By Adrian Meredith
VICTORIA (TheSportsNext) July 18, 2012: The Australian squad to tour UAE against Pakistan has been announced.
Australian ODI squad David Warner, Matthew Wade (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Callum Ferguson, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc
Australian T20 squad David Warner, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (capt), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Hogg, Xavier Doherty, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Ben Hilfenhaus.
In comparison to the England squads, you might notice some changes:
Michael Hussey returns from spending time with his family and boy was he missed! Granted that the selectors have no control over such issues but they really should have played the BEST of their available reserve batsmen, instead of the WORST in Peter Forrest. While Mitchell Marsh was off facing disciplinary action for drinking, Dan Christian was clearly available and Cameron White was clearly available. Even Steve Smith was better than Forrest, but he got all of one match before being dumped. No such worries with Michael Hussey though, still Australia's best batsman, who will provide a lot of safety with this squad in all formats.
Dan Christian returns in both formats and will add a lot of stability to the lower order and that extra type of bowler, the slow medium pacer, who in some conditions is desperately needed. Trent Copeland could have been chosen instead, as he is a much better exponent of slow medium pace bowling but Copeland can't bat. Christian has already won a few matches with his batting, and once with his bowling and his match winning ability will be invaluable. Not to mention that he, along with Mitch Marsh, is the most in-form domestic player in the country. A big asset.
Cameron White gets to make his return, albeit only in the T20 format. This will be used largely as a trial for him and if he does well he could get back into the ODI format and then maybe even in the test format. Matthew Hayden did the same thing, getting back into the test team, this time permanently, via the shorter formats. It isn't just that White is back in form, or even that he is one of the best T20 batsmen in the world; but this time he has a lot to prove, after losing form, losing captaincy and even losing his spot in the team, then being omitted quite unfairly from the tour to England. He has a lot to prove and he is going to do his best to prove it. He will be fighting a lot harder than he was before and expect some big results here. This will be White at his very best. A very good choice by selectors and very shrewd to only include him in one format, to give him that carrot to help him to aim for more.
Glenn Maxwell is a bit of an odd choice. He is a bit of a no name in the domestic circuit, isn't in particularly great form and doesn't have a particularly good record. Even in Victoria he is hardly heard of as Andrew McDonald dwarfs him so significantly. Like with the selection of Forrest, Maxwell's selection is very much a hunch. He doesn't deserve the spot. But it seems that he is in the squad as cover for Shane Watson, who is only playing the T20s, and he could easily get his shot in the ODIs, especially if Dan Christian messes up. If Christian does well, Maxwell may not get a game, but if he doesn't he could make his debut. Having him there, not only as cover, but also as a guarantee that Christian will perform, is again a very good move by the selectors.
Mitchell Starc being in the squad, especially against Pakistan, is a necessity, as Starc is not only one of the better bowlers going around but he was also taught by Waqar Younis and should do especially well against Waqar's old team Pakistan. He should have been in the first XI in England but they were too busy experimenting and getting ready for the test series - which, of course, he should be a part of anyway. His exclusion was insane and the insanity seems to be over now. Fingers crossed he plays in every match and does as well as he is capable of.
Brad Hogg is only in the T20 squad and realistically I think that that is all that he wants. He is over 40 now and could easily fail and disappear after 1 match, which is why they need to have Xavier Doherty as backup. But if he continues to do well, why not? He adds that extra X-factor that could make all of the difference.
Callum Ferguson was added as a hunch a few years ago and did so well in the ODI format that it is hard to believe. Injuries cost him a longer stint in the side but then, of course, his domestic form was never particularly good so selectors, when seeing him stuff up domestically on return from injury, were always reluctant to pick him. But he may just be a big game player, who is better internationally than domestically. Ferguson could be fantastic, or he could stink. Most likely he won't play initially but will be backup in case someone messes up, or he could be included as a hunch.
Likely first XIs:
T20s: David Warner, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade (wk), David Hussey, Michael Hussey, George Bailey (capt), Cameron White, Daniel Christian, Brad Hogg, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc.
ODIs: David Warner, Matthew Wade (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Mitchell Johnson, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc
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