For the first time in exactly a year , no body is certain exactly what the Australian test team will look like for the next match.
The are 2 main points of conjecture.
With Gillespie , Bichel & MacGill fit , yet McGrath & Lee almost certain not to be fit , there is a battle for the 3rd pacemans slot.
4 realistic contenders are:
Brad Williams- who is the incumbent , did nothing wrong last time , also did a better than reasonable job in the tri series.
Nathan Bracken-is clearly in the best bowling form of his life , should have a phsycological advantage over the Indians after the tri series , being left arm adds variety.
Micheal Kasprowics- did a great job in India , has a great record against India in the past both home & away , very experienced & with McGrath & Warne out the attack need experience.
Ashley Noffke- Would almost certainly have gone to India if not for injury , bowling very well in Pura/ING without much luck.
I guess you could consider Matt Nicholson but I doubt he's a realistic chance.
Then theres the batting , who should bat at 6 , again 4 contenders
Simon Katich- did very well last time & has been in superb form for NSW , very hard to omit a man in his form , handy bowler , superb anywhere in the feild
Darren Lehmann- was a dead certainty before his injury came up however others may have overtaken while he's been out , scored 2 hundreds in his last 3 tests , has experience on his side , handy bowler
Martin Love - was the next batsman in line until the selectors decided they wanted someone who could bowl a bit , scored 300* last week in Pura cup but has done nothing else this season , a good first slip which has been a problem area for Australia since Warnie was suspended
Micheal Clarke- had a very good series of India with bat , ball & in the feild , has time on his side , easily the youngest of the contenders at 22 (compared to 28 , 29 & 34) , handy bowler , sensational feildsman anywhere.
So who would you pick , personally I'd go for Katich & Bracken
Lehmann & Kaspa would be second choice
The are 2 main points of conjecture.
With Gillespie , Bichel & MacGill fit , yet McGrath & Lee almost certain not to be fit , there is a battle for the 3rd pacemans slot.
4 realistic contenders are:
Brad Williams- who is the incumbent , did nothing wrong last time , also did a better than reasonable job in the tri series.
Nathan Bracken-is clearly in the best bowling form of his life , should have a phsycological advantage over the Indians after the tri series , being left arm adds variety.
Micheal Kasprowics- did a great job in India , has a great record against India in the past both home & away , very experienced & with McGrath & Warne out the attack need experience.
Ashley Noffke- Would almost certainly have gone to India if not for injury , bowling very well in Pura/ING without much luck.
I guess you could consider Matt Nicholson but I doubt he's a realistic chance.
Then theres the batting , who should bat at 6 , again 4 contenders
Simon Katich- did very well last time & has been in superb form for NSW , very hard to omit a man in his form , handy bowler , superb anywhere in the feild
Darren Lehmann- was a dead certainty before his injury came up however others may have overtaken while he's been out , scored 2 hundreds in his last 3 tests , has experience on his side , handy bowler
Martin Love - was the next batsman in line until the selectors decided they wanted someone who could bowl a bit , scored 300* last week in Pura cup but has done nothing else this season , a good first slip which has been a problem area for Australia since Warnie was suspended
Micheal Clarke- had a very good series of India with bat , ball & in the feild , has time on his side , easily the youngest of the contenders at 22 (compared to 28 , 29 & 34) , handy bowler , sensational feildsman anywhere.
So who would you pick , personally I'd go for Katich & Bracken
Lehmann & Kaspa would be second choice