Australian Ashes squad named

We're less than 50 days away from the Ashes and Australia have named their touring squad. Here is my pick of the top XI batting order plus the second fiddles:

Phillip Hughes
Simon Katich
Ricky Ponting
Michael Clarke
Michael Hussey (demoted one spot due to lack of form)
Marcus North
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Brett Lee
Peter Siddle
Stuart Clark

And the other guys left to carry the kit bags

Graham Manou (back-up wicket keeper)

Andrew McDonald (Andrew Symonds-lite)

Ben Hilfenhaus (narrowly pipped by Binger after a nets bowl-off)

Shane Watson

Nathan Hauritz

Everyone seems shocked and disappointed that Andrew Symonds wasn't picked. I couldn't be happier. I've never been convinced that Symonds can bat or bowl at Test level. On the other hand, I'm not too thrilled that Andrew McDonald is selected. McDonald has shown no aptitude for batting at Test level. At best, his bowling is useful for plugging up one end. The selectors are still in their bits 'n' pieces way of thinking, choosing players who are average at batting and bowling but excel at neither. It's been official policy since Flintoff destroyed us in 2005.

A serious concern is the lack of specialist batsmen. Any of our top 6 get injured and there are no specialist back-ups. One of them show poor form (Marcus North has played only 2 Tests), we have no options. I suppose the selectors are thinking they can fill a gap in the batting order with McDonald or Watson. Big mistake. I would've swapped Brad Hodge for either of them (probably McDonald).

I've left Shane Watson out of my top XI. It's a major triumph if he can get through a Twenty20 game without injury. Last time we toured England, Shane Watson couldn't get through a full night's sleep without getting the willies and asking if he could sleep in Brett Lee's room. How is he expected to get through 5 consecutive days of Test cricket? The other night, my 9 year old daughter had a nightmare about a bee and asked to sleep in our room. Kind of cute for a school girl. Bit of a worry for a full grown male cricketer.

And what's up with Nathan Hauritz? Okay, I concede it was always a long-shot that Bryce McGain be selected (a leggie can hope though). But surely Krezja is a better wicket-taking option. Or take both in case Hauritz shows poor form. But no, he's just there as a defensive option to block up one end. It was that kind of thinking that had England select Ashley Giles over Monty Panesar in the last Ashes series. We all saw how that series turned out.

Nevertheless, I believe the Australians will be hungry as hell this Ashes. You've got all the young players like Johnson, Siddle, Hughes - who've never played against England before, let alone an Ashes tour. Then you've got Punter. He'll probably deny it but sure as chips, he'll have memories of 2005 foremost in his mind. I predict he will score many, many runs.

It's going to be a cracker and I'm looking forward to a sleep deprived few months coming up. Kudos to SBS for covering it and here's hoping there's no bloody Tour de France to interrupt the coverage.

Posted by JC on Thu 21 May

27 comments

The way Australia won the test series in SA, I think they will completely wipeout England. Ponting and company are quite desperate to not only get the number one ranking back but to be as dominant in the past. They will play for a lot of pride. This Ashes is going to be awesome.

Posted by rayden on 2009-05-22 04:50:20

I agree with you mostly, but I'd have Hilfenhaus in for Lee, whose never done well in England.

Yeah what were they thinking including Watson? It would be a miracle if he lasts a whole day in a Test without breaking down. And who's the backup - McDonald? The selectors should have learnt from SA and included an extra batsman.

Posted by MT on 2009-05-23 00:27:44

I agree, what an ashes this is going to be. With all the debate surrounding the Aussie seam attack can I just inform one and all that the only thing we in England are concerned about is that Shane Warne doesn't jump down from the Sky commentary box, grab the ball and bowl us out yet again. The absence of both Warne and McGrath will be a massive factor despite the sniper like accuracy of Stuart Clark when bowling in England.

Manchester United have just won the English premiership over here with many pundits applauding the strength of their squad and the fact they could field two sides capable of overturning most opposition. Looking at those Australian names listed above in comparison to the 2005 series there is surely a lack of match-winners on the bench.

p.s. Rumour has it that the drainage installed at Cardiff (1st test) has reduced the moisture in the square resulting in some perfect conditions for the twiddlies sometimes even on day one! Watch this space.

Posted by ricwilk on 2009-05-23 03:13:54

Pointless thing to say I know, but just witnessed yet another stunning Gilchrist innings in the IPL. Fair to say that at 38 he could still walk into either Ashes side this summer.

Posted by Rich on 2009-05-23 04:23:01

Watson might add an extra dimension to the team in place of Clark maybe. An extra batsman might help if the nightmarish collapses of 05 happened again.

Re his injury worries, lets be optimistic - At least he lasted last years IPL without injury, I think. But if he refuses to leave Brett Lee's room again after getting spooked, JC's 9 year old daughter seems a better bet.

Posted by Ajesh Nag on 2009-05-23 04:23:38

I'm at peace with Gilly who let's face it, was showing scratchy form at Test level towards the end of his career. Brad Haddin is currently scoring more runs and at a greater rate than Gilly was for the last few years. Remember Flintoff rendered him completely ineffectual in 2005. So I wouldn't get too carried away by a few sixes ina Twenty20 game.

Even if you add up Watson's batting and bowling abilities together, he's still less of a Test player than Stuart Clark - even if he stays fit. Better to pick a specialist batsman than an average all-rounder.

Would love if Warnie came out of retirement for this Ashes series. It wouldn't be good for Australian cricket in the long term (we need to move on) but it would be a fantastic spectacle and the only opportunity I'd get to see an legspinner in the Australian side for probably a long, long time.

Posted by JC on 2009-05-23 08:32:00

Ha, love the way people (well, so-called news reports in the main) try to implicate some kind of releveance of a twanky-twanky game and the real version of the game! It's very entertaining. Even that insufferable oaf Punter does it nowadays.

Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-05-23 18:55:16

We got nailed in 05 with high quality reverse swing, mostly.The poms attacked our(then) batting weakness,helped by astute coaching from Troy Cooley. I reckon our current bats can handle this style better now and Englands pace attack doesn’t look as good as in 2005.
Best chance for the poms this time around is to attack our present weakness-against spin. If they serve up spinning pitches not only will our bats struggle but our so will our bowlers. Hauritz is more an inoffensive slow-medium bowler than a genuine spinner.Hope John Buchanan doesn't wise them up.

Posted by pbs on 2009-06-11 17:48:24

Even if you add up Watson's batting and bowling abilities together, he's still less of a Test player than Stuart Clark - even if he stays fit. Better to pick a specialist batsman than an average all-rounder.
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