For the final Test at The Oval, Australia are depleted and England confused.Australia's problems stem from the loss of Paul Reiffel, who returned home to be with his pregnant wife and Jason Gillespie and Brendon Julian to injury.The confused state of England's thinking obviously has a lot to do with the dismal performance of the team while being overwhelmed in the last three Tests. However, the selectors have added to the `headless chooks' state of English cricket, by the way they have gone about their job.The new selection panel have made some positive moves this summer, but they don't include picking a large squad for nearly every Test. The choice of a fourteen man squad for The Oval means the selectors are either trying to keep a lot of players happy or they really are unsure about the best men for the job. Either way, it sends the wrong signal to a team that is already uncertain of its own capabilities.Throughout the summer, the selectors have bent over backwards not to offend any player, choosing large squads and including extra players for their `bonding' sessions. England had seventeen players at their last `all for one, one for all' session prior to the Headingley Test. When they promptly disintegrated in the first innings, a local commentator remarked, ``Good. Now it is every man for himself, the way it should be.''His sentiments were correct, it's a team game played by individuals. If the individual plays well, bearing in mind the overall requirement to win, then it automatically helps the team. A bit of good old-fashioned rivalry within the team and the fringe players keeps everyone on their toes and eager to perform.The England method this season of large squads and sympathetic phone calls to players who are omitted can lead to complacency. Players should be told by selectors if they have a specific weakness that has caused their demise. That way the player has the opportunity to correct his problem and if he does the team benefits, while nothing is lost if he fades through lack of initiative. However, that is as much as a player needs to know about the way a selector's mind is working.England selectors other glaring error has been their inability to get the combinations right. In their haste to prepare pitches that suit seamers, they have overlooked one simple fact if you pick five bowlers the combination, no matter what the state of the pitch, must be three of the faster variety and two spinners.The original reason for Alec Stewart taking the gloves was so that England could play five bowlers and field a balanced attack. Not only have they not done this, they have compounded their error in the last two Tests by choosing seven batsmen. Choosing the right combination is the most important task for a selector; it doesn't guarantee victory, but at least it gives the team it's best chance.To confuse matters even further, England appear likely to use seven batsmen when Australia's attack is at it's weakest and on the best cricket wicket in the country. The only way England can regain a small measure of pride is by winning at The Oval, but even before the team sets foot on the ground their chances have been diminished by their own selectors.Australia will fight hard for victory, this team knows no other way. Nevertheless, they are more likely to take the least line of resistance now that the series is over and they can hear the roar of the jet engines that will carry them home. If all else fails, a draw won't harm Australia's reputation, but I wouldn't rush out and place a bet.Australia's weakened attack will still include Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne, the two most potent forces in their armoury. They will be operating on a surface which traditionally has more bounce than other English pitches and Australia's batting line-up is the same one that provided the bowlers with plenty of ammunition in the last two Tests. There is every chance a depleted Australian side could add to the English selectors' confusion during this Test.
