While I'm not as negative as Ian Chappell about the state of our top order I agree with him that it isn't settled and we need it sorted quickly. It's pretty clear now that Watto can't bat and bowl for extended periods at Test level. It is also clear that his batting has gone downhill at a rate of Alan Knotts since he started getting shuffled down to the middle order (along with the lack of match time as well). Watson's best batting has been as opener so he should open. I'm not sold on Hughes but I reckon he should open with him and play the destructive Warner at three. Warner plays one way and his natural game is naturally suited to the number three position. The more of Cowan I see the less I like. For me one two three is Watson, Hughes, Warner.
Our middle order has been decimated by the recent retirement of two greats. This means that Micheal Clarke can no longer take the soft option of batting at five. It's time our best batsman moved up to at least four in the order. This means that when we try to blood the next Pontings and Husseys we don't feed the newbies to the sharks like we did to Rob Quinney. So who are our last two batsmen? I reckon Kwahaja deserves the number five spot and I'm liking Aaron Finch as a smokey at number six. If we do try a new batsman HE MUST GO TO INDIA. We need our team settled before we head to England.
Wade at seven is the automatic keeper choice at this stage. I don't think we can afford to go in a batsman short against England so I'm not liking the model we used in Sydney to take on the Poms. So we are going in with four bowlers.
I can't believe I'm saying this but I've turned around my thinking on Mitchell Johnson who has proven that he deserves a shot at Ashes redemption. Not because of wickets, but because of what type of bowling is going on when he is NOT taking wickets. My main knock on Johnson is that he was going for five runs an over so you couldn't put the pressure on. He's bowling looks more accurate and he has the look of a mature cricketer who knows what he needs to do to retain that Baggy Green cap. So that's Johnson at eight.
Now that we have a rotation policy perhaps we might not need to take a decision that would stump many. Do many of you beleive that the Poms aren't scared of Siddle and he wouldn't worry them that much? Siddle is lion hearted and works his arse off but I don't see him getting lots of wickets against England, he bowls too short too often.
If it was my choice I'd go Bird and Pattinson ahead of Siddle with Lyon to have a lot more fun in England than he has had this season. I'm not sold on Starc and Johnson being in the same side and no thanks to Hilfy please, not enough tricks.
So my first XI would be
WATSON
HUGHES
WARNER
CLARKE
KHAWAJA
FINCH
WADE
JOHNSON
PATTINSON
LYON
BIRD
12th SIDDLE
Not sure how many they take to England these days but the other five would be
STARC
PAINE (they'll take HADDIN)
COWAN
HARRIS
BAILEY
Needs more New South Welshmen! Siddle lovers start your engines!
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
regards,
REB