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?
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.
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.
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?
slurpy
Roar Rookie
1. C. Rogers 2. D. Warner 3. P. Hughes 4. S. Smith 5. M. Clarke (c) (Clarke does his best work at 5) 6. M. Marsh 7. B. Haddin (vc) (cant drop hadds if injured P. Neville) 8. M. Johnson 9. R. Harris 10. M. Starc 11. N. Lyon 12. S. Watson (only because I hate him as a test player and would get a sadistic kick out of him carrying the oranges)
Bearfax
Guest
Yeh Nudge and you too TOP, I get the theme of your flattery. I do go on dont I.. Did you know at one stage in my early adulthood I was training to be a Methodist minister...yeh I know. Makes sense, not surprised. Still havent escaped the tendency to sermonise. Now about your contribution in the collection plate.....
Nudge
Guest
Thanks Don, good to be back in
Don Freo
Guest
Yeah...I just figure, in Oz, the quicks are better. That's 4 quicks plus Marsh, Watson and Maxwell.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Good team. Pretty speculative not having a spinner, and having two fast-medium all rounders. But I suppose Maxwell and Clarke can bowl a couple if required, and it is in Aus. I'd still want Lyon in for Hazlewood though. Don, WA are looking as good as they have for 10+ years, even with a dodgy batting line up. Their pace battery is incredible. I can't see us losing the Shield. All we need is a Freo flag next season and all will be right.
Don Freo
Guest
Well, in the final, I suspect we should carry only one of two moderate scorers in Clarke and Smith. I don't see Smith as dynamic at ODI and I'd only have him if Clarke's fitness gives out. Shaun Marsh is just too good to leave out if his throwing arm has recovered by then. So; Warner Watson Shaun Marsh Clarke Mitch Marsh Maxwell Whiteman (Has proven to be very solid, holding the tail together if the attacking upper order all fold) Faulkner NCN Johnno Hazlewood The squad who miss the final are Smith, Starc, one of the leggies...I like Muirhead but he's not getting a game so probably Zampa and an attacking batsman...probably Cooper (although he might be playing for Holland). In reality Voges and Hopes should go but they won't. That's 5 West Aussies and that's as it should be given we are Matador champs, T20 champs and leading all states in the Shield by a game after only 2 games.
Don Freo
Guest
That's you I'm referring to Nudge.
Nudge
Guest
Fair team Tom and some good points. Yep my bad mistake with Johnno. First picked. Idiot
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Haha. Bad Peter's a SOK cultist too. Joel's not in good company in that regard. What's your WC team Don?
Don Freo
Guest
Might need someone livelier, like you, to open the batting with Tom. Young Joel is beginning to play and miss with the slow bowlers a bit too much. It means he got a start but I can't have him throwing it away. Congratulations on that lightning century you just scored in that exchange with Bad Peter.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Pav is my idol. Spewing I've not met him yet. One day.
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Yeah nice team. I think you might be on the money with Cummins, but leaving out Johnson? Dunk's 'keeping is a little hit or miss for the WC I reckon (admittedly just judging from the T20s). Mine's changed a little in the last few hours, but at the moment it's: S Marsh/Finch Warner Watson Clarke (c) Smith (vc) Marsh/Maxwell Hartley/Whiteman (dead heat, happy either way) Faulkner Johnson Harris/Starc/NCN Lyon I'm stuck between Hartley/Whiteman and S Marsh/Finch. Hartley probably just gets the nod because he's out of control with the bat at the moment. S Marsh before Finch because his record is better and Finch is not in great touch at the moment. Harris is probably unlikely, so Starc and NCN are there alternatively. At least one of them plays each match. I think Faulkner is just too good in high pressure/game-on-the-line situations to leave out of the most important matches. I'd definitely play him if Maxwell's not there. Maxwell's out of form at the moment, and M Marsh is in form, so Mitch is in front I think. Spare bat is between Bailey and White. I'd take White at the moment.
Nudge
Guest
Hey Don, if I could big note myself here for a second and said I played a year of senior footy, with the great Matthew Pavlich in 1999 and have remained mates with him since,would that get me a spot?
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Haha gold, and spot on.
Don Freo
Guest
Nudge...no Marsh bros, no NCN, no Whiteman...NO to my team.
Don Freo
Guest
Nudge...what can I say? If you are good to the purple haze, I'll make up for it in the footy season.
Nudge
Guest
If one of the openers was a real attacking type Bearfax ( think Warner) I would have you as his opening partner, calm in a crisis, level headed, patient, and once you get in, you can go for a very very long time.
Bearfax
Guest
Personally Don I'd prefer to umpire. Never was a good cricket player but I like the idea of keeping guys like you in line on the e-fields
Nudge
Guest
Haha thanks buddy Warner Finch Watson Clarke Smith/Bailey Maxwell/Marsh Haddin/Dunk Faulkner/Starc Cummins Harris Doherty/Lyon I think the guys who I've named by themselves are just about definites. I think the guys named beside each other, are pretty Much competing for 1 spot directly against each other. Gone out on a limb with Dunk, but all our other keepers including Haddin are best suited in one day cricket opening the batting, but with our strong top order that's not where the keeper will play. We need a keeper that can come in with 5 overs left and smash 30 off 15 and a Dunk is probably only one capable. Maybe Ronchi should have hung around. What's yours mate will have a look in morning as about to hit the sack. Only 9pm over your way hey
Tom from Perth
Roar Rookie
Hahaha. You'd be one of the first picked in mine. At least you got an honourable mention. Don seems to have overlooked Sideline completely, who should be up there. What's your XI for the WC mate?