“I think it’s a mistake”: Why former Australian captain disagrees with fourth Test selection
Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes there may have been a selection error for the fourth Ashes Test against England.
Head coach Andrew McDonald, captain Pat Cummins and the Aussie selectors opted to drop off-spinner Todd Murphy for the Old Trafford Test, instead recalling Cameron Green to play alongside fellow all-rounder Mitch Marsh.
It is the first time since 2012 that Australia has not taken a recognised spinner into a Test match and it could potentially bite them if things don’t work out with the pace entourage of Cummins, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Green and Marsh.
Waugh believes the English batting line-up will enjoy having the ball come onto the bat in Manchester once they dismiss the Aussies who are 8/299 at stumps on Day 1.
“I tend to disagree with it,” Waugh told SENQ Breakfast of the Australian selection.
“I think it’s a mistake, particularly in Manchester where the ball does turn.
“I know they’re probably looking at the forecast and saying there’s a bit of rain around, but you do need variation in the attack.
“Particularly with the way England plays. They go at the bowlers really hard and we’ve got four right-arm quick bowlers so there’s a bit of sameness about our attack.
“Mitchell Starc is actually the key being a left-armer and swinging the ball, he brings variation.
“But if the wicket is pretty flat and we haven’t got too much up our sleeve, I think England will probably like the sight of the four right-arm quick bowlers.”
Former Aussie quick Trent Copeland echoed Waugh’s sentiment.
He believes England might have its nose in front purely because of the makeup of both sides.
“The easiest way for me to describe it is I think you’ve got rationale for both changerooms to be relatively happy,” Copeland began on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“But if I was to pick where I’d rather be, it’d be England’s changeroom after Day 1.
“The reason I say that is Australia goes in with no frontline spinner. When you lose the toss and get sent in, you’re bowling last and when I see the pitch that was dished up last night and what was on offer for not only the seamers, but a little bit of turn for Moeen Ali, I’m concerned that given the team we went in with, we didn’t boss the game with the bat.
“We had extra batting depth, we went in with a couple of all-rounders and Travis Head is our likely frontline spinner. I think we may well be exposed if the tail can’t get to 350ish today.
“There’s a bit of rain around so it may not break up like it does traditionally, but the surface is definitely going to lend itself to spin later on in the game and I wonder if we’re missing a trick there.
“But that’s easy today in hindsight and having lost the toss.”
In the sign of a very deep tail, Mitch Starc (23 not out) and Pat Cummins (1 not out) are Australia’s no.9 and 10 and have a combined average of 38 with the bat.
Replacing Nathan Lyon at Leeds, Murphy was used sparingly and only bowled 9.3 overs for one wicket.
The 22-year-old Victorian debuted in India earlier this year and has 15 Test wickets to his name at an average of 26.80.
Waugh admits he would have liked to see Murphy selected for Old Trafford despite his sparing use at Headingley.
“I would have liked to see him get more opportunities,” Waugh said of the Victorian.
“I thought he was very impressive (in India), he’s mature, he’s got good control.
“I would have loved to see him play this Test match. I think he could have had a big impact in Manchester.”
The Aussies haven’t lost at Old Trafford since 1981.
The Day 2 action continues LIVE across SEN and the SEN network from 8pm AEST on Thursday night.