To be fair that's because he bats 5-7 for Victoria.Maxwell has a poor 50-100 conversion rate as well so it's a like for like replacement with Watson.
Not really inclined to GAF over a fifth bowling option at the moment; I'd happily have that problem instead of living in fear of the next batting collapse. Especially at the Gabba and Perth.Be a huge blow to Australia if Watson is out. Not only will they need a rethink on the make up of the side regarding a 5th bowling option they will need a new number 3 or the replacement has to bat there instead of moving Clarke, Ponting or Hussey.
I know but will give the selectors a big headache at the selection meeting. Personally i'd go for a bat as I hate bits and pieces all rounders in tests (looks like we will use Patel in India) and would always rather go with a 6th bat than a makeshift one who may come off.Not really inclined to GAF over a fifth bowling option at the moment; I'd happily have that problem instead of living in fear of the next batting collapse. Especially at the Gabba and Perth.
If Watson is out, Maxwell at 7. Ponting to 3, Muss to 4, Wade to 6Almost think its time for a batting pecking order thread and potentially a batting pecker order to boot.
I'm a Khawaja and Bailey supporter however neither have done anything amazing to start this domestic season.
In saying that I would still opt for Khawaja or Quiney to bat in the top 3 if Watson was ruled out. How's Ponting, is he almost certain to play?
Wouldn't rule out Dussey. If they're looking for a bloke that they know is only going to play out the series until someone comes back from injury, I wouldn't be surprised if they did go with him since there's no real obligation to keep picking him once the series is over, even if he does do well. Hasn't been scoring runs in the Shield but made an OD century the other day, and he can bowl a few offies which always gets the selectors hard.If Watson is out, Maxwell at 7. Ponting to 3, Muss to 4, Wade to 6
If Ponting is out, Quiney or Khawaja at 3.
If Clarke/Huss are out, Bailey/Smith at 5/6
If Warner/Cowan are out, Quiney/Hughes in.
****, you realise the cupboard is bare when Steven Smith is a legitimate top 6 option if the incumbents fall over. Only Burns and Doolan have any serious form behind them (in addition to the guys mentioned above). And Glenn Maxwell is looking at Test selection. Inver-darling or not, he shouldn't really be near the side. It doesn't help that everyone in the country spontaneously forgot how to bat while Smith, Maxwell and even Paine made decent contributions against RSA.
Actually, now that I think about it, Andrew McDonald as a swap for Watson would be a better option. Chuck him in at 7.
So in terms of a pecking order for possible Top 6 players:
1. Quiney (1,2,3)
2. Bailey (4,5,6)
3. Khawaja (4, 5, 6)
4. Smith (4,5,6)
5. Hughes (1,2)
6. McDonald (3,4,5,6)
7. Maxwell (3)
8. Doolan (4,5,6)
9. Burns (4,5,6)
Brackets are the injured incumbents they could hypothetically replace. I'm guessing I forgot someone incredibly obvious in there, however.