Australia worried by batting weakness ahead of Ashes

AUSTRALIA’S lack of batting depth has been labelled a “concern” by chairman of selectors John Inverarity ahead of this year’s back-to-back Ashes series.

Australia yesterday announced just six specialist batsmen in a list of 20 centrally contracted players ahead of the next 12 months. Injured skipper Michael Clarke heads a thin group of names in which he is the only batsman to average over 40 in Test cricket.

David Warner (39.46), Shane Watson (35.34), Phil Hughes (33.00) and Ed Cowan (32.90) are the other batsmen, while Twenty20 skipper George Bailey is yet to make his Test bow.

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“There is a concern. I mean, we do not have the batting depth now that we enjoyed seven or eight and 15 years ago, we just don’t,” Inverarity said. “That’s something cricket in Australia really needs to address and we need to get more batsmen making runs prolifically.”

Australia failed to pass 250 in five of their eight innings during the recent 4-0 whitewash in India, while Clarke was the only batsman to score a century. The next best Australian score was paceman Mitchell Starc’s 99 in the third Test.

To add to Australia’s problems is Clarke’s back injury, which is set to sideline him for up to two months and hinder his Ashes preparation. With veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey having called time on their Australia careers in the winter, Inverarity admitted the team was suffering for a lack of experience.

“The runs they made and the general confidence and leadership they showed, they are big losses,” said Inverarity. “But that’s life. People retire and move on and it’s a new generation and it’s a period of transition and there are opportunities. We’re looking to our young players to grasp those opportunities and to grow from them.”

Steve Smith was one of the young batsmen to show promise in India, scoring 92 after being recalled for the third Test, but was left out of today’s list alongside Usman Khawaja, Alex Doolan and veteran Adam Voges. Despite that, Inverarity said the door remained open for them to play a part in the Ashes, which begin at Trent Bridge on 11 July.

Inverarity hinted a move towards youth would likely spell the end of David Hussey’s international career.

“I’d never say never about anybody but it is an indication that we’re looking towards grooming some younger players,” he said. “As we all appreciate we’re very much in a transition stage in Australian cricket.”

Meanwhile, Australia’s pace battery appears well stocked, with Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins named in the list, which focuses on players likely to appear in all three formats. Inverarity revealed Australia could take up to six quicks to England and take advantage of arguably their strongest suit.

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“I think our pace bowling is likely to be good. The wickets in England are likely to suit us more than they did in India,” he said. “We think we can put three good pace bowlers on the park regularly and they can perform well.”

CONTRACTED PLAYERS: George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.

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