Cant see Watson opening. The aussies dont seem to have a realistic alternative to Hughes.

Their tour squad seems poorly balanced to me, they have maybe three options for someone to come in their line up at number 6, but a distinct lack of competition for top order batsmen, though there are a few knocking around in County Cricket if they need someone to turn to.

Could move North and Hussey up the order and maybe open with Ponting with Watson coming in lower down but I can't see it myself.

I was wondering what's happened to Phil Jacques. He made stacks of runs in county cricket and looked to have established himself at Test level not so long ago, but it seems he has a recurring back injury and is out of the frame at the moment.

I'd still prefer Owais Shah to Bell, but hopefully Bell will come back stronger after being left our for a while. He's the most experienced option (46 Tests) excluding veterans whose time has gone (e.g. Ramprakash) and he's an excellent fielder.

That was the explanation for him being in the party IIRC, that he was cover at the top of the order.

brett lee might make

Hussey has opened in Test cricket.

Hussey to open with Katich follwed by Ponting, Clarke, North, Watson would be the most likely top 6 if they decide to drop Hughes, and would obviously give them a fourth seam bowler too.

However, as a team they've only been bowled out for less than 400 once in the series so far and I'm not convinced their selectors will want to change their strategy at this stage. I think they'll back Hughes to come good following his debut series in South Africa and drop North (who wouldn't have started this series but for Watson's injury) to make room for Watson.

I agree with you on all counts.

Much was made about how they'd make use of North's off spin, but in reality that hasn't happened & isn't going to happen. Clarke is a much better second option than him. So in effect, as a straight swap, they get a better bowler and arguably similar level of batsmen. He offers them better balance as a side, I think he's a shoe-in.

I don't think they'll risk Lee either. I think he had to play against Northants personally.

This is why we worry about Bell when the pressure is on, he comes into the spotlight because of Pietersen's injury and proceeds to make 7 and 0 for Warwickshire.