things up a bit more for him.
Nevertheless it was an innings that probably won some respect from his fellow teammates, even if through frustration of there own.
Doolan looked elegant, but even he could not convert his start.
Henriques was unthreatening with both bat and ball, however could well be wearing his baggy green loud and proud on Wednesday with the news of Shane Watson breaking down again.
Henriques did impress in the first test against India in February, but he is known to many as a real straggler when things aren’t going his way.
Doolan fits the bill – he is very much a perfect looking cricketer – but you could say the same about Marsh.
Marsh is considered the special one, the player that everyone thinks has more talent than any in Australia.
His average though would certainly not suggest that.
His selection in the first place got people fired up, now that he is back there will be more coffee being spat.
Marcus North and Cameron White are two experienced soldiers who both had shocker seasons last year, but this year they have become two different players in two different roles.
North now an opener, White now batting up to 3 and 4 and opening in T20’s.
White’s game has changed from the aggressive slogger to what you could say is a much more defensive approach – some even saying his defensive game is in the top-five in Australia right now.
North is a handy off-spinner too, and his consistency has very much improved. He is scoring 100’s for fun this season.
Who knows whether the incident with his brother has affected him so much he asked not be selected, or whether it was just a ‘no more North’ decision by the selectors, but you could say he very much would have fitted in this side over Marsh.
As we look to the first test we have an interesting choice to make. The pitch is considered a seamers paradise, it will be tough runs.
Is Marsh tough enough? Yeah, he could be, but my bet is on no.
Hughes is tough, he has worked his way through the hard way, while Marsh and Doolan you could probably say have had it much easier.
There is a fire in the belly there for Hughes, but it may be the last test that gives him that chance, by then it could be all too late.
My predicted first test squad:
Warner
Rogers
Marsh
Clarke
Smith
Doolan
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon
What I would have liked:
Warner
Rogers
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon
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