More Thoughts On The Aussie Cricket Team

Slater Says Hayden's Got To Go

Once upon a time, the Australian opening pair was built on Mark Taylor and Michael Slater. They were an interesting pair to watch and certain;y the amassed total Test runs of both men stand as testament to their once amazing skills. So in the dying days of Michael Slater's career, there was a sense of "Is that it? Is that all we're going to see of this guy?" when he was dropped by the selectors in the previous Ashes Tour to England.

In retrospect it wasn't a bad decision at all as it allowed the duo of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden to set the pace, and set the pace they did for 2 years. Today, Michael Slater's in the papers saying Hayden should go.

"The time has come for Australia to drop Matthew Hayden," Slater said.

"He has struggled to make runs all series, as he did in 2001 in English conditions, and, in truth, has been out of form now for 12 months.

"I've been a big supporter of his but with the Ashes on the line it is time to make changes.

"Because there is no spare opener in the squad, I would bring Simon Katich up to open the innings.

"He has done the job in four-day cricket and in one-day matches, and has the technique to cope well.

"In his place at No. 6, I would bring in all-rounder Shane Watson because he gives Australia a fifth bowling option, something England have had all series."

Hayden, at 33 a veteran of 71 Tests, has been befuddled by the swinging ball and clever field placings, which have blocked his scoring avenues.

Slater, who played in 14 Tests with the left-hander, said changes had to be made after yesterday's three-wicket defeat at Trent Bridge or the Ashes would return "home" for the first time in 16 years.

"I would also think seriously about playing another leg-spinner, Stuart MacGill, alongside Shane Warne because England have struggled against spin," Slater said.

"That would mean leaving out Shaun Tait, even though he did pretty well on debut.

"Australia must do something to change things because right now they are staring down the barrel at losing the Ashes.

"I believe we will lose the Ashes unless the selectors make changes."

Slater praised Warne, with a series-high 28 wickets and the bonus of 249 runs, and Brett Lee, with 19 wickets and 152 runs, for their efforts.

But the former opener, who was controversially dropped on the 2001 Ashes tour, felt too much was being left to too few.

Well, it's really kind of predictable, when you stop to think about it. Steve Waugh probably overstayed by 18months. The first blush of Ponting's captaincy was essentially coasting on the Waugh Team. The selectors have been trying to avoid the debacle of the 1980s when Dennis Lillee and Greg Chappell all retired at once. So in effect this delayed the generation change for the same amount of time that Steve Waugh over-stayed. Now that's not a knock on Steve Waugh himself; it's just that when he left was probably the best time to embark on re-modeling the team.

At the same time, Matthew Hayden was coming off 2 great calendar years of scoring 1000 test runs. The selectors probably felt secure in letting him continue, thinking he was due for another big year in spite of his age; by that logic, Sir Don would still be batting for Australia if only he were alive. It all stands to reason with 20-20 hindsight; but it's also the flip-side of being conservative or worse, nostalgic and perhaps a little too inert. Losing the Ashes would be a big price to pay.

Just for reference, this is The Australian's preferred team:

Preferred fifth Test team: Justin Langer, Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting (c), Damien Martyn, Michael Clarke, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Stuart MacGill.

That's a team that could have been fielded and blooded 12 months ago; that alone tells you how conservative and nostalgic the selectors have been.