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
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 |  48 comments |
Posted by rayden on 2009-05-22 04:50:20
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
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
Posted by Rich on 2009-05-23 04:23:01
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
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
Posted by virtualgaz on 2009-05-23 18:55:16
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
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Posted by chrisb on 2010-04-08 06:02:19
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