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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Australia keep pace options open | Australia keep pace options open |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Australia have given themselves plenty of seam bowling options for the first Ashes Test against England. | Australia have given themselves plenty of seam bowling options for the first Ashes Test against England. |
| Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait and uncapped Mitchell Johnson have all been named in a 13-man squad for the game in Brisbane, starting on 23 November. | Stuart Clark, Shaun Tait and uncapped Mitchell Johnson have all been named in a 13-man squad for the game in Brisbane, starting on 23 November. |
| But it is likely that only one of them will play in support of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and spinner Shane Warne. | But it is likely that only one of them will play in support of Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and spinner Shane Warne. |
| All-rounder Shane Watson has been preferred to Andrew Symonds and is set to bat at number six. | |
| "We believe this is a squad capable of winning back the Ashes," said chief selector Andrew Hilditch. | "We believe this is a squad capable of winning back the Ashes," said chief selector Andrew Hilditch. |
| "We've picked a very strong squad which reflects the fact that Australia has been successful at international level for some time. | "We've picked a very strong squad which reflects the fact that Australia has been successful at international level for some time. |
| "We are showing faith in those players who have contributed to that success, while at the same time injecting some youth into the squad with the inclusion of Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait." | "We are showing faith in those players who have contributed to that success, while at the same time injecting some youth into the squad with the inclusion of Shane Watson, Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Tait." |
| Gamble | Gamble |
| The choice of a third seamer for the final XI at The Gabba will not be easy. | The choice of a third seamer for the final XI at The Gabba will not be easy. |
| Johnson has impressed playing for Australia's one-day side and as a left-armer, he would add variety to the attack. | Johnson has impressed playing for Australia's one-day side and as a left-armer, he would add variety to the attack. |
| Tait, however, is capable of bowling at a pace consistently above 90mph and took 3-21 playing for a Prime Minister's XI against England last week. | Tait, however, is capable of bowling at a pace consistently above 90mph and took 3-21 playing for a Prime Minister's XI against England last week. |
| But Clark is the most experienced of the trio and would be the safer option, having collected 20 wickets in a series in South Africa earlier this year. | But Clark is the most experienced of the trio and would be the safer option, having collected 20 wickets in a series in South Africa earlier this year. |
| The choice of Watson, meanwhile, represents something of a gamble, but Hilditch said: "Shane has an outstanding first-class record with the bat, averaging over 45 and his bowling ability gives us the flexibility in our attack that we have been looking for. | The choice of Watson, meanwhile, represents something of a gamble, but Hilditch said: "Shane has an outstanding first-class record with the bat, averaging over 45 and his bowling ability gives us the flexibility in our attack that we have been looking for. |
| "It will be interesting to see how he develops as a Test cricketer in this series." | "It will be interesting to see how he develops as a Test cricketer in this series." |
| Good mix | Good mix |
| Damien Martyn has been preferred to Michael Clarke in the middle order and the selectors have kept faith with the tried and trusted opening partnership of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer despite the recent prolific form of Phil Jaques. | Damien Martyn has been preferred to Michael Clarke in the middle order and the selectors have kept faith with the tried and trusted opening partnership of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer despite the recent prolific form of Phil Jaques. |
| Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said that he hoped the players could now relax a little bit after months of anticipation. | Australia skipper Ricky Ponting said that he hoped the players could now relax a little bit after months of anticipation. |
| He added: "I think historically what you want in any team is a good mix of youth and experience and I think we've certainly got that." | He added: "I think historically what you want in any team is a good mix of youth and experience and I think we've certainly got that." |
| "This series is going to be huge. We've all been waiting for it for 14-15 months and players are really excited about getting to Brisbane and getting our preparation under way." | "This series is going to be huge. We've all been waiting for it for 14-15 months and players are really excited about getting to Brisbane and getting our preparation under way." |
Australia squad: R Ponting (captain), M Hayden, J Langer, D Martyn, M Hussey, S Watson, A Gilchrist (wkt), S Warne, B Lee, G McGrath, S Clark, M Johnson, S Tait. |