Time to stop lying back and think of England
Once, nations schemed and tinkered before testing themselves against the indomitable West Indians, and, later, Australians
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Once, nations schemed and tinkered before testing themselves against the indomitable West Indians, and, later, Australians. Now the robust and healthy selection debate about the Australian team this summer can be reduced to a single pertinent question: How would we fare against England? writes Richard Hinds in the Sydney Morning Herald.
The new Australian selection panel's first test might be whether they are willing to make the potentially unpopular decision to drop Ponting and/or Hussey, even after they have scored decent runs. To make the assertion that others are not only capable of matching those contributions, but more likely to do so in 2013 when it matters most.
The test applies not only to the veterans. Such is his raw talent and dead eye, it would not be surprising if Phillip Hughes slashed a big score in Hobart. If so, it should buy him only enough time to prove he can close the vast gap between his occasional success and more common failures. As it is, the thought of Jimmy Anderson bowling to Hughes on a seaming pitch beneath a cloudy sky does not overwhelm one with confidence.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo