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[SpiderDan]

Australia just announced their squad for both the west indies tour and the ashes.


Michael Clarke (c)
Steve Smith (vc)
Fawad Ahmed
Brad Haddin
Ryan Harris (Ashes only)
Josh Hazlewood
Mitchell Johnson
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Peter Nevill
Chris Rogers
Peter Siddle
Mitchell Starc
Adam Voges
David Warner
Shane Watson

[potzy248]

Last tour for a few of them. Haddin, Rogers, Siddle, Voges (Interesting).

[awp]

Because of age? Training and nutricion are so good now, 35year olds are fitter than 27 year olds of 10-15 years ago. If they're performing, pick 'em.  Haddin is still the best keeper in the world, Voges has just made 1400 shield runs, a WA record, Rogers last test series included 2 centuries and Siddle is a proven work horse to bowl hard overs.  Deserved selections rather than interesting. What you need to understand is that an Australian second XI would wipe the floor with other test nations. I will be interested to see how Ahmed goes if he plays, took a lot of wickets, but a lot of his bags were not at first class grounds. 

[potzy248]

Because of age? Training and nutricion are so good now, 35year olds are fitter than 27 year olds of 10-15 years ago. If they're performing, pick 'em.  Haddin is still the best keeper in the world, Voges has just made 1400 shield runs, a WA record, Rogers last test series included 2 centuries and Siddle is a proven work horse to bowl hard overs.  Deserved selections rather than interesting. What you need to understand is that an Australian second XI would wipe the floor with other test nations. I will be interested to see how Ahmed goes if he plays, took a lot of wickets, but a lot of his bags were not at first class grounds.

- Some 35 yo are fitter, lets not make a generalisation here. How's Watson and Clarke's over 35yo bodies going?
- Siddle has not been performing, there are much better players coming through (Pattinson et al)
- You can't keep picking older guys as most of the team are now getting "older", where's the new blood? I love Rogers but he will be on his last tour.
- Interesting was aimed at Voges. Sort of left field since he has been over looked for so long.
- Finally an Aussie 2nd Xl would beat most test nations? Get a load of this guy.

[Nmcgee]

Absolutely brilliant that Adam Voges is getting another go with the national team. After an outstanding season, it's thoroughly well deserved, if a little surprising.

[Manormanic]

Anyone who things Australia's second XI would beat any of the major test nations is delusional - they would have excellent fast bowling resources but the batting in their main squad is, with respect, pretty thin and the second XI would be proportionately worse.  The likely top six - Warner, Rogers, S Marsh, Clarke, Smith, M Marsh (or Watson) is full of players England will quite fancy bowling at in our conditions...

Interesting selections for me are:

Voges - he has to be fair has a very good Shield season, and we all grumble when England take no account of form in their discussions.  But...he's 36, so hardly the future, and has never looked that impressive even in first class cricket over here.

Siddle - this is an uncharacteristically sentimental selection to my mind - Siddle of 2011/12 yes, but the new medium pace version?  When there were options such as Bird, Cummins, Abbott and Pattinson available?  Seems an odd one...

Fawad Ahmed - I'll leave for now the issue of Australia, always so keen to slight others for their players born abroad in ignorance of the heritage of its entire rugby team, changing their nationality laws to blag 'Stani failures and concentrate on the thought that Maxwell must be gutted.  Australia are unlikely to play two spinners, and if they did would need to adjust the rest of their side to accommodate, and Maxwell must have fancied his chances...

[golders]

Good squad that,particularly the fast bowling. Thought Maxwell may get a gig after his World Cup. Fear for England!

[PunterPonting]

Not sure Maxwell will be that gutted about Ahmed's selection - they are hardly like for like! Ahmed with 48 wickets in the Shield has proven himself to be a genuine spinner, Maxwell is a batsman who bowls off-spin (which incidentally the Aussies don't need, as they already have Lyon). Cummins might be sore...

[Gerry SA]

Surprised that Jimmy Pattinson didn't make the cut, as he's most similar to Ryan Harris in terms of bowling style.

Siddle must be in the last chance saloon, don't see what he will offer apart from drinks boy.

Pace attack longs tasty though Johnson, Starc and Harris/Hazlewood

[Alvaro]

I think Pattinson was noted as injured in the Shield final and not considered.

Also, interesting points about Aussie batting, they're picking batsmen for their A team who haven't made first class hundreds.

[wcc]

Surprised that Jimmy Pattinson didn't make the cut, as he's most similar to Ryan Harris in terms of bowling style.

Siddle must be in the last chance saloon, don't see what he will offer apart from drinks boy.

Pace attack longs tasty though Johnson, Starc and Harris/Hazlewood

Pattinson injured a hamsting thats why he wasnt included, still a chance of joining Ashes squad if it improves.

[uknsaunders]

You look at that side and realise there isn't many years left in them. Unlike the great Aussie team of the 90s/00s, I don't see a succession plan or immediate replacements, apart from the fast bowling.

Last Ashes tour before the body packs up or they get too old:-
Michael Clarke (c)
Brad Haddin
Mitchell Johnson
Ryan Harris (Ashes only)
Chris Rogers
Shane Watson
Adam Voges

Really the best in Oz?
Peter Siddle

Ones for the future?
Fawad Ahmed
Mitchell Marsh
Shaun Marsh
Peter Nevill

Test class and young
Steve Smith (vc)
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
Mitchell Starc
David Warner

Looks like hedging of bets. Take some experience, some young and hope nobody falls over injured. If Harris and Johnson breakdown then Aus will be relying on Starc/Siddle/Hazlewood. Same for most countries but the Aus have a large number of guys in the mid 30's. Clarke's dodgy back, Watson falling to pieces and Haddin's remarkable run of batting could be about to end. I expect the wickets to be devoid of pace and lifeless, not a great set of tracks to bowl quick on and the seamers could be heavy legged after 5 tests.

Let's face it, England are hardly in a good position with Anderson goes down injured or Cook/Bell don't score runs. Then again they have a few more years on their side.

[Hoover]

I said to my wife 3 days ago that Siddle will get a gig. Clearly Pietersen has been told he will play and Siddle has his measure statistically. BTW , Pieterson's supposed weakness against left arm spin was the only reason Agar got picked last time.

[Manormanic]

Test class and young
Nathan Lyon

No way - Lyon remains a clubbie.

[uknsaunders]

No way - Lyon remains a clubbie.

I think he's done a decent job in recent times. No Shane Warne but a decent test off spinner.