Farewell Hughesy (1988-2014: Baggy Green #408)

The darkest day in all my years watching cricket is the only way to describe the passing away of Phillip Joel Hughes. Despite the Baggy Green Blog coming to a close a few months back, this one is for Hughesy.

He passed away on 27 November 2014 at the age of 25.

There will be plenty of in-depth, moving articles written about the life and career of Phillip, so I will step away from any attempt at this. It's all too soon anyways and I just want something small as a tribute to his memory as a cricketer, how we knew him. I've had to really dig deep on this one.

He was a talented batsman and no doubt unique - thinking back to those twin centuries at Kingsmead is just magic, his savage cutting of the ball, his cheeky slog sweeps and heaves. He had so much more to offer. I have wonderful memories of his batting, which will live on forever. His family have so much more than that of the young man and I hope those loving memories carry them through this.

My love and best wishes of strength will forever be flowing for the entire Hughes family, and Michael Clarke - who offered nothing but incredible support to the family from the moment Hughesy was hospitalised. A leader of men, respect Clarkey.

Sadly I never had the chance to engage with Hughesy in conversational manner as I'd hoped to.

He represented Australia, Australia A, Australia Under-19s, East Torrens, Hampshire, Middlesex, Mumbai Indians, New South Wales, New South Wales Under-19s, South Australia, Western Suburbs, Worcestershire. I had the honor of seeing him play live wearing his Baggy Green 408 cap in South Africa, and then performing for South Australia at the Adelaide Oval in recent times.

It was a freak accident and despite Sean Abbott knowing this is not his fault, given he was just doing his job, as was Phillip, he will still have a heavy heart and not be able to grasp what has happened any time soon. The pain he feels is something I just hope love and support will ease over time. I hope he heals.

Amidst this dark day and period in cricket history, it's important to acknowledge short bowling has been a part of the great game we all love for a very, very long time. This must be understood and realised.

Body Line was one historical case, the almighty fast bowlers from the West Indies were another collective case, and then the brutal pace of Brett Lee and Shoaib Akhtar during the later stages of the 1990s really stressed fast bowling as a reality in the game. In the last year Mitchell Johnson has been the most devastating fast bowler to witness in action.

Batsmen get hit and have to combat this tactical execution from fast bowlers in the game. Recently Stuart Broad of England had a facial injury a few months back. I clearly remember watching Allan Donald of South Africa (one of the worlds fastest at the time) bowl a short ball during the 1996 World Cup which hit the UAE skipper at the time on the head, who was wearing nothing but a brimmed hat. He rubbed his head and carried on, grinning at his own daftness in not wearing a helmet against Donald.

This is the general result, and when wearing a helmet the biggest shock is usually the sound in your ears if the grill gets smashed. Death is never an immediate thought, although you know there is risk. Sport has high risk.

Fast bowling feeds down to state cricket, grade cricket, and school cricket. It's always been there and batsmen do get hit. Cricket is a dangerous sport. If you've played it, you know it. I've only played the game at school and club level and that was frightening enough at times. I stood behind Michael Clarke once when he was facing Mitchell Johnson in the nets. Fast, lightening fast! It requires intense skill to combat short pitched bowling and those instinctive reactions in split seconds do matter. You anticipate getting hit, bruised, but not a fatal hit. Never. This was an unimaginable accident.

This whole incident is just so damn devastating and depressing, and the medical nature of the injury resulted in something which is a rare condition to experience, with such a hit. The doctors at the medical press conference confirmed this rarity. Their insight was most appreciated on such a raw and fresh matter.

Looking back on my articles, there was always an underlying sense of desperation in my writing for Hughesy during his struggles with the bat in hand, wanting him to just rise above the challenges. When he was on fire and smashing any bowler to the boundary, stashing up runs, my joy and delight at his skills flourishing and helping Australia win matches was evident. He was a record-breaker when on song. It's a good feeling reading back on this, but sadness overwhelms that with the knowledge he will never play again. The best was around the corner.

We never anticipated this and to happen to such a young man is numbing on the emotions. I liken this to that of Steve Irwin. He moved many people and was an Australian man who passed away doing what he loved. Like Steve, embrace the positive memories of Phillip. Embrace his talent, and the joy he brought to the game and cricket supporters around the globe. He will be missed but never, ever forgotten. He will always be not out too!

Farewell Hughesy - cap 408 can be put to rest with a proud history created by a talented young man.

Ian Reid

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2014 AB Medal & Australia Test Squad analysis

Having recently purchased my copy of the 2013/14 Ashes 5-0 victory on DVD, I can now relive the moments that saw our boys return the urn. I am now on another high as we have won the limited overs series, currently leading 3-0 with 2 matches remaining. It's been a splendid summer.

Some disturbing news has hit the cricket world, with a proposal from the super powers of cricket (in terms of the financial players) which may see a revamp of the ICC and the gradual destruction of competitive cricket of varied nature. The current model serving cricket is not the best solution, along with fixtures that do little to assist organisations to build demand and hype with supporters, but this recent one could dent the game beyond measure. I am very much about getting all the facts before having a thorough opinion, but here's a link to an article which should explain this recent burst of news.

Jarrod Kimber (Cricket with Balls) has summed up the issue by answering some FAQs. If I find the article, I will add it here.

Massive congrats to mighty Mitchell Johnson on winning the Allan Border Medal for 2014. Sensational achievement in such a short space of time. Well done champ!

Mitchell's Ashes stats:
Batting: 165 runs @ 27.50. HS 64, x1 50
Bowling: 37 wickets @ 13.97. BBI 7/40, BBM 9/103

Michael Clarke seemed set to win it for a record fifth time, but Mitchell's heroic summer earned him the prize. His efforts with ball in hand for all 5 Tests, as well as a defining Ashes innings with the bat in hand at the Gabba with Brad Haddin - who was breathtaking to watch - was enough for him to win the prize. Usually the player who wins the medal does so for all round excellence across formats, but Mitchell's efforts were vital in us winning back the Ashes, and Test cricket is the pinnacle of the game.

Michael Clarke (Test award), George Bailey (ODI award), Aaron Finch (T20 award), Meg Lanning (Women's award), Cam White (State Player award), and Jordan Silk (Young Bradman award) all walked away with recognition for their elite efforts for Australian Cricket.

Well done to them all, but cannot forget their team mates.

Now, the big news is the Test squad announced for the South African tour. With out further to do, below is the squad, fixtures, and some squad analysis.

Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.

Wed Feb 5 - Sat Feb 8
South African Invitation XI v Australians
Senwes Park, Potchefstroom   

Wed Feb 12 - Sun Feb 16
1st Test - South Africa v Australia
SuperSport Park, Centurion   

Thu Feb 20 - Mon Feb 24
2nd Test - South Africa v Australia
St George's Park, Port Elizabeth   

Sat Mar 1 - Wed Mar 5
3rd Test - South Africa v Australia
Newlands, Cape Town 
The only exclusion for our victorious Ashes side is that of George Bailey. I anticipated this and think it was a wise call by John Inverarity's selection panel.

Here's what I wrote about George, shortly before the Ashes was concluded: "George Bailey, possibly playing his last Test innings, evidently enjoying himself just found the gaps, worked the ball away, lived on the edge but survived to stumps. He has 20* runs and tomorrow could be a memorable one for him if he just gives hit his best. He has little to lose. He is in our ODI team as a regular member, has now been a member of a winning Ashes campaign, and did manage a half-century in Adelaide."

A weakness outside of off stump was exposed by James Anderson, and this would have been far too easy for the South African pace attack to both target and further expose. The wickets in South Africa and Australia draw many similarities, so this weakness would have been a concern heading to their turf. He will always have the memory of being a member of a winning side, along with that record of 28 runs off one over against James Anderson (level with the record).

The head scratch comes with the inclusion of Shaun Marsh at Bailey's expense.

I have always viewed Shaun Marsh as a player of high class and a technique tailored to Test cricket. However, this selection was based on limited overs form and, once again, his potential which often doesn't reflect at the elite level. We saw what this did to George Bailey. Test players must be selected on the basis of the form for Test cricket, being the Sheffield Shield contest.

Shaun scored a Test century on debut against Sri Lanka in 2011, and has shown numerous moments of elite composure and ability but, like Mitchell Johnson, he is a confidence player and seems to be his own worst enemy. His Shield form has been poor to say the least and doesn't warrant selection.

He currently sits in position 34 for most runs scored this Shield campaign, with one century from 9 innings, averaging 31.

In contrast, Phillip Hughes was expected to make the tour based on his return to Shield cricket to score runs and earn his place. He currently has 549 runs at 61.00, and this includes his maiden double century of 204. Go figure and never mind this is a man who has somehow found a way to handle the South African attack time and time again.

Even Marcus North may have seemed a brighter option, while not long term he leads the Shield run scorers list. Don't forget this man scored a century against South Africa on debut at the Wanderers on the same tour where Hughesy scored back to back centuries at Kingsmead, Durban.

All in all, Marsh is the type of player that if he gets into his stride he can genuinely control any bowling attack, but his current form does not suggest this is a likely mindset he has right now. ODI form cannot justify this. Having written this, I know what he is capable of, most of us do and he is now in the side so we just have to hope that should he get a game (probably at number 3, moving Watson down to 6) he will put invaluable runs on the board for us to better our chances of winning this series.

Alex Doolan has been on the radar for some time. This is a long term look from the selectors and previous Shield seasons have showcased the man is a fine batsman. This campaign he has been well below his best but it hasn't affected the confidence in his skills from the selectors. At present he is the 17th highest run scorer in the campaign with 391 runs at 39.10.

These two players will have a chance to showcase against the South African Invitational, before the three match series gets underway.

Chris Rogers will partner David Warner at the top of the order. This is Davey's first Test tour to South Africa, while Chris Rogers has never even been to the country before so it is a first for him.

Michael Clarke was in the early stages of his sublime run of form when we last toured South Africa in 2011. I was at that weird match at Newland's where he scored 151 runs in our 1st innings, only to see us bowled out for 47 runs in the 2nd innings, as well as South Africa been bounced for 98 runs in their 1st innings. It was the best I'd seen Clarkey bat, but it was in vain. He changes Ashes fortune, time to do it again this time.

Steven Smith is on this tour to assist Clarkey in the middle order. Stevo came of age at the WACA and he's become a fine young cricketer, courtesy of the current selection panel giving him time away from international duty to define his role. Similar to Steve Waugh's story in some ways.

Our bowlers from the Ashes will all make the tour.

Mitchell Johnson may very well be the danger man for this tour, with Graeme Smith having the ambulance on standby, but Ryan Harris is the bowler I tip to be our key player tactically. His menacing swing and precision is perfect for South Africa conditions. He can best mirror Dale Steyn, so this series is definitely one where people will salivate come the contest of the fast bowlers. This is the contest that world cricket should care about!

Ryano also cast aside IPL duties to get his knee operation complete, which he's delayed so he can make this tour. Sacrifice at it's best. What a true champion.

Mitchell was so low on confidence on his last tour to South Africa, quite a contrast to his brutal tour there is 2009 where he took 16 wickets at 25.00, including the destruction of Graeme Smith's hand (round 2) and Jacques Kallis' jaw. In 2011 his run up was weak, and he was just not in it. Another reason to be so proud of his return to our side thinking back to those dark days.

Peter Siddle will be greeted by the chants of "Siddle is a wanker". The Newland's crowd in 2011 did substitute the word "wanker" with the word "anchor" in 2011 as they'd grown fond of Sids attitude. That is what Sids need to be though, the anchor of this bowling attack. He needs to play the anchor role, but no doubt the chants will return with the word "wanker" if he bowls well.

James Pattinson returns to the team. He looks very inspired at the moment and quite aggressive. The South African's don't like an aggressive Australian cricketer and there's a few of them in our team. JP is one of the main guns in this regard, so he will be eager to get out there. I hope he stirs with them.

I am also excited about Jackson Bird's inclusion. His Big Bash stint for the Stars has been brilliant, but what's most notable is his consistency come line and length, ability to bang in a short ball with a troublesome angle for the batsmen to stand up to, but best of all is he looks fit and ready to play. I think an attack of Johnson, Harris and Bird is very exciting.

Nathan Lyon remains the spinner of choice and rightly so. South Africa is the not the desired place for a spin bowler to perform, but it serves a purpose. Lyon is now a spin bowler rising to a higher quality of standard than when he first toured there with the 2011 squad. The South African attack is not one usually tipped to be the best against spin - with the exception of AB de Villiers. Lyon may have a decent role to play.

James Faulkner and Shane Watson stack up as our all-rounders and unless Watto is injured, James will likely be the drinks man for the 1st Test. Watto still needs to showcase better consistency to cement his spot for a while longer and we desperately need him to do so this tour. He was hit and miss in the Ashes, but we need the best of Watto this tour. It will make a massive impact on the series.

Brad Haddin gets the nod as keeper of choice. Two years ago I would not have imagined this to be the case, so that is just terrific for Hads that he still has so much to offer us. His ability to initiate rescue missions of late to our 1st innings inconsistencies was urn saving, but he can't do it all the time. In 2011 at Newland's he charged down the track when our team was in trouble. We were bowled out for 47 runs and it's a dismissal many of us just haven't been able to forget.

This is a firm reminder our batsmen need to find ways to believe in themselves to handle the 1st innings pressures in the top of the order. They can.

Other than that, it's now just a case of counting down the days. More build up analysis and opinions to follow. For now, enjoy the final two ODIs. I will be at the Australia Day ODI. Still quite surreal.

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An Australian summary - The Ashes 5th Test, day 5, The Oval

Australia: 9/492 dec. from 128.5 overs
Shane Watson 176, Steven Smith 138*
James Anderson 4-95

England: 377 all out from 144.4 overs
Joe Root 68, Kevin Pietersen 50, Matt Prior 47
James Faulkner 4-51, Mitchell Starc 3-92, Ryan Harris 2-64

Australia: 6/111 from 23 overs 
Michael Clarke 28*, Shane Watson 26
Stuart Broad 4-43

England: 5/206 chasing 227 runs for victory 
Kevin Pietersen 62, Jonathan Trott 59
Ryan Harris 2-21, James Faulkner 2-47

I am happy to eat my words written after day four was washed out. I wrote, "even if there is play tomorrow it will be a deflating display of defensive batting and tiresome bowling, with a few possible moments of excitement to play out for a drawn result."

We ended up getting quite a bizarre play of events in the end as England, probably reflecting on their batting on day three, came out with a more attacking attitude and we ended up seeing a game of it all. However, it was still a drawn result but it could have gone either way with England looking like favourites in the end until the umpires called for bad light. Worrying but exciting.

Michael Clarke's declaration was well timed in the sense that this game would have come down to the wire. England had to attack, they had to play out of their shells and we were tested in a limited overs sense prior to the limited series being just around the corner. Good on Clarke for making a match of it in the end, even if it was a nail-biting scenario and he opted for more conservative tactics after Kevin Pietersen's assault. Not sure of the crowds reasons for booing him though. Poor show after the crowd surely got a great days entertainment? Most puzzling indeed. 

Brydon Coverdale of ESPN summarised the tactics of Clarke really well on the final days play. In a way it highlights the slight confusion amidst our cricket ranks at present. Have a read at his article via this link.

This series will go down as one where the scoreline showed complete and utter dominance by a relatively stable English team. However, if you watched as much of the action as possible you will see it all came down to England's experience as a unit to win Test matches and having certain individuals stand up to the challenge having known how to do this from previous scenarios. It pays to stick with a side and show belief in the men who wear your teams caps, doesn't it?

Yesterday I summed it up, "the English team have been together a lot longer now and experienced winning Test matches. They know how to win those small passage of play which - ultimately - brings about the main result in the bigger scheme of things.

As a result the selectors will hopefully realise that the players who showed strong performances or indications of their true skill need to be retained for the home Ashes series - they must not chop and change. The players who didn't step up will need to play out of their socks come the Sheffield Shield. They will need to fight for the right to put their Baggy Green caps back on, while I am certain other players will be as keen to bag lots of wickets or pocket plenty of runs to get their opportunity. "

There will always be the bitterness regarding the Stuart Broad incident, which I prefer to put down to blind umpiring rather than Broad being a cheat. Andrew Symonds didn't walk against India in 2007/08 after a generous edge to MS Dhoni, so I'd be hypocritical to call him (Broad) a cheat even if he uses stall tactics too. Many players don't walk, period. They don't have to if the umpire doesn't raise his finger. It came down to the umpiring and it was a pretty bloody obvious edge too which made it infuriating and humiliating.

It has been a shocking series for the umpires and that decision ultimately changed many things regarding this series. The DRS came under scrutiny and the umpires have now become far more vulnerable to couch-umpire criticism. It could have been very different had their standards been better and had Michael Clarke been more strategic with his reviews, so bad luck has to come into it for The Baggy Greens.

Here's a look at the Tests. We fell 14 runs short in the first Test, just 14 runs after being down and out after a top order collapse - one of many. The second Test we were outplayed and I owe this to the manner in which we lost the first Test. I do believe this affected the teams confidence and self-belief immensely, whereas England just took the momentum home. We also have to wonder what if we'd caught Joe Root when he edged a delivery on just 8 runs and the slip cordon just watched it sail on by? He went on to score 180 runs.

The third Test was ours. I have seen enough cricket to know that any play that goes away due to rain or bad light cannot see potential results brought about my assumption. Anything could have happened had play resumed that day but yes, it looked like we had it in the bag. It was a bitter pill to swallow as I wrote at the conclusion of the Old Trafford Test.

The fourth Test we had it in the bag after Ryan Harris delivered another sensational spell of high performance fast bowling. Yet after a solid foundation set by Chris Rogers and David Warner it imploded and once again that lack of belief we saw after the first Test came out again. It was a humiliating loss which we threw away. It was once again a small passage of play which England just stamped with total dominance and authority.

We also had a first innings lead in four of the Tests but still didn't secure a victory. Further highlighting batting inconsistencies for a balance between good performances and shocking ones.

We could then perform an autopsy looking into the other aspects within each Test which brought about an English victory and further doom and gloom reports over the decline of Australian cricket. I can understand the pessimistic attitudes out there. We tossed many golden moments away, but I think we had many positives to take away from this series and if those can materialise with stability and consistency (along with selection consistencies - same old song) we have a massive chance to win back the urn next series and hang onto it for some time.

Chris Rogers was outstanding in my opinion. He came into this side with immense pressure as he would have been expected to perform from innings one given his county form and the circumstances surrounding his selection. He brought up his maiden Test century this series and even gave us solid platforms to work from, but our fragile middle order made his efforts seem lost at sea.

Ryan Harris was my Player of the Series for us and his delivery to remove Ian Bell at Old Trafford on day three was a beauty! He bowled his heart out and it kind of makes me sad to know that had his body been better equipped for Test cricket he'd be right up there with Dale Steyn. I spare a few thoughts for Ryano. He gave it his best and that isn't easy for a bloke whose endured so many injury setbacks. It must have been hard on his body to bowl as he did and with the success he had.

I wrote this about Ryano after the thumping at Lords:
"...Ryan Harris' body language was both sad and real. He worked bloody hard to grab a five wicket haul upon his return to the team. He made the Lord's bowling honours board and showed how proud he was to be back in the team. It was all in vain though as the batsmen burnt his efforts and you could sense his despair and sheer heartache. He was just going through the motions. That is the true frustration of the series thus far. We haven't secured vital passages of play, England has. Our batsmen haven't backed the decent performances of our bowlers, England has even if luck has been a major player in their fortunes."

Shane Watson finally scored a long awaited century which ended up being his highest Test score (176) and his first since 2010in Mohali, India. Watson is a frustrating cricketer because his ability is world-class but his application from a mental stand point is inconsistent. No one can pinpoint what it is but it was a relief to see him secure a massive score in the number three position. It came too late for us after he'd been disappointing with the bat but at least he did something a number three had not done since Shaun Marsh's century on debut against Sri Lanka in 2011.

Prior to Watson's century and since Ricky Ponting stepped out of the number three role (and ultimately retiring) we have used the following men at number three: Shaun Marsh, Ed Cowan, Rob Quiney, Phillip Hughes, David Warner Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke. Took long enough. Watson also averages over 40 in the position.

Michael Clarke had to have an average series by his standards at some point. He couldn't continue to be the savior for our team. When he didn't perform with sublime output we saw how we desperately need guys to step up. Rogers did but ultimately it all came too late. Clarke's back will hopefully be ready for the home Ashes series. That is his biggest worry and could effectively end his career sooner than expected.

Steven Smith's century in the final Test was an important one. Like Khawaja he didn't really assert himself as a batsman making the position in the batting order his own and imposing himself as the man for the future to secure a middle order role for Australia. Yet one cannot deny it was a big moment for him to score a maiden Test century in circumstances where our team could have quite easily lost their fight and just handed England the match. He fought hard, batted with confidence and showed another sign he is slowly coming of age. I wrote my thoughts regarding Smith's turn of events on day two of the recently concluded Oval Test.

Nathan Lyon bowled with an attitude I have never sensed. He had a hop in his step and was really turning on the revolutions with his deliveries, foxing a few of England's best batsmen. His battle with Kevin Pietersen was fantastic to watch and, like Smith, this series gave an indication of Lyon coming of age. Perseverance with him will only benefit him as the Warne-days are now long, long gone and there will never be a spinner of that class again, even if Warnie was a leg spinner.

James Faulkner one and only appearance added a good dynamic to this side. His selection may have put some pressure on Shane Watson to perform, despite Watson having stacked experience in all forms of the game. Faulkner grabbed 6 wickets on debut and 45 runs. Nothing spectacular but a fairly good start compared some of the other Baggy Greens handed out like candy to a bunch of kids at party.

Ashton Agar's 98 on debut was awesome. "Awesome" is the perfect word for that display. He helped us stay in the game and showcased his abilities with the blade in hand, something I saw a bit of at The Adelaide Oval between Western Australia and South Australia in March. He was selected though as a spin bowler. Nathan Lyon is still our best and will be for some time. Agar will come around, he is just 19 but will need the correct mentorship and career management. I am not talking about "career management" as Cricket Australia markets it. I just mean I hope the selectors don't stuff up another young spin bowlers career by throwing him in to soon, making him suffer only to then pull him out for good.

Questions will be asked though.

Was this Brad Haddin's final Test for Australia? What if Matt Wade and Tim Paine get off to solid Shield starts? Haddin kept wicket extremely well this Ashes series, a big turn around for him if you think a few summers back. He's endured a tough run as a family fan off the cricket field so it was a big achievement for him to make this trip but is he too inconsistent now? He has yet to taste an Ashes victory as a member of the starting XI.

Is Mitchell Starc going to remain and pitch and match player? He continues to show poor discipline with his bowling and just cannot seem to build sufficient pressure from his end. On one hand I defend him because he is always in and out of the side so how can he build a solid game plan to match his abilities. Yet one has to ask is the reason behind his pitch and match selection due to the possible inability he has at present to build a game plan that compliments the other bowlers such as Harris, Siddle and Pattinson?

Phillip Hughes was a young man unbelievable confidence and he was piling on runs like no other young Australian batsman had done since Ricky Ponting. Then he had poor career management, endless advice and his game went to the crapper. He has been dropped four or five times now. How is a player meant to handle that? Surely he deserves an extended run? A man who has dominated a county stint and stacked up runs in Australia during different seasons surely deserves a run of consistency in the side? This is a batsman who has also dominated some of the best bowling attacks.

David Warner can belt a ball but is also becoming an inconsistent batsman to watch. Is he an opener or is he a middle order batsman? We all know the destructive player he is but until there is another batsman ready to knock down the doors to any possible batting order plans the selectors have for him, where is going to be placed? What is the plan for him?

Ed Cowan did all he needed to earn a Baggy Green cap but he just hasn't delivered the goods. He has been consistently mediocre and he must be the most confused man in the side as he show cased all that needed to be at state level. Why can't he bring it together in the Test arena? The same can be said for Usman Khawaja who has been on the sidelines a while but I have read and heard many cricket journalists and past-players mention a lack of determination and eagerness in his attitude. Only Usman can answer this.

We also need to see consistency come in the selection policies. The signs are there that there's enough ability in this teams batting line-up. Most of the players have a Test century coming against strong Test sides. Some have great experience, others are starting to come of age. If this can all click in one series as we saw against India in 2011/12 will this make players at state level work harder to earn a place in the side, to target a specific spot in the team to earn that Baggy Green cap?

Tough times ahead still. It seems whenever we get so close it all goes a few steps back. I do remain confident though we can win the Ashes back this summer.

Why? Read my opening paragraphs in this article. England won the small passages of play which ultimately brought about their series victory. They had a few players, just a few, step up when needed to in order to secure those passages of play. Those passages led them to victory. It comes down to those small moments, small differences between the sides which end up painting a much bigger picture than a scoreline indicates.

If our players can perform to the best of their abilities with synergy and start to win those small moments to ultimately win Test matches again we will get back the urn this summer. Don't stop supporting The Baggy Greens!

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The Ashes 5th Test, day 2, The Oval

The Ashes 5^th Test, day 2, The Oval

Australia: 9/492 dec. from 128.5 overs
Shane Watson 176, Steven Smith 138*
James Anderson 4-95

England: 0/32 from 17.3 overs

Prior to this series Darren Lehmann stated we needed centurions every Test if we wanted to win. We knew our bowling stocks could get the job done, especially when Ryan Harris came into the mix. Harris' efforts were left in vain as our batsmen failed to collectively find ways to combat the English bowling attack and Lehmann's ambitious pleas for those centurions ended up being too scarce come the English securing both the urn and the series.

We can now see the men who needed those centuries and what the possible impact could have been had they believed in themselves earlier on in the series. This team hasn't played a great deal of cricket together and as they now reach their fifth Test, there may now be a light at the end of the tunnel for the home Ashes series. Connectivity is as important as collectivity to find the winning edge and winning ways in Test cricket.

Ashton Agar nearly reached a century on debut, sadly it wasn't to be and our momentum caved in. Michael Clarke was our first centurion, no surprises. Chris Rogers brought up his maiden century and has shown why he has value for our team and further provokes the question as to why the selectors just didn't look for his experience in earlier years as we gradually brought in younger batsmen. Shane Watson was the third, scoring a career saving ton at the number three role this Test (first century for a number three batsman since Shaun Marsh versus Sri Lanka in 2011) and now we have Steven Smith (138*) who, like Rogers, has secured his maiden Test century which will ensure he is a member of the home Ashes series end of the year.

We now have four centuries listed, whereas England have five - three of these coming from Ian Bell. It further illustrates the manner in which we lost the urn. Our batsmen just didn't bat through crucial passages of play as our bowlers have certainly tied England down and Ian Bell truly has been the stand out batsman and the ultimate difference. Good to see Watson, Clarke, Rogers and Smith all in the top four.

Smith resumed the day on 66* and much of the hype was surrounding Shane Watson's highest Test score and the manner with which he demanded a battle for the all-rounder spot. Smith however made the day his own. The first session was washed out but the covers came off and he played as Watson did - "no fear"!

He found the further 34 runs needed to get his long awaited century (not as long as Watson mind you) and when on 94 runs he did something that reminded me of a young Phillip Hughes.

In his second Test match at Kingsmead versus a strong South African bowling line-up, Hughes plugged Paul Harris away for consecutive sixes to bring up his maiden century. Smith decided to go to his maiden century in a similar sense, by smacking Jonathan Trott down the ground for a maximum. There was relief on Smith's face, not pure joy and excitement, it was relief. This has put him on the map.

Smith has been used for a variety of purposes but I felt for him as his role was never truly realised by the selectors and this couldn't have been easy. At last he knows his purpose, knows that batting is his priority and this match will make him realise why he is there. He's gone from being a player who fished outside of off-stump, became a specialist fielder who could just bat and bowl a bit, to a confident emerging Test batsman. He was put into the mix too early but now he's coming around and looks to have that self-belief.

Hughes had the opposite treatment. He was a man with no fear (as has been the case with these two centurions) and had so much self-belief. His technique was wild, his approach was unique but we had a young man come into the side with a purpose. How times have changed for Hughes with so much meddling in his game and the constant series of being in and out of the team.

I wrote the following about Smith during the third Test which seems to have greater meaning right now:

"Smith has shown incredible application to his game when I think back to 2010/11 when he was plain and simply not ready for Test cricket. I was always frustrated with the selection of Smith as he was put into the Australian team well before he had sufficient first-class exposure.

This was made worse by the former selection panel not giving him a specific task. He was called in as a leg spinner, who was a part-time spinner at best. He was made to bat in a variety of positions but was impatient, fidgety and easy picking outside of off stump in the Test arena. Then he was just a specialist fielder, keeping out better players. It wasn't his fault but he took flack for it. The new selection panel kept him out the side until the time was right. He is now a better cricketer and is asserting himself as a batsman."

The aggression from our lower order to put us into a dominant position appeared fantastic, especially seeing debutant all-rounder James Faulkner put Stuart Broad away for collection of boundaries. 172 runs were added after Peter Siddle's dismissal and these runs came from 34 overs with a run-rate of just over 5 runs an over.

It allowed us a chance to bowl at England with 492 runs on the board. An eagerly awaited scoreline for our bowlers. England managed to see the day through to stumps with ten wickets in hand, so tomorrow will be a big session or two for our bowlers. Nathan Lyon will hopefully come into the equation earlier than expected, especially if Trott and Kevin Pietersen find their way to the wicket. Pietersen versus Lyon has become an exciting battle to witness.

Verdict: Australia take day two and should be content with the scoreboard having seen one session washed out.

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The Ashes 1st Test, day 2, Trent Bridge

The Ashes 1st Test, day 2, Trent Bridge:

England 1st innings: 215 all out after 59 overs
Peter Siddle 5-50, James Pattinson 3-69, Mitchell Starc 2-54

Australia 1st innings: 280 all out after 64.5 overs
Ashton Agar 98, Phillip Hughes 81*, Steven Smith 53

England 2nd innings: 2/80 from 43.0 overs
Mitchell Starc 2-54

Match situation: England lead by 15 runs with 8 wickets in hand with three days of play remaining.

We started the day on 4/75 with some hope. We crashed to 9/117 and it looked like the Test was over, hope all but lost. Then we witnessed history and something special as we took the lead. It's game on!

Steven Smith brought up the first half-century of this 2013 Ashes series and had looked settled in his middle order role, but fell soon afterwards, which lead to a shocking collapse of our lower order. We lost Haddin, Siddle, Pattinson and Starc for just 9 runs.

Phillip Hughes (81*) was on his own mission which deemed destined to fail. His good form continued and he found an incredible batting mate in Ashton Agar (98).

I saw Ashton bat for Western Australia during the Sheffield Shield and he looked solid then as he was unbeaten to give WA an unlikely win over South Australia. This was the Ashes though and the side was in turmoil with all hope resting on the 10th wicket partnership.

Fast forward 134 minutes later and the position we'd up in would be unimaginable under the circumstances.

A stand of 163 runs was a world-record 10th wicket stand, while Ashton's 98 was the highest score ever for a number 11 batsman. A century would have broken a few more. A more amusing stat is that the last time a number 11 batsman top scored was when Nathan Lyon scored 14 runs for us in the Newland's horror show in 2011. Agar replaced Lyon for this Test, but the way Agar batted you'd think he could stay in as a batsman, allowing Lyon a chance to return.

The wagon-wheel on the right (courtesy of ESPN Cricinfo) will highlight his versatile shot selection. It was a classy display given the circumstances and brought a variety of lofted drives, late cut shots, sweep shots and aggressive pull shots. It was a spectacle and Ashton made England realise he was no pushover.

Phillip Hughes deserves just as much praise for his efforts. He never looked short on confidence as wickets fell around him and he set the tone for his partnership with Agar when he began to powerfully execute cover drives and wild cut shots through the off side - a shot which brought him hundreds of runs so early on in his career.

An image to remember © Getty Images

Hughes' innings was a victory of his own. England bowled short to him, targeting his rib cage with a line down leg side as they did in 2009. He won and turned those nightmares into a thing of the past. It's still a long series to go but it was a big victory in the context of things.

It was sad to see Ashton fall just two runs short of what would have been an emotional maiden Test century. Sure, he could have avoided that pull shot, he did have time to see off the over, he had Hughes in good form at the other end as a senior batsman, and we were still in control that no aggressive tactics were needed.

However, there was no need for this analysis. He's a 19 year old man in his first Test match, his first match being an Ashes clash where he helped us come back from a situation that would have inevitably seen us stare down the barrel of defeat. That is what counted cause that is what happened!

With the lead in place, Mitchell Starc brought us two back-to-back wickets. The first was Joe Root, who tickled one down the leg side to Brad Haddin, and then Jonathan Trott who was out LBW for a golden duck. He was confident he got an inside edge onto the pad but zero evidence (with the loss of one hot spot camera) showed there was no edge. England were two down, eight to go and without the lead.

They since secured a lead of 15 runs with Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook at the crease. The wicket has flattened out ever so slightly with the sun baking down on the track to make it dry out even further, but England scored slowly but with comfort. Ashton nearly had Pietersen out but Haddin put down a tough chance. Reverse swing will be the obsession for day 3 and we will need to bowl incredibly well in the first session. It may decide the fate of this game.

It's anyone's game right now and although England have the lead, we have seen how this great game has so many twists and turns. Three days to go still.

Verdict: Australia took the day

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Who will be in the starting XI for Trent Bridge?

The Ashes battle is just days away and my levels of optimism were certainly boosted after the team morale - and performances - returned to the squad during the tour matches against Somerset and Worcestershire. England have announced their squad for the first Test at Trent Bridge, while we only have four guaranteed selections at present of our potential starting XI.

A few weeks back I wrote an article that took a look at the conditions that can be expected at each of the venues where the Ashes matches will be hosted.

Trent Bridge is one massive hurdle for batsmen to get over as an opening match. It's a fantastic venue for swing bowling and there were promising signs with our batsmen scoring good runs in the tour matches to suggest there is hope come the battle against James Anderson and his cronies. Having said that, this ground is a whole different challenge come focus, confidence and technique against quality swing bowling.

Here is the report I compiled on Trent Bridge, Notthingham on 01 May 2013:

Briefing: It was encouraging to see both Chris Rogers (Ashes squad member/ Middlesex) and Ed Cowan (Ashes squad member/ Nottinghampshire) showcase form and score some good runs at Trent Bridge in their opening Division One game of the county season.

This is going to be providing a gripping contest between bat and ball, but it is going to be most challenging for our batsmen. An excellent opening venue for the Ashes. It will test all aspects a team and individual requires to survive in a Test match.

We last played a Test in 2005, losing by 3 wickets, but we did take the win in the 2001 Test, which has little relevance at this point in time with it dating back 12 years.

At this relatively low scoring ground, Michael Clarke is the only player in our squad who has been exposed to the challenges presented at Trent Bridge at the elite level. There is validity to look at playing Cowan and Rogers too given their county runs.

The pitch report: As mentioned, Trent Bridge is an ideal arena to kick off the Ashes series in a time where batting dominates the modern game. There is as good a guarantee as any that the ball will swing and should provide for a menacing contest. Trent Bridge has produced more win or lose results than drawn results in recent years, so it is definitely a good place to start a series with an outcome quite likely to occur.

A theory behind the high presence of swing conditions at the ground, which is likely to carry throughout all possible innings in a match, is that the increase in buildings around the ground - notably the Bridgford Road stand - creates an enclosure of sorts, meaning that whatever air enters the arena will circulate and not escape as easily as an open ground, logically. Add a packed crowd attendance and conditions that aren't too chilly, you get an increase in friction resulting from the warmer air, which ultimately leads to a ball that responds greater to swing with greater emphasis needing to be placed on preserving one side of the cherry, while roughing up the other.

Have a read at this article explaining the scientific facts behind swing bowling: Read article on how a cricket ball swings.

Given our batting inconsistencies in recent seasons, England may very well eye an opportunity to have a bowl at us with confidence should they win the toss. Statistically it seems better to bowl first, also assessing your opponents batting line-up (SWOT analysis). The toss will be a massive talking point and it's essential to have that luck go your way.

Even though it is apparent that in any Test match should you get bowled out on the first day you are in trouble, Trent Bridge makes recovery from a poor start in a match hard to come by. This is mostly given the presence of swing bowling, made even harder by good, natural swing bowlers - England have a few of these. Sure, you could try and get one up on the opposition, but if they can handle the conditions slightly better, a deficit of even fifty to one hundred runs could end your hopes.

Expect plenty of deliveries with the new ball to be pitched up on a line that will create some fearful uncertainty. I'd be ready in the slips and gully regions. (END)

So, with this analysis concluded let's take a look at our potential candidates for the starting XI come the opening Test of the Ashes. I have not listed my side as I am eager to hear your opinion.

Before I do so, here's the tour batting stats thus far.

Batting:

Michael Clarke: 2 matches, 4 innings, 257 runs, HS 124, Avg 64.25, 100s (1), 50s (1)
Phillip Hughes: 2 matches, 4 innings, 231 runs, HS 86, Avg 115.50, 50s (3)
Shane Watson: 2 matches, 2 innings, 199 runs, HS 109, Avg 99.50, 100s (1), 50s (1)
Ed Cowan: 2 matches, 4 innings, 141 runs, HS 58, Avg 35.25, 50s (1)
Steven Smith: 1 match, 2 innings, 111 runs, HS 68*, Avg 111.00, 50s (1)
Chris Rogers: 1 match, 2 innings, 101 runs, HS 75, Avg 50.50, 50s (1)
Usman Khawaja: 1 match, 2 innings, 100 runs, HS 73, Avg 50.00, 50s (1)
Brad Haddin: 2 matches, 2 innings, 90 runs, HS 52*, Avg 90.00, 50s (1)

Michael Clarke is a vital component to our side. Besides his sublime form dating back to 2011, he is the anchor of this side and a century in the final innings of our tour match against Worcestershire highlighted this. Ricky Ponting was targeted in the 2010/11 Ashes series and we saw how it put us into ruins with a leader not performing and being picked out innings in, innings out by the opposition.

Graeme Swann - an outspoken but well grounded spin bowler - has made a public statement of this common knowledge regarding Clarke. It will be immense pressure for Clarke in the middle, so Darren Lehmann's tactical move to pull Clarke away from a number of duties required during Mickey Arthur's time as coach is brilliant to say the least.

Clarke had a lack of competitive cricket heading into our preparations after his back ordeals, which also brought about a very real and serious leadership crisis in our team. Despite the frustrations being off the field and the burden of exhaustive leadership responsibilities, he came out strongly with gradual signs of improvement with additional time in the middle. Clarke is our key player, but this can be further emphasised and enhanced should our opening duo of Chris Rogers and Shane Watson come out tops.

For too long Clarke has fought a lonesome battle. The change up the top of the order will be a massive boost in terms of experience and technique both Rogers and Watson can deliver, beyond that of Ed Cowan and David Warner. Rogers and Watson have been confirmed and have both looked good so far as a unified opening duo.

Miracles cannot be expected from Rogers and Watson, but there is a good dynamic at play between the two batsmen and it will bring a similar characteristic to the successful partnership Watson had with Simon Katich. One player the crisp attacker, the other the cautious traditionalist.

With Clarke at number four, this brings me to the all important number three role. This is essential for the Ashes in the likely event our opening duo will have one or two short-lived stays. Clarke needs someone to help see off the new ball, but impose himself upon the English attack. This is something Ricky Ponting was able to do so unbelievably well. Hashim Amla (South Africa) and Jonathan Trott (England) have this ability too and it is something we lack.

Ed Cowan is not, in my opinion, the ideal guy for this job but is one of the main contenders for it. Performances from him in the middle may tell a different story in the unforeseen future, but right now his temperament, character with the bat in hand and form doesn't suggest he has that ability to impose himself or be bold enough at the number three position, but he could certainly try and reinvent the role to his own style.

True, it is just a number and this position can be just like an opening role if an opener falls in the first over or two (something Cowan has done), but it does carry a psychological tag players are aware of. The scoreboard only enhances it.

Phillip Hughes, David Warner and Usman Khawaja stand out to me as the obvious other players for this role. There is a catch for each of them though, which does boost Cowan's case given the amount of cricket he has been playing, along with experience in an opening capacity.

Hughes has had a brilliant start to his tour following a shocking Champions Trophy. This is the form that counts now though and it is encouraging to see how he held his own in a middle order position. Therefore, would it make sense to get him into the number three role? Hughes has said he will bat anywhere and adapt to the role, expected words from a confident batsman but is this best for the team given his impression has been notable in the middle order capacity?

David Warner has been given time in the middle outside of match hours due to a ban until the first Ashes Test. Darren Lehmann and Michael Clarke have sounded keen to give Warner a run due to his confidently aggressive temperament with the blade in hand, but is that fair on the players who haven't lacked discipline off the field and have put in performances during these warm-up matches?

The Root incident is now a thing of the past though, and since Lehmann stepped in Warner has reportedly been showing up to practices on time and working hard. The discipline is there, the fierce determination is there but will that alone be enough? He is a strong candidate to play in the number three position as he can definitely make a massive impression, mostly that imposing impact Ricky Ponting mastered!

Usman Khawaja's half-century against South Africa in 2011 at The Wanderers is still fresh in my mind and I admired his application during that innings - a reason I believe he is good enough to develop into a specialist role.

His move to Queensland would have boosted his ability against swing bowling but even now he's only had one warm-up match this tour, which reports state did showcase some good form. Is he fully match fit for the number three role? I don't mean "match fit" as in physical fitness, but will he be psychologically prepared for the taunts and pressure in this role in an Ashes clash in England? This fear will either drive him or defeat him. Lehmann will have a gut feeling on this and only Khawaja will know if he can perform under these challenging circumstances well before his technique is tested.

Steven Smith has likely secured a middle order role either with Hughes, Khawaja, Cowan or Warner. The likelihood of him taking the number three role is unlikely, so the chance to work in the middle order and team up with Brad Haddin should be good. Smith has definitely come a long way since his torrid Ashes series in Australia and his performances in India showcased the growth of a young man stepping up when the team was in a shambles. I am backing his selection for the first Test. He will face the same big stage battle Khawaja may endure.

Bowling:

James Pattinson: 1 match, 29 overs, 7 wickets, Avg 16.71
Mitchell Starc: 1 match, 29.1 overs, 6 wickets, Avg 12.33
James Faulkner: 2 matches, 57.1 overs, 6 wickets, Avg 28.66
Jackson Bird: 1 match, 43 overs, 4 wickets, Avg 25.25
Ryan Harris: 1 match, 40 overs, 4 wickets, Avg 31.25
Nathan Lyon: 1 match, 42 overs, 4 wickets, Avg 37.00
Ashton Agar: 1 match, 50 overs, 3 wickets, Avg 55.00
Peter Siddle: 1 match, 27 overs, 1 wicket, Avg 117.00

The bowling line-up will depend whether Lehmann takes in a heavily loaded bowling attack, which would likely include all-rounder James Faulkner, or whether it will be a higher concentration of batsmen, therefore making it three pace bowlers and a spinner, with Watson or Faulkner in for bowling duties.

James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc seem to be certainties for the match. Starc, while erratic at times, does give the left arm option to vary it up. He can swing the ball but hopefully not too much too soon, something which handicapped Ben Hilenhaus. If Starc gets his line right with the swing in a controlled capacity he will be a handful for the English batsmen.

James Faulkner's position will depend as to whether the extra bowling all-rounder is needed. Therefore the battle will be between Ryan Harris and Jackson Bird for the third place I reckon. Harris has the experience, Bird has the height and made a slightly greater impression in the warm-up matches. Harris' fitness for a full game continues to be a worry but I am tempted to be boosting for him to be in there for that experience.

Peter Siddle is a great bowler on tracks which have the opportunity to exploit good bounce through hard work. For these English conditions though I don't see him making the starting XI, especially Trent Bridge. Tall, natural swing bowlers with express pace will be better suited. Nathan Lyon deserves his place in the starting XI and will play ahead of Ashton Agar, who is getting good exposure to all things Test cricket this tour.

It's going to be a tough decision to name this starting XI for the opening Test of the 2013 Ashes, but the good news is that strong performances leading up to this match has increased the competition and with Lehmann on board performances will be everything. There will be no passengers and this should ensure that whoever puts on the Baggy Green cap for this match will be ready to play with immense determination, focus and pride to perform and stay in the side as they graft to win back the urn.

What is your starting XI for Australian the first Test?

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Australian 2013 Ashes Squad Announced

Without further to do, here is the 2013 Australian Ashes squad to take on England in their territory.
The Australia A squad can be found at the end of this article. Your views are most welcome right here or via The Baggy Green Blog's Facebook page. The comment tab is at the footer of the article, moderation is active.

2013 Australian Ashes touring squad:

Batsmen:
Michael Clarke (Captain)
Ed Cowan
David Warner
Phillip Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Chris Rogers
 
All-rounders:
Shane Watson
James Faulkner

Wicket-keepers:
Brad Haddin (Vice-captain)
Matthew Wade

Bowlers:
Nathan Lyon
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson
Ryan Harris
Jackson Bird
Mitchell Starc

Let me begin with an overall verdict. All in all I am satisfied with this side. The Indian tour, which was a nightmare, is over and we march on. This is the Ashes, a different competition and a different opponent in different conditions. The battle is fresh and after losing Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting, I believe this is a well balanced side of emerging players and experienced candidates. I believe this side can win back the urn.

Batting wise, this was the biggest area of concern for us. This was evident in India and over the last three years we have seen frequent patterns resulting in batting collapses. Far too often our bowlers have been required to dig us out of a hole, which in hindsight has resulted in a bowling unit relatively young in age gain sound experience. This Ashes series is one for the batsmen to stand up. A recall of experience may help that drive.

Michael Clarke was a given. He's yet to be a member of a winning Ashes side in England, but he is now leading a side that has the ultimate opportunity to rise from the pit of negativity, following a tough start to 2013. His batting form has been sublime for some time but right now, we as Australian Cricket supporters, need to see this continue, not as The Michael Clarke show but rather The Australian Batting Show.

Phillip Hughes struggled in India and there were calls for him to dropped, yet again, from an Australian squad. However, he dug deep and managed to find some form, even though the series was lost. There was a small victory in Hughes finding some runs ahead of the Ashes series. One must also remember that India is historically reported as the toughest place to tour. This was his first tour to the sub-continent and we must keep in mind what Phillip has achieved in recent times. In other words don't base too much on that tour.

For South Australia in Shield cricket, he scored 673 runs at 59.19 from 12 innings. He hit two centuries and three half-centuries. Last county season he didn't dominate by any means as he did in 2009 for Middlesex, but in a stint for Worcestershire from 17 innings he scored 560 runs, averaged 35.00 with a highest score of 135*. Not prolific as when he burst onto the scene, but not poor either.

I also don't believe this return to England will result in short-ball nightmares for him, casting your memories back to 2009. This is an opportunity for him to realise his true potential and move forward, as the whole squad and supporters need to do as well. I also don't see value in questioning Hughes' unorthodox technique against short ball bowling. After all, it is unorthodox! If anything, he displayed a genuine weaknesses against New Zealand during his return with deliveries just back of a length pitched on middle and leg, where Chris Rogers (returning to the side) analysed Hughes' pitfalls from the sidelines.

Usman Khawaja has been in the waiting line a while and as one of the better players in the state system against swing bowling, I see complete value behind his selection. I doubt he is in the starting XI as a certainty, but I can't see any reason to oppose his selection. He's been one of the better performers at state level and a move to Queensland was one to enhance his opportunities and ultimately put himself in the best position to handle swing bowling conditions. He is a versatile batsman too.

Rogers is set to put his Baggy Green cap back on (2008).

Paul Kane: Getty Images

Ed Cowan and David Warner will be viewed as the likely opening duo, but I would say with Cowan currently getting further experience on the county circuit with moderate consistency, and Chris Rogers not showing any serious signs of struggle for Middlesex, Warner is not the definite opener. There has been discussion amongst supporters for Warner to drop the order, which has substance to it. I think the concept of Warner coming in at 6 or 7, as Adam Gilchrist did, will ensure the opposition never find time to relax with the knowledge there is still a game changer due to walk out to the middle.


The opening challenge is definitely set with Chris Rogers back in the frame. Chris has played one Test for Australia, which was against India in 2008. He's been left in the wilderness since but having put in the performances at first-class level he has cemented a case for himself to make this return, better late than never. A recommendation on the 2011 Argus Review was to focus on Test cricket as the pinnacle of the game and reward cricketers for their first-class performances.

For Victoria, Chris scored 742 runs at 49.46 from 17 innings. He had a highest score of 131, with three centuries. Last county season in division one, he scored 1,086 runs at 40.22 with a highest scored of 173. This was achieved in 29 innings. Definitely being rewarded for performances, how it should be!
One also can't expect him to suddenly perform miracles upon entering the side but persisting with him will show the experience come to the surface when needed.

Brad Haddin has been recalled to the squad, which will likely be seen as the most questionable selection. I s my ideal 17 man Ashes side, Brad was my second keeper of choice. I do see value in having Brad as a specialist batsman. He seems to have a bit of a short circuit up top though with the bat in hand at times. There is no doubt though that if he plays sensibly and paces his innings out, avoiding his aggressive desires to hit out, he can put together solid innings.
As selected vice-captain as well, this proposes the likely probability he is going to be in the starting XI come the first Test of the series, bringing the next topic of debate.

Matthew Wade had a poor tour of India and did show difficulties behind the stumps. An improved performance against Sri Lanka saw his confidence return but no doubt Brad will keep him on his toes. The competition may be seen as unhealthy though, given Brad is "on in years" in terms of keeper talk, while Matthew is at an age where his development is as important as the formative years behind the stumps. He's had plenty of experience and exposure to other conditions and I like to think he's had a bit of a boot camp.

Therefore, for the sake of development Matthew should keep wicket to not affect his progression. Having said that, we need to win this series and experience is clearly a vital ingredient for the NSP's desired recipe for success. Brad's position and situation does edge me towards the drive for experience in this series to win the urn, but it does put Matthew's position in doubt for the starting XI, a slight cause for concern in the greater scheme of things perhaps.

Shane Watson and James Faulkner make way into the side as the all-rounders of choice.

James, like Chris Rogers, has been rewarded for consistent state performances. He was also a member of my 17-man Ashes squad, and it would seem the selectors share the belief his bowling could prove to be menacing in English conditions but there's of course the value we have in a guy who showcased definite signs of improvement with his batting.

Shane Watson offers greater experience and has the edge over James regarding his batting, but Watto has battles of his own. He's had a shocking return with the bat for Australia in Test cricketer and his lack of bowling duties to help give him some longevity come his body conditioning for Test cricket, hasn't helped his case as well. Fortunately, we have seen the need for experience in this side and with Watto you get it. In the Indian Premier League he recently smashed a century, but has most importantly started resuming bowling duties as well. The short four over bowling will hopefully condition his body as needed to be able to offer Michael Clarke some overs to look at breakthrough opportunities, especially with an older ball in hand.

Watto also recently stepped down as vice-captain, a key reason for Brad Haddin's selection. I'd prefer to not write about the dramas of the Indian tour where he was a core part of the dilemma, but I do back his decision. Since giving up the responsibility of vice-captain, Watto has blasted a century for his IPL franchise - a sign of freeing the mind - and has appeared to be far more confident in his body language.

As selfish as it sounds to give up a role of responsibility to rather focus on your own game, there is logic behind this in a game where your individual input can outweigh a team input on paper at the end of the day. If this means Shane Watson can regain consistency with better performances and find a way to offer greater all-round duties for Australia, I am all for it.

Nathan Lyon is the sole spinner, with Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Jackson Bird and Ryan Harris doing the fast bowling duties.

The bowlers were almost a given. Perhaps the only question mark is why only one spinner was selected; a reason why a 17-man squad had purpose.

Nathan has yet to take on the English batsmen and has gained experience against other oppositions with mixed results. Like Matthew Wade, he has in some ways been through a boot camp of his own. Perhaps having not had the pressure of an Ashes series, while having had exposure against other sides in different conditions has put him in a thrilling position to get ready for the challenge. A second spinner would be good, but that is where the Australia A tour has value and someone like Ashton Agar could easily be retained for the remainder of the series after the 'A' side fixtures if required.

Ryan Harris is making his return after some destructive performances for the Queensland Bulls and remains, in my opinion, our best bowler in the system. The only issue with Ryan is the question mark if his body can handle all five Tests, as well as Australia A duties. His attributes will be sensational to witness in English conditions if he is in top shape.

Peter Siddle is the experienced candidate but by no means a leader in terms of his bowling attributes. His attitude and burning ambition will always be key ingredients for a leadership role to help his teammates through the day's play. His role as a bowler is an anchor role, to build pressure from one end and fire away looking for that one delivery that surprises the batsman, while his mates work around him.

Jackson Bird has an ability to just keep the ball in the right slot with no inabilities come variation. Another bowler who deserves his selection based on first-class experience, but also his performances with a fresh Baggy Green cap.

James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc are the young guns and with Patrick Cummins - our most exciting prospect in years - facing a long road to return with an increased depth, they are the gunners of choice.
Both possess attributes that contribute to the success of our bowling unit with combined with pace, variation and a joint ability to swing the ball. Mitchell Starc gives us the left arm option as well, notably shadowing that of Mitchell Johnson in the eyes of many.

Australia A sees Steven Smith serve as vice-captain, giving him a leadership chance on the back of an impressive show in India. Alex Doolan, Jordan Silk and Nic Maddinson get their opportunities as three batsmen who give us belief in our future batting stocks. The Ashes may be far too soon for all of them, so the opportunity to graft in English conditions with experienced Baggy Green players is vital for their development.

South Australia's Chadd Sayers has been rewarded as the leading Shield wicket grabber, while Ashton Agar has a chance to work the ball over as the spinner of choice. The Australian Ashes squad only had Nathan Lyon, but as mentioned the selectors can retain players post the Australian A tour. Ashton is in a great position.

My one surprise exclusion is that of Ben Hilfenhaus, given he was the leading wicket-taker for us in the 2009 Ashes series and has made steady progress since returning from injury, but Hilfenhaus alongside Harris provides a serious injury concern for the greater context of the series. Both would be epic to watch in tandem with the new ball, but not being in the Australia A side, he will have to wait for another opportunity to get that100th Test wicket.

In conclusion, the inclusions of Rogers, Harris and Haddin may prove to be surprises but it's simple really.
We need experience, we need to balance out progressing players with guys who have walked some hard yards. Ultimately it all comes down to what goes on out on the field. This is a team that needs to rebuild their image, needs to gain the confidence again from casual supporters and this move by the National Selection Panel is a start.

Bring on the Ashes! I have confidence in this side, so with that I wish the best of luck to the players selected.

Australia A Squad:

Brad Haddin (Captain)
Steve Smith (Vice-captain)
Ashton Agar
Jordan Silk
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