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Journalism of Courage
As expected, Australia’s selectors wielded the axe after the Ashes loss to England, dropping Damien Martyn from the Test squad, Matthew Hayden from the one-day squad and Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz from both teams for next month’s challenge series against the Rest of the World.
And they also signalled the start of a search to find their own version of England’s Andrew Flintoff by including two relatively untried all rounders in their squads.
Their failure to develop a quality all rounder proved costly in the Ashes as Flintoff tormented Australia with bat and ball.
Australia put their faith in specialists but the lessons of defeat have been learnt with the selectors dumping four experienced hands for new blood.
Brad Hodge, Shane Watson, Stuart MacGill, Shaun Tait, Nathan Bracken and James Hopes were added to the two squads but it was the inclusion of all-rounders Watson and Hopes that was most significant.
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Watson made his Test debut against Pakistan in January and, although he is yet to add to this cap, the 24-year-old is regarded as one of Australia’s brightest prospects.
A powerful middle-order batsman and deceptively quick first-change bowler, Watson came to prominence when he was selected for the 2003 World Cup.
He was forced to pull out of the tournament because of a back problem but has since played 37 one-day matches and recently scored a double-century for Hampshire in England.
Michael Clarke said Watson had the potential to become a great all rounder although it was pointless comparing him with Flintoff.
