Australia’s Cricket Board on Friday announced a 13 men squad for the first two Tests and had picked the trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Pat Cummins to lead the Australian pace attack along with Nathan Lyon, who is the only genuine spinner in the squad.
Looking at the players selected for the first two Tests, it seems that the selectors have made it clear that the only thing that matters to get in the team is scoring big runs or taking wickets.
The selection has drawn criticism from some critics while some have appreciated a brave selection of Tim Paine. Paine’s inclusion to the squad came as a surprise for cricket pundits and experts. Paine was selected ahead of out of form Matthew Wade and Peter Nevill who was the favourite to be picked and keep the stumps for Australia.
On the other hand, the selectors have also dropped Matt Renshaw and have replaced him with the newcomer Cameron Bancroft. Renshaw has been dropped even after some impressive performances in the subcontinent. The 21-year-old was the favourite to open the innings along with David Warner in the upcoming Ashes, but Bancroft’s recent domestic performances were something that the selectors couldn’t ignore, and he was rewarded for his bulk run scoring.
Bancroft has been selected on the back of some great form and the piles of runs he scored in the county as well as the Sheffield Shield. Bancroft scored 206* in his last match for County side Gloucestershire in the last match he played for them. He then continued his rich vein of form in the Sheffield Shield.
In the three matches he played for Western Australia 442 runs at an average of 110.50 which includes the best score of 228* in the last match against South Australia.
The next most talked about selection was of veteran left handed batsman Shaun Marsh who is most likely to bat the number 6 position in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane. Shaun Marsh was chosen over the likes of his brother Mitchell Marsh who was pitted as the favorite mainly due to his all round capabilities. The likes of Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Hiton Cartwright, Peter Nevill and Daniel Hughes who were the other contenders for the spot were also ignored for the first two Tests.
Shaun had an impressive start to the Sheffield Shield passing the 50 run milestone on each of the three Sheffield Shield matches he played for the Western Australian team. Marsh scored 236 runs in the three matches he played at an average of 39.33.
Selectors have not experimented with the middle order going with Usman Khawaja, Steven Smith and Peter Handscomb. The team will be led by Steven Smith who will be leading the side for the first time in Ashes. The deputy responsibilities will be under the hard hitting and reliable opener David Warner.
Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers will most probably warm the bench in the first Test match in Brisbane. Chadd Sayers was the leading wicket taker in the Sheffield Shield in the 2016/17 season picking up 62 wickets. The selectors have also indicated that the right arm quick might make his debut in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide which will be the first Day Night Ashes Test.
With no specialist all rounder in the squad, Nathan Lyon will now be have to do bulk of the bowling as he is the only spinner in the squad.
Australia Ashes Squad– Steven Smith (capt), David Warner (vice-capt), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers.