Australian Cricket - Where to Now?

What is the answer to the struggles Australian cricket is facing? There are a number of players that fans and pundits alike are calling to be included in the Australian side for the Boxing Day Test. So where do they all stand? Here's A View from the Top

Batters
Simon Katich
Contentiously missed out a central contract this year. But I think rightly so. Katich is 37, he suffered a summer ending injury during the Ashes last year which came on the back of an uncharacteristically poor six months at the crease. If he had gone back to NSW and scored a mountain of runs I may be singing a different tune, but he hasn't so Australia needs to forget about Simon Katich.

Shaun Marsh
Amazingly average Shield career but has enjoyed success in ODI's and now in three Test matches. Not good enough to be an automatic selection moving forward I feel, should make his way back into the Test setup with some big Shield scores. Definitely on the fringes of selection but his injury has put him back.

Ed Cowan
Perhaps the best opening bat in the country. Unheralded traditional long form batsman. If he continues to plunder runs will sit at the top of the order with Warner by the end of the summer. Watson needs to move to six.

Callum Ferguson
Over hyped cricketer. Hasnt performed up to standard to demand Test selection despite being amongst discussion consistently. Would roar into contention with a couple of big knocks, but looks more of a one day cricketer to me.

Nic Maddinson
Young NSW batsman who is another with uncapped potential. A Shield season like last could have him amongst our Test middle order once Ponting and Hussey are moved on. Not quite ready yet.

Peter Forest
Another exciting prospect doing well in Shield cricket. Will move into contention if he continues his impressive form. Three centuries already this season have him sitting top of the run scorers list.

Michael Klinger
Form Shield batsman over the last three years overlooked again and again. Seasoned and successful first class cricketer sitting second on the Shield runs list for this season. Can anyone say Mike Hussey MkII? Will be overlooked for youth.

Mark Cosgrove
Talented. Overweight. Pretty much sums up Cosgrove. Topped the 2010/2011 Shield runscorers list but his attitude towards training costs him. Good enough to bat for Australia, perhaps a handicap in the field though. Needs runs this season

Phillip Hughes
People might like to remember a bloke named Steve Waugh thrust into the Test arena around the same age as Hughes. Took four years for Waugh to score a Test tone. Hughes has 3 before the age of 22. Technique is unconventional and that sets him up for criticism, although opening the batting on some of the minefields Australia has played on lately has been a tough job. More runs in his last ten innings than Shane Watson in the same period. Will go back to Shield plunder countless runs and be back amongst the set up shortly.

Wicket keepers
Tim Paine
Best wicket keeper batsman in the country presently. Needs to get over injury troubles. Once fit will assume Brad Haddins spot in the side.

Matthew Wade
Best batsman that can wicketkeep in the country. Just behind Paine in the pecking order. Paine's injury troubles could thrust him into the Test arena before the summer is done.

Brad Haddin
Third best wicketkeeper in the country and only the second best batter that can wicketkeep. Behind both Wade and Paine for mine. Should have never played for Australia again after his dismissal in Australia's total of 47 against the South Africans.

All-rounders
Dan Christian
In form batsman that can bowl a little. Needs to get away from the Test setup and play consistently for South Australia. Carrying drinks serves him no purpose.

Mitchell Marsh
Younger brother of Shaun with uncapped potential. Will captain Australia in all three forms of the game in the future and a player of International class. Can bat bowl and field tremendously well, but needs to really dig in and score a mountain of runs in Shield cricket over the next twelve months to justify inclusion purely as a batsman. Not ready yet.

Shane Watson
Not a Test opener. Has an appalling conversion rate that even Stephen Fleming betters and plays too hard at the moving ball. Notoriously soft and prone to breaking down at any stage, he bests serves Australian cricket batting at six and bowling twenty overs a day. Automatic selection in the side just needs to move down the order.

 Bowlers
Josh Hazlewood
Another much- hyped NSW cricketer. Better bowler than Starc for mine and if he plays consistently will be in the mix. Has had a few injury troubles.

Nathan Hauritz
Still Australias best option for the spinning spot. Can tie up an end and bowl a consistent line and length with the ability to take wickets on day four and five wickets. Most importantly offers tremendous cover for Australia's weak middle order and is capable of playing the Daniel Vettori role for Australia. Can score test hundreds and chip in with wickets. Nathan Lyon has started well but bowling on flat wickets to the Indians will provide a sterner test of his abilities. Hauritz is currently injured but assuming full fitness I think he could force his way into the squad at least if he recaptures the form displayed in Shield cricket last year.

Trent Copeland
Solid line and length bowler that lacks a yard of pace. Seems to have fallen behind a bunch of young tyro'ss and perhaps would be best served replacing Siddle as Australia's 'stock' bowler. Takes wickets and goes for less than three an over in first class cricket.

Mitchell Starc
Thrown into test cricket far too early but rounds out the bowling options providing Australia with a valuable commodity - left arm paceman that can bend it back. Holds onto a spot because of this and Cummins injury.

Ben Hilfenhaus
Solid new ball bowler. Dead set pie thrower with an old ball that doesnt swing. Wouldnt get near the new ball at the moment with Cummins, Pattinson and an in form Siddle all ahead of him. Players like Ponting and Hussey have built up credits over a number of years to retain their places. The debits Hilfy built up last summer keep him out of my squad.




I would have gone into Boxing Day with this side;

Warner
Cowan
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke (c)
Klinger
Wade (wk)
Pattinson
Starc
Siddle
Lyon

S. Marsh 12th Man
T. Copeland 13th Man