My Test Series review
Interesting series, that certainly deserves a third test. Without a third this series is thoroughly incomplete. Since as i've articulated before if S Africa had won this series, I would have placed them equal to England as the # 1 ATM.
So in a lot of ways this adhoc two-test series sells them short IMO.
However as it stands, AUS played very in the face of a series defeat to win and the rebuilding process after the Ashes disappointment, under Clarke is slowly but surely progressing.
Thank god this is the end of the maniac Andrew Hilditch era as selector. He certainly will not be missed.
Going forward IMO, Hughes and Johnson should no longer be starters and I remain in the camp that feels Ponting deserves to see out the AUS home summer and retire on his own terms. Hopefully the new selection panels views it that way as well.
Hughes technique is too faulty and will always get him into trouble. Khawaja looked very solid technically in his 65 and I would be more comfortable with either him or Marsh opening with Watson.
Johnson regardless of his match winning innings with the bat, has to be dropped and needs all the help he can get to find the swing consistently that brought him success vs SA 08/09, Perth 2010. If not, he can no longer be a test regular.
Best AUS Test XI now:
Watson
Marsh
Khawaja
Ponting
Clarke
Hussey
Haddin
Harris
Cummins
Lyon
Bollinger