The Ashes has been a disaster for Australia. England are our ultimate rivals and to be skittled for 60 is nothing short of embarrassing.
However the time to dwell is passing and it’s onwards and upwards for a team about to experience “change not seen since the South African rebel tour”, as stated by Robert Craddock on Fox Sports News.
The next focus now is Australia’s Test series in Bangladesh. Normally such a series would not receive much attention, but with a new-look side on the horizon, there will be plenty of scrutiny.
Chris Rogers is expected to retire, Michael Clarke already has, and there are further questions over Mitchell Johnson, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Brad Haddin and Shane Watson.
Here’s what I believe Australia’s squad should look like in Bangladesh:
1. David Warner (vc)
2. Chris Rogers/Ed Cowan
3. Steve Smith (c)
4. Usman Khawaja
5. Joe Burns
6. Mitchell Marsh
7. Peter Nevill
8. Mitchell Starc
9. Josh Hazlewood
10. Chadd Sayers/Peter Siddle
11. Nathan Lyon
12. James Faulkner
13. Adam Voges/Callum Ferguson
14. Steve O’Keefe
Warner will be safe for some time – he’ll be sworn in as vice-captain, is a game-changer at the top order, and symbolic of the aggressive approach Australia took under the leadership of Clarke. Further, with 42 Tests to his name, Warner will be a veteran of a new-look side.
If Rogers does retire, the logical option is 33-year-old Cowan, who has represented Australia in 18 Tests. Cowan, who scored 815 runs at 47.94 in the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield season, is a stop-gap option for the side because there’s no one else who can fill the position right now.
Cowan also contrasts effectively with Warner in their approach to batting, and should stay in the position until a player like Cameron Bancroft finds consistency within the Sheffield Shield.
The middle order is where the real problems lie, with Steve Smith leading the side as the captain. The case for Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja to be the new faces of the Australian middle order is growing stronger, with a certain level of patience required for their development within the squad. Burns and Khawaja are both familiar with the baggy green and at 25 and 28 respectively will most likely be trialled as replacements for Clarke and Adam Voges. After performing well in India, they have the experience in sub-continent conditions.
While a senior member within the squad, Watson’s time in the Test side seems finished, with the position belonging to either Mitchell Marsh or James Faulkner. At 23 and 25, the time is now for both all-rounders, however neither is overly reliable as a top-six batsman, with Marsh averaging 31.73 and Faulkner 31.78 in their first-class careers. Selectors need to make a decision on either all-rounder and move on from Watson.
The wicketkeeper’s position is Peter Nevill’s after solid performances in the Ashes. Nevill has the skills and quality to succeed Brad Haddin, however he needs to emulate Haddin’s aggressive approach to the game in terms of his chatter behind the stumps to get under the batsmen’s skin. Nevill also has to add to the culture of the dressing room as Haddin did.
Onwards to the bowling department.
In Bangladesh, pace won’t be significant, it’ll be all about hitting the right spots, bowling good lengths, and capitalising on any reverse swing.
Mitchell Johnson looks in need of a solid rest, so it’d be ideal to freshen him up for the West Indies tour of Australia where he can recapture the form that won us the previous Ashes 5-0.
The pressure is on Mitchell Starc, who despite obtaining wickets has been erratic. Josh Hazlewood has been disappointing this Ashes series and will need to find the line, length and rhythm that saw him selected in the first place.
The third pace spot is between Chadd Sayers and Peter Siddle. Both are stump-to-stump bowlers, with Sayers adding that extra dimension in swing, drawing comparisons to Terry Alderman. Both should be able to take advantage of any reverse swing on offer while providing pressure.
The spin bowling spot is Nathan Lyon’s for years to come, and he should be the leading wicket-taker at the end of this two-match series. Lyon’s job will be to attack, attack and attack. The pressure should come from the pace bowling, while Lyon’s soul focus should be taking wickets and being the match-winner.
Despite Fawad Ahmed being in the Ashes touring squad, depending on whether he plays at The Oval, Steve O’Keefe should be the second spinner selected in Bangladesh. He has age on his side compared to Ahmed, in a team that is rebuilding. O’Keefe impressed in India and is giving himself every chance to add to his one Test appearance. He could even replace the third pace option.
Players such as Voges and Callum Ferguson could also feature. Both are experienced cricketers and despite Voges’ failures in England he would be a solid fringe player on the tour, along with Ferguson, who at 30, still has time to secure his baggy green.
With such an inexperienced, youthful Australian side, Bangladesh shouldn’t be judged as pushovers, especially at home. This Test series is of huge importance for a new-look side, despite the minnow status of their opponent.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Pattinson is one of few Australians who bowl genuine cutters, as opposed to just hoping the seam does all the work. On the dull, lifeless, rolled mud in Bangladesh that could be valuable. Especially once the ball stops swinging. He's the first picked bowler in any conditions for me, if fit and with enough cricket behind to show some form. The one I would be leaving out because of conditions would be Johnson. There will be just nothing for him in Bangladesh.
Andrew
Guest
Good team, I would also go go Khawaja and if rogers retires rhen get Khawaja to open and I would look to get Pattison and SOK in the squad
peeeko
Roar Guru
and in siddle case slow and not up to test cricket anymore
peeeko
Roar Guru
why would you dump Johnson and bring back an average bowler like Siddle?
dan ced
Guest
I hear ya, but I still think a mix of experience and youth is a good thing. If you lose Rogers you should replace him with someone with similar experience. Put the youngster in at 5 or 6, you'd probably say that would be Burns, or Khawaja. I don't think Mitch Marsh is ready with the bat or ball, I'd rather put Faulkner in (once he's done his time). Would get more wickets and more runs than Marsh at the moment. My Bangladesh test team: Warner, Klinger, Smith, Burns, Voges, Faulkner, Nevill, Johnson, Starc, Sandhu and Ahmed (Voges can bowl his part time offies).
Bovs
Guest
Klinger, as good as his recent and longer-term Shield form has been, would feel very much like yet another interim solution adding on to picking Bailey, Cowan, Doolan, Rogers, Voges, etc. The team really needs an established top order over the next 3 years, so that you can then start picking younger debutants without so much pressure on them. So for me, Burns and Khawaja have to be the first 2 choices to come into the team. Adding them to Warner and Smith, and you still have 2 spots to fill with any of Voges, S Marsh, Ferguson, Lynn, Bancroft, etc. etc. and an allrounder (M.Marsh, Maxwell, Faulkner or Agar).
Bovs
Guest
Agar at 7 is actually a really good call and possibly a better long-term choice than Maxwell. I also think Nevill's Shield batting justifies putting him at 6, even though traditionally we were loathe to put even a fantastic keeper-batsman in Gilchrist up the order.
Quitwhinging
Guest
"he just needs to escape his vegetarian diet and have a barbeque or something" I'm sorry I didn't realise you were a dietary expert
Quitwhinging
Guest
India 2013. Guess who was Australia's best bowler. Hint: His initials are JP
Quitwhinging
Guest
Just paint the SA/VIC caps blue. It'll be enough to confuse the muppetts on the selection committee
dan ced
Guest
Hate to say it again.. but Klinger! to open. Wait.. take the same team and play S.Marsh so his career is DEFINATELY dead.
Disco
Guest
I guess I'm hoping for more than boorish sledging. off-field boasts and irresponsible wafts from Nevill as he becomes established. You can be chatty and positive without being like Haddin.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Yeh good point Gav.... they're both accurate and not from NSW - they have no chance.
Lachlan Harper
Roar Rookie
Could prove ineffective on the slow, flat, lifeless wickets of Bangladesh.
james
Guest
Surprised Pattinson hasn't been mentioned. Is currently playing for Australia A, and if considered Red Ball fit, then should walk into that side ahead of the other names. A serious talent.
Bovs
Guest
Yep bowling depth is good... it'd be even better if Pattinson and Cummins could keep fit. There's a few genuine quicks, a number of reliable fast-mediums and even spin options with Lyon only barely holding out O'Keefe and Ahmed (with Boyce and Zampa also continuing to develop). It's just such a shame there's nowhere near the same depth in batting. I only raise Maxwell because he's a tolerable second-spinner option and can bat at 6 or 7 (not 3 though please!) and I think in Bangladesh if you want three fast-men you need a spinning all-rounder. Bangladesh regularly play 2 spinners and 2 spinning all-rounders!!! Voges hasn't been tried as a spinner at test level, but his first class record might be enough that you'd pick him at 6 as an all-rounder in place of Maxwell if you want to include the third quick. This would also give an excuse to keep an older head in the team at a time when you're going to be throwing in a bunch of youngsters all at once.
matth
Guest
Steady Eddie Cowan is actually a good call, and he will provide some extra experience for Steve Smith. I agree with your top 5. Burns was next cab off the rank and was treated pretty poorly. Khawaja has gone away and improved and should also be given a shot. My only change is to make Khawaja number 3 and put Smith back to 4 or even 5. He just seems to suit the middle order better and we will also need some experience there if Clarke, Voges and S Marsh are gone. On the bowling, I agree that there should be two spinners. Lyon, Starc and Hazlewood pick themselves. The Ashes were not lost because of the bowling. They have only conceded two centuries to Joe Root. For the all rounder and remaining bowler, there are so many options that would probably provide a similar result. Here are my three options: 1. M Marsh at number six and O'Keefe as second spinner. 2. Nevill to 6, Faulkner at 7 and O'Keefe. 3. And I would love to see this happen: Nevill at 6. Ashton Agar at 7 as a spinning all rounder. Siddle, Cummins or the best performer from the A tour as the third seamer.
Lachlan Harper
Roar Rookie
Fair point. I just find Maxwell extremely unreliable and harmful to team confidence. At 30, Siddle should still be considered important to the side on a fringe basis, he just needs to escape this vegetarian diet and have a barbeque or something! Bird is one I forgot, either way it highlights the bowling depth that exists in Australia which can only be a good thing!
Lachlan Harper
Roar Rookie
I beg to differ. The previous 3 keepers, Healy, Gilchrist and Haddin have all been verbal behind the stumps. A verbal, positive keeper allows the team to stay positive and attentive. Nevill probably has the potential to be like this, just waiting to feel comfortable in the team I assume.
Bovs
Guest
Being in Bangladesh, I imagine you'd either only have 2 fast bowlers or if you're going to pick 3 you'd have to look at Maxwell rather than Marsh as an allrounder. Personally I think the 5 bowlers (including the allrounder) should be Marsh, Starc, O'Keefe, Hazlewood and Lyon. O'Keefe gets the nod over Ahmed because he adds batting depth to a team with a largely untried middle-order. Apart from my 5 'starters', I'd have Maxwell, Fawad Ahmed and one extra paceman in the squad. The paceman becomes one of the most open calls with Johnson the incumbant, Siddle and Cummins available from the Ashes tour, and more left-field options of Cutting, CoulterNile, Bird, Sayers, Sandhu, Behrendorff and Faulkner available. I'd probably lean to the more experienced Siddle given the loss of experience overall from the side, but wanting to allow Johnson a rest. If the thinking is that Siddle is done and no longer part of Australia's future, I think Bird or CoulterNile deserve the call-up most but I'd expect Sandhu to be the sort of player to get picked... NSW and has played well for Australia A seems to be more important than sustained Sheffield Shield form. So my team... Warner; Cowan/Rogers; Smith; Khawaja; Burns; MMarsh; Nevill; Starc; OKeefe; Hazlewood; Lyon and tour players SMarsh/Ferguson/Voges/Bailey; Maxwell; Ahmed; Siddle/Bird/Sandhu