Australia Test squad - 2014

[Ian Dargie]

I'm assuming it will be a 15-man squad. Ages at the start of October 2014 in brackets. Conservatively, one might say it will look like this:

Rogers (37)
Warner (turning 28)
Doolan (28)
Clarke (33)
Smith (25)
Watson (33)
Haddin (turning 37)
Johnson (32)
Siddle (29)
Harris (turning 35)
Lyon (26)

Hughes (25)
Pattinson (24)
Faulkner (24)
Bird (27)

But the reality is there are question marks over Rogers, Doolan, Haddin and Harris. Doolan because of performance, the others because of age. Do they keep going? Or do one or two get pensioned off with an eye to bedding down another player for next year's Ashes.

Does a second spinner come into play? Or a batsman who bowls a bit, like Maxwell or, gasp, White?

 

[The_Reaper]

I'm not sure if Harris will tour. He's going for some pretty major knee surgery straight after this series.

 

[Ian Dargie]

I'm not sure if Harris will tour. He's going for some pretty major knee surgery straight after this series.

He may be done. If so, he'll be hard to replace.

 

[Phone]

let's not

 

[SelwoodTaylor]

Rogers
Warner
Hughes
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Pattinson
Harris
Lyon

Siddle
Doolan
Maxwell
Faulkner/another spinner (O'Keefe)

 

[DardySingh360]

I think Hughes should play. If he fails again against spin it could see a big black line put through his name for good.

Dare I say it, Glenn Maxwell is well and truly in the running.

 

[Noobz0r]

I think Hughes should play. If he fails again against spin it could see a big black line put through his name for good.

Dare I say it, Glenn Maxwell is well and truly in the running.

Hughes will be exposed against Pakistan, would be horrible for his long term future.

I'm scared that he will play.

 

[DardySingh360]

Hughes will be exposed against Pakistan, would be horrible for his long term future.

I'm scared that he will play.

Not sure if there's any alternatives? Only one shield game left, someone who's playing County Cricket will have to make a lot of runs to jump ahead of Hughes... Cameron White? He plays in England doesn't he?

 

[Ian Dargie]

I think the interesting X-factors occur if there is an unexpected retirement.

What if Rogers finishes up? Hughes comes in as opener? In that case, who would be the likely reserve batsman? Marsh? Maxwell? Someone else?

Is Haddin a lock to continue? If he retires, is Wade still next in line?

If Harris's time is up, Pattinson comes in alongside Siddle and Johnson. But what's the pecking order after that? Probably Bird? Who else?

And what about Doolan? Does he remain at No.3? if not, who else is in the running?

 

[Aussie_boy]

Hughes is a recipe for disaster, can't see him making any runs over in the UAE unless he is opening in place of Rogers. Doolan I think will be persisted with, I would have no problem either if they took Glenn Maxwell over. We will probably feel forced to play 2 spinners over there so i'd say that Steve O'Keefe will go over but wouldn't be surprised if it was Muirhead....., or Ahmed I would like to see Boyce be the 2nd spinner but that's not going to happen.

 

[Ian Dargie]

We will probably feel forced to play 2 spinners over there.

I wonder if that's true.

Consider that you've already got Steve Smith in the top six. Maybe it leaves the door ajar for Maxwell, White or even North as a second part-timer who can bat in the top seven while further complimenting Lyon.

Do we really have a second specialist spinner who is Test-class?

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I think Hughes should play. If he fails again against spin it could see a big black line put through his name for good.

Dare I say it, Glenn Maxwell is well and truly in the running.

Why are people expecting Hughes to come in to the 11? He's worse against spin than quick bowling and the selectors didn't want him to play against SA with their lack of quality spin. Doolan would probably be stuck with or even Marsh.

 

[eth-dog]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Maxwell
Haddin
Johnson
Pattinson
Siddle
Lyon

White, Watson, Bird, Boyce

That'd be my touring party. Obviously Boyce won't go. I think our best choice is to have our second spinner as an allrounder, and hopefully get good overs from Smith and Maxwell.

 

[Aussie_boy]

I wonder if that's true.

Consider that you've already got Steve Smith in the top six. Maybe it leaves the door ajar for Maxwell, White or even North as a second part-timer who can bat in the top seven while further complimenting Lyon.

Do we really have a second specialist spinner who is Test-class?

I don't think we do, although I am struggling to get the latest Indian tour out of my head where we were annihilated but that was under the reigns of Mickey Arthur. North is one who I forgot, he may well go over there,

 

[bird_man]

But the reality is there are question marks over Rogers, Doolan, Haddin and Harris. Doolan because of performance, the others because of age. Do they keep going? Or do one or two get pensioned off with an eye to bedding down another player for next year's Ashes.

Does a second spinner come into play? Or a batsman who bowls a bit, like Maxwell or, gasp, White?

Why should age come into contention if they have good form? You pick your best side available for each test.

 

[courtjester]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Watson
Clarke
Smith
Haddin
Johnson
Pattinson
Bird (guessing Harris won't go after surgery)
Lyon

Cummins/Starc/NCN (don't know who's fit)
Faulkner/Henriques
Cooper
Maxwell/North (maybe North as he gives another opening option)

 

[Slax]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Pattinson
Harris* (depends on recovery from surgery)
Lyon


Siddle
Faulkner
Ahmed
Maxwell

 

[eth-dog]

Siddle is the most likely quick to get wickets in the UAE

 

[Kram]

Rogers
Warner
Marsh
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Harris
Lyon

Pattinson
Doolan
Henriques
Spin bowler

Bird in for Harris if injured

 

[Zach Package]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon

Maxwell
North
Pattinson
Faulkner

I don't really like tinkering with the 4 bowlers and 6 bats format, but there is a genuine argument to play 2 quicks (with Watson), Lyon and bat Maxwell at 7/8 IMO

 

[FRUMPY]

Any reason why people think rogers and haddin will retire? age is just a number. Rogers worked his ass off to get back into test cricket and will retire now? I dont think so. Haddin has indicated he wants to play in the world cup so he wont quit now.

 

[courtjester]

Rogers
Warner
Doolan
Clarke
Smith
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Harris
Siddle
Lyon

Maxwell
North
Pattinson
Faulkner

I don't really like tinkering with the 4 bowlers and 6 bats format, but there is a genuine argument to play 2 quicks (with Watson), Lyon and bat Maxwell at 7/8 IMO

I forgot Siddle in my post. He'll go.

 

[courtjester]

Any reason why people think rogers and haddin will retire? age is just a number. Rogers worked his ass off to get back into test cricket and will retire now? I dont think so. Haddin has indicated he wants to play in the world cup so he wont quit now.

Rogers won't retire. And he's doing the job at the moment.

 

[Fat Tony!]

Rogers

I don't really like tinkering with the 4 bowlers and 6 bats format, but there is a genuine argument to play 2 quicks (with Watson), Lyon and bat Maxwell at 7/8 IMO

This is how we should attack the subcontinent IMO. Two quicks is enough (probably Johnson and Pattinson), Lyon, Watson and a spinning all-rounder like North, White or Maxwell. (If we had another good spinner they should play.)

And the batsmen should all be good players of spin, with right handers having an advantage. I also doubt Rogers should tour given his ability to play the spinners.

In saying all this, Mitchell Starc almost deserves to tour on his batting in India.

I would think about an XI of:

Warner
Watson
Clarke
Smith
North
White
Maxwell
Haddin
Johnson
Pattinson
Lyon

 

[eth-dog]

Bucky is a much better player of spin than Watson, and so is Doolan at 3. Drop Watson, North and White from that side and bring in Buck, Doolan and Siddle