Its Elementary, My Dear Watson

Long ago ... in a land far away

Odd ... it becomes difficult to support some of the decisions made in the interests of Australian cricket. With the first of these consecutive Ashes series lost, the move to bring the uncapped James Faulkner into the side for the fifth Test is a interesting one.

Faulkner has been a capable all rounder at first class level for several seasons but hasn't done much on tour to support his claims ... not that many opportunities exist on the modern tour for those not playing in the main games. If not selected, there are only the net sessions in which to find form. With the plethora of cricket played at all levels in the English summer, its a wonder places can't be found for touring cricketers to play in the Leagues.

Michael Clarke has said Faulkner's competitiveness will be an addition to the side and his ability with the bat at No7. He can bat but he only has eight half centuries at first class level in 54 innings.

The further oddity is Shane Watson. Injured again at Chester-le-Street, he will bowl at The Oval, again according to Clarke and has been chosen as an all rounder. With Faulkner at 7, there was nowhere else for Watson to bat, so he will be back up the order to No 3. Nothing about his batting this series indicates it will be a good move. Clearly, Khawaja's last chance came with an eight ball failure against the English Lions at Northampton but batting at six there, his card was already marked. Unlucky at times, he has failed to grasp this further chance to play in the Baggy Green and he may never return.

But why Watson at 3?

Surely Phil Hughes, Ed Cowan and even Matt Wade have both better credentials and claims than the troublesome Watson, who has now batted in every position in the top six during Michael Clarke's captaincy.

Its all about his myriad opportunity for injury. No player since Bradman has been as prone to injury than Watson. He seems unable to resist a niggle. That being the case, although the sensible and stronger choice for Australia's batting line up would be to bring Cowan or Hughes (in that order) back at three and play Watson where he should have been for some time at seven, fear that Watson may break down and leave the bowling short-handed has prompted the inclusion of Faulkner. Unfortunately, fear of public dummy spits and claims of broken friendships and the endless promise of a return to brighter times, stand in the way of doing what was necessary and dropping the lad with unkempt hair, putting Faulkner at seven and choosing a batsman at three.

Brad Haddin at six is a move to be applauded.

Mitchell Starc's re-inclusion once more invests in the belief that the left hander can bowl the unplayable ball and trouble the England top order. Jackson Bird, given one chance only, should have been retained for this dead rubber. The best place to learn is in the classroom and Bird is the future of Australian seam attacks. Two left handers in the pace attack has a top heavy look, especially when Ryan Harris, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon are the trumps.

One wonders if Michael Clarke and the selectors are more worried about saving face than building an improving Australian cricket team.

Would the result have been any different if they had chosen the strongest team for Trent Bridge and then stuck with it?