As no doubt everyone will say soon, this season's Test series versus India and Sri Lanka will be the first of the post Warne-McGrath era. There have been other seasons when either or on rare occasions neither featured, but they involved rather short-term fixes attempted by the selectors.
The selectors clearly have to maintain a balance of experienced and newly blooded players. With that in mind it is extremely fortunate that Hayden seems to have been rejuvenated. Australia have to, however, be careful they don't slip into Ponting-reliance in the same way that India has been Tendulkar-reliant and West Indies Lara-reliant. If they do that, they should remain an extremely strong side.
The opening partner question looks to be settled in Jaques' favour. He has a tremendous record in both state and country cricket in recent years and is back in form to make big hundreds. He has comprehensively demolished Rogers' claim. Watson is such an injury risk that his career is practically on life support.
Hussey has shown a great adeptness in holding together the middle order and can bat with the tail, so is a more natural option at 6.
Symonds and Clarke must produce big runs and bowl consistent spells of spin. The big hole Australia has is in the spin department with none of the contenders in consistent form. As with the two put-on shadow ministers, the spin department is uncertain.
MacGill has been patchy and ropable with officials, Cullen is yet to consolidate his form after a stellar season on debut and Cullen Bailey is too inexperienced. The question for selectors is whether Hogg's one-day form has improved sufficiently to translate to the Test arena. Considering the selectors don't regularly play him in one dayers, it would seem a sign of desperation they would consider him for Tests. I suspect they are thinking if they can get one good summer out of him it will allow Bailey and Cullen to develop into contenders. A wildcard is Katich who could play the role Bevan played for a season as the wrist-spinning all-rounder. This would then be a question of whether Katich's bowling is at the standard it was when he last saw off Hogg.
With Gilchrist to play on, the pace bowling looks to be in good shape with Clark providing the metronomic accuracy from one end and Lee firing in from the other. Johnson's surge solves the problem of playing Bracken who is inconsistent at Test level. Tait should provide back-up if anything happens to Lee while Hilfenhaus is in the wings for Clark.
My side for the Test would be:
Hayden, Jaques, Ponting (c), Clarke, Symonds, Hussey, Gilchrist, Lee, Hogg, Johnson, Clark (Hilfenhaus 12th man).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment