Confirmed for me:
Batsmen: Smith, Warner, Voges, Khawaja, Burns,
Bowlers: Hazlewood, Lyon, Pattinson, Starc, Cummins
Allrounders: MMarsh, Maxwell, Faulkner
Keepers: Nevill, ???
The limited overs seems the biggest problem for me, surprisingly. The limited overs bowling and batting both look worse than they did last year IMO.
I think Bailey and Finch might be worth keeping, Bailey seems to have found some form recently and hopefully Finch can. We don't really have any others.
The problem with our limited overs batting seems to be too many openers. The fact that Watson was one of the best in the recent t20's is alarming. Lynn, Head and co simply have no idea how to play on the off side or against spin in general.
I don't know who we should select as a spinner in limited overs. Doherty stopped being passable ages ago and Maxwell just isn't good enough. Could really give it to any of the boring slow lefties (O'Keefe, Holland, Rose and so on). I suppose Zampa could do it but I have my doubts.
Same goes with l/o pace aside from Starc and maybe Cummins. The leg stump long hop strategy needs to stop.
The test team looks strong and settled for the moment, with only the third pacer being the contentious spot for home conditions.
O'Keefe might be useful as a second test spinner but I would possibly be tempted to go for Maxwell in the place of Marsh and have a four seam attack.
Extra pace bowlers is a mild conundrum. At this point in time I'd be inclined to stick with Bird, but have yet to be convinced he can succeed outside of bouncy green conditions. The times he's been in England he's been poor. Siddle is gone I think, but could be 'emergency choice'. Hopefully we can put Starc, Pattinson and Halewood together. That would be a very strong attack but could get ugly if things go wrong. I'd dread having two of them break down in the same test.
The allrounder question is a vexing one as Marsh seems to improve then immediately regresses. He's a better bowler now but our pace attack is strong and I'd rather he batted better. He barely seems to get it off the square these days, and has no clue how to take singles.
We are visiting the subcontinent over the next year and that poses some interesting questions. I think we'll do alright in Sri Lanka, who are on the way down at the moment, but I think we will get absolutely murdered in India at the end of next summer.
Also when Voges retires I suspect Shaun Marsh will replace him and be terrible as usual.
I haven't a clue about who to pick as second or limited overs keeper. I'd possibly stick with Wade in the short stuff because I think he's a sensible bat less inclined to stupidity but his keeping hasn't improved as far as I have seen.
Bancroft is a no-no as keeper for me. He doesn't even keep for his state (in any form? I'll have to check) and was very scrappy in the international, missing a stumping that would have been gone in 5th grade and a few byes as well. I suppose Tim Paine might be worth a second go.
I can say with certainty that Scott Boland should never play international again and the same might apply to Kane Richardson.
Overall I've got 14 I'd be happy to give a contract and six unknowns. The limited overs is by far the most difficult.
Edit: Dang, forgot Coulter-Nile exists, I suppose he'll do. Wouldn't bother giving Hastings a contract.
