Stunning stat proves Ashes shake-up is a must

2 years ago 286

Australia has named a 15-player squad to contention the looming Ashes bid against England, starting December 8 astatine the Gabba.

And portion it surely answered immoderate questions, determination are conscionable arsenic galore inactive up successful the air.

Here's what we're yet to find out.

WILL THE BOWLING ATTACK CHANGE?

Australia has been fortunate capable to support a accordant bowling onslaught for immoderate years now.

While others person occasionally been brought successful arsenic wounded oregon remainder cover, the Aussies astir ever present tally with Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood arsenic the 3 quicks, positive Nathan Lyon arsenic the spinner.

In the 15-man squad selectors included Jhye Richardson and Michael Neser.

Richardson, 25, has played 2 Tests portion the older Neser is yet to marque his debut, though has been progressive successful Australian squads successful caller years.

Potential captaincy not an contented for Pat Cummins successful Ashes

Test fable Michael Taylor says those 2 players are a precise existent accidental of getting a call-up during the summer.

"The Test matches are implicit astir 5 oregon six weeks, the 5 matches. There's nary uncertainty Starc, Hazlewood, and Cummins are each beauteous acceptable these days, and they've been astir a while… but there's each accidental 1 mightiness get a niggle, oregon they mightiness privation to remainder one," Taylor told Wide World of Sports.

"So present that James Pattinson has retired that adjacent spot is up for grabs, and you ne'er cognize successful this crippled erstwhile that mightiness be."

Australian selector George Bailey besides confirmed helium wants a "squad archetypal approach" taken towards the squad this summer, implying each 15 squad members request to beryllium acceptable for enactment successful the XI.

IS THE OPENER SPOT LOCKED IN?

It looks similar Marcus Harris volition clasp his spot astatine the apical of the batting bid alongside David Warner.

The left-hander has played 19 innings for Australia and averages lone 23.77. But main selector Bailey each but confirmed Harris' spot successful the squad adjacent earlier the squad was announced.

"Harry's had constricted opportunities successful the past, and he's been successful and retired a bit, truthful we'd emotion thing much than for him hopefully to get an accidental to get an extended tally astatine it," Bailey told vigor implicit the weekend.

The different batter successful the 15-man squad susceptible of opening is Usman Khawaja.

He is overmuch much experienced astatine Test level than Harris, and averages 40.66 successful the arena.

Khawaja has lone opened the batting 7 times for Australia successful Tests but helium averages 96.8 erstwhile doing so, having scored 2 large centuries successful the process. His accustomed spot for Australia is No.3, wherever helium has played 66 innings and averages 37.19.

Harris whitethorn beryllium locked successful but the numbers each constituent to Khawaja getting the nod.

WHO BATS AT NO.5?

If Harris decidedly is locked in, that lone leaves 1 spot successful the batting bid undecided.

Selectors inactive haven't settled connected which subordinate fills the No.5 spot, and with Matthew Wade and Mitchell Marsh near retired of the squad altogether, it's down to a contention successful two.

Khawaja and Travis Head look to beryllium battling it retired for the position, with young all-rounder Cameron Green owning a owe connected the No.6 slot.

Who wins the last Ashes spot?

Head played 2 Tests against India past summertime but averaged lone 20.66, and was subsequently axed from the broadside successful favour of Wade, who filled the No.5 slot astatine the SCG and the Gabba.

During the 2019 Ashes circuit successful England, Head played 4 of the 5 matches and could lone mean 27.28. That's the lone clip helium has played against the Poms successful Test cricket.

Khawaja has played 12 Ashes Tests and besides struggled against the aged enemy, averaging lone 29.85.

Interestingly, Khawaja has ne'er batted No.5 for Australia. He's lone opened, batted three, four, oregon six.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!