How much did the Aussie selectors screw up by not bringing a reserve batsman to England?

In a 16-man Ashes squad, the Aussie selectors named six batsmen and Shane Watson.

His century against the England Lions notwithstanding, Hussey has had a lean trot at Test level. North has played just two Tests and has made no runs on tour so far. Watson is injury-prone and is probably not among the best 7-8 batsmen in the country to begin with.

In light of that, surely there was room for a back-up specialist batsman. It would probably have been Brad Hodge – he's in form, he's got experience in English conditions, he's made a mountain of first-class runs and he can bat anywhere in the order.

Instead, Australia brought a back-up keeper who won't play (Manou), an all-rounder who probably won't play (Watson), and a back-up all-rounder who definitely won't play (McDonald).

If North and/or Hussey struggle in this series and Watson isn't right, the Aussie selectors will get caught with their pants down.

 

Yeah, it's hard to understand how they got it so wrong. It wasn't like the batsmen we have are all in the form of their life. Hodge should definitely be in the squad.

I just hope Ponting, Nielsen and the selectors admit they got it wrong, swallow their pride and call Hodge in before it's too late.

I'm seriously worried about this series. I think Australia are there to be taken - just depends if England are good enought to do it.

Building your excuses for losing already ('the selectors brought the wrong players over')?!?!  Didn't someone criticise the English on here a couple of weeks back for doing just that?

Nick007:

Building your excuses for losing already ('the selectors brought the wrong players over')?!?!  Didn't someone criticise the English on here a couple of weeks back for doing just that?

Stop projecting.

There will be absolutely no excuses for losing.

We just expect our selectors to get it right, and in this case, it seems they've made a pretty rudimentary stuff-up.