Debate has started, led by Ricky Ponting, concerning the future of Australia’s failed Test cricket team.
In total 18 players were selected, and at the end of the tour we can only say with certainty that eight of them – 44 per cent of the squad – will play Tests again.
Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Chris Rogers, Adam Voges, Shane Watson and Ryan Harris are done.
Voges could arguably get over the line if he has a big score at The Oval, but given the disastrous nature of the tour and the need to forge a new era he is good as gone.
If we add to the list the ‘unlikely’ cohort of Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle and Fawad Ahmed, we are up to nine.
Ahmed could have a case and might even play at The Oval, but at 33 and no Test career to date he is an unlikely long-term option.
Marsh could consider himself unlucky and arguably should have been tried earlier, but a sketchy and stop/start career combined with his age is against him.
Which leaves us with Siddle, not tried on the tour, pace down and clearly not held in high regard by Darren Lehmann, combined with other younger options waiting in the wings.
Then there is Pat Cummins. With no red-ball form for a long time, and arguably still on the recovery road, it wouldn’t surprise if other young guns usurp him.
That leaves Australia with only Steve Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, and Mitchell Starc.
The tour has been a total nightmare, akin to England’s dismal tour of Australian in 2013-14, where more than half-a-dozen careers were put to bed, with more left on the outer.
However this situation was always beckoning for Australia.
Win, lose or draw Clarke was bound to retire. Watson was under pressure and likely to go as well. Harris and his knees were always vulnerable, Siddle was on the outer, and Rogers had already announced his retirement.
Add to that Voges being a horses for courses selection with age against him, Shaun Marsh needing a harvest of runs to survive, Haddin in the twilight, Ahmed yet to be tried and Cummins not initially selected.
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