There is a very important series in South Africa which will influence selection, but here's my squad for the Ashes:
01 Phil Jaques - Should get the openers spot vacated by Hayden ahead of Hughes and Rogers as he was averaging 47 in tests before his back went. Furthermore, he has performed well in English conditions over his extensive county cricket stints.
02 Simon Katich - Kato picks himself after a great summer with the bat, although I still feel he could have done a bit better. He's been solid as a rock since coming back into the team in the West Indies, and hasn't looked back since. Some will note his 2005 Ashes trip, but he was damn unlucky with numerous bad decisions, and that experience will put him in a better position this time around. Should get a bowl more often such as during the recent South African series.
03 Ricky Ponting (c) - Punter is obviously the no. 3 and skipper, and will look to dominate the series, and he'll need a good series if we're to win. His captaincy has copped some flack over the last year or so since the loss of Warne and McGrath, but there's no denying he is Australia's second best ever bat.
04 Mike Hussey - Struggled over the home summer, but I'd keep him at no. 4 for this series. He's a worker and thats what we'll need at this position. If we end up 2/0 in one of the tests, he's the best man to come in and grind away. He'll be looked to maintain his test batting average above 50, since it's rapid fall to 59.
05 Michael Clarke (vc) - A great home summer from Clarkey, and another obvious selection. He's another one who was dropped after the last Ashes series and he'll be keen to make amends. His bowling will also be useful, and is always great in the field.
06 Michael Klinger - This position at no. 6 is definitely the hardest choice to make. Watson would be first choice but has a long term injury and is always injury prone, and Symonds has suffered injuries and doesn't look interested anymore. Watto can stay on the physio's bench, and Roy can go fishing. Andrew MacDonald played in Sydney and looked well and truely out of his depth when batting, and his bowling was nothing more than a containing role. I'd go for a specialist batman at no. 6 in Michael Klinger. I'm not a big fan but 906 runs @ 90.60 is miles ahead of the next best bat in terms of aggregate and average. He gets the no. 6 position.
07 Brad Haddin (wk) - Hads came of age during our summer and cemented his place in the test team. Has a tendency to get out after making a start to a loose shot, and has his bad moments when keeping, but he's the best option by far and should be in the Aussie team for along time to come.
08 Mitchell Johnson - Has developed into 'go-to-man' for Ricky Ponting has a knack to pick up a wicket when needed. Pretty much leads the attack with Brett Lee injured and has improved greatly since coming into the test team. A good athlete in the field and a damn good batsman who may end up as a genuine allrounder if his batting keeps going.
09 Nathan Haurtiz - For the spinning option I'd stick with Nathan Hauritz over Jason Krezja since he keeps it tight and picks up the odd wicket. Krezja just leaks too many runs and needs to work on his economy and control. Hauritz will work well in England keeping it tight and supporting the three quicks. A great bat as shown by his innings in the Sydney test - he bats no. 5 for his grade club Randwick Petersham.
10 Ben Hilfenhaus - I've gone for Hilfy over Siddle due to his ability to swing the ball. I think he'll really bowl well in England and our Ashes defence will depend on him being picked. We got shown up by picking the wrong pace bowlers in the 2005 series, and the selectors should pick some genuine swing bowlers this time around.
11 Stuart Clark - Slots straight back into the team after being out through injury during the home series against NZ and SA. Line and length, bounce, cut and swing, he'll do it all and should be our main opening bowler with Hilfenhaus. His record speaks for itself.
12 Peter Siddle - Unlucky not to make the starting XI after a solid start to his test career, but Hilfy is better suited to English conditions and Clark is a certain starter when fit. Siddle hits the pitch hard but doesn't swing the ball as much as the other bowlers in the starting XI. He'll definitely be in the squad, but I'd have him as a reserve.
13 Phillip Hughes - Just misses out on the vacant opening spot to Jaques, but makes the squad and is the reserve bat. I considered opening with Hughes and moving Kat down the order but Hughes will have to savour the experience and bide his time. Has the runs on the board and deserves his spot on the tour.
14 Nathan Bracken - Great swing bowler suited to the English conditions. Wouldn't get a look in on another other tour, but a good pick as a reserve bowler on this Ashes tour. Is currently the No. 2 one day bowler and unlucky not to have played more tests.
Notable Omissions:
- Brett Lee: even if fit, I wouldn't pick Binger until he's got some form up in first class cricket. He would most likely have been dropped if didn't go down injured. Has never bowled well in England.
- Chris Rogers: similar stats this year to Hughes he is a fair bit older.
- Brad Hodge: continually overlooked for Australia and is extremely unlucky, but I'd definitely go for Hughes as the reserve bat and Klinger at no. 6, as they are much younger and in form. Averages 55 in tests for Australia and if picking a 15 man squad I'd take him as a reserve bat. His SS form hasn't been the best (averaging only 35), but he is experienced and would go ok under pressure.
01 Phil Jaques - Should get the openers spot vacated by Hayden ahead of Hughes and Rogers as he was averaging 47 in tests before his back went. Furthermore, he has performed well in English conditions over his extensive county cricket stints.
02 Simon Katich - Kato picks himself after a great summer with the bat, although I still feel he could have done a bit better. He's been solid as a rock since coming back into the team in the West Indies, and hasn't looked back since. Some will note his 2005 Ashes trip, but he was damn unlucky with numerous bad decisions, and that experience will put him in a better position this time around. Should get a bowl more often such as during the recent South African series.
03 Ricky Ponting (c) - Punter is obviously the no. 3 and skipper, and will look to dominate the series, and he'll need a good series if we're to win. His captaincy has copped some flack over the last year or so since the loss of Warne and McGrath, but there's no denying he is Australia's second best ever bat.
04 Mike Hussey - Struggled over the home summer, but I'd keep him at no. 4 for this series. He's a worker and thats what we'll need at this position. If we end up 2/0 in one of the tests, he's the best man to come in and grind away. He'll be looked to maintain his test batting average above 50, since it's rapid fall to 59.
05 Michael Clarke (vc) - A great home summer from Clarkey, and another obvious selection. He's another one who was dropped after the last Ashes series and he'll be keen to make amends. His bowling will also be useful, and is always great in the field.
06 Michael Klinger - This position at no. 6 is definitely the hardest choice to make. Watson would be first choice but has a long term injury and is always injury prone, and Symonds has suffered injuries and doesn't look interested anymore. Watto can stay on the physio's bench, and Roy can go fishing. Andrew MacDonald played in Sydney and looked well and truely out of his depth when batting, and his bowling was nothing more than a containing role. I'd go for a specialist batman at no. 6 in Michael Klinger. I'm not a big fan but 906 runs @ 90.60 is miles ahead of the next best bat in terms of aggregate and average. He gets the no. 6 position.
07 Brad Haddin (wk) - Hads came of age during our summer and cemented his place in the test team. Has a tendency to get out after making a start to a loose shot, and has his bad moments when keeping, but he's the best option by far and should be in the Aussie team for along time to come.
08 Mitchell Johnson - Has developed into 'go-to-man' for Ricky Ponting has a knack to pick up a wicket when needed. Pretty much leads the attack with Brett Lee injured and has improved greatly since coming into the test team. A good athlete in the field and a damn good batsman who may end up as a genuine allrounder if his batting keeps going.
09 Nathan Haurtiz - For the spinning option I'd stick with Nathan Hauritz over Jason Krezja since he keeps it tight and picks up the odd wicket. Krezja just leaks too many runs and needs to work on his economy and control. Hauritz will work well in England keeping it tight and supporting the three quicks. A great bat as shown by his innings in the Sydney test - he bats no. 5 for his grade club Randwick Petersham.
10 Ben Hilfenhaus - I've gone for Hilfy over Siddle due to his ability to swing the ball. I think he'll really bowl well in England and our Ashes defence will depend on him being picked. We got shown up by picking the wrong pace bowlers in the 2005 series, and the selectors should pick some genuine swing bowlers this time around.
11 Stuart Clark - Slots straight back into the team after being out through injury during the home series against NZ and SA. Line and length, bounce, cut and swing, he'll do it all and should be our main opening bowler with Hilfenhaus. His record speaks for itself.
12 Peter Siddle - Unlucky not to make the starting XI after a solid start to his test career, but Hilfy is better suited to English conditions and Clark is a certain starter when fit. Siddle hits the pitch hard but doesn't swing the ball as much as the other bowlers in the starting XI. He'll definitely be in the squad, but I'd have him as a reserve.
13 Phillip Hughes - Just misses out on the vacant opening spot to Jaques, but makes the squad and is the reserve bat. I considered opening with Hughes and moving Kat down the order but Hughes will have to savour the experience and bide his time. Has the runs on the board and deserves his spot on the tour.
14 Nathan Bracken - Great swing bowler suited to the English conditions. Wouldn't get a look in on another other tour, but a good pick as a reserve bowler on this Ashes tour. Is currently the No. 2 one day bowler and unlucky not to have played more tests.
Notable Omissions:
- Brett Lee: even if fit, I wouldn't pick Binger until he's got some form up in first class cricket. He would most likely have been dropped if didn't go down injured. Has never bowled well in England.
- Chris Rogers: similar stats this year to Hughes he is a fair bit older.
- Brad Hodge: continually overlooked for Australia and is extremely unlucky, but I'd definitely go for Hughes as the reserve bat and Klinger at no. 6, as they are much younger and in form. Averages 55 in tests for Australia and if picking a 15 man squad I'd take him as a reserve bat. His SS form hasn't been the best (averaging only 35), but he is experienced and would go ok under pressure.