Former Aussie quick Geoff ‘Henry’ Lawson has a great post on his SMH blog regarding Australia’s current selection policy and obsession with allrounders:
Shane Watson is treated like a 50 Test veteran who must be rushed immediately back into the team on full fitness, and outstanding limited overs player Andrew Symonds is considered the ‘next best’ Test all rounder even though in 10 Tests he averages 17 with the bat and 45 with the ball.
Is this obsession with an all rounder something to do with covering for aging bowlers, and if it is, why don’t they just pick younger ones?
I’ve been puzzled as well by the eagerness to have Watson at number 6. Symonds is a fine one-day player but not a test cricketer. A better option would be to either bring Voges in or play 5 bowlers with Tait in the side. Lee and Warne are both handy for a few runs. Our batting doesn’t end after Gilly and then all we have is bunnies.
England did not win the Ashes because of Flintoff. I’m just puzzled why Australia seems to be wanting to go down this path.
