by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu
The Australian selectors were in two minds and they did not have a lot of time between announcing the preliminary Australia's Ashes squad and announcing the final thirteen that will ultimately take on England in the first Test of the Ashes 2010 in Brisbane.
The selectors announced a large squad, almost as if to vindicate just how unsettled matters have been in the Australian team in recent months. Ricky Ponting does not have the luxury of simply settling into the job, but will need to keep his thinking cap on for the duration of the Ashes if he is to avoid a third Ashes defeat as a captain and enter a new dubious record into the history books.
What was most shocking was how the Australian squad was reduced from seventeen to thirteen while leaving out the one spinner who Ponting has stood behind to feature in Australia's line up. Nathan Hauritz has lost his place in the side but his replacements are far from convincing. Steven Smith is considered work in progress while Xavier Doherty will have to vindicate earning the ticket on this one.
The ECB had already announced the England's Ashes squad at the end of September.
Usman Khwaja finds himself back in the reckoning for a possible Test cap with Michael Clarke suffering from a back back once more and uncertain for the first Test.
Here's how the selectors brought the squad down:
Australia’s preliminary Ashes squad:
Ricky Ponting (captain), Michael Clarke (vice-captain), Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Callum Ferguson, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Usman Khawaja, Brad Haddin, Nathan Hauritz, Steve Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Ryan Harris, and Xavier Doherty
Australia's Squad for the Ashes:
Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger, Simon Katich, and Shane Watson.
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