The road ahead for the team in yellow

Let me start this by saying Andrew Hilditch and co have administered a tried medicine by instating Ricky Ponting as the skipper till 2011. There are two faces to this: this could make the more young and tender team that exists now more sure of themselves as they have a veteran leader of 2 WCs and numerous other tourneys at their helm; the other set will think of CA as acting laidback for persisting on an old face when the other countries are looking for fresher leaders. Whether this move will yield results, only time will show. But i feel there is more chance of it working out than failing. But opinions differ. What lies ahead needs the biggest attention.

One does wonder why Ponting has been given back the captaincy for the T20 world cup, after a stint with Michael Clark which did deliver reasonable success. Probably the selectors thought they needed a bigger name to lead in a bigger tournament. Either way the T20 World Cup is not something many are expecting Australia to take home, atleast so back here in India. But rest assured Australia will be looking to go the full distance and get some loose ends tightened. They were handed a comprehensive defeat recently at Dubai at the Pakistani hands. A good start was floundered due to inept handling of wicket-to-wicket spin bowling. But on that end Clark and the Hussey brothers should be able to counter it. And the return of Lee will add some sting in the bowling. Symonds', Lee's, and Warner's run in the IPL will be relied upon by the Aussies. So the best possible line-up would be :

David Warner, Michael Clark, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee and Nathan Bracken.

James Hopes and Ben Hilfenhaus should be useful substitutes subject to poor form of the above mentioned. I have not included Johnson in the XI to give room to Shane Watson and Symonds in one side, also, Johnson's relatively lesser T20 participation recently.
The above squad in full potential should deliver the goods with the perfect blend of everything. Hitters (Warner, Symonds, Watson), guides (Ponting, Clark and Mike), pacers (Lee, Watson and Bracken) and spinners (Hauritz, David and Clark).

Moving on.....

Same country, the world's oldest and most respected cricket tour- The Ashes. The test side showed its winners attitude when it went as underdogs to beat a high-flying South Africa in their own backyard. The opening pair is still coming to terms. Hughes is just 3 tests old, while Katich is revelling within his own limitations. Ponting looked business-like in that tour. However, Michael Hussey's form causes worry. Getting just one fifty in three tests is far from his usual self. Brad Haddin and Simon Katich however went strong guns in that series. Marcus North produced a match defining hundered, but faltered thereafter in the remaining parts of that tour. But one feels it as a big error omitting Andrew Symonds. The other Andrew i.e McDonald is no match. The bowling on the other hand looks delicious with what i saw in RSA without Lee and Stuart Clark. Johnson, who has been my favorite find in recent years has been their highest test-wicket taker in the past year. Also Peter Siddle produced fiery spells peppering the batsman at every chance and getting those crucial wickets. In any case The bowling looks more threatening. English conditions will test the soundness of the new opening pair. This is their first tour this decade to England with a opening pair other than Hayden and Langer. Katich and Hughes i feel will have the toughest job on hand. More so if Flintoff returns. The best XI should be:

Katich, Hughes, Ponting, M. Hussey, Clark, Watson, Haddin, Lee, Johnson, Clark and Siddle/Hauritz (subject to playing conditions). Hilfenhaus and North can act as suitable replacements.

This is a process of evolution for the new Aussie team. This coming journey to England will give lot of pointers as to where Australia's fortunes are heading. For mission 2011, the game starts now. And we wish the Aussies the best.............!!!!