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The innings of Adam Voges and Shane Watson at Northampton could be a direct play off for who fills the only spot up for grabs at the forthcoming Oval Test.
The rest of the team picks itself. It will be an unchanged team other Mitchell Marsh replacing his brother Shaun, who is clearly on the outer and not under consideration given he is not playing at Northants.
The Voges-Watson selection dilemma is an interesting one and arguably the last chance for either to play Test cricket again. One of them will play and the stakes are high.
With the transition to a new era and with the need to inject youth into the middle order, the Australian selectors still may be tempted to shore up the middle with some experience. Runs at the Oval for either Voges or Watson could see one of them maintained for the Bangladesh series and beyond.
The case for Voges is possibly stronger than Watson’s given the relief many felt when Watson was dropped after the Cardiff Test. A feeling that he had been given a good run and just hadn’t produced enough throughout his career.
However, he is an experienced cricketer, a safe first slipper and can still provide some control with the ball. He also has an impressive record at the Oval. His big hundred on the last Ashes tour with an overall average in his two Oval Tests of 69, plus 158 runs at 40 in ODI cricket.
The selectors may also apply the logic, like it seems they have with the ODI squad that a balanced transition is needed. Who is to say Watson could not still fill the role of senior pro?
The case for Voges is he is coming off a fighting 50 at Trent Bridge and faith should be maintained in their horses for courses selection. There may also be sympathy that he is a cricketer that deserves an extended run and could still blossom akin to Chris Rogers.
But he needs runs. His current average of 21 in the series is poor. Added to that, he is not the best catcher in the side and any runs for Watson puts his spot in jeopardy.
Voges or Watson? A tricky one but one thing for sure Wantage Road will be the death knell for one of them.
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