Former Australian quick bowler Jason Gillespie says there’s a probability fringe quicks Scott Boland and Michael Neser shall be picked to play collectively within the Ashes.
A jam-packed schedule of six Tests in seven weeks will stretch the Australian bowling assault and result in tough choice dilemmas between matches, Gillespie says.
The SA Redbacks and Adelaide Strikers coach says the philosophy of nationwide selectors would shortly turn into obvious when the Australians enter the primary Ashes Test at Edgbaston off only a three-day break following the World Test Championship ultimate.
“There’s always a chance (Boland and Neser both play), and the reason I say that is the Tests are in very quick succession,” Gillespie mentioned.
“The challenge for both sides will be managing those short breaks – can a quick get through five Tests in six weeks?
“It’s got to be our shortest Ashes tour in history, I would’ve thought, in terms of time.”
Gillespie mentioned it might be tough for selectors to disregard Neser, given his super all-round type in county cricket, with the Queenslander claiming 19 wickets at 25.63 and 311 runs at 51.83 in 5 video games for second division aspect Glamorgan.
“I don’t know which way they’ll go – I think (Neser or Boland) is going to be the decision, because they’ll definitely play Starc and Cummins, and they’ll definitely play Lyon and Green,” Gillespie mentioned.
“That’s going to be a real tricky one – I think there’ll be a lot of temptation to play Michael Neser because he’s been playing county cricket and he’s performing really well.
“It’ll just come down to selection philosophy, really – do you go the incumbent, or do you strike while the iron is hot and go for someone that’s actually been in English conditions and performing strongly?”
Gillespie mentioned it might be a “bloody nightmare” to be in command of worldwide cricket scheduling within the present local weather, pointing again to the wide-open schedule of the 1993 Ashes tour to England.
“I remember on that tour, Matthew Hayden scored 1000 first-class runs, but he didn’t play a single Test match – it suggests they obviously played a lot of county cricket in between the games,” he mentioned.
“I think everyone agrees that in an ideal world you’d have practice matches and tour matches, but you look at the schedules these days – 30 years ago there were no T20 tournaments, there were two formats of the game and there probably weren’t as many countries regularly playing.
“The year isn’t getting longer – there’s so much more cricket, so it’s a tricky one.”
Source: www.news.com.au
