Five takeaways from the Ashes squad announcement

There were a couple of shock inclusions and some notable omissions as the Australian selectors announced their squad for the first Test in Brisbane.

Here are my five main takeaways.

1. Paine elevation a real stunner
When people said Tim Paine was the Ashes bolter, I thought they were having a stab in the dark, but they proved spot on.

Maybe we should have read the tea leaves when Paine was picked as the gloveman and captain for an otherwise rookie Cricket Australia XI that played England last week, before being reinstated to the Tasmanian side last week as a batsman.

Scores of 52 for the CA XI and 71 not out for Tasmania, plus a polished performance with the gloves against England, were enough to see Paine ahead of the stuttering Peter Nevill and Matthew Wade.

However, Paine had been left out of Tasmania’s first two Shield games and last scored a first-class century in 2006. In fact, his batting numbers have been disastrous at Shield level over the past three seasons, averaging just 16, making his recall a real stunner.

What can’t be disputed is that Paine is the cleanest keeper in the county and did average 35 with the bat in his two Test match appearances, in 2010. While serious finger injuries robbed him of the best years of his career, Paine has received a running recall, when he was on the verge of quitting just a few months ago.

2. Wade and Nevill may not play Test cricket again
The harsh reality for both Wade and Nevill is they have been snubbed for an older keeper and may never play another Test.

While Wade is still only 29, and Nevill the same age as the recalled Paine, at 32, it appears Paine will take up the role for the foreseeable future, while the likes of Alex Carey and Sam Whiteman develop their games.

The side’s part-time wicketkeepers, Peter Handscomb and Cameron Bancroft, may even be options if Paine struggles.

While you have to feel for Nevill and Wade, both left the door well and truly ajar with their form. Nevill failed to notch a score higher than 33 in four innings this Shield season, while Wade could only muster 20 through six innings, sealing his fate.

With mixed reviews of their keeping performances, and with average Test records, the message is clear: we are moving in another direction.

AP Photo/Tsering Topgyal

3. Renshaw axing no real surprise
Matthew Renshaw was axed after a lean start to the Shield Summer.

The fact Renshaw averages over 60 in Tests in Australia, as well having made some handy scores in devilishly tricky conditions on the subcontinent against India and Bangladesh, makes this a harsh axing at face value.

However, the irresistible form of Cameron Bancroft, and the fact Renshaw should manage just 70 runs at 11, made the decision fairly straightforward.

While his grit and temperament are real and tangible strengths, technically Renshaw has holes in his game and now is the perfect time to go away and work on them.

Players far better than Renshaw – like Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden – were dropped early in their career, so I don’t see this as anything more than a stumbling block for a good young player.

4. Is Shaun Marsh the cat with nine lives?
This is now the eighth time Shaun Marsh has been recalled to the Test team, which is outrageous when you think about it, given cats are the ones that are meant to have nine lives, not Test batsmen.

If we were judging purely on class, ability and technique, Marsh would clearly be in the top six batsmen in the country. However he has proven time and time again his body can’t last Test matches in quick succession.

While Marsh has been dropped a few times for poor form, he has been left out more times because of his dodgy back or hamstrings or broken fingers, and those issues aren’t disappearing at the age of 34.

At a time when many accomplished bats in their mid-30s like Ed Cowan, George Bailey, Michel Klinger and Cameron Ferguson appear to have the red line permanently through their name, Marsh remains one of the selectors’ favourites.

AFP PHOTO / William WEST

5. Steve Smith wields enormous power
Cast your minds back 12 months and Steve Smith was desperate for more fight and mongrel in the Australian team, which was a huge factor in Wade’s recall. Given Wade couldn’t possibly be retained on form, Smith and the selectors have opted for a similarly chilly keeper in Paine.

Paine might not be the scrapper Wade is, but he is no shrinking violet, and will be expected to lead in body language and noise in the field. The fact he is relatively quiet for a keeper likely counted against Nevill.

Smith probably also played a role in Renshaw’s axing. David Warner and Smith both like to dominate attacks and were frustrated at times by Renshaw’s inability to get off strike.

Now Smith must focus on the task of winning his first Ashes series as captain, one where Australia are favourites and in their our own backyard, which brings added pressure.