Can Australia win the First Ashes Test in Brisbane

David Warner will need to prove his temperament at Test Level

image: www.independent.co.uk

The Test Series that stops a nation (or two) starts in ten days from now. Although it is difficult to see Australia being really competitive throughout the series and they will need to win in Brisbane if they are going to be any chance of capturing the Ashes Urn.

The Australian team for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane was announced today and although there was one new addition to the team in George Bailey, it appears that once again the National Selectors are relying on the same people to win matches.

There are two individuals in particular that are under scrutiny: David Warner and (my mate) Shane Watson. Warner has supposedly been forgiven for his off field demeanours in England and been reselected. However I question his temperament for the long periods of batting required at test level. Too often Warner will play a loose shot and lose his wicket especially when the bowling is tight. Don’t misunderstand me here, as a one day player I think he is ideal as he can accelerate the scoring when required and he has been pivotal for Australia in winning many One Day games. But Test cricket is a different beast and I’m not sure that Warner has the nous required to succeed at test level for the moment.

Once again, I find myself writing about Shane Watson and his selfishness. Watson is under an injury cloud for the Brisbane test with a hamstring strain. The word is that he will not be able to bowl and will play as a batsman only. The Ashes are a pivotal contest and I am unsure why a person would make themselves available when they are potentially not going to be able to perform at 100%. Furthermore there is potential to make the injury worse through the course of the game. Watson will need to run between wickets during his innings which may aggravate the injury. Would it not be better for Shane Watson to make himself unavailable for the test and ensure the injury heals properly, so that he can contribute more effectively later in the series?

Of the remaining players in the team, I am not convinced that Mitchell Johnson is mentally ready for an Ashes campaign as he does tend to crumble under pressure. However I am pleased that George Bailey has been given a chance, his ODI form is great at the moment and if he can produce the goods at Brisbane then it will justify the selection.

In my opinion, the Australian team should be Chris Rogers and Phil Hughes as the openers with Usman Khawaja at three. Michael Clarke slots in at four with Steve Smith and George Bailey making up the top six. Brad Haddin is the keeper at seven, then come the fast bowlers in James Faulkner, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris at eight, nine and ten respectively. Nathan Lyon is retained as first choice spinner and bats at eleven.

In saying this I think that Khawaja should be given the entire series to establish the number three spot, but on the condition that if he fails he never plays for Australia again. Bailey should be given until the third test to determine if he is suitable for test cricket. With respect to the bowling, a fully fit bowling squad would see Mitchell Johnson being well down the pecking order and I find it really difficult to fit Johnson into my best Australian eleven.

Will we win in Brisbane.... well I’m not overly confident of success and it will rely on the “Top Six” making most of the 400 that Australia needs in the first innings and our bowlers containing England to scores under 300 in both innings. Essentially, the Australian public will find out in ten days time just how competitive the Australian cricket team will be this summer.