Official Ashes Squad 2013

[The Falcon Strike]

he dropped a very hard chance about 3 balls after the agar incident. think it was siddle who was bowling to bell.

pretty tough one though, but you see them taken fairly regularly by the real good keepers.

Not that it was regulation - but he got a good amount of glove to it, a decent way off the ground.

It wasn't easy, but it is one a test keeper should take. I reckon being caught on his heels also hurt him.

With Paine playing for the A team, I'm hoping if he can stay fit he slides into the side in the next 12 months. With our current batting depth, a keeper who can keep in test cricket is a no brainer.

Haddin could always keep his spot at 6 if his batting warrants it

 

[Run n Spread]

Rate Agar as well he really looks the goods. Yet there may come a time where he is omitted. This is where Australia needs to be very careful. Just because you are dropped should not be the end. Still developing and keeping players around the squad can ensure they will be back. Also providing opportunities when available. Just chucking someone away like yesterday's take out (Casson, Dan Cullan, Cam White etc) and telling them make runs/take wickets does no one any good.

For England - Bell, Anderson, Bresnan have all been dropped in the past and are back. Anderson and Bell in particular were persisted with early days when young, raw and underperforming and it paid dividends. Not saying Australia should rebuild AFL club style yet there is a major major step up from shield to test level and most players will simply not perform right away.

Look at Langer, Hayden, Warne, McGrath, Ponting, Steve Waugh, even Bradman were all dropped. Yet they were given another chance, sometimes 2 or 3 as they were identified as the future and persisted with.

Agar if handled correctly has a long future ahead of him.