This series is done and dustbowled. Whilst we've been poor it was always going to be an uphill struggle to compete in India when our strength at present is fast bowling - And just turn your minds back 15 months to remember how poor India were in Australia. Polar opposite conditions.
I reckon, however, we are capable of winning the Ashes, in the way 05 England were capable (ie if everything goes right, several things go wrong for the opposition). But we have to look at HOW we will do that very carefully.
The first step is we need to take 100 wickets. The key bowler appears to be Pattinson - get him fit for the Ashes. I sort of agree with Glenn Mitchell, if we lose this test you could almost justify bringing him home. He needs to be conditioned to play five test matches. This doesnt just involve some weights prgram, pumping bicep curls or whatever. He needs to be fit enough to bowl, say 20 overs/innings for five tests. What do fast bowlers do alot of? Running. Just talk to DK Lillie. Get him running, real stamina in his body, and get him bowling frequently, not massive amounts everyday, but a bit everyday, so he is primed. He bowls 200 overs in the Ashes I think that's 25 wickets.
Which means 75 wickets for the rest of them. I think Lyon is good for 15 wickets across the series. He's unlikely to dominate at any point but he is capable of three wickets/test match, maybe more if conditions suit. I'd bring O'Keefe along as well.
Peter Siddle is a workhorse who should also be capable of five tests (should be). He plays 5 tests in English conditions I think that's another 20 wickets.
Which leaves 40 wickets between the rest of them to take. I'm not sure on Bird's fitness for the Ashes, but if he's fit he'd be in my side as well, and could well clean up over there. Others on the party would be Harris if fit, although you could only get one, maybe two tests out of him. They'll no doubt bring Starc as well, although I'd rather Cutting, Faulkner or NCN. Hazlewood cleaning up in the last two SS matches would no doubt see his name mentioned but he isn't ready (although he's amongst the best young quicks around). But I think Hilfenhaus is the one to take. If he's fit he's dangerous in English conditions, and if only for a few tests would be better value than the other options.
Then the all rounder question. Frankly if Watson isnt bowling i wouldnt pick him. He's a selfish cricketer whose record with the bat gives him no right to dictate the conditions under which he is playing. If he wants to be a batsmen only he's averaged 25 with the bat since 2011, and should be dropped. Henriques has shown better application and his bowling will be handy in England also.
So between Henriques Harris Hilf and Bird I think there is 40 wickets. And Watson if he is bowling.
Im interested to see how Wade goes in the next couple of tests. His keeping has been dire, and he's young enough to go back to first class cricket and work on his game should they decide to replace him. He'll make the tour though. Chris Hartley though would be my choice at present. We cant afford to give away cheap byes, and the 5-10 runs less he may average with the bat would be compensated for via less byes and less dropped chances.
Batting. Clarke to 4. He's our best bat in a shoddy top order, 4 is a minimum.
At present I'd stick with Warner and Cowan. Warner's record is second best amongst Australians, despite a rubbish current test match (injury/gastro may have played a factor). Cowan's average isnt great and im far from convinced, but he does generally bat long periods which allows others to build around him.
I think it's time to make some bold calls with the other middle order positions. Will be interesting if Khawaja gets a spot in the next couple of tests. His performances in international colours have thus far indicated a player with all the problems Hughes has shown - gets bogged down and doesnt tick the strike over, then gets out to a rash shot. Needs to increase his range of scoring options.
Doolan has been the best (available) bat in the shield and I would pick him. It's time to try something different in the middle order, and he seems to be going reasonably well, smacked a big ton vs the Saffa's as well.
Honestly I suspect Hughes will be there, with the excuse being that the conditions will suit him better, but im not convinced. In fact I think that he got put in the side without doing enough to earn his spot. Unfortunate for him, not many come back from being dropped three times in the Australian side.
The other option I would consider is Chris Rogers. Yeah he's 34-35 but the Ashes is about the present, not the future (same reason I've come around a bit to Harris, even though I think he's not worth persisting with long term, a few tests amongst the upcoming ten will be handy). Opening with Rogers and Warner, bat Cowan at three, Clarke 4 and Khawaja/Doolan at 5. Burns, despite poor form, is also very much worth considering.
That being said this would be my touring party
Batsmen
Michael Clarke (c)
Ed Cowan
Dave Warner
Alex Doolan
Usman Khawaja
Chris Rogers/Burns (will almost certainly be Hughes)
All Rounders
Moises Henriques
Shane Watson
Keepers
Matthew Wade
Chris Hartley
Fast Bowlers
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Jackson Bird
Ryan Harris
Ben Hilfenhaus (no doubt Starc and MJ will figure though).
Spinners
Nathan Lyon
Steve O'Keefe
First test team
Warner
Cowan
Khawaja
Clarke (c)
Doolan
Henriques (Watson if he decides to bowl)
Hartley
Pattinson
Siddle
Lyon
Bird
Alot would need to go right for this side to win the Ashes, although over confidence may get to the poms. In 89 they called us the worst touring squad ever and we smashed them. There are some similarities between that side and this one, the fast bowling quality, one high class batsmen (Clarke compared to AB). However that one had Steve Waugh explode, not to mention the likes of Boon and Taylor, solid 40-45 averages over long test careers. We need a couple of batsmen to step up if we're to have a chance this series.
I reckon, however, we are capable of winning the Ashes, in the way 05 England were capable (ie if everything goes right, several things go wrong for the opposition). But we have to look at HOW we will do that very carefully.
The first step is we need to take 100 wickets. The key bowler appears to be Pattinson - get him fit for the Ashes. I sort of agree with Glenn Mitchell, if we lose this test you could almost justify bringing him home. He needs to be conditioned to play five test matches. This doesnt just involve some weights prgram, pumping bicep curls or whatever. He needs to be fit enough to bowl, say 20 overs/innings for five tests. What do fast bowlers do alot of? Running. Just talk to DK Lillie. Get him running, real stamina in his body, and get him bowling frequently, not massive amounts everyday, but a bit everyday, so he is primed. He bowls 200 overs in the Ashes I think that's 25 wickets.
Which means 75 wickets for the rest of them. I think Lyon is good for 15 wickets across the series. He's unlikely to dominate at any point but he is capable of three wickets/test match, maybe more if conditions suit. I'd bring O'Keefe along as well.
Peter Siddle is a workhorse who should also be capable of five tests (should be). He plays 5 tests in English conditions I think that's another 20 wickets.
Which leaves 40 wickets between the rest of them to take. I'm not sure on Bird's fitness for the Ashes, but if he's fit he'd be in my side as well, and could well clean up over there. Others on the party would be Harris if fit, although you could only get one, maybe two tests out of him. They'll no doubt bring Starc as well, although I'd rather Cutting, Faulkner or NCN. Hazlewood cleaning up in the last two SS matches would no doubt see his name mentioned but he isn't ready (although he's amongst the best young quicks around). But I think Hilfenhaus is the one to take. If he's fit he's dangerous in English conditions, and if only for a few tests would be better value than the other options.
Then the all rounder question. Frankly if Watson isnt bowling i wouldnt pick him. He's a selfish cricketer whose record with the bat gives him no right to dictate the conditions under which he is playing. If he wants to be a batsmen only he's averaged 25 with the bat since 2011, and should be dropped. Henriques has shown better application and his bowling will be handy in England also.
So between Henriques Harris Hilf and Bird I think there is 40 wickets. And Watson if he is bowling.
Im interested to see how Wade goes in the next couple of tests. His keeping has been dire, and he's young enough to go back to first class cricket and work on his game should they decide to replace him. He'll make the tour though. Chris Hartley though would be my choice at present. We cant afford to give away cheap byes, and the 5-10 runs less he may average with the bat would be compensated for via less byes and less dropped chances.
Batting. Clarke to 4. He's our best bat in a shoddy top order, 4 is a minimum.
At present I'd stick with Warner and Cowan. Warner's record is second best amongst Australians, despite a rubbish current test match (injury/gastro may have played a factor). Cowan's average isnt great and im far from convinced, but he does generally bat long periods which allows others to build around him.
I think it's time to make some bold calls with the other middle order positions. Will be interesting if Khawaja gets a spot in the next couple of tests. His performances in international colours have thus far indicated a player with all the problems Hughes has shown - gets bogged down and doesnt tick the strike over, then gets out to a rash shot. Needs to increase his range of scoring options.
Doolan has been the best (available) bat in the shield and I would pick him. It's time to try something different in the middle order, and he seems to be going reasonably well, smacked a big ton vs the Saffa's as well.
Honestly I suspect Hughes will be there, with the excuse being that the conditions will suit him better, but im not convinced. In fact I think that he got put in the side without doing enough to earn his spot. Unfortunate for him, not many come back from being dropped three times in the Australian side.
The other option I would consider is Chris Rogers. Yeah he's 34-35 but the Ashes is about the present, not the future (same reason I've come around a bit to Harris, even though I think he's not worth persisting with long term, a few tests amongst the upcoming ten will be handy). Opening with Rogers and Warner, bat Cowan at three, Clarke 4 and Khawaja/Doolan at 5. Burns, despite poor form, is also very much worth considering.
That being said this would be my touring party
Batsmen
Michael Clarke (c)
Ed Cowan
Dave Warner
Alex Doolan
Usman Khawaja
Chris Rogers/Burns (will almost certainly be Hughes)
All Rounders
Moises Henriques
Shane Watson
Keepers
Matthew Wade
Chris Hartley
Fast Bowlers
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Jackson Bird
Ryan Harris
Ben Hilfenhaus (no doubt Starc and MJ will figure though).
Spinners
Nathan Lyon
Steve O'Keefe
First test team
Warner
Cowan
Khawaja
Clarke (c)
Doolan
Henriques (Watson if he decides to bowl)
Hartley
Pattinson
Siddle
Lyon
Bird
Alot would need to go right for this side to win the Ashes, although over confidence may get to the poms. In 89 they called us the worst touring squad ever and we smashed them. There are some similarities between that side and this one, the fast bowling quality, one high class batsmen (Clarke compared to AB). However that one had Steve Waugh explode, not to mention the likes of Boon and Taylor, solid 40-45 averages over long test careers. We need a couple of batsmen to step up if we're to have a chance this series.
