Yeah, because Compton, May, Pietersen, Gower etc are worse batsmen....... Man, it really makes very less sense to me. English batting is noticeably weaker than Aussie one, especially Gilchrist and Don makes a very tangible difference.
I've explained this before.
In a direct comparison with Border (or Ponting), I can't choose Miller, just too huge of a drop off. As a test batsman, he has 7 test hundreds in 55 tests, almost half came in one series, can't put him in over AB.
The Australian attack is also bullet proof, all 4 are capable of bowling extended spells and can even rotate around Warne with Simpson and Border there to assist. Not to add that Miller was mostly used, and at his best with the new ball, something he's not getting a sniff at here.
The difference with Botham is that with that batting lineup, his aggression is a necessity. Along with Root, they are the only ones who would be consistently able to push the run rate, plus he was a legitimate match winner with the willow.
As a slip, he's even more invaluable and he's needed at 2nd. No one else in the team is a viable option.
As a bowler. Trueman was less than ideal outside of England, Tyson was likely to breakdown, God in heaven knows what Barnes bowled and if it would be viable and Verity took less than 4 wickets a match. Yes his bowling is much more needed than Miller's.
In this completion England is a wild card and just trying to be viable, Australia is a contender who's likely facing the WI in the final, no need for the wild card.
Again, we don't have to agree.