Matt 1Abbott's Ashes XI
October 30th 2006 18:29
With less than a month to go to the Ashes most cricket fans are spending sleepless nights anticipating what will be a hugely important series to both sides. For England it’s their only chance to prove their better than Australia, by beating us at home, a feat no side has managed since 1992/93 when Curtley Ambrose unveiled the meanest spell of bowling I have ever witnessed. When I say I witnessed, I was actually present at the WACA that day as a ten year old boy seeing his heroes slaughtered by a merciful West Indian outfit.
How times have changed! Now, it is Australia that grinds their opponents into the dust and looks every bit invincible that was until England shook up international cricket last year with the most fascinating series I have ever watched in my short life.
On November 23 the first test will start at the GABBA and as fortune would have it I will turn 23, the only present I am hoping for is an Australian win to end the heartache of the last ashes defeat.
I wait eagerly to see which team will be selected to take on the Poms and can’t wait for the drama as to who got picked and who was left out. Below I have stated my Australian Ashes XI and given a view as to why, let the games begin.
OPENERS: My first controversial selection stars here. Matthew Hayden axed in favour of Michael Hussey partnering Justin Langer. Not an easy decision as Hayden has been brilliant over the years, but I feel Langer still has a bit more desire to be at the top than the declining Queenslander. As for Hussey what better person to be opening the batting for Australia? In the last Ashes series I believe Australia fell behind the eight-ball by failing to make early inroads into England’s totals (As England batted first in four of five tests) which left Ponting vulnerable to the new ball swing. Ponting is known to be a nervous starter and as Australia’s best batsmen needed better support from his opening bats. Hussey already boasts four centuries from nineteen innings at an average of 75.93. May all Australian’s prey he doesn’t suffer second year yips. Langer hasn’t faced a ball in test match cricket since being felled by Ntini in South Africa last summer. Langer needs to find his best form or run the risk of seeing Phil Jaques or any player who comes to prominence in domestic cricket this season stake a sizeable claim on his spot.
NUMBER THREE: No prizes for guessing who takes this spot. Ricky Ponting over the last three years has been the best and most consistent batsmen in the world bar none. He has gone on to surpass the thousand run barrier in the calendar year in each of those sparkling seasons. Ponting is the keystone of the Australian top order and an elegant stroke maker who paces an innings supremely. With an average of 58.23, Ponting is genuinely as good a player as Lara and Tendulkar, although at this stage I will re-affirm that I am a parochial Australian. If Ponting fires England will be lucky to draw at best.
NUMBER FOUR: For me this is the hardest spot in the team. I am certain Martyn will get it and I just about agree. It’s a hard call as every inch of my heart would love to see Michael Clarke in at four but he is still developing and did disappoint in England last year. Having watched Martyn last night against India it was still evident as to the quality Martyn posses and I have to eat my fair share of humble pie as he is a player who often frustrates me. I still sometimes question Martyn’s resolve when the game is in its critical stages. He has a very respectable average of 47.40 but having played 65 tests and with such undeniable talent I feel he should have made more than his 13 centuries and 4361 career test runs. In Contrast Ponting has 31 centuries and 8792 career test runs from 105 test matches.
NUMBER FIVE: Simon Katich should be dropped. As a cricketer I like him but I feel Australia have better. Ideally this is where I would want Hussey batting but I really feel Australia need to cement their top order, thus I have gone for Michael Clarke. In at five I would hope the pressure is off Clarke and that runs are on the board but, this is exactly what is required of Clarke if he does get the spot. The ability to make runs and dig in if Australia is in a precarious position will be paramount to Clarke’s success in the future. Symonds, Katich, Hodge and Clarke have all been given a go in the middle order along with Hussey who is the only man to have grabbed that berth with both hands. Some will argue that Hodge was unlucky to be dropped from the side that toured Bangladesh, but I don’t see him as the anchor man of Australia’s innings. Clarke has the ability; he just needs to learn the Steve Waugh approach to batting. Patience and maturity will be the missing link in Clarke’s game but he can do it, an outstanding cricketer.
NUMBER SIX: At 25 Shane Watson is ready to take responsibility as Australia’s much needed all-rounder. So long as he doesn’t fall to public expectation to be Australia’s Flintoff then Watson can make a real impact in the lower middle order. Averaging 20.25 Watson has only briefly flirted with test match cricket and was doing so knowing his spot was on the line. Should he get picked again which I think he will he will be more confident knowing he has the spot cemented and following on from what has been a successful Champions Trophy for the burley Queenslander. Watson has taken only two test wickets and his bowling average is 61.50 at present but clearly he is a good prospect with the ball and bowls with a lovely action. Definitely worth selecting for the Ashes.
NUMBER SEVEN/WICKETKEEPER: Adam Gilchrist will be looking to avenge his demons against England and more precisely Andrew Flintoff this summer after “Freddy” worked out the mercurial lefthander in England. For me the real difference again was the pressure Gilchrist was under after poor starts from Australia’s top order. Gilchrist is a dasher, an entertainer and plays his best cricket when given free license to have a go at the bowling attack. In England, Gilchrist was forced to take stock and attempt to anchor, which left him exposed to reverse swing and made him more of a sitting duck than audiences had ever seen. In Australian comfort Gilchrist will most likely have more of an impact and for the betterment of entertainment we can only hope Gilchrist can start the fireworks that have so endeared him the Australian cricketing public. A real cult hero.
NUMBER EIGHT: Brett Lee was tremendous in the last Ashes series and was sorely unlucky not to bring Australia to victory at Edgebaston in the second test. He didn’t return his best series figures but it was the effort and heart that stood out in “Bings” performances. Nicknamed “Lethal Lee” Brett Lee has a terrific strike rate and is often the bowler Australia look to when in need of a wicket.
NUMBER NINE: Shane Warne is the greatest cricketer I have ever seen. I use the term great in all senses of the word. To expand, whilst attending last year’s test match between Australia and South Africa at Perth, Warne created a scene just by walking to the practice nets. It was Bradmanesque the attention he drew away from the contest being played out in the middle as kids ran from every direction to see the best spinner the world has ever seen hit a few balls in the nets. I have to admit I went and had a look myself. Shane Warne will play a massive part in Australia’s plans to stop England and we will again see Warnie bowling long spells through laborious sessions, just as he has done for so many years.
NUMBER TEN: Another difficult selection but one I feel fairly confident in is Stuart MacGill. I was desperate to see him introduced in the Ashes especially considering the success Warne was enjoying. Australia have for years seemed so unwilling to part with popular convention and play two spinners, the reality is he is one of our best four bowlers. Works well in tandem with Warne and is thoroughly effective in cleaning up the tail which can decide close matches. Doubtful to be selected in the starting XI in my opinion. Recent misdemeanors in Sydney grade cricket will not help his cause.
NUMBER ELEVEN: Being too young to have seen the great Dennis Lillie or Geoff Thompson I can say in full confidence that Glenn McGrath is the best Australian fast bowler I have had the pleasure to have watched. I have seen him dismiss Lara, Tendulkar, Kallis and poor old Atherton at the WACA and every time I have watched he has looked likely to snare a wicket. It became rather apparent how much Australia’s pace attack rely on McGrath’s shoulders after his misfortunate injury in the warm up to the second test. The only thing more misfortunate was Ponting’s decision to send England in to bat! McGrath will start his 120th test match against England in Queensland and with a bowling average of 21.56 it will be very interesting to see whether McGrath can continue to defy age, critics and retirement and reiterate his position as Australia’s premier seem bowler. Never in doubt in my team.
REVIEW: This series I actually believe will be an anticlimax; I honestly feel Australia is a much superior test team not only than England but to any team in the world. England outplayed and outfoxed Australia last year but was aided by batting first in four of the five tests. The one test Australia did bat first in at Lords was a win to Australia. Law of averages suggest that won’t occur this time and Ponting will have picked up on the old adage of once bitten twice shy as he certainly won’t be inviting England to make runs before Australia have had a look at the wicket first.
Abbott’s XI: Hussey, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, Watson, Gilchrist, Lee, Warne, MacGill, McGrath.
To conclude this is just my view on what I believe to be Australia’s best line up for the Ashes series against England. I am certain that Australia will opt with a different line up but you still have to feel for Jason Gillespie, he will be the first and I dare say last man to score a double century for his country and be dropped for the next test. Here is the XI I predict Australia will select for the first test on November 23.
Australian Selectors XI?: Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey, Watson, Gilchrist, Lee, Warne, Stuart Clarke, McGrath.
What would your Ashes team be? Or post a comment on what you think of mine, your feedback is valued and makes this blog a better experience for all.
How times have changed! Now, it is Australia that grinds their opponents into the dust and looks every bit invincible that was until England shook up international cricket last year with the most fascinating series I have ever watched in my short life.
On November 23 the first test will start at the GABBA and as fortune would have it I will turn 23, the only present I am hoping for is an Australian win to end the heartache of the last ashes defeat.
I wait eagerly to see which team will be selected to take on the Poms and can’t wait for the drama as to who got picked and who was left out. Below I have stated my Australian Ashes XI and given a view as to why, let the games begin.
OPENERS: My first controversial selection stars here. Matthew Hayden axed in favour of Michael Hussey partnering Justin Langer. Not an easy decision as Hayden has been brilliant over the years, but I feel Langer still has a bit more desire to be at the top than the declining Queenslander. As for Hussey what better person to be opening the batting for Australia? In the last Ashes series I believe Australia fell behind the eight-ball by failing to make early inroads into England’s totals (As England batted first in four of five tests) which left Ponting vulnerable to the new ball swing. Ponting is known to be a nervous starter and as Australia’s best batsmen needed better support from his opening bats. Hussey already boasts four centuries from nineteen innings at an average of 75.93. May all Australian’s prey he doesn’t suffer second year yips. Langer hasn’t faced a ball in test match cricket since being felled by Ntini in South Africa last summer. Langer needs to find his best form or run the risk of seeing Phil Jaques or any player who comes to prominence in domestic cricket this season stake a sizeable claim on his spot.
NUMBER THREE: No prizes for guessing who takes this spot. Ricky Ponting over the last three years has been the best and most consistent batsmen in the world bar none. He has gone on to surpass the thousand run barrier in the calendar year in each of those sparkling seasons. Ponting is the keystone of the Australian top order and an elegant stroke maker who paces an innings supremely. With an average of 58.23, Ponting is genuinely as good a player as Lara and Tendulkar, although at this stage I will re-affirm that I am a parochial Australian. If Ponting fires England will be lucky to draw at best.
NUMBER FOUR: For me this is the hardest spot in the team. I am certain Martyn will get it and I just about agree. It’s a hard call as every inch of my heart would love to see Michael Clarke in at four but he is still developing and did disappoint in England last year. Having watched Martyn last night against India it was still evident as to the quality Martyn posses and I have to eat my fair share of humble pie as he is a player who often frustrates me. I still sometimes question Martyn’s resolve when the game is in its critical stages. He has a very respectable average of 47.40 but having played 65 tests and with such undeniable talent I feel he should have made more than his 13 centuries and 4361 career test runs. In Contrast Ponting has 31 centuries and 8792 career test runs from 105 test matches.
NUMBER FIVE: Simon Katich should be dropped. As a cricketer I like him but I feel Australia have better. Ideally this is where I would want Hussey batting but I really feel Australia need to cement their top order, thus I have gone for Michael Clarke. In at five I would hope the pressure is off Clarke and that runs are on the board but, this is exactly what is required of Clarke if he does get the spot. The ability to make runs and dig in if Australia is in a precarious position will be paramount to Clarke’s success in the future. Symonds, Katich, Hodge and Clarke have all been given a go in the middle order along with Hussey who is the only man to have grabbed that berth with both hands. Some will argue that Hodge was unlucky to be dropped from the side that toured Bangladesh, but I don’t see him as the anchor man of Australia’s innings. Clarke has the ability; he just needs to learn the Steve Waugh approach to batting. Patience and maturity will be the missing link in Clarke’s game but he can do it, an outstanding cricketer.
NUMBER SIX: At 25 Shane Watson is ready to take responsibility as Australia’s much needed all-rounder. So long as he doesn’t fall to public expectation to be Australia’s Flintoff then Watson can make a real impact in the lower middle order. Averaging 20.25 Watson has only briefly flirted with test match cricket and was doing so knowing his spot was on the line. Should he get picked again which I think he will he will be more confident knowing he has the spot cemented and following on from what has been a successful Champions Trophy for the burley Queenslander. Watson has taken only two test wickets and his bowling average is 61.50 at present but clearly he is a good prospect with the ball and bowls with a lovely action. Definitely worth selecting for the Ashes.
NUMBER SEVEN/WICKETKEEPER: Adam Gilchrist will be looking to avenge his demons against England and more precisely Andrew Flintoff this summer after “Freddy” worked out the mercurial lefthander in England. For me the real difference again was the pressure Gilchrist was under after poor starts from Australia’s top order. Gilchrist is a dasher, an entertainer and plays his best cricket when given free license to have a go at the bowling attack. In England, Gilchrist was forced to take stock and attempt to anchor, which left him exposed to reverse swing and made him more of a sitting duck than audiences had ever seen. In Australian comfort Gilchrist will most likely have more of an impact and for the betterment of entertainment we can only hope Gilchrist can start the fireworks that have so endeared him the Australian cricketing public. A real cult hero.
NUMBER EIGHT: Brett Lee was tremendous in the last Ashes series and was sorely unlucky not to bring Australia to victory at Edgebaston in the second test. He didn’t return his best series figures but it was the effort and heart that stood out in “Bings” performances. Nicknamed “Lethal Lee” Brett Lee has a terrific strike rate and is often the bowler Australia look to when in need of a wicket.
NUMBER NINE: Shane Warne is the greatest cricketer I have ever seen. I use the term great in all senses of the word. To expand, whilst attending last year’s test match between Australia and South Africa at Perth, Warne created a scene just by walking to the practice nets. It was Bradmanesque the attention he drew away from the contest being played out in the middle as kids ran from every direction to see the best spinner the world has ever seen hit a few balls in the nets. I have to admit I went and had a look myself. Shane Warne will play a massive part in Australia’s plans to stop England and we will again see Warnie bowling long spells through laborious sessions, just as he has done for so many years.
NUMBER TEN: Another difficult selection but one I feel fairly confident in is Stuart MacGill. I was desperate to see him introduced in the Ashes especially considering the success Warne was enjoying. Australia have for years seemed so unwilling to part with popular convention and play two spinners, the reality is he is one of our best four bowlers. Works well in tandem with Warne and is thoroughly effective in cleaning up the tail which can decide close matches. Doubtful to be selected in the starting XI in my opinion. Recent misdemeanors in Sydney grade cricket will not help his cause.
NUMBER ELEVEN: Being too young to have seen the great Dennis Lillie or Geoff Thompson I can say in full confidence that Glenn McGrath is the best Australian fast bowler I have had the pleasure to have watched. I have seen him dismiss Lara, Tendulkar, Kallis and poor old Atherton at the WACA and every time I have watched he has looked likely to snare a wicket. It became rather apparent how much Australia’s pace attack rely on McGrath’s shoulders after his misfortunate injury in the warm up to the second test. The only thing more misfortunate was Ponting’s decision to send England in to bat! McGrath will start his 120th test match against England in Queensland and with a bowling average of 21.56 it will be very interesting to see whether McGrath can continue to defy age, critics and retirement and reiterate his position as Australia’s premier seem bowler. Never in doubt in my team.
REVIEW: This series I actually believe will be an anticlimax; I honestly feel Australia is a much superior test team not only than England but to any team in the world. England outplayed and outfoxed Australia last year but was aided by batting first in four of the five tests. The one test Australia did bat first in at Lords was a win to Australia. Law of averages suggest that won’t occur this time and Ponting will have picked up on the old adage of once bitten twice shy as he certainly won’t be inviting England to make runs before Australia have had a look at the wicket first.
Abbott’s XI: Hussey, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, Watson, Gilchrist, Lee, Warne, MacGill, McGrath.
To conclude this is just my view on what I believe to be Australia’s best line up for the Ashes series against England. I am certain that Australia will opt with a different line up but you still have to feel for Jason Gillespie, he will be the first and I dare say last man to score a double century for his country and be dropped for the next test. Here is the XI I predict Australia will select for the first test on November 23.
Australian Selectors XI?: Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Martyn, Hussey, Watson, Gilchrist, Lee, Warne, Stuart Clarke, McGrath.
What would your Ashes team be? Or post a comment on what you think of mine, your feedback is valued and makes this blog a better experience for all.
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