Pick your 16 Australian players for the 2013 Ashes Tour

[Capper]

OK so there has been a lot of talk about who will be in the first test line up for the Ashes tour and now Hussey is set to retire after the Sydney test match, who do you think will be in the 16 players chosen for the 2013 Ashes Tour (2 keepers need to be picked)

I would post mine but i need to think about it.

When you post your squad, have the first 12 players as who you think the first test line up will be

[tbagrocks]

the 2013 Ashes Team

Dave Warner
Shane Watson
Usman Khwaja
Phil Hughes
Michael Clarke
Callum Ferguson
Tim Pain
James Pattinson
Peter Siddle
Nathan Lyon
Pat Cummings
12th man
Mitchael Johnson

Mitcheal Starc
Ed Cowan
Matthew Wade
Ben Cutting

The bowling is so tight to get into with my new hero Jackson Bird missing :-\

[Capper]

I have Bird in front of Cutting with Henriques unlucky also

1. Warner
2. Cowan
3. Hughes
4. Watson
5. Clarke
6. Khawaja
7. Wade
8. Johnson
9. Siddle
10. Pattinson
11. Lyon
12. Starc
13. Maxwell
14. Bird
15. DoolenQuiney
16. PaineHaddin

[tbagrocks]

Yeah probably Bird should even be in the 11 but our depth now is amazing, Hilfy could be gone :o

I wanted Johnson in my 11 and also Starc, but Siddle has to play, James and Pat are freaks so...

[Capper]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

[Torpedo10]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

for the Summer yes, not for the Ashes.

[tbagrocks]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

For this summer yeah, I haven't heard anything about the Ashes :-\ why, what have you heard?

[Spinking]

First 11: Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Khawaja, Wade, Siddle, Starc, Pattinson, Lyon.

12th Man: Johnson

Others: Ferguson, Maxwell, Bird, Cummins

[Capper]

First 11: Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Watson, Clarke, Khawaja, Wade, Siddle, Starc, Pattinson, Lyon.

12th Man: Johnson

Others: Ferguson, Maxwell, Bird, Cummins

who is your 2nd keeper, need to take 2

[Capper]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

For this summer yeah, I haven't heard anything about the Ashes :-\ why, what have you heard?

i thought it was for the year, back fractures aren't fun so i don't like his chances

[BB67th]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

For this summer yeah, I haven't heard anything about the Ashes :-\ why, what have you heard?

i thought it was for the year, back fractures aren't fun so i don't like his chances

No at this stage his comeback mark is the Ashes, should be fit sometime during the Champions Trophy I believe (also being held in England just before the Ashes) and will build up some match fitness with the goal of playing in the Ashes tests in England.

[Capper]

wasnt cummings ruled out??

For this summer yeah, I haven't heard anything about the Ashes :-\ why, what have you heard?

i thought it was for the year, back fractures aren't fun so i don't like his chances

No at this stage his comeback mark is the Ashes, should be fit sometime during the Champions Trophy I believe (also being held in England just before the Ashes) and will build up some match fitness with the goal of playing in the Ashes tests in England.

hopefully we send about 10 bowlers over to England to play county cricket at the same time so we have plenty of backup

[Tominator]

1st XI:
Dave Warner
Ed Cowan
Phil Hughes*
Michael Clarke
Shane Watson
Usman Khawaja
Matthew Wade
Mitchell Starc/Johnson (one of the two - don't think they will be picked in the same team)
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson
Nathan Lyon

12th Man:
Mitchell Starc/Johnson (the other one)  ::)


Also in the squad:
Dan Christian** (will be Maxwell but SHOULD BE CHRISTIAN)
Jackson Bird
Ben Hilfenhaus
Pat Cummins***




* Hughes can be our back-up keeper should we need one

** PLEASE PICK CHRISTIAN AS THE ALL-ROUNDER!! If they want Maxwell in the squad use him as a spinner

*** if fit he will definitely be close to 1st XI, our bowling stocks are actually amazing

[Cookie311993]

I think hilfenhaus could be finishes in tests. He gets picked to swing a ball but Bird is more dangerous

[PowerBug]

Ok, let's break this down into parts. Step one, the bats.

2 openers need to be picked, imo the best combo (note: not individuals, opening pair) are Ed Cowan and David Warner. Then the No. 3 spot: Since Clarke will not bat there and there isn't a specialist No 3, the player i would take is Phil Hughes. In the middle order the No. 4 spot goes to Usman Khawaja and 5 to Michael Clarke.

The Wicketkeepers: Matthew Wade. He's done enough I guess

Seam Bowlers: After seeing how he's bowled in the one test he's played, I really like the way Jackson Bird bowls and i would take him to England. The lad has control and knows how to swing the ball, a must have imo. The hustle and bustle of Peter Siddle deserves to go on tour, and if he's fit then the arrogant James Pattinson goes along in the first XI. The way that he approaches the crease and the long follow through can really make the bats intimidated.

Spin Bowling: Nathan Lyon. He'll get beaten by Graeme Swann but he's the best there is.

I've left the No. 6 spot open on purpose, because it's one that can cause debate. Do you a) pick an All Rounder so you get 5 bowling options but most probably a weaker batting line-up, or b) a batsman only leaving 4 bowlers which leaves it vulnerable. The players i have that can take this spot are: Rob Quiney, Dan Christian, and Moises Henriques. I would take all 3 on tour.

All in all, here's the 16 players that Australia should take to England if it were to be selected now:
David Warner
Ed Cowan
Phil Hughes
Rob Quiney
Michael Clarke
Usman Khawaja
Matthew Wade
Peter Siddle
James Pattinson
Nathan Lyon
Jackson Bird
12: Dan Christian

Mitchell Starc
Moises Henriques
Glenn Maxwell
Alex Doolan (Although if a 2nd keeper is needed then change to Brad Haddin)


Missing out:
Shane Watson. There is only space for 2 openers in the side. THis guy can't bat anywhere other than at the top, and the Warner/Cowan combo is the best there.
Mitchell Johnson: Great to see him bowling well, but him and Starc are the same when it comes to bowling and Starc is better.