Australia announced their test squad this morning:
Michael Clarke (c), Alex Doolan, Phillip Hughes, Brad Haddin, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve O'Keefe, Mitchell Johnson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, David Warner, Shane Watson
Pretty strong squad selected, about as good as we realistically can field with injuries to Harris and Pattinson. Little disappointed to see Starc in there as he has not been at his best for a little while, although can be useful with reverse swing. I suppose there is no one really in the pecking order above him but I think that Bird and Copeland would have been useful wicket to wicket bowlers in hot dry UAE conditions. Both can bowl long spells and keep it tight, wicket to wicket being key on dry pitches with variable bounce. Cutting, Hazlewood (injured), Sandhu and Richardson could also have been in contention here.
As far as batsmen go I don't think we can argue, perhaps a question mark over Doolan but he has to be given a chance. Delighted to see Mitchell Marsh in the test set up, definitely a top class player. I am a little hesitant about Maxwell, we shall see if his short format game can translate into test success. If a batsman fails not sure who out of Hughes and Marsh will be given the opportunity. I expect Rogers to struggle against spin with only really Clarke, Smith and Watson showing any resistance.
Now for pick of the day, STEVE O'KEEFE after years of great work in the shield taking 128 wickets at under 25 including 41 at 20 in this year's competition he FINALLY gets a chance in the test team. Only 5 years too late. Useful lower order bat and I believe he has captained the Blues at state level as well, really unbelievable that he has not been selected before considering some of the dross we have seen in the last few years.
First test team I would like to see:
Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke (Injury dependent)(c)
Smith
Watson
Haddin (w)
O'Keefe
Johnson
Siddle
Lyon
12th: Hughes
Link to squad here:
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/9/8/australia-squads-for-pakistan-tour-of-uae-in-october
Also,check out Sean Abbott, definitely another one to watch.
Australia Test squad for tour of UAE
posted on 8/9/14
Duncan what are Clarke's chances of making the test series? Smith and Haddin can play spin well but the rest could get exposed again providing we create spin friendly tracks. UAE have employed English curators of late and we don't get a big say as to what pitch we would like.
Maxwell has been picked cos he is a select few who can hit Ajmal out of the park but not sure if that is needed in the tests.
O'Keefe has been selected after Herath tore us apart on flat tracks while we continue to struggle to left arm spin for a while now.
posted on 8/9/14
Clarke has done a hammy in the recent Tri series ODIs in Zim, think he'll make it back for the tests but I wouldn't want him risked in the short stuff even if he is back and fit by then.
http://www.cricket.com.au/news-list/2014/9/8/michael-clarke-rod-marsh-australia-pakistan-uae-tour
posted on 8/9/14
Looks a decent side nevertheless but someone like Harris would have given our top order a load of problems and probably more than MJ. Our top order struggle against good line and length bowlers.
posted on 8/9/14
Exactly, I think all bowlers do in UAE conditions, which is why I'm a little miffed that our more accurate but lower pace bowlers such as Copeland and Bird weren't given a look in.
However, MJ looks absolutely frightful at the moment and I wouldn't be against him continuing in this vein.