Ashes 2013
Disconcerting Selections
July 25th
[10:00 CEST]
Australia have done something extremely unexpected by resting six of the side
defeated by England for the match against Sussex on Friday. While Ryan Harris
has undoubtedly earned his break after bowling 44 overs at Lords, as has Peter
Siddle, the others who are rested are all batsmen, none of whom have shone much
so far. In contrast, Ashton Agar, hampered by injury, plays. With six rested, one
player ruled out of the tour and David Warner in South Africa, Australia can
only raise ten men, which means a First Class debut for a 19 year old who is
gaining experience playing Hampshire league cricket and a side with three
spinners.
After a run
of scores of 0, 2, 0, 0, 9, 6, 11, David Warner has come good with 193 against
South Africa A, leading to calls for him to be included in the side for the 3rd
Test. How easy it will be for him to fly back from South Africa and slot
straight into a Test is not obvious. His three innings in England on the
Australia tour brought him 0, 0 and 9 and the last of them was on June 8th,
so he is not exactly acclimatised to conditions It is an interesting conundrum
for the Australian selectors.
Things may
be clearer for the Australian selectors after the Sussex match but, as many of
the players are fringe members of the squad, it is not obvious how much clearer
they will be. It is almost as if the Australian management want to keep people
guessing as much as possible what the side will be for the 3rd Test.
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