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[Manormanic]

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/current/story/662099.html

According to the great Boof, there are some Australian players playing for their very careers at the Oval next week.  Now, it'll come as no surprise to anyone to hear that I worship at the alter of the Fester alike nearly as much as I do at that of Lord Joseph Of Root (Yorkshire joke)....but....really?  I just can't see who it is that will be in the XI that is really at the last chance saloon here.  Clarke, Harris, Warner, Rogers, Siddle are all certain selections when fit, Haddin has done okay and Lyon almost looked like a county player in this game which, when he didn't even look like a clubbie when he was first choice should justify run in the side.   Bird was pretty decent too...

So, am I right in seeing this as a dig at Khawaja, Smith and Watson?  And if so, fair or not?

Khawaja looks all at sea, but I do wonder how much, like Johnny Bairstow in the England side, he is suffering from being messed around for 18 months by the selectors.

Smith has been more impressive in this series than at any time previously.  I'd prefer he batted six or seven (behind Wade) in the long term but why ditch him when he's starting to make it look like there was some wisdom in giving him the chance in the first place?

Watson is a twerp....but even there, if he is going to get through a decent number of overs, there is a logic to selecting him. 

Unavoidable conclusion - Australia have morphed into a 1999 losing to the Kiwis era England!

[Number4]

How much longer do you give Watson to perform? He is there as a batsman and to score hundreds is his main job.... He hasn't done that.. It's been too long between hundreds and I would say he would be nervous... He needs to start performing very quickly

[lazza32]

khawaja and watson. We have hughes and henriques who can replace these 2. we also have maddison who did brilliantly against south africa A and was a stand out player when he was in the U19 world cup squad. Lets not gorget agar who can take over smith if required.

[The_Bird]

Yes Watson has only gone at under 2 an over for the series and provided some control but hes only taken 2 wickets @ 78. Coupled with only one 50 from quite a few starts his career is definitley on the line.

[smilley792]

Watson, smith, Hughes, khawaja.

Watson and smith will be fine, as they'll just become t20 mercenaries.



I think rodgers, has done a good job this summer, and may well be in the aus side now till he decides to retire.

[Johng]

Watson, Hughes and Khawaja all finished. Bowlers are safe. Interesting stat there have been no gen y batsman other than Clarke that have been successful at test level for Australia

[Leddster138]

Everyone knows that when if you get moved from opening to 6 then you'll probably get dropped to the 2nd soon enough. I think Lehmans statement is squarely aimed at Watson. He's been around long enough now. Khawaja and Smith's heads might be on the line but it won't be "career ending" they'll just get dropped and replaced by guys of a similar standard. Watson looks like the most reluctant cricketer in the world and for a guy who consistently underachieves then as a coach I wouldn't have him anywhere near the team.

[uknsaunders]

when you are a walking LBW and it's obvious to everybody, I just can't see how you can keep playing at test level. Watson needs to rebuild his technique. Not sure Hughes ever had one.

Khawaja should be given time to settle at 5 or 6, he's never a number 3.

I like Smith and at least he has showed some fight in this series, test batsman? Not sure. Allrounder possibly.

[Leddster138]

when you are a walking LBW and it's obvious to everybody, I just can't see how you can keep playing at test level. Watson needs to rebuild his technique. Not sure Hughes ever had one.

Khawaja should be given time to settle at 5 or 6, he's never a number 3.

I like Smith and at least he has showed some fight in this series, test batsman? Not sure. Allrounder possibly.

I agree, I'm sure when Smith started he was an allrounder. I know he throws up some rubbish sometimes but he's a useful cricketer, maybe not a specialist though..a bit like Luke Wright.

Khawaja looks decent but, like Bell in 2005, it all looks to much at the moment. No reason he can't do good things given the time.

Hughes has got some big flaws in his technique but rather than going away and working on them he just seems the same player that kept hitting Harmison to gully a few years back. Time is one thing but you have to be improving (or seem to be improving) each time you step out for test cricket otherwise you're just another Watson, frustrating fans with potential.

[iand123]

I wonder whether they think Watson is long term player for them in tests. Bowled well in this series but hasnt done too well with the bat. Safe to say he hasnt set the world on fire with the bat in tests like he has done in ODI's. Not really sure who the next cab off the rank would be though to replace him. Also it's pretty well documented that he has had a few issues with the team management and doesnt get on with clarke. Wonder if they think he isn't worth the aggro

Khawaja has youth on his side i suppose, but, again has been talked up a lot and hasnt produced. I wonder if some state cricket (possibly another stint in England as an overseas next summer) might help him push forward in the longer format

Smith has done ok this series but he doesnt look a test player to me, his technique isnt strong enough and all the time he's globe trotting to play IPL i cant see a remedy for that

[charlie15]

I wonder whether they think Watson is long term player for them in tests. Bowled well in this series but hasnt done too well with the bat. Safe to say he hasnt set the world on fire with the bat in tests like he has done in ODI's. Not really sure who the next cab off the rank would be though to replace him. Also it's pretty well documented that he has had a few issues with the team management and doesnt get on with clarke. Wonder if they think he isn't worth the aggro

Khawaja has youth on his side i suppose, but, again has been talked up a lot and hasnt produced. I wonder if some state cricket (possibly another stint in England as an overseas next summer) might help him push forward in the longer format

Smith has done ok this series but he doesnt look a test player to me, his technique isnt strong enough and all the time he's globe trotting to play IPL i cant see a remedy for that

I'm not too sure that many counties would want to sign some of the Aussie batsmen  , The team in my view would go something like this if it was England;

1.Rodgers - Short term fix, but up to the job
2.Warner - Hit and miss, but has to stay
3.Khawaja - I think you just need to stick with him rather than yo-yoing him in and out
4.Clarke - Class act, but can't hide any further down the order
5.Specialist Bat required, Smith isn't one... but who Hughes? Cowan?
6.As above, unless you want to go with an all rounder in which case you have LBWatto, Smith (needs to bowl more then), Agar could be long term solution
7.Haddin, Good call to bring him in for Wade, apart from the missed Root opportunity at Lords he's done well
8.Siddle, The toughest meanest Vegan ever excellent.
9.Harris, and pray he stays in one piece long enough he's been excellent
10.One from Starc, Bird, Pattinson, Mitch  (I've missed him this series) et al
11.A spinner... Is Lyon seriously the best in Australia atm?

I think with that top 4, Haddin, Siddle and Harris you have the spine of a team that you can start building around.

[iand123]

Believe Khawaja played a full season for Derbyshire last year as an overseas

[uknsaunders]

1. Rodgers
2. Warner
3. ?
4. Clarke
5. Khawaja
6. Henriques - for the time being, solid performer if not in Watson's class, but not an LBW candidate
7. Wade
8. Siddle
9. Harris
10. Anybody apart from Mitch
11. Lyon - until you find somebody who is a threat

[iand123]

1. Rodgers
2. Warner
3. ?
4. Clarke
5. Khawaja
6. Henriques - for the time being, solid performer if not in Watson's class, but not an LBW candidate
7. Wade
8. Siddle
9. Harris
10. Anybody apart from Mitch
11. Lyon - until you find somebody who is a threat

I know Haddin's age goes against him but Wade has alot of work to do on his keeping if you ask me. Plus i think Haddin is a more reliable batsman. Could Wade bat at 5 (as a batsman) and push clrake to 3 and Khawaja to 4?

[The_Bird]

Silk, Doolan, Henriques and Maddinson should be next off the line.

Surprised that Copeland didn't get a look in over Bird or even Faulkner in the initial party. Runs and wickets in shield cricket coupled with a very decent year with Northants.