Despite Ian Botham's recent comments that, 'losing to dad's army would be piss poor' (refereing to Australia and England's battle for next week's Ashes) Australia will still defeat England and retain the Ashes this summer.
Age is not a worry. Experience is the difference and speaks for itself.
Despite the fact Australia lost last year's Ashes, we only just lost it. Be realistic, if McGrath had not rolled his ankle, if we had scored four more runs. We would have won the Ashes.
The last 18 months have seen Australia improve and England well, not do to much. Nevertheless the series will be competitive and form means nothing when the Ashes is on the line.
Australia's biggest challenge will be picking the best XI. With a number of options, who will bat at Number 6 and who will be the fourth specialist bowler?
Despite writing that Bracken and Watson had played their way into the 1st test, this week will all but confirm my claims with Pura Cup and tour matches across the country.
Shaun Tait has stood tall with a menacing spell against the Poms in the PM's XI. The fastest bowler in the country was devistating and put the Poms on the backfoot immediately. If he is on target, he could single handedly destroy the English top order.
Phil Jacques is batting himself into form, continually knocking on the selectors doors with two centuries against the poms in three days.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting has stated Langer's position is not under threat and the incumbent will be returned as opener for the first test.
With so many possibilities. I am glad that I don't wear a selectors hat and have to make the tough calls.
So which names will be read out and the end of the week? Possibly Jacques could be used in the six batsmen, not as a specialist opener?
Michael Clarke has still not performed with 50 against the Poms while Watson got a duck.
Why not choose Jacques?
In the bowling stocks Mitchell Johnson picked a valuable four wicket haul against the WACAs while Tait's chances were done no harm with his game for the PMXI.
As of Monday November 13, my Australian XI now reads:
1. Justin Langer
2. Matthew Hayden
3. Ricky Ponting
4. Phil Jacques
5. Damien Martyn
6. Michael Hussey
7. Adam Gilchrist
8. Shane Warne
9. Brett Lee
10. Shaun Tait
11. Glen McGrath
12th Nathan Bracken
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