15 Into 11 Won't Go

The Australian squad for South Africa was announced on Monday by Andrew Hilditch who, like a zombie, keeps appearing before us as if George Romero were the scriptwriter for Cricket Australia. It contained a reasonably predictable grouping for the two Test series in and against South Africa but with one obvious exception. 

Pat Cummins has been a man on everyone's lips. Even though only 18, he's quick and he's from NSW which means automatic selection and has done for many years. He's leapfrogged other young stars from the Blues to climb into the touring party despite only very limited appearances at first class level and has done so here at the expense of the Victorian James Pattinson. I can hear the train a comin as members of the Big V cricket community build up a head of steam over Pattinson's exclusion and with reasonable  justification. Pattinson has been great for the Vics for several seasons and has done everything asked of him when given his chance at the higher level. He was understudy to the fast men in Sri Lanka recently, perhaps unlucky not to win the spot which Trent Copeland occupied - another NSWelshman! Rob Zombie said he was unlucky not to be selected for South Africa, a statement as obvious as was the denial of his claims in favour of the "still cuts himself shaving" Cummins.

That's not my main concern, because in the end its the composition of the team that troubles me and why the selectors see the need to take 15 players out of the country for two Tests to be played at the same seasonal time as Australia.

Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson (vc), Michael Beer, Trent Copeland, Patrick Cummins, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Phil Hughes, Mike Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Peter Siddle.

This is the side as chosen with seven batsmen and seven bowlers and Haddin to keep wickets. Clearly, the batting order to seven will be Watson, Hughes, Marsh, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Haddin, based on recent matches in Sri Lanka. I won't enter into the Hughes debate again - well not for a while - but I'll accept this is the order. Khawaja is the reserve. No problem. 

When we look at the bowling, its clear that on tracks at Capetown and Jo'burg it will be pace that dominates. In the history of cricket in South Africa only the great off spinner Hugh Tayfield and to a lesser extent Shane Warne and Paul Adams from the Spinners Union have tasted success on those tracks and with South Africa having the world's best new ball attack of Dayle Steyn and Monty Morkel, the kids in 3A would have worked out we'll be playing on green tops. To fight fire with fire, two spinners have been chosen with four Tests between them. Reasonable to pick one but not both. Its unlikely we'll play four quicks so that leaves three, two of which will be Harris and Johnson, so Copeland, Siddle and new boy (literally in adjective and noun) Cummins vie for one spot.

We've picked one quick and one spinner too many when they won't play a game and will miss the chance of playing in any of the five Sheffield Shield games and five Ryobi Cup games that are scheduled back home in Australia during the same time period. If we want to build Australian cricket, we have to do these things better.

Of the spinners, I'd send Beer home because left arm orthodox bowlers are prevalent in South African cricket. Only Lyon, with his high action and rip may provide them with concern. Likewise, I'd sent Copeland home because on these tracks, his consistent line and length will be a recipe for chocolate cake which the aggressive South African's will smear their lips with. Siddle or Cummins, take your pick. If we lose the first with Siddle in the side, swap Cummins in for the second to replace our worst bowler from the first, regardless of his previous performances.

Of course, I don't pick the Australian side and I'm not dead either. I just make uncanny suggestions which eventually ring true.