West Indies and Ashes Touring Squad

[Kellogscrunchynut]

Glad to see Fawad, Neville and Voges get a call up. Glad to see first class form being rewarded.

[henry]

SO happy Ahmed picked over Agar. Agar actually had decent form second half of shield season which was promising, but Ahmed has clearly been the best spinner, love that we've got a leggie. Ringo not sure why it would be Lyon's last chance, he's clearly the no. 1 spinner...

My boys Pete Handscomb, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are all in the Australia A side.

:o :o Whose's boy?

Glad he gets a shot, hopefully he gets a game or two, but wouldn't be in that top 11 at this stage you'd think.

[henry]

So the 1st test starts tonight  :)

Rogers out, so it's looking like Australia will line up like
Warner
Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Watson
Marsh
Haddin
Johnson
Hazlewood/Starc
Lyon
Ahmed

I may be missing someone though have done that in literally 1 minute,

Clarke has said Smith will bat 3, when Rogers comes back I would love S. Marsh to bat there instead, I think he is more suited there and Smith suited at 4 or 5 where he can really attack more.
Would love to see Ahmed make his debut, would be a great story.

[Jay]

Watson should open, surely?

[Nige]

Watson should open, surely?

I personally prefer Marsh as opener.

I reckon Hazlewood gets the gig ahead of Starc, has been good recently.

Happy with Smiddy at 3, should make it his own.

Wouldn't mind Voges getting a crack, but unlikely to happen. Fawad on the other hand is a better chance, but they could opt for three quicks.

[GoLions]

Watson should open, surely?

With Smith at 3, I think Marsh is gonna have to open.

I reckon Hazlewood gets the gig ahead of Starc, has been good recently.

Yiss, Hazlewood over Starc for me as well

[Jay]

Smith at 3 was inevitable, and I think he's good enough.

Team will be better with him averaging 40 at #3 rather than 50 at #4 or #5.

[henry]

Smith at 3 was inevitable, and I think he's good enough.

Team will be better with him averaging 40 at #3 rather than 50 at #4 or #5.

I agree with that logic, but I think S Marsh could average 40 at 3, allowing Smith to still average 50 at 4 or 5.

[Jay]

Smith at 3 was inevitable, and I think he's good enough.

Team will be better with him averaging 40 at #3 rather than 50 at #4 or #5.

I agree with that logic, but I think S Marsh could average 40 at 3, allowing Smith to still average 50 at 4 or 5.

I don't think he could. Mainly because he doesn't even average 40 at first class level, and he's nearly 32 years old so there isn't exactly much improvement to come.

[henry]

Smith at 3 was inevitable, and I think he's good enough.

Team will be better with him averaging 40 at #3 rather than 50 at #4 or #5.

I agree with that logic, but I think S Marsh could average 40 at 3, allowing Smith to still average 50 at 4 or 5.

I don't think he could. Mainly because he doesn't even average 40 at first class level, and he's nearly 32 years old so there isn't exactly much improvement to come.

Yeah there's not much evidence to back me up, mainly just that he's matured and now his worst isn't as bad, developed some consistency. I don't know it's just a gut feel, his best is superfluous and if he can get some consistency I can see him avergaing 40 in tests quite easily. Would prefer him at 3, think he's more suited to coming in if there's a wicket early given his experience opening, and would offer further protection for Smith from new ball.

[JBs-Hawks]

Best batsmen at 3, thats Smithy.

[Jay]

Best batsmen at 3, thats Smithy.

I'll take Clarke over Smith for now, but I see your point. That's the only knock on Clarke, he never established himself as a #3 - which will probably stop him from being mentioned with the likes of Ponting when he retires.

[PowerBug]

Fairly sure it won't be Ahmeds debut either

Edit: maybe it is, couldve sworn he had played a test. But only a few ODIs and a couple of T20s for Australia

[_wato]

The first test isn't played tonight either, starts 12am Thursday morning, just thought that was important.

Very much like the team suggested above, can't really fault it.. However just did some reading and they think the grass may be gone by the day of the match, and that it could be a deck for either of the spinners and fast bowlers.. The East deck right next to the main pitch is being used by the spinners, while the western deck is being used for the paceman so that could be intriguing when it comes to the main pitch.

If Australia goes with Ahmed, Clarke has hinted that Marsh will play, but if they go with three quicks Voges will play

So the team will either be

Warner 
Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Watson
Marsh
Haddin
Johnson
Hazlewood
Lyon
Ahmed

Warner
Marsh
Smith
Clarke 
Voges
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

[PowerBug]

With Rogers out you don't think Watson will go back to Opening?