Australian Squad for BanIndian series

horace wrote:too many ex, current or would be spivs in that squad

is there any half decent rationale that would support schoolgirl's selection?

Henry wrote:I reckon they'll go with-

Clarke(c)
Warner
Watson
Khawaja
Hughes
S.Marsh
Maxwell
Wade+
Haddin+
Siddle
Starc
Johnson
Bird
Pattinson
Lyon
Beer

Assuming they're taking 16.

Henry wrote:Why? Worried they'll break down with the Ashes in sight? Or is a tour of hot and humid India a bit tough on the heartstrings of a couple of Victorian quicks?

Fred Nerk wrote:Given the exposed form for spots 12-16, they may as well throw all the names into a hat.

Not Watson if he'd the last cricketer left in Australia after a catastrophic nuclear event....besides that, it depends on where this Inidian trip fits in the overall quest for world domination. If they think playing in India is a good test, or a good training ground, for the Ashes, pick the 'projects'. If it's a speed hump and a distraction, keep the talent in mothballs and send over blokes who can fill in if needed short term but are basically expendable, a bit like Slug Jordon, Laurie Mayne and whoever the other guy was in 1970, all I remember is none of them played again after they got home but nobody noticed.

Selectors will finalise their touring party for India later this week and there is a chance they may name as many as 16 players, including a seam- and spin-bowling all-rounder.

That means both Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques could be on the plane.

Henriques had his right arm in a sling on Sunday after minor finger surgery on Saturday, but NSW medical staff are confident the injury is not serious.

Usman Khawaja, despite being overlooked for the second half of the one-day series against Sri Lanka and upcoming games against the Windies, remains in the box seat to fill the batting vacancy created by Michael Hussey's retirement.

The elegant left-hander was on standby for Michael Clarke in Melbourne and Sydney and is set to be a beneficiary of a panel wanting to maintain continuity and stability with their Test selections leading into the Ashes.

He is expected to be challenged for a Test berth by Steve Smith, whose ability to play spin will count in his favour. The 23-year-old did his chances of a call-up no harm by compiling a vital 72 in the Sheffield Shield for NSW on a spin-friendly wicket in Blacktown on Friday.

George Bailey is only an outside hope while David Hussey's stocks have plummeted after he failed to dispel notions he was susceptible against quality fast bowling in the series against Sri Lanka.

Steve O'Keefe's eight wickets in the Shield against Western Australia is unlikely to be enough to overtake Xavier Doherty, whose strong form in the international limited-overs arena has him favoured to be Nathan Lyon's understudy. Nor will it convince selectors to take a third specialist spinner despite the subcontinent traditionally being a haven for tweakers.

Michael Beer had been earmarked as the No. 2 spinner but a shoulder injury last week is likely to sideline him for six weeks.

Henry wrote:They picked Doherty for the test side before based on his ODI form. Remind me how that worked out again?

Big Dog wrote:

Henry wrote:They picked Doherty for the test side before based on his ODI form. Remind me how that worked out again?

If selected, i think Doherty will be better prepared this time.