Pick your 16 Australian players for the 2013 Ashes Tour

[BB67th]

Cricinfo is reporting that Brad Haddin will be back as VC and number 1 gloveman for the Ashes.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/current/story/631745.html

And with the squad being named in the morning, it looks like Shaun Marsh will be back in the team as well. I really don't like that at all, he hasn't really shown any form in the Shield, they are picking on T20 form. He did make a ton in the series against the English Lions though.

It may mean that Bailey, Khawaja and Rogers are all pushed back in the order again. This is the squad they expect to be named.

Possible Ashes squad Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt, wk), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, Shaun Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird.

I think they have the bowling line up right there, Hilfenhaus is stiff to miss while Mitchell Johnson should only play in the WACA test every year and no other test matches. Agar will probably make it as second spinner with Ahmed not getting citizenship yet and O'Keefe will never get in with Inverarity no matter how much homework he does unfortunately.
I really think a more experienced batsman of Bailey or Rogers should be in there, I'm really not sure on Marsh, maybe he won't be named. Haddin is a good pick though, Wade's keeping was not up to scratch, it should be keeper first and batting second. Hopefully in a year we will have Tim Paine or Chris Hartley as keeper.
Good news is Watto will be playing as an allrounder and we will be back to having the old 6-1-4 team set up.

My XI from this squad would be:
David Warner
Ed Cowan
Phil Hughes
Shane Watson
Michael Clarke
Shaun Marsh
Brad Haddin
Ryan Harris
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Jack Bird

I still don't want Ed Cowan there, but I hope he proves me wrong. He was definitely the best bat behind bat in India, put together some fighting knocks.

[Scrads]

Squad needs more JPF.

[Cicjose]

i would take the youngsters because heaven forbid the total rebuild of the administration
hasn't happened either

[Nige]

Squad has been named. http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013/content/current/story/631951.html

Ashes squad Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt, wk), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.

I'm a fan of Chris Rogers, but still, it means the side has like 6 openers. Great to see Ryan Harris back, great bowler.

#Cut4SOK
#Cut4Maxy
#BuckyGang

[Jay]

WOOOO NO MAXWELL ;D

Nice lineup imo.

[Capper]

So its Rogers in for Smith, Faulkner in for Maxwell, Harris in for Doherty
Henriques and Johnson dropped

[Tominator]

NO MAXWELL FARK YESSSSSS!!!!

And screw you Gillard for not giving Fawad Ahmed citizenship!! For once do something for the people... #cantgetvotes #giveFawadacitizenship

Pretty happy with the squad all up, selectors moving in the right direction, Haddin and Wade might play in same team though which could be interesting

[Tominator]

Why does Inverarity hate the SOK so much??? You can tell he wears rolled up chinos and boat shoes cos he hates socks!! ;)

But seriously there is something going on with those two

Steve Smith a bit stiff too, I don't like him but he performed well

[Nige]

I'm keen for Wade to become an all-rounder if Haddin's gonna be keeping! Bowls pretty decently, so why not?  :P

[KoopKicka]

Wouldnt be surprised if Geroge Bailey gets sent an SOS, that team needs some leadership, Bailey instead of Rgoers and SOK instead of Faulkner and thats a very good squad.

[Scrads]

James Faulkner

Excellent.

Series Victory if he gets a gig in the first test :)

[Scrads]

Ashes squad Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt, wk), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Usman Khawaja, Chris Rogers, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.

Watson
Warner
Hughes
Clarke
Khawaja
Haddin
Faulkner
Harris
Pattinson
Starc
Lyon

My ideal line up, with Siddle and Bird rotating through each test.

I am sure Cowan will be picked ahead of Khawaja however, and Siddle will get picked too (probably at the expense of JPF :( )

[Capper]

So they have also selected an Australia A team to tour England before the Ashes to play against Scotland and Rieland in a 4 day game and Gloucestershire in what looks like a 50 over game.

Australia A squad
Brad Haddin (capt), Steven Smith (vice-capt), Ashton Agar, Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, Ryan Harris, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, James Pattinson, Chadd Sayers, Peter Siddle, Jordan Silk

So we have this bowler rotation nonsense still going and we have selected Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird in both Squads. So does that mean if Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird play in both games against Ireland and Scotland that they will be rested for the first test?

Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird

Get you act together Inverarity
#TBAGcoulddoabetterjob

[BB67th]

Not sure what they are doing with naming all those bowlers in the A squad, but probably just giving them a match each to adjust to conditions better.

I like the squad they have named, maybe Bailey over Rogers but I don't mind either way. My XI for the first test would be.

Warner
Watson
Hughes
Rogers
Clarke
Khawaja
Haddin
Harris
Siddle
Lyon
Bird

The batting lineup looks decent I think with Rogers in there. Clarke should keep on going like he has, Warner will have a few big innings, Watson should improve at the top, Hughes looking ok and should be good in English conditions, Rogers used to batting in England, Khawaja should perform well to take his chance. Should be competitive there.

As for the bowlers having Harris, Siddle, Lyon and Bird in the attack with Watson as an allrounder as well looks like the best attack in the world bar South Africa. Starc and Patto to rotate through with them and we should have no trouble taking 20 wickets every match.

[Cicjose]

They are putting bets on already for England to win all 10 tests in a row and

are calling this the worst Australian team in 30 years