http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 unravels Ashes Squad for Brisbane;
Nathan Hauritz axed
The Australian selectors have unravelled their 13-man squad for the first Ashes Test set to start at the Gabba in Brisbane from the 25th of this month.
The surprise inclusion in the squad is left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty who makes it to the final trimmed down squad courtesy of his impressive run since his ODI debut against the Sri Lankans at the Melbourne Cricket Ground earlier
this month.
The other spinner in the team is Steven Smith, the all-rounder that played for Australia in two Test matches against Pakistan in England last summer.
Smith, who impressed more with the bat than the ball in the series, is likely to sit out the Gabba Test as the Aussies aim to unravel the left-armer Doherty.
Doherty, who represents Ricky Ponting’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Tasmania-c854 in Australian state cricket, has been on the fringe of national selection for quite some time. He made the most of the opportunity that came his way in the ODI against the Lankans.
He captured 4 scalps to have the tourists reeling before a stunning world record partnership for the ninth wicket with Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews taking them to a most unbelievable win.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Smith and Doherty means that the Australians were forced to leave out Nathan Hauritz from the squad.
Hauritz, who was the most successful Australian bowler in last summer’s home series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755, has endured a lean trot since then.
He was taken for big runs by the Indian batsmen during the recent tour there; his lack of form in spin-friendly conditions prompted the selectors’ decision of ruling him out for the opening Test match.
The Chairman of the selection committee Andrew Hilditch explained the reasons for Haurtiz’s omission.
"Nathan Hauritz is one of these players omitted and he can consider himself unlucky as his Australian record has been very good over the past 12 months...However the panel believes the left-arm orthodox variety Xavier Doherty provides
against a predominantly right-handed English middle order is the better option in this game."
Other than the spinners berth the rest of the squad was selected on the basis of their performances in various formats of the game.
The Australian batting line-up has endured a tough run in recent months and their inconsistency is one of the reasons for their defeat in three successive Test matches.
The run started at Headingley when http://www.senore.com/Cricket/A-Young-c41367 Pakistani seam attack sent them packing for 88 runs in the first innings of the Test match.
From there on they collapsed in the second innings in the first Test against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 at Mohali, which was won by the hosts by 1 wicket.
The same fate awaited them in the second Test of the series and a dejected Ricky Ponting’s dream of toppling India in their home-country remained an elusive one.
The focus in now at the Ashes, touted as the ultimate prize in Test cricket; the Aussies would be hoping for a turn in fortunes and a top class performance at Gabba, a venue that has been a favourite of theirs in recent years.
The Aussies have not lost a Test there in more than 15 years and generally visiting teams find the wicket a real challenge for the batsmen.
The bounce and pace there makes it one of the quickest in the world, hence the English team would have to be on guard as they battle the Aussie seam and spin attack.
The Englishmen have not won an Ashes series in Australia in more than two decades, and despite the lack of form of the hosts the challenge is still enormous for Andrew Strauss and his men.
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