Let's Have Ya

Australia begins a three week, three Test series in Sri Lanka tomorrow and for the time being at least, the changes being forced upon Australian cricket as a result of getting fat and lazy during its period of dominance, are yet to kick in. Greg Chappell, reported by some to be an unwelcome guest in the rooms last summer, is in Sri Lanka to assist in the selection of the team as the duty selector. As has been the case for many years on tour, the skipper and coach are the other men charged with getting it right.

Ricky Ponting

Its at that point where the Ricky Ponting stumbling block already appears to be tripping the selectors. Injured and replaced in Australia's last Test - the series humbling 5th Test in Sydney against England last January - he returns with good and current one day form. The assumption was that he should return at his old spot at three but why? In fact, the whole approach to selecting a batting line up for this series seems to belie the generational change that the Argonauts have called for.

Starting at the top, Clarke, Neilsen and Chappell will pick Phil Hughes to open with Watson. Hughes, a likeable young man who has worked hard at his game should, never the less, not play Test cricket again. His technique outside off stump is worse possible left hander stuff and his talk in the last few weeks only underlines that he falls into that unlucky category of player who has scored plenty at first class level but never could make it in Tests. Therefore, the first argument isn't whether Shaun Marsh or Khawaja should bat at six, but that Marsh should be opening with Watson. Marsh has been a player for Australia in the pyjamas in that position and has played his best innings for West Australia in the Shield at one or two.

Usman Khawaja

Getting back to Ponting ... if Australia is future oriented, why would we continue with Ponting at three? His form for two years has been declining, so logic indicates that a lower spot in the order away from the swinging new ball and fresh quicks, might well be to his and Australia's advantage. Besides, he is unlikely to be back again next summer, so its time to put a new man at three whilst Ponting is still there to offer support. Khawaja, therefore, is the perfect fit. He looked good against the English, has batted at three for most of his career to date and his style and patience could be invaluable. The century he made at Colombo proves this point ... or are we selecting sides according to a man's ego now?

Clarke and Hussey could interchange at four and five. Clarke bats better in the middle order and those that say the skipper must bat in the first four have forgotten that Steve Waugh spent his entire successful captaincy career at five. The difference is, we don't have anyone at Shield level knocking down the door for the number four spot, where as there are many contenders for the middle of the batting innings. So Clarke at four, Hussey at five and then Ponting at six. Can you imagine a bowling attack taking four Australian wickets and Ponting walks out?

Its all about balance.

Nice postulation but I doubt whether any of it will be applied. We'll have to wait for the new head selector before common sense becomes common.

Of the bowling, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris will do the grunt work and Michael Beer will provide the spin options in what looks to be a boring and uninspiring attack. It should be remembered that off and on, it was this quartet which the English flogged from pillar to post last summer. Australia's biggest problem has been taking twenty wickets per match and on the low, slow decks in Sri Lanka which usually crumble from the fourth afternoon, its hard to see this foursome running through a very accomplished Sri Lankan top six. A lack of imagination will keep Lyon and Copeland out of the side and it will be Clarke's failure if that happens. Australia can play it safe and hope to draw all three Tests but that won't improve our world ranking. 

Nathan Lyon

There is no point playing two spinners as one ordinary bowler isn't improved when another joins him so Lyon should be the one chosen. Beer spears the ball in and tries to prevent runs. He's pretty good at it. Lyon floats the ball and tries to take wickets. Any one he gets is less for the others to find. Siddle and Harris are much the same but you don't need two of them on these decks. Copeland is a wind-up toy in the McGrath mould and against the flamboyant stroke makers in the Sri Lankan line up, he could be gold. He'll plug up one end and make life a lot easier for Clarke. For once, I'm prepared to be an advocate for Mitchell Johnson because he's the wild card which Australia needs in this series. He'll bleed runs with the ball in his hand but then he might just take three wickets in four overs to turn a Test match and his gun slinger action could do well on these dry, dead pitches.

Kumar Sangakkara

I'll go into no depth about the Sri Lankans, beyond noting the quality of their top six, their likely inclusion of three spinners from the four chosen in the pre-Test squad (Mendis, Herath and Randiv) and staying with Lakmal and Welegedara to do the quick stuff. They know that Australian batsmen don't like the ball delivered left arm over so that will be enough for Welegedara to win a spot ahead of the exciting new quick Eranga. Tillarkaratne Dilshan is an inspiring leader and was unlucky to be injured against England. His 193 at Lords was a brilliant innings, opening in the face of England's near 500 first innings and he has allowed the man with the movie star looks, Kumar Sangakkara, to relax and do what he does best. Back at home, both will be hunting for runs from the Aussies. Likewise, Mahela Jayawardene, who is nearing ten thousand Test runs is likely to be looking forward to scoring heavily against what is seen to be under performing Australian side.

Even without Murali, Sri Lanka have the better attack, given the experience and quality of the spinners they can call on. They miss new ball grunt but its unlikely that Tests will be decided by the comparison of the quality of the new ball attacks. At their best, the batting line ups look well matched so it will almost certainly be a high scoring series with most of the games heading to draws. At home and with the better recent record, Sri Lanka 1-0 looks about right.

The following Daniel Brettig interview with Ricky Ponting is most interesting and took place just a few days ago. Click to read ... Interview with Ponting