Ladbrokes Lowdown – Australian Test Squad Edition
In less than a fortnight, a 14-man Australian squad named today (January 20) will head to New Zealand on the back of an undefeated summer of test cricket, for a whirlwind two match series against the Black Caps with the world number one ranking there for the taking.
Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers have been called in to the squad, replacing Scott Boland and Steve O’Keefe from the one which was selected for rain ruined New Year’s test.
It’s a horses for courses selection from Rod Marsh and co with both bowlers far better suited to the swing friendly New Zealand conditions.
For mine, it’s a good move from selectors. They’ve picked the best possible squad and, on the surface, apart from Mitchell Starc’s injury, things would appear relatively rosy for the Aussies.
There’s stability in the batting order. The top five have all made centuries, some multiple, in recent matches and, as previously stated, they haven’t lost a test since last year’s Ashes.
And there’s the (potential) issue.
When Australia travelled to England to tackle the old enemy last year on the back of a soft Caribbean kill of the West Indies, it was expected the Ashes were a fate accompli.
As we soon became acutely aware, that was not the case and the walloping of the woeful Windies merely masked the side’s inadequacies rather than built on its abilities.
The team which takes on New Zealand next month is not the team which suffered that Ashes defeat but, should it prevail, would this team be a rightful holder of the world number one test ranking?
New Zealand is a reasonably good side and disposed of England in England prior to the English bouncing back in the Ashes.
Aside from the absolute hammering the Kiwis copped at the Gabba, the series against Australia was relatively tight.
From there, Australia got a greater confidence boost by belting a West Indies team barely worthy of test status. Practice matches against Sheffield Shield sides would most likely prove a greater benefit moving forward.
In summation, no I don’t think this team is worthy of topping the test ranking but we’ll have a far better idea of its credibility at the end of the two matches.
In saying that, I also believe the test ranking to be a flawed system and care more about beating the likes of England, South Africa, India and New Zealand than having the number one ranking.
Although, by doing that Australia would also become – you guessed it – the number one ranked test nation.
Australia Test squad: David Warner (NSW), Joe Burns (QLD), Usman Khawaja (QLD), Steve Smith (c) (NSW), Adam Voges (WA), Mitchell Marsh (WA), Peter Nevill (NSW), James Pattinson (VIC), Peter Siddle (VIC), Josh Hazlewood (NWS), Nathan Lyon (NSW), Jackson Bird (TAS), Shaun Marsh (WA), Chadd Sayers (SA)