Ashes update: Aussie all-rounder Steve Smith dropped from the Ashes squad
Australian selectors are seemingly trying to play mind-games with England as they are juggling their players before the first Test to be held on Thursday.
The latest victim being Steve Smith who was included in the final squad which was announced after being trimmed to a 13 man squad.
The leg spinner Smith was included in the squad along with debutante Xavier Doherty to be replacing Nathan Hauritz. The inclusion of the spinners has been facing a backlash from critics as well as Australian greats such as Shane Warne. Hauritz himself has
been speaking about his disappointment with the selection panel saying the news left him “devastated” as he has a considerably decent average.
As Smith has been dropped, Australia’s bowling attack is now restricted to five bowlers including Doherty along with leading “attacker” Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and Doug Bollinger.
However, former cricketers and Gabba ground’s curators have been speculating that it might not be a good idea to go in with an all pace attack.
Though, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 were seen cracking their training session earlier in the morning with Johnson claiming that the pitch was “quick and bouncy” adding that it all depends upon the overcast conditions.
Johnson defended the selector’s decision saying that “picking four paceman or leaving out a spinner” are just headlines in order to ring off the alarm bells in the Australian camp. He told the media about Aussie vice captain Michael Clarke’s come back in
the nets as he completed his session without any discomfort.
Clarke’s appearance in the first Test match is still a question mark as he his battling with a back injury that forced him to practice for the past two days. The selection panel brought in the uncapped batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usman-Khawaja-c2729 as a “standby” to cover for Clarke.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 told his team mates that he “felt good” in the nets as he also took part in the fielding drills. Johnson said that Clarke played for around 45 minutes and did not seem to struggle with his batting.
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