Aussies will need to make tough choices to take on India and the Poms
September 12th, 2010 - 1:52 pm ICT by ANISydney, Sept.12 (ANI): Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting and the national selection panel will need to make some tough choices when choosing players for the India tour and the forthcoming Ashes series Down Under against England.
According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, the Australian top five is largely settled, and Ponting and the selectors would need to discuss how useful Western Australian captain and middle order bat Marcus North would be in the national scheme of things.
North’s form away from home has been sound but he has struggled in his short career at home. What should get North over the line, possibly depending on his form in India, will be the fact that he played very well against England last Ashes, and his development as a bowler makes him a very useful option for Ricky Ponting.
They also have problems on the wicket keeping front - a choice needs to be made between Brad Haddin, who has been battling an elbow tendon injury, and Tasmanian wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Paine, 25, who filled in admirably against Pakistan in England.
In India, Paine will get more opportunities to press his claim to be retained, even if Haddin returns to fitness. Haddin hopes to be fit for the one-day series against India.
The selectors will also wonder whether to have off-spinner Nathan Hauritz go head-to-head with England spin spearhead Graeme Swann or usher in young prodigy Steven Smith to bowl his leg-spinners.
Smith hates comparisons to Shane Warne but, let’s face it, having a young blond leggie waddling in to bowl in an Ashes Test won’t sit too comfortably with the Poms.
On the fast bowler front, Ponting and the selectors have a choice of plenty, and selection would in all probability be focused on horses for courses.
Ben Hilfenhaus and Peter Siddle should be back at full fitness. Hilfenhaus provides good new-ball swing and Siddle some good pace and bounce. Mitchell Johnson has experience, pace and left-arm angle but can be erratic. Doug Bollinger is less erratic but has less of an X-factor than Johnson. Peter George and Josh Hazlewood are exciting young bowlers in the mould of Glenn McGrath. There’s even rumbles about Shaun Tait returning. (ANI)
- Australia opts for blend of youth and experience for daunting India Test series - Sep 02, 2010
- NSW pacer Hazlewood raring to fire in India with an eye on the Ashes - Sep 03, 2010
- Australia include teenage fast bowler for India tour - Sep 02, 2010
- Hauritz unlikely to get nod for first Ashes Test on bouncy Gabba pitch - Oct 18, 2010
- Uncapped Doherty, Smith in Oz squad in place of Hauritz for first Ashes Test - Nov 20, 2010
- Clarke to lead Australia in fifth Ashes Test - Dec 30, 2010
- Beer in, North, Bollinger and Doherty axed from Oz squad - Dec 10, 2010
- Hastings in Australia's World Cup squad, Siddle dropped - Jan 18, 2011
- Hastings a surprise selection in Australia World Cup squad - Jan 18, 2011
- Australia retain squad for Adelaide Test - Jan 17, 2012
- Johnson, Hilfenhaus under threat as Oz recall Bollinger, Harris for Adelaide Ashes Test - Nov 29, 2010
- Forrest, Wade in Australia's Test squad; Haddin retained - Mar 14, 2012
- Ashes debacle: Hilditch and Co need face hard truth and come up with answers: SMH - Dec 08, 2010
- Harris returns to Australia Test squad - Dec 30, 2011
- Spinners Hauritz, Doherty to face off for World Cup spot - Jan 11, 2011
Tags: ashes test, australian captain, australian cricket captain, captain ricky ponting, elbow tendon injury, india tour, mitchell johnson, national scheme, national selection, poms, scheme of things, selection panel, selectors, shane warne, siddle, steven smith, sydney morning herald, tim paine, tough choices, wicketkeeper