Here's my current mindset on Hussey, North and Hauritz. Keeping in mind that while I don't really like making changes if they aren't absolutely necessary.
Plan A - all 3 hit some form in the next month:
I play all 3 of them in Brisbane and give them probably 2 Tests each to prove that form isn't a fluke. Only change I'd make is to move Marcus North up to #4, move Clarke to 5 and Hussey to 6. Why? 1) Right now North is the most likely to make a big hundred, so that's a good reason to put him in first of those 3, 2) North is the most likely to fail, so you don't want him batting #6, you want him higher so that any potential collapse he causes can be fixed by 2 specialist batsmen, not your keeper, 3) Hussey's best innings always seem to be with the tail, 4) it puts Clarke and North next to each other - the combo that did so well in 2009, 5) it alternates left/right handers
Plan B - if all 3 are just OK in the next month:
I boot Hussey and keep North and Hauritz. North and Hauritz get 2 Tests to do something. Why Hussey? The more I sit back and think about these Ashes, the more I'm convincing myself that Hussey should be the first to go - not North. An important reason being that I don't think the English are scared of him anymore (and of course his very average recent form). He scored that century at the Oval, but that masked an otherwise very poor series. He's been very patchy in both ODI series against Eng since then too. I think Hussey has to do well in the next month to keep his spot. With Hussey out I bring in one of Ferguson, Khawaja or Hughes. Hughes would be my first reaction, but some fiddling with the order would have to be done, either he or Watson would go to #6. I wouldn't mind seeing Hughes at #6 (unlike others), and I don't want to mess with Watto's good form too much by shifting him, but you also have to consider Watson's workload and another right hander v Swann in the middle would be good. Katich shouldn't move down, he's looked bad v spin lately and as a leftie I'm afraid Swann might eat him for lunch down the order.
Plan C - if all 3 are rubbish in the next month:
I boot all 3. I'd bring in Smith and McDonald as the spinner and 4th quick (joining whoever I picked out of Hughes, Khawaja and Ferguson, to replace Hussey). McDonald is there to keep it quiet, bowl straight and bowl fairly quick overs plus provide the batting depth that becomes a concern with Smith's selection. McDonald's there for defence, Smith is there to ATTACK! Deciding who bats #6 out of Smith/Haddin/McDonald doesn't really worry me, they all have arguments for the spot, but I'd probably go with Haddin first. If Ryan Harris can get fit and bowl his overs quickly, I'd consider him along with McDonald. Also, Steve O'Keefe might get close to the spinner gig, because he'd be a very decent #8 bat too.
Bottom line is that it's a very important month of cricket ahead for the 3 guys on the hotseat.
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.Agreed ,the batting has collapse every series.If this batting line up do fail in the ashes ( collapse at crucial times) it would be no surprise since they've been doing that for a while now.Surely you would think changes would have been made since the third ashes test team in 2009.We have now slump to 5th.Maybe if we need different results we need to try something different Hilditch.
