Who will be an Ashes tourist?

As much hype surrounds the World Cup at the moment, with team totals and records blown out of the water, you would expect many cricket fans to be focused on this outstanding event.

I am enjoying it, but my main thoughts are on the bigger contest mid-year. Nothing gets me more excited then news of what the make-up of the Aussie squad for the Ashes might be.

Here I want put my two cents in and see what everyone else thinks about who should be going to England. Rod Marsh and his men will select a squad, who knows how big or small, in early June.

In 2013 the squad was 16 players before good form saw Steve Smith and, mysteriously, Ashton Agar join from the Aussie A series in England and Scotland a month before.

So, for argument’s sake, let’s say Rod names an 18-man squad for England. My squad would be as follows.

David Warner
Is there anything that needs to be said about Davey Warner? Has been in form since the 2013-14 Ashes series opener in Brisbane. Keep him out of the pubs and it will be interesting too see how he goes this time around.

He was scratchy last time but took on Graeme Swann and James Anderson to make a fine 71 in Durham. He should fire.

Chris Rogers
Imagine an Ashes victory as a swan song. It will be like playing in the backyard for Rogers as he has spent most of his Australian summers in England plying his trade.

He did a brilliant job last time around after spending almost six years out of the team. Now it feels like he’s been there for years and years. He will be solid once again.

Joe Burns
Burns is the unknown. For me, Watson doesn’t make the Aussie XI, so Burns becomes the obvious choice. He deserves his spot with a couple of fifties in his second Test and over 600 runs in the Sheffield Shield this summer as an opener.

He will have to handle number three while Rogers performs his swan song, but should move up once Rogers gives it up.

Steve Smith (vc)
Smith has shot to prominence in two years since that series in 2013, as the rock of Australia’s middle order and a solid captain in the making. He will start as vice-captain and hold his number four position he made his own against India. Should bowl, as England have a well documented weakness against the wrist spinner in series gone by.

Michael Clarke (c)
Clarke is the right man to lead the Aussies into this fascinating series. His experience, tactical thinking and injury status will be major factors in Australia retaining the urn.

If his batting gets anywhere near his best, he is in for a big series.

Mitchell Marsh
Marsh junior is Australia’s x-factor. He is the player we have over England straight away.

A player who could bat anywhere between three and eight and have an affect and bowl fast – if his body lets him. Unfortunately, in his six-year career, Mitch has had half as many injuries as ‘Watto’ has had. If he stays fit though, he could reproduce a Freddie Flintoff-like series.

Brad Haddin
Definitely still Australia’s most acrobatic keeper. His batting was unfortunately poor this summer, but since the start of the ODI Tri-Series, he has looked as though he is playing with his old freedom.

I doubt he’ll want this to be his swan song, but I feel the selectors may force his hand. Has great knowledge of England and should use this series to pass on this knowledge to an understudy.

Mitchell Johnson
Will the moustache make the party? Johnson has had a brilliant 18 months since his return. Bowling short and fast, with the odd (Bumble) swinger. Has a brilliant attack plan and if he has his mo-jo, he will be scary viewing for the Poms.

Ryan Harris
Is he an all-rounder? Australia’s Mr Dependable. If Johnson has a rare bad day or Australia just need someone to bowl them to a win, Harris is the man.

I read he will play games one, three and five as his body may not handle all five straight. That is sad news but if he does’t break down and we get the best from him, Darren Lehmann and fans will be very happy.

Nathan Lyon
‘Gazza’ may just have silenced some people over the summer. He has never played a game where his position wasn’t questioned. But 22 wickets, including 12 in Adelaide against the best players of spin on this earth, from four Tests is a fine return in the face of pressure from the Aussie selectors.

He has been outplayed, I believe, by NSW teammate Steve O’Keefe this season though. He should retain his place come game day, depending on the West Indies tour.

James Pattinson
If he is fit, he is in. Fifty-one wickets from 13 Tests. Pattinson has a very big future, he just needs to stay on the paddock. Looked good in the games he played in 2013 series. He should go well as the conditions will favour his outswingers and reverse swing later on.

The bench
Shaun Marsh
Makes the squad on the back of his 99 in Melbourne and 700 Shield runs. He is a bit hot and cold, but might have the experience to handle English conditions. Probably loses his place to Clarke’s return from injury.

Adam Voges
This man can not be overlooked. Over 1000 Shield runs at 107. Would make an awesome back-up if inconsistency strikes Burns, or if injuries strike Clarke or either of the Marshes.

Shane Watson
Unfortunately his stats aren’t what he and most of the Australian public would want them to be. If he is at the top of his game, which he hasn’t been for a while now, he can be unstoppable. He probably lacks bowling form as well, which means he misses out in the first Test to a young Mitch Marsh and his batting position given to an in-form Joe Burns.

Peter Nevill
Nevill is a very fine batsman and gloveman, and at 28 could be the next to rule the throne behind the stumps once Haddin is done. His stats and form behind the stumps and with the bat in recent seasons should result in him getting a call-up as understudy or in case of injury.

Josh Hazlewood
Hazlewood had an excellent debut series against India, with the five-for in Brisbane being the highlight. Young Josh is another with a very very bright future as a fast bowler for Australia. He will probably take Harris’ place in games two and four if nobody else gets injured.

Pat Cummins
Could be a strange selection, but if he stays fit Cummins could pay a role in the series. If Johnson goes down with an injury, Cummins is the man to fill that role of the super fast bowler. If he was to play as Harris’ replacement you could have super speed from both ends in Cummins and Johnson. Or he might not play at all.

Steve O’Keefe
I have to admit, I am a big O’Keefe fan. His outstanding Shield form for the past four seasons resulted in a call-up for the Pakistan series. Somehow, neither him nor Lyon could take the wickets Australia required.

He did manage to outbowl Lyon to take four wickets for the Test to Lyon’s two, and regularly out does Lyon in Shield. For me O’Keefe is the number one spinner in Australia, and hopefully he makes the West Indies tour in April to show his worth. Can bat too.

The unlucky souls
Chris Lynn
Unfortunately Lynn hasn’t had the summer he would have hoped, missing half the Shield round because of injury rehabilitation. The way he came back against Victoria with his mammath 250 told me he has a future as an Australian batsman. Lynn has improved his four-day game immensely in the last three seasons and definitely has a future in green and gold, as well as whites.

Chris Hartley
I would love to see Rod Marsh go with Chris Hartley. He is the tidiest gloveman in the country and another solid bat as well, with two centuries in Shield. His only problem is his age. At 32, the selectors will probably look to a younger understudy for Brad Haddin.

Fawad Ahmed
At the time of writing, Ahmed sits comfortably atop the wicket takers list for the Shield season. Has bowled with great control throughout the summer and wouldn’t look out of his depth in the international arena, especially against England. At almost 34, time is not on his side.

Peter Siddle
Siddle’s case is a strange one. Has a great record, but doesn’t bowl fast enough for Darren Lehmann’s liking. He would not be a bad replacement for a weary Harris, as he bowls that constant line and length.

Ed Cowan
Found his form in the first half of the summer, and then let it go. If he kept going the rate he was he probably would find himself on the plane to England. His form unfortunately dipped away after the Big Bash League. Though his strike rate and attacking strokes have improved since the last time we last saw him in Aussie whites.

Jordan Silk
Has a future in the XI for sure. His summer hasn’t bee great, apart from his BBL performances, but more runs will be expected of him next summer. Maybe a stint in England county or club cricket would be a major boost for future tours to the Isles.

Michael Klinger
Another state move, and again finds his true potential. Could bat anywhere in the order, and could do well. Plays well in the ‘V’ and cuts hard. As a former skipper of South Australia he would be handy to have in the field. At 34 and never really being on Australia’s radar, his chances may have passed.

Peter Handscomb
Looks like a future Australian midle order bat or number seven keeper. Has a good record with the bat in Shield and at the time of writing he’d signed with Gloucestershire, to gain invaluable experience for the future.

Matthew Wade
Has shared the keeping duties with Handscomb this season and has been rewarded with form with the blade. Wade has probably been leapfrogged by a couple of other keepers in the last two years. But if his keeping improves, he could find himself in Aussie colours and whites again.

Glenn Maxwell
Although not touted a Test player, I think Maxwell has something to offer Test cricket. To this date I’m not sure, but hopefully we’ll find out. Has found form witht the blade in the ODIs this half of the summer.

James Faulkner
I am unsure what to think of Faulkner as a Test player. He seems too much like a defensive bowler instead of a wicket-taker to be picked on his bowling and he’s no more than a hitter that wouldn’t manage a top six batting position in Tests. For me Marsh ticks all these boxes.

Jackson Bird
Bird in-form and fit is some bowler. It has been a while since he played Test cricket and he probably could find himself on the plane, as English conditions should suit his style. If the selectors did not want to risk Cummins, then Bird would be my next seamer in.

Moises Henriques
Banished from the Test team for what? Almost getting a century against India’s three spinners on a clay track. His bowling is probably going the wrong way to be considered a genuine all-rounder anymore, but his batting has been good for NSW over the past two seasons. This year was a bit quieter. But a 700-run Shield season and he wouldn’t look out of place in Clarke’s number five position.

Andrew Fekete
Would have been a major bolter. But he is the leading seaming wicket taker for the Shield season. Watch this space.

Jason Behrendorff
Can swing it in any condidtions. He is a lot like Trent Boult in the way he bowls. Don’t know where his injury will be at come June-July, but I would have thought he would be fine by then. Takes wickets, but doesn’t bowl as fast as some make out he does.

Callum Ferguson
Has finally stepped up for South Australia this year and last year. Wasn’t far off a place in Melbourne, just being pipped by Joe Burns. But the runs he has scored should stick in the selectors minds come June.

Ashton Agar
Almost got picked for Sydney Test against India. His game has improved since he took the world by storm. A ten-wicket haul and a couple fifties may be the first step for a fine career as a spinning all-rounder. Don’t think he will be playing the first Test at Cardiff though.

Mark Steketee
Some of you may say ‘who?’. But Steketee has great potential. He is genuinely quick and takes wickets. Seven wickets on Shield debut may put his name somewhere in Rod Marsh’s head. He could be a danger man in the future. Has plenty of time on his side though at just 20.

Others
Tom Cooper
Nic Maddinson
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Marcus Stoinis
Ryan Carters
Sam Whiteman
Peter George
Chadd Sayers

I would love to know what everbody thinks. Who goes to England to try to retain the Ashes?