So the southern hemisphere summer has finally ended with the Australian cricket team victorious over England and South Africa. Now that these Test series are over and the T20 World Cup is up next, spinners have become one of my main concerns.
The spinners picked for the T20 World Cup are a good mixture. With 43-year-old Brad Hogg leading the way and boom 20-year old James Muirhead beside him, it promises to be very exciting after the summers they both had on not-so-spin-friendly pitches.
In back-up roles are part-timers Cameron White, Brad Hodge and Aaron Finch. And you connot forget ‘The Big Show’, all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, with his darty off-spinners.
My concern is not the World Cup in Bangladesh. With our recent Test cricket run being so good, my concern is for our next Test series against Pakistan in the UAE – their adopted home.
One issue is how our bastmen will play the likes of Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman and perhaps Mohammad Hafeez on what have been helpful spinning pitches.
Apart from Michael Clarke and Steve Smith, how will the likes of Chris Rogers, David Warner, Shane Watson and Alex Doolan or Shaun Marsh fare against quality spinners?
But my main concern is the quality of spinners we will take over there.
With the tracks in Dubai and Abu Dhabi being slow and really only supporting seamers on the first morning, Mitchell Johnson and company will have less of an effect than on our hard, bouncy wickets.
So I have compiled a shortlist of spinners that could make the final 15-man squad.
Nathan Lyon
Australia’s obvious No. 1 spinner for a little over 18 months now. In the Ashes series he played the role as the back-up or holder while Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle attacked from the other end.
After being left out of the first two Tests in England, Lyon showed what he was made of in the home series. He bowled well throughout the series, particularly in Brisbane and Melbourne.
In Brisbane he took the crucial wickets of Ian Bell and Matt Prior in successive balls, both caught well by Steve Smith. In Melbourne he took his fourth five-wicket haul in Tests.
The last time he played in real spin-friendly conditions he took career-best figures of 7-94 in India.
He struggled against the attacking attitude of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis in South Africa, though. He did take a five-for in Port Elizabeth, but leaked too many runs.
Fawad Ahmed
Looked like he was going to be picked for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane, as England, in the past, have had no answers to leg-spinning legends Bill O’Reilly, Clarrie Grimmett, Stuart MacGill and the master, Shane Warne.
He looked good in his ‘trial’ in the ODI series in England, although not taking the wickets he and Australia would have liked.
Ahmed has been in and out of the Victoria set-up, with Jon Holland sometimes getting the nod. But in the games he’s played it has looked like he’s been flayed around the park, but he has still been handy. He took a six-wicket haul early on and back-to-back four-wicket hauls at the back end of this season.
Ahmed could be handy in the UAE as he might know the conditions, and Pakistan may not have faced too many leg-spinners who actually turn the ball.
Stephen O’Keefe
The unknown man. Many, including myself, have been calling for his selection in the Test and ODI arena, but has not been seen in Aussie colours since 2010.
O’Keefe has been a standout spinner in the Sheffield Shield this season, topping the wickets list and also having the lowest average and one of the lowest economy rates. An 11-wicket haul against South Australia must make the selectors take another look at him – that’s a very handy return for a left-arm spinner.
Australian selectors seem to ignore him time and time again, but he could be the man to either back up Lyon as the second spinner or even lead the spin attack if Lyon continues to look unsettled against attacking batsman and lack his own attacking nous.
As a bonus, he’s handy with the blade.
Xavier Doherty
Doherty has been tried too many times. He has the ability to be a very good limited-overs bowler, but just doesn’t have what it takes to be a good five-day bowler.
Doherty was tried (ahead of Lyon) in the spin-friendly conditions of India last year and failed, taking no wickets. A five-for and a four-wicket haul in the Shield this season might, unfortunately, get him another look-in for the tour.
Ashton Agar
More of a batsman than a spinner if we’re honest. He was blooded young in the Ashes series in England as the No. 1 spinner (again ahead of Lyon), and showed promise with the bat. Go figure.
This summer, though, has not been promising for the 20-year old, taking minimal wickets with his left-arm orthodox while hitting some handy runs. Perhaps he has a better chance of being an all-rounder for Australia in the future.
Cameron Boyce
This summer has been his best by far, with 25 wickets at 41. Boyce took his career best figures of 7-68 in the first round to very nearly clinch victory for Queensland down in Adelaide.
Although he does leak runs at times, he also has the ability to tie up an end, as shown in the BBL for the Hurricanes.
He takes wickets for his state and has edged out former Test spinner Nathan Hauritz for the state’s main role. Again, he could be handy against Pakistan as he turns the ball a fair way.
James Muirhead and Adam Zampa
Both are having the best summers of their short careers, with Muirhead taking wickets for the PM’s XI, Melbourne Stars and Australia in the T20s, while Zampa has found a place as back-up to South Australia captain Johan Botha.
Both are probably future prospects at the moment, but you never know with Aussie selectors. And speaking of Botha, is he a citizen of Australia? Does anyone know? He could be handy in Australia’s T20 and ODI side. (This could be a joke.)
Also a chance is Glenn Maxwell. (Not a joke.)
But it all come down to who the selectors believe in. And if I had to do their job (one of the hardest in sport), I would take Lyon, O’Keefe and Boyce (in a development role) to the UAE.
Deep Thinker
Guest
Harris has just had surgery - won't play. UAE have dead pitches so whoever gets picked would need to keep it tight. That rules out Starc even though he is the future of the attack in my opinion. For me, it would be Johnson, Pattinson, Bird and Siddle, with Faulkner as all-rounder. Goodness me it is hard to pick this bowling line up - so many good fast bowlers. I really want to see Bird bowl more in tests but if the selectors are sensible, it would be Johnson and Pattinson. Johnson well because it would be unthinkable dropping him, and Pattinson because he has proven in India that he can bowl on dead wickets. In any case, I'm not worried about Pakistan - their batting line up is weak. If we bat well, we'll be ok.
Zubes
Guest
Of all the teams that play international cricket it is Pakistan that is the most intriguing. They've definitely got the mystery and the X-Factor about them. They have beaten South Africa in a Test not too long ago (in a drawn series) and they did thrash England 3-0. So who knows? The only thing you can predict about the Pakistan cricket team is that they will be unpredictable!
Bearfax
Guest
No problems about Siddle going on tour. He does his job. Just looked a little peekered and had slowed down a little. Still, he is a top bowler supporting Johnson and Harris.
Ruminate
Roar Guru
Totally agree, 3 shield seasons to see how he develops.
Gav
Guest
I thought it was a given that Harris would be out, recovering from surgery (?) In that case Johnson, Pattinson, I like Bird but am not sure about his ability to reverse it, he should be able to if he really considers himself a swing bowler, I just haven't seen it. Along with pace (as you say Nudge) being able to reverse it will be key in UAE. For those reasons Siddle misses out for mine. I can only see him being cannon fodder over there. For the fourth bowler I would have said Starc.....but he seems to be a bit so so at the moment (?) I have a big wrap on Behredorff. Was very impressed with what I saw in BB, actually started going out of my way to watch him, and have been following his SS form. He looks the goods to me. Faulkner, am I being to harsh in saying I want a specialist bowler? I only see him as Watsons replacement in due course. Sayers, I think it's the wrong tour for him 1st up. His pace or lack of will make it tough in the sub continent. Then again he bowls a lot in Adelaide.....
Armchair Expert
Guest
Agar's probably a few tears away from test selection, he's averaged around 15 with the bat and 60 with the ball this shield season, but he's young enough to come back,but in hindsight the test selectors have probably stunted his progress by selecting him prematurely and dented his confidence when they had to drop him.
Luke Smyke
Roar Pro
Dont know where the grave concerns spawn from as we have just toppled the worlds best in there own backyard and pulled the pants down and kicked the red coats back onto their boats in the space of a few months. Pakistan havent troubled an Australian side in decades due to internal disharmony, corruption and downright inconsistency. This team, whilst boasting the worlds best spinner in Asian conditions, consists of a captain who will be the wrong side of 40 by the time the series comes along, a collection of quicks who don't exactly evoke memories of the Akram, Younis and Akhtar trio, and a host of top order batsmen who seemingly hold positions as secure as backpack in Barcelona. Lyon has been questioned before and will probably never play another match where he isn't under unjustifiable scrutiny, and he would be ably supported by O'Keefe should the latter get a run. As for Maxwell, Boyce and co. i hope you were intoxicated when you pondered over their selections, they are daylight and then streets from being up to the standard of test cricket.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Lyon and SOK as spinners. Quicks would be MJ, Pato, Siddle, Bird, Wato and either Faulkner or Starc. I'd rest Rhino.
Nudge
Guest
Yeah like those quicks and spinners Bearfax. I think you'll get your wish mate, SOK is a certainty to tour with Lyon. If he doesn't its a sad day in Aus cricket. I think Boof will be real keen to take our fastest bowlers to the UAE as ther will be no sideways movement over there. So if Harris is fit, it may be Harris Johnson,Pattinson, Siddle. I know Siddle lost his pace in that 2nd test but it would be a cruel blow to not include him in the squad considering what he has done for Aus cricket in the last 5 years.
Bearfax
Guest
I'd rest Siddle. I would obviously take Johnson, Harris and Pattinson. The fourth would depend upon whether you take Faulkner as an all rounder. And then there's the question if Harris is fit. Otherwise the last position would be between Sayers, Bird and Behrendorff. McDermott would be an outsider and Starc, who I like and think is future test material needs to tighten his performances. And yes the stats contribute to those selections also. Whats your thoughts Gav?
Gav
Guest
Agreed. Who are your quicks Bearfax? Assuming we take 4.....
Ruminate
Roar Guru
Hmm, the kid is only 20...give him 3-5 years before we judge him so harshly
Swampy
Guest
Is be more concerned with the batsmen facing the Pakistani spinners. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Francis Curro
Roar Pro
What about Agar, two test wonder?
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Definitely agree on O'Keefe- it boggles my mind that they continue to not select him. He has been the best spinner in the country for several years now, plus he can wield the willow somewhat... What the heck does he need to do?? Or perhaps the more pertinent question is: which Selector's daughter did he sleep with?
Bearfax
Guest
Lyon and O'Keefe by the country mile full stop. That's as good a spin combination as Australia has had since Warne and McGill. Any other choices in my mind are a serious drop in quality at this stage.