Just announced and England have dodged a bullet with too many “farewell tour” tourists for my liking.
It’s not a good batting team; threadbare depth with too many inclined to T20 dinosaur shots that any county level bowler with a bit of inswing/outswing shape should undo.
No young batsman, no mid career batsman either.
You shouldn’t have two aging injury prone workhorses in Siddle and Harris, as sterling as their service has been.
I’ve lauded his efforts in the past but Haddin should be pastured. His feet aren’t moving and he’s decided that being an all rounder includes being an obnoxious loudmouth in the same way Healy became in his decline. If Nevill is the new understudy then they should have taken Wade.
At least one Marsh too many.
Watto.
More than good enough but short of the best in the medium term.
To my eyes, the batting looks a bit thin and short term - Clarke has a shot back, Warner will be an interesting watch balancing his T20 instincts and what’s needed for Test matches, Watson is technically flawed, Steve Smith is the one guy I fear and he’s potentially going to have to do a lot of the heavy lifting, Voges and Rogers have had success in England at county level but both are old - but the depth in the bowling attack is fierce; say what you like about Siddle but he’s had success up here before and if Harris stays fit, he’ll wipe through our batting order, and that’s before you get into the likes of Starc and Johnson. Australia to win the Ashes 3-1 (a match will get rain somewhere preventing a result).
He averaged 26 with the bat playing every match in a series in which Australia crucified England 5-0, with crushing victories all over the country and against an England bowling attack that, other than Stuart Broad, bowled like idiots for the duration of the tour. I’d say he’s probably not a Test Cricketer on that showing and was better served focusing on the limited overs stuff.
