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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The Ashes 4th Test, day 1, Chester-le-Street:

The Ashes 4th Test, day 1, Chester-le-Street:

England 1st innings: 9/238 from 90 overs
Nathan Lyon 4-42, Ryan Harris 2-70, Shane Watson 1-21, Peter Siddle 1-41, Jackson Bird 1-58
Alastair Cook 51, Jonathan Trott 49

The only thing that didn't really go our way on day one of the fourth Test is the fact we didn't get 10 wickets to give ourselves a fresh start with the bat come day two. The bowlers will still need to show up for the second day of play to ensure they grab that last English wicket as quickly as possible. The tail has already dragged proceedings on by another 24 runs and recent history has shown that wrapping up the oppositions lower order isn't a quick procedure for us. Still, it was good to come out on top of day one after our misfortune at Old Trafford.

The two English batsmen we have been waiting on to fire looked as though it was their day on a wicket that had a fair bit of drag in it and no real sense of an immediate threat for our right-arm bowling attack - having not selected left-arm Mitchell Starc.

Starc can definitely feel unlucky and the only reason I could see him being left out of the team is his inability to bowl consistent spells and build sufficient pressure from his bowling end. Just seeing how the bowlers toiled for day one of this Test was a clear indication this element is what got us through what could have been a spanking from England's top order. Pressure and bowling in tandem did the trick, so despite his collections at Old Trafford as well as a half-century, this decision to leave him out was purely tactical.

Jonathan Trott and Alastair Cook added 73 runs for the second-wicket partnership. Trott tried to impose himself to get every chance to play to his strengths and regain his confidence, which has oddly enough been slightly dampened. Meanwhile, Cook went along with the patience and resistance he showed against us in the last Ashes series, but there was always this sense I had that we'd get him well before a century as he was seriously showing restraint against straight bat shots - or just shots for that matter. After doing the hard yards at a strike-rate of 31.09, he left a delivery from Jackson Bird which swung into him just enough to trap him LBW without offering a shot. Aleem Dar sent him on his way with no hesitation. His resistance ended being his downfall, rather than a switch to impatience.

The first wicket of the day needs to be briefly discussed as it once again involved umpire Tony Hill (New Zealand) who has had a torrid series, even worse off than the players who generally get more criticism than an umpire - even though it is a thankless job, sadly.

Hill seems to have lost whatever confidence he has in his abilities as an outside edge off the early bowling change of Shane Watson, while slightly faint, was as clear as day to everyone on the field but Hill. Even Joe Root looked sheepish. Yet, Hill didn't give it and a referral then changed our fortunes for the ultimate dismissal. It was frustratingly another worrying sign that DRS is far from our main issue with decisions this series. Had this been India, Hill would have been on his way ages ago with the threat of a series boycott.

Earlier in the day Ryan Harris, Bird and Peter Siddle had all taken a while to get into their routines but fortunately Shane Watson was on song and provided his economical input as always and really mounted the pressure, allowing our bowlers to ease into the game. Soon enough our fast men where definitely get something out of a nothing sort of a track. It still wasn't looking all that threatening.



Enter our bowler who has been left on the fringes despite having taken 81 Test wickets to date from 24 Tests. The dismissal of Jonathan Trott was brought about by our right-arm off spinner, Nathan Lyon. Trott found the faintest of inside edges onto his pad which was well grasped by a diving Usman Khawaja at short-leg. It was a huge wicket but Lyon's ultimate victory came against Kevin Pietersen.

Pietersen has taken to Lyon's bowling and looked to attack him from the word "go". He did so at Old Trafford and again in this match. However, despite Pietersen's momentum and confidence to attack, Lyon had him just nudging at one which moved across him, bowling from around the wicket and Pietersen didn't cover the angle and outside edge carried to Brad Haddin, who has kept wicket excellently so far.

From that dismissal it was the Nathan Lyon show as he picked up another two wickets to take 4-42 from the day.

It was great to see reward go to Lyon as the best performer. He has had to graft really hard match in, match out with the fear he could be tossed into the junk yard of spin bowling rejects in the post-Warne era. Fortunately, the selectors have finally realised there will never be another great leg spinner and Shane Warne was one of a kind legend of the game. Therefore, we need a guy who can spin with subtle variation and bowls with both confidence and intelligence. This doesn't come from twenty Tests. This comes from perseverance, belief from the selectors and team mates, while most importantly being given the guidance and motivation to improve after every series he plays - not every game he plays.

Patience is the key and I have seen notable improvement in Nathan Lyon's performances after his outstanding debut against Sri Lanka back in 2011. Graeme Swann has become a world-class spinner because the English selectors have nurtured his development and kept him in the side. When other competitors have come about they've made him aware of this but he's only thrived off it and continued to find ways to be the best English spinner. Lyon can learn something from Swann and it seems our selectors are learning a lesson.

Lyon will have many, many more battles ahead but this innings was one where he took the initiative and helped the bowlers find a way forward on a track that looked like it would see day one at stumps with England in a dominant position. Well done Gaz!

All our bowlers chipped in and this evidently continues to be our strong point, especially having Bird come in at the expense of Starc to just boast our depth.

Come tomorrow we need to roll England before they reach 250. It will be a small victory in the context of this all important game. England have said they want to win 4-0 but it is not in their nature to be this aggressive. I anticipated them to become complacent knowing they have the urn and I hope this turns out to be the case so we can level this 2-2.

Hard cricket ahead as this seems to be a track where Swann will be used to bowl many overs and James Anderson has a killer average at this ground too, so watch out!

This Test is also important because someone other than Michael Clarke needs to step up. I get the feeling Shane Watson has two more Tests to show his value with the bat because recent years show he does not warrant a spot in the team, even though he is clearly having a mental barrier to his game as he is still playing brilliant shots. Bowling will only keep him in the side for so long, as hard as it is to accept this as a supporter. Chris Rogers needs to once again showcase his experience in English conditions as this ground is unfamiliar to this side. David Warner can play the villain and steal the glory from the hometown heroes, while Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith have another golden opportunity in the biggest, most historical Australian Test series to make their own history. Both have to do it soon as they can bat, no doubts there but are they strong willed enough?

All of these questions will be answered come tomorrow and it's going to be a massive test for the batsmen as should we get that last wicket soon enough, this is the moment where we need to finally bat as a top Test team. This is the moment!

Verdict: Day one goes to Australia, especially on the tactical front where we managed our reviews far better and Clarke used his bowlers effectively.


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Boxing Day Test announcement

As per the Baggy Green Blog Facebook page:

Jackson Bird will become Baggy Green #431 as he is set to debut at the MCG for the Boxing Day Test match. 

Very excited to see him receive his cap and make an impact for us. 

Mitchell Starc will be rested as a result of the rotation policy.

See the Voting Poll up top right to express your view on the rotation policy.
 

The rotation policy, do you agree with this policy of player rotation to "prevent injury"?

1: Yes: Avoids excessive workload, reduces injury, creates opportunity

2: No: Unnecessary, not beneficial, injuries still unavoidable

3: Undecided: See the benefits but not a big solution to injury avoidance

Michael Clarke will be cleared on the morning of the match to see if he is ready to go out there and lead us in the Boxing Day Test.

According to Dean Jones, who has been mentoring the batsmen at the MCG nets, Clarkey is looking good at the moment and chances seem to be good that he will play. The probable squad for the 2nd Test:

David Warner,
Ed Cowan,
Phillip Hughes,
Shane Watson,
Michael Clarke,
Michael Hussey,
Matthew Wade, 
Mitchell Johnson,
Peter Siddle,
Nathan Lyon,
Jackson Bird (debutant).

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The Baggy Greens go 1-0 up against Sri Lanka

At last victory has been claimed by the boys after a rained out result in Brisbane, a psychological drawn result in Adelaide where we were a bowler down and then followed by a collapse in form to lose the series in Perth to the Proteas.

Once again Michael Clarke saw the boys in a similar position as it was in Adelaide.
Ben Hilfenhaus has been ruled out of the Boxing Day Test with a side strain and with the injury flared in the Sri Lankan first innings it meant come the second dig we were set to be a bowler down.

Hilfy will remain stranded on 99 Test wickets.

Fortunately the never ending determination and ambition of Peter Siddle, along with the opportunist attitude of Mitchell Starc, we were able to grab the remaining 8 wickets which stood between a drawn result and a badly needed victory.

It was tough going out there for the boys and the one concern from a bowling perspective will be the ineffectiveness of Nathan Lyon, which was the same case at the Adelaide Oval.

It is evident that Nathan Lyon has improved and it's good that the selectors have stuck with him. It was a major pitfall of the last selection panel where we saw an embarassing number of spin bowlers debut for the side following the retirements of Shane Warne and Stewie MacGill.

However, as the commentary team pointed out, Nathan has 56 wickets to his name so he is no push over but the time has come for the major step up.
It's easier said that done but it is understandable that such a comment be made.

When they talk about a "big step up" I don't think we should confuse it with a breath taking, somewhat mesmerising effort that we'd have expected from a guy like Warnie, but rather a comprehensive performance that plays a defining role to find key wickets when the team needs to pave a smooth path to victory when the track permits.

Having said that, fortunately our fast bowlers were geared up and ready to go head to head with the Sri Lankan resistance, which was admirable.

Peter Siddle, or Pedro as I call him, was remarkable and since his debut in 2008 he has not faultered with his attitude. He will break his back for this team and never ever shows signs that he is not up for the battle even when his body is evidently giving him problems with the strain.

He ended up with 9 wickets for the game, a 5fer in the first innings and then four in the second innings. On the final day he managed the only break through but he pitched it up fuller, extracted what bounce was on offer from the Bellerive deck and most importantly he was executing some brilliant outswingers.

A year ago I often commented that as good a bowler as Pedro is he needed more tricks up his sleeve to seriously break into the league of the best of the best.
It's taken time but he's starting to find ways to mix it up and does so on challenging tracks.
Excellent performance!

Mitchell Starc has his second 5fer now but did a splendid job to take the pressure of Pedro and Shane Watson.

With the possibility of Watto leading side in the Boxing Day Test due to Clarkey's hamstring worry, he wasn't exhausted for use and Pedro had already exhausted himself to fight for the final wickets.
Enter Mitchell Starc's final spell.

His first ball was a poor ball which drifted onto the pads of the right hander which was easily splashed away to mid wicket for four. The field was right in and the off side was loaded.
It didn't take Mitchell too long to adjust his line and it all came together.

The last 6 wickets fell for Sri Lanka with only 54 runs added.

When that last wicket was claimed the emotions that hit me where well received.
It's been hard work for the boys and they had the opportunities to mow the Proteas but psychologically got hammered as a result of those opportunities not being claimed. They have faced similar challenges against the Lankans but they pulled through it, many more to follow!

It was also a victory for the batsmen as this Test marks a new chapter with Ricky Ponting retired.

Phillip Hughes made a wonderful return this match.
I am proud he is now a South Australian player and the move has done his game the world of good and if you saw his first innings you would have noticed massive changes in his game.

The balance of his head, front foot positioning and follow through for off side stroke play is at a whole new level, he looks a different player. The cut shot is still as crazy and odd as ever and the heaved slog sweep he played for six immediately brought back memories of his back to back sixes to reach his maiden Test century off the bowling of Paul Harris.

Overall though his balance is is looking set for a strong return at even better is that it's at number three in the batting line up. David Warner and Ed Cowan also had personal victories as well as a dual one.
The two have had a mixed relationship as our opening duo in Test cricket as ESPN Cricinfo's Brydon Coverdale researched a few weeks back, but this Test saw their stand in the second innings prove to be a vital one in the context of the match, especially the welcomed aggression of David Warner!

Davey's average is starting to look like an opening batsman's as well.

The experience of Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke is still shining brightly.

Michael Hussey has always highlighted the importance of luck when it comes to batting in Test cricket and he had no shortage as he was dropped on the boundary to allow him the chance to raise his bat upon the achievement of his 19th Test century.

His ability to switch momentum and channel different game tempo's is remarkable and something that I admire so much. To do it so consistently as well after so many years is spectacular. We're fortunate.

Irrespective it was all owed to him as he rarely looked troubled in his innings as he built another sensational partnership with Clarkey whose figures below give sufficient indication of his sublime form since taking on the captaincy against, none other than, Sri Lanka.

23, 60, 13, 6, 112, 151, 2, 11, 2, 139, 22, 0, 31, 1, 329*, 18, 210, 37, 73, 6, 45, 15, 24, 25, 259*, 230, 38, 5, 44, 74, 57*.

Matthew Wade is also looking far more settled and managed to put his hand up in the first innings with a half-century. His average is now settled just below 40 with the bat and was backed with 6 catches for the match (21 career catches). Not a bad medium pace bowler either, maiden over secured.

I look at the balance of this side and I am very pleased with what we have.

Our batting looks like a line up that is still ironing out some creases but the outfit as a whole looks tidy enough to take on the best.

As sad as I am that Ricky Ponting has gone this has opened up the door for the new era of batsmen to emerge.

Usman Khawaja has come into the Boxing Day Squad, rightly so, with the injury worries regarding Clarkey and there's some strong batsmen creeping into the system as well.
The State season has not been one to commend the batsmen for but it's given us enough indication as to who is in the mix.

Jackson Bird is also in the side and this is totally fair and an indication that the selectors have been giving careful consideration to strong State cricket performances, which Jackson has given.

He has 87 wickets for the Tasmanian Tigers at 19.72 in First Class cricket.
This season alone he is top of the Sheffield Shield bowling chart with 27 wickets at 20.55.

I am excited about his call up and feel it's a deserved opportunity. Well done Jackson!

In the system we still have James Pattinson (injured), Pat Cummins (injured), Ben Cutting, Josh Hazelwood, Luke Butterworth, Trent Copeland, Alister McDermott and of course some experienced campaigners like Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris (will he return?) and Doug Bollinger.

Spin stocks still appear low but the overall mix is looking good and I am excited for what's ahead.

We still have a series that is alive for both sides but we have drawn first blood and have the victory to be 1-0 up.

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