The Red Baron
Chilla Wilson (44)
The squad was announced a few days ago, and along with some good selections are some puzzling selections.
The squad is: George Bailey (c), Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, David Hussey, Brad Haddin, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Cutting, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/current/story/599808.html
Clarke, Wade and Warner have all been rested, and Watson must still be injured. It is a fair call resting Clarke and Co - they have had massive years and deserve a bit of a rest. But Mike Hussey has not been selected, and I find the logic behind it baffling.
The article above cites how the selectors have an eye on the 2015 WC, then why select Haddin and D. Hussey? By the time the 2015 WC rolls about, Haddin will be 37-38. Surely if they were looking to the future, why not play a younger keeper, like Paine or Hartley or Neville? David Hussey is the same age as Haddin too. Yet one of the best bats in the country doesn't get a run in what would have been his swansong series. Now I am not against the inclusion of D Hussey and Haddin, I think they will perform well. I just find the double standards of the selectors annoying.
I'm also not sold on Bailey. His form so far this year is nothing to write home about, and the jury is out on his captaincy skills. The selectors could have selected someone like Klinger or Joe Burns, who have been playing quite well, and handed the captaincy to someone else. I would prefer they picked a squad, then selected the captain from the squad they had chosen.
I do like the selections of Finch, Hughes, Khawaja and Cutting though. They have been the form players in the Ryobi cup this year and it is good to see their form rewarded.
The squad is: George Bailey (c), Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, David Hussey, Brad Haddin, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Ben Cutting, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/current/story/599808.html
Clarke, Wade and Warner have all been rested, and Watson must still be injured. It is a fair call resting Clarke and Co - they have had massive years and deserve a bit of a rest. But Mike Hussey has not been selected, and I find the logic behind it baffling.
The article above cites how the selectors have an eye on the 2015 WC, then why select Haddin and D. Hussey? By the time the 2015 WC rolls about, Haddin will be 37-38. Surely if they were looking to the future, why not play a younger keeper, like Paine or Hartley or Neville? David Hussey is the same age as Haddin too. Yet one of the best bats in the country doesn't get a run in what would have been his swansong series. Now I am not against the inclusion of D Hussey and Haddin, I think they will perform well. I just find the double standards of the selectors annoying.
I'm also not sold on Bailey. His form so far this year is nothing to write home about, and the jury is out on his captaincy skills. The selectors could have selected someone like Klinger or Joe Burns, who have been playing quite well, and handed the captaincy to someone else. I would prefer they picked a squad, then selected the captain from the squad they had chosen.
I do like the selections of Finch, Hughes, Khawaja and Cutting though. They have been the form players in the Ryobi cup this year and it is good to see their form rewarded.