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Six Test spots up for grabs in Brisbane

Roar Rookie
10th November, 2014
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One man exits, while another man enters. (AFP PHOTO/ MARWAN NAAMANI)
Roar Rookie
10th November, 2014
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There are potentially six spots up for grabs for the first Test in Brisbane, with two quicks, a spinner, wicketkeeper, number three, and an opener all unsettled.

We know David Warner will open, Michael Clarke will bat four, Steve Smith five, Mitch Marsh six, and Mitchell Johnson will be our pace spearhead.

Here is a guide to who should get the nod for Brisbane.

Opener
Incumbent Chris Rogers has done enough over the last 12 months to warrant selection, however should he fail in Brisbane he could come under pressure from Phi Hughes.

With one eye on the next Ashes series, given how experienced Rogers is in the English conditions, the selectors will keep the faith.

No. 3
Shane Watson is the hot favourite – he has performed well in short-form cricket this summer, however there are still question marks over his fitness.

Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns and Micheal Klinger could all fit in to this position if they play well in Shield cricket, but Watson also adds with the ball and has been the most successful no. 3 since Ricky Ponting.

Wicketkeeper
This may be the hardest selection choice of all. Do they drop Brad Haddin and force him to retire, or do they let him have his farewell tour?

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Only 10 months ago his place was secure after a fantastic Ashes series, however after poor performances with the bat in South Africa and both with the bat and behind the stumps in the UAE, and gaining an injury, it might be time for Hadds to be moved along.

So who replaces him?

The selectors seem to have Matt Wade as the favourite but his glovework is nowhere near as good as Chris Hartley, Peter Nevill, Sam Whiteman and Tim Paine and I don’t rate him as a batsman either. I don’t even think Wade is as good as Victoria’s second keeper, Peter Handscomb.

Whiteman looks the goods, but is still young and needs to get a few more Shield games under his belt, while Paine is too injury prone.

This leaves Hartley and Nevill for the top job. I would pick Hartley because he has heaps of experience and could play for the next three years while Whiteman develops.

Pace bowlers
If Ryan Harris is fit he is a lock for one of these positions. The other position – which was occupied by Peter Siddle – should be given to one of Australia’s up-and-coming quicks such as Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc or Chadd Sayers.

Coulter-Nile and Hazelwood are the front runners but I would love to see Patty Cummins back in the whites because he can push the 150 kilometres per hour mark. The big question over Cummins is whether he can handle five day cricket yet. The only way to find out is to play him in Shield cricket.

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Starc impressed in the UAE but the others are better wicket-taking options. Sayers would be a great backup for Ryan Harris as he adds something different.

I would pick Harris and Hazlewood, with Coulter-Nile, Cummins and Sayers all included in the squad.

Spinner
After a disappointing UAE tour the jury is out on whether Nathan Lyon is good enough to play at the top level. Yes he did get wickets against England last summer but for him to only pick up three wickets when playing on a turning wicket is a poor return.

Steve O’Keefe was better than Lyon, taking four wickets in one Test, but still doesn’t turn the ball enough.

Luckily there is another option.

Young leggie Cameron Boyce has impressed so much in this T20 series – he is good enough for the big time. Yes there is a big difference between T20 and Tests but he has wicket-taking potential. His first-class record isn’t great but neither was Shane Warne’s when he debuted for Australia. After witnessing the recent success of Yasir Shah for Pakistan, it is time for another leggie to play for Australia.

Also waiting in the wings are two other young leggies Adam Zampa and James Muirhead who could replace Boyce if they performed in shield.

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My Brisbane XI looks like this
1. D. Warner
2. C. Rogers
3. S. Watson
4. M. Clarke (c)
5. S. Smith (vc)
6. M. Marsh
7. C. Hartley
8. M. Johnson
9. R. Harris / C. Sayers
10. J. Hazelwood
11. C. Boyce

Also in Test squad: P. Cummins, N. Coulter-Nile, U. Khawaja, P. Hughes

What is your Brisbane XI?

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