Selectors Ignore MacGill, Symonds

The Test careers of Stuart MacGill and Andrew Symonds were officially placed on death row today as Australian selectors named an uncapped quartet of youngsters for the 4 Test tour of India in October.

A generational change is in the midst.

The National Selection Panel overlooked MacGill in opting for the youth and variety of Nathan Hauritz and Cameron White, despite both boasting modest first-class records, to compliment Shane Warne as the touring parties spin nucleus.

While it seems the final flicker of the fiery New South Welshman's Test career is ever so slowly fading, Chairman of Selectors Trevor Hohns suggested that he may one day return to the side should Warne fall injured or another spinner be required.

The selection of White symbolizes a generational change. For want of a better analogy, the leg-spinning baton has been passed on.

While MacGill offers sharp and aggressive turn, White specializes in subtle variation in flight, turn and drift. Slightly quicker through the air than most, White offers the selectors a variety of options in testing conditions - a wrist spinning option that emphatically contrasts from that of Warne, improving middle-order batting and a sharp cricketing brain. Bowlers of his type have proven successful in Indian conditions, while his batting gives invites the possibility of selection at number 7.

For Hauritz the series provides a surprising new opportunity following his previous Test tour in 2002. Averaging 44 over 20 first-class matches the Queenslander was simply acknowledged as top of an ever-dwindling finger-spin class in domestic cricket.

As expected, leading ODI spinner Brad Hogg has been left to the wayside - it was only 12 months ago that he and MacGill offered Australia their two spin options in the Caribbean.

All-rounder Shane Watson's return to bowling fitness meant his second Test tour with the national squad following his South African subpoena in 2002, where he scored a first-class hundred against South Africa 'A'. As one of the dominant batsmen of the past domestic summer, his return to the bowling framework adds a crucial piece to the puzzle of the new era.

His selection casts eminent doubts over the future of Andrew Symonds in the Test arena. After being offered 2 matches in Sri Lankan, the immensely talented right-hander has since been discarded, with selectors admitting that they aren't sold on the explosive Symonds as a Test cricketer. The selection of Hauritz as the finger spinner made redundant his case as a frontline finger-spinner.

The most predicatable of the uncapped players to be named is the richly gifted Michael Clarke. Despite a modest county summer, Clarke is one of the most explosive new talents in the ODI arena and a Test debut looms large. His left-arm finger spinners are a proven tool on the sub-continent, while he sweeps and drives the spinners with conviction.

Simon Katich and Darren Lehmann offer captain Ricky Ponting plausible part-time left-arm spin options, as well as strong reputations against spin bowlers, for a series that may shape the future balance of Test cricket.

Brett Lee returns to the Test fold for the first time since the Australian summer, adding firepower to a seasoned pace attack. Brad Williams and Shaun Tait, who both held slim hopes of selection in the 16-man squad, were passed over for the tour.

Hohns justified the extended touring squad on the basis of the trying conditions likely to be faced in India. "We've chosen one more player than usual, but we wanted to select a squad that allows us to cover every possible condition that may be presented. This is a well-rounded squad that gives us enormous flexibility and it's one that we're very pleased with and excited about".

The full squad is:

Ricky Ponting (c)
Adam Gilchrist (vc)
Matthew Hayden
Justin Langer
Damien Martyn
Darren Lehmann
Simon Katich
Michael Clarke
Shane Watson
Cameron White
Nathan Hauritz
Shane Warne
Brett Lee
Jason Gillespie
Michael Kasprowicz
Glenn McGrath.

The Australia tour begins against the Indian Board President's XI on the 30 September.

Posted by Andre