Australian team is a shadow of their recent champion team. Their basic problem is lack of quality or skill players available and nothing Michael Clarke or selectors can do to fix it. I think Michael Clarke is a good captain but then you are as good as your team.
If I were in Michael Clarke’s shoes here is what I would do for the 3rd Test which is a must win game to keep the series alive. Selecting the playing 11 is the first important task. This is not time to be methodical but follow the gut feeling. Australia desperately needs game changing players who can turn around fortunes quickly. I would immediately call back Warner who just scored 193 in South Africa and make him open. He is very much in Sehwag mould, if he sticks around for a session he can dominate the bowling attack. Drop Watson to number 6; he wouldn’t find a place in a strong Australian team going by the way he has thrown away his wicket in the past. Another opener is a toss-up between Chris Rodgers or Phil Hughes depending upon how they fare in the 1st class game currently in-progress. Usman Khwaja at number 3, he needs a long run to prove himself if he belongs at this level. Michael Clarke has to bat at number 4; you want your best batsman in at 4. Steve Smith bats at number 5 and Brad Haddin bats at number 7.
I would immediately get back Mitchell Johnson, he was in a very good form in IPL. His rhythm was back and he was enjoying the game which is a very important reason for a players success, some would argue bowling 4 overs versus bowling roughly 15 overs a day is not the same but Australia do not have a lot of choices. I think at best Johnson is a good number 2 bowler and the reason he hasn’t delivered in past is because Australia expected him to be their number 1 bowler. Unfortunately Siddle is also not their number 1 bowler; he is a war horse and very much like Andrew Bichel. James Pattinson is their bowling attack leader even though he is young. He has all the attributes what one needs to be a leader. Third fast bowler would be a toss-up between Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird. I would pick Nathan Lyon for the spinners slot; I think Michael Clarke has not handled properly and backed Lyon all the way.
This is the best 11 I think Australia have to give England a run for their money. England on the other hand looked really settled with each batsman looking good expect for Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen which is strange since they are their mainstays in batting. Bowling wise James Anderson is clearly their lead with ably supported by Stuart Broad. Graeme Swann takes the spinners slot. The only open area for England is their forth bowler which they keep rotating based on conditions and partly due to lack of good bowler. I wouldn’t mind playing Monty Panesar as a fourth bowler even though Australia has plenty of left-handed batsmen because nobody is a good player of spin bowling. Australia would be least prepared to play two spinners and that is where Cook can be imaginative.
A part of me wants an even contest between both the sides for the sake of Test Match cricket but on the other hand as an Indian supported want Australia to be humiliated.
