In recent memory Australian selectors have grown used to the enviable problem of selection dilemmas such as how to find a place for the second best leg spinner in the world, how high (or low) in the order to bat Adam Gilchrist and just which record breaking batsman should fill the spot at number 6 - an "embarrassment of riches" no doubt.
Their selection task is no more easy now, and so given the 18 or 20 players that could easily "set sail" for England in the coming months, you'd expect retaining the Ashes would be a "lay down misere". Surely with so many players pushing for a Test cap in England, the strength of the side would be unquestionable.
I can think of a dozen combinations for this Ashes tour all of which will no doubt be touted "the worst team to grace our shores" by the English press - gotta love 'em, and all of which may win 4 nil, but could be equally as likely to hand back the urn.
So who will go. We'll find out in a day or so I believe.
Looking at who misses out will be just as interesting.
I'm thinking;
1) Phil Hughes
2) Simon Kattich
3) Ricky Ponting
4) Mike Hussey
5) Michael Clarke
6) Marcus North
7) Brad Haddin
8) Mitchell Johnson
9) Brett Lee
10) Stuart Clark
11) Peter Siddle
Now the squad is what, 15, 16? So there's a ticket for Andrew Symonds, Andrew MacDonald (surely has earnt it), Shane Watson (until he's injured), Hilffenhaus (should be given a chance in English conditions before he disappears forever), Bryce McGain (unluckiest bloke ever), Nathan Hauritz (...nah!), Jason Krezja (...nah!). Okay, so I'm up to 18. All probably deserve a guernsey, but no combination will be at the short odds we've become used to when taking on the Poms.
Brett Lee will be very luck to be included but I think must be - Ricky needs the experience beside him. Stuart Clark - I have no idea where he's at (nothing like doing a bit of research before a post) but if he's fit I think needs to be there. (I'll find out.)
Anyway, with England running into some form, and Alistair Cook a fan of the short pitched bolwing our blokes are so fond of dishing up, I think the Ashes this year will be rivetting once again.
Who have I missed? Who should not be there?
7 comments so far...:
I think you're wrong about the bowling attack.
I see the four pacemen as:
Johnson
Siddle
Hilfenhaus
Clark or Lee
We really don't know enough about the Test form of Clark or Lee at the moment for both of them to automatically make it into that 4, and Hilfenhaus should be killer under swinging conditions.
I also think a Johnson, Lee, Clark, Siddle pace attack is just too samey.
A very good point about not going with both Clark AND Lee.
I don't necessarily agree about "too samey" as CLark is possibly the closest thing we have to a replacement for McGrath but I do agree they (Lee and Clark) are unlikely to both return at once. Can't see Ponting going without Lee if he's fit so I guess it will be Clark who misses out.
Also, I forgot to mention Dougie Bollinger?!?!
I love Bolly as much as any other red-blooded NSW fan, but I don't see this being his series unless we have some injuries.
I'd love to see Lee get back to the form he was in after McGrath retired, but I'm not entirely optimistic about it.
Now to work out whether I trek over from the US to pick up 5th day tickets ... whaddya reckon the chances of these matches going to 5 days are?
Are you kidding!? Do it!
What with English rain, and no Shane Warne, they're bound to go 5 days :)
Jumping in late on this, but when I read this ("how to find a place for the second best leg spinner in the world"), I was wondering why on earth Australia was worried about finding a place for Kumble in their first XI! Care to explain why? :)
Ha! Stuart MacGill is as unlucky to have been born into the same era as Shane Warne, as Kumble is lucky that MacGill wasn't born in India ;-)
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