A gamble ... or the best available?

In today’s Daily Telegraph, two views on the Ashes selections from either side of the divide. TV anchor Mark Nicholas bemoans the fact that England have picked a side full of walking wounded.

The damaging effect half-fit players had on the tour four years ago was quite a shock. These are the Aussies we are talking about, and wounded ones too. Now we have exposed ourselves again. It is unbelievable. Why are the doubtful starters not to be in Perth with the Academy, having a run-out in the leagues? That way they could be added to the party when proven fit, rather than subtracted if found unfit, which is so debilitating.

Ian Chappell, meanwhile, is hardly complimentary, while acknowledging that the selectors did about as well as could be expected.

When I first read the England Ashes squad my reaction was that of the ubiquitous fearsome rugby league forward, who when smashed in the jaw by an opponent in the opening scrum, grins and says: "Is that the best you've got?" However, not wanting to be a smart aleck and also mindful of a couple of atrocious 2005 Ashes predictions the thought didn't linger. It could also have been that, apart from one or two contentious issues, this was the best the England selectors could muster under trying circumstances.