The Ashes are won. Nevertheless, Australia needs to chase a 3-1 result to emphasise their ascendancy over England and confirm their re-emergence as a nation at the top of the ICC Test rankings, where they are currently ranked five.
The Australian team is not without flaws. The bowlers generally performed well but only two batsmen – Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne – should feel confident of retaining their places.
The bowlers need to be managed carefully in readiness for the Australian summer. Nathan Lyon may need to rest his finger and Pat Cummins cannot be over-bowled.
Consideration needs to be given to picking Peter Siddle and James Pattinson. Siddle can replace Lyon, and Pattinson can come in to assist Cummins with Mitchell Starc as an aggregate all-rounder.
Opening is critical and has been a strength for Australian teams in the past. But three out of the four openers have failed this series.
Usman Khawaja averages 96.8 when opening, albeit from only seven innings – one of which was 141 in October 2018 against Pakistan in Dubai. Khawaja’s current Ashes series average is 20.33 compared with Harris’ 11.5, Bancroft’s 11 and Warner’s 9.87. On these figures, Australia should pick Khawaja.
(Photo by Lindsey Parnaby / AFP / Getty Images)
We have not seen the last of Warner but his form is terrible. He now has three ducks in a row and needs a rest. Hopefully Justin Langer – who knows a bit about being a left-handed opener – can identify and repair the problem.
As well as score runs, openers need to absorb deliveries to tire the opposition attack and take the shine off the ball. Of the potential openers, Cameron Bancroft has faced the most balls per innings this series, with 162 balls from four knocks. Khawaja is second with 188 balls over six.
Bancroft benefits from being the only right-handed batsman among the four openers. The benefits of a left-right handed opening combination are well known.
The selectors should pick Khawaja and Bancroft to open for the fifth Test.
Travis Head has not performed to expectations but has consistently made starts. Hopefully batting coach Graeme Hick can help the South Australian convert his starts into big scores. With no obvious alternatives at number 5, Head remains.
Tim Paine should be promoted to bat at number 6 where he can be the fulcrum of the innings. He merely needs to hold an end while Smith, Labuschagne or Head are in.
Batting at numbers 7, 8 and 9 respectively are the aggregate all-rounders Pattinson, Cummins and Starc. The selection of an extra bowler allows for effective workload management.
Josh Hazlewood can come in at number ten, followed by Siddle at 11 if Lyon’s finger prevents him from playing.
Hazlewood and Cummins would open the bowling. They – along with Pattinson and Siddle – will stifle the English batting allowing for the relative extravagance of Starc to attack.
Of course, four right-arm quicks may lack variation, but each of the four has a different style from the others.
This team is unlikely to be selected but it is worth considering an extra bowler with the batsmen generally under-performing.
My Australian XI for the final Ashes Test at the Oval
1. Usman Khawaja
2. Cameron Bancroft
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Tim Paine (c, wk)
7. James Pattinson
8. Pat Cummins
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Nathan Lyon/Peter Siddle
JamesH
Roar Guru
It will be interesting to see which quick gets left out! Cummins might be in need of a rest but perhaps they think that by including Marsh they can afford to keep Paddy, using him in shorter bursts.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Kind of seems you’re assuming the bowlers would be as effective with the blade if they were batting up the order. Which they might - it’s only one spot. But I feel like it’s an unnecessary risk in the circumstances.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Wade has a good chance of making a big score given the Oval is meant to be a road. I suggested 5 bowlers to win this Test and to avoid overworking them and injuring them.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
It worked for the Windies in the 70s when they had Roberts, Garner, Holding and Daniel plus Collis King.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Will is not in the squad. Warner's form is dire...he needs to mentally recalibrate.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
The pace bowlers are all different. We have Marsh now which guarantees Starc will play. I hope they rest Cummins...they will be long innings at the Oval.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Hi James, Of course you're right....my bad. Now that Marsh is , I hope they rest Cummins, and use Siddle and Lyon alongside Starc and Hazelwood. may need a few more from our PT leg-spinners who bat at 3 and 4 too.
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
I actually think Wade will contribute big with the bat at the oval.
maccaa62
Roar Rookie
You should be a selector. Good and bold move. I like that team. The poms would hate it. Having to face all those quicks. Argghg!!!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Lyon's finger has had it. He needs to get better. Bowling with 4 fingers, to compensate for an injured index finger, is offspin bowling death and will only ruin his confidence.
JamesH
Roar Guru
And I just realised that Broad (16) and Boult (19) are even higher on that list! I mean, what the actual f... Clearly there just aren't that many actual test allrounders going about (Marsh hasn't played for nearly a year, either).
JamesH
Roar Guru
As a general rule I agree that Marsh is not the answer, but he has a good record when playing on those English pitches that don't offer much seam movement (including the Oval). If we don't have a spinner then we need five seamers. The only way to do that without weakening the batting is to ensure the 5th seamer has batting ability. For all Marsh's failures, we know he *can* actually score big when the conditions suit him. This is all academic anyway, as Marsh has been picked. That's not even the most controversial part - Warner and Harris have kept their spots! (BTW, take those ICC allrounder rankings with a grain of salt. I mean, Lyon and Hazlewood in the top 25 allrounders in the world?!? They are genuine tail-enders. Absurd.)
JamesH
Roar Guru
It addresses it as much as yours does. Literally the only difference between my side and yours if Lyon isn't fit is Marsh/Neser in for Pattinson. We still have the same number of bowlers (albeit with a somewhat weaker 5th bowling option) and my batting lineup would arguably be slightly stronger. If Lyon plays then bowler workloads can be managed by rotating Siddle in for one of the incumbent quicks and using Lyon in long spells, with support from Labuschagne. Plus we'd have more batting depth in that scenario than we would in your side above.
Dutski
Roar Guru
Absolute madness!
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Tell that to the selectors, or JL... apparently they picked him (M.Marsh) for this last test.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
But they went for M. Marsh instead....
Spinosum
Roar Rookie
Thanks Zenn, I agree for the greater part but would give young Will a slot at five and Davy at six, I think your bowling group would be fine, there a lot of hunger from the under bowled group.
Richie
Roar Rookie
Status quo, we’ve just retained the ashes!
Dally
Guest
Maybe we should look at the likes of Wade and Paine (harsh, but a rational choice) going soon, so there are two more true batters in the side. Do that as a start and with the bowling attack we up our chances overall. We need runs. We do not need all rounders, as Cummins, Starc and Pattinson can all bat a bit so are pretty much that role anyway. Therefore, up the batting as much as we can, rather than reduce it please. Go from there. Been a great series, well done to the side. Huge effort.
Farren
Guest
No