Australia’s plan to keep top bowlers away from opposition eyes in Hobart may have backfired, with England’s batsmen given an armchair ride into the Ashes.
Australia A were a fast bowler short on Wednesday and were subsequently humiliated by England, finishing day one at a record 0-318.
Getting the balance right for the Australia A side to face the tourists was never going to be easy with three Sheffield Shield matches happening around the country, a docile Bellerive pitch providing little assistance and varying theories on how tour matches should be approached.
But England’s new-look opening partnership Alastair Cook (154 not out) and Michael Carberry (153no) certainly weren’t complaining at the decision by Australian selectors to only pick two front line fast bowlers.
Carberry took a golden chance to secure himself a start at the top of the order for the first Test in Brisbane, and Cook made the ideal return from a back complaint, as both batsmen cruised to centuries and a record first-wicket partnership on day one.
Australia A’s chances of exposing England’s vulnerability at the top was compromised by Trent Copeland (0-68) and Ben Cutting (0-56) going it alone in the pace department.
There was help from allrounder Moises Henriques, who would be lucky to have shed his jet lag from India, but there was no third recognised seamer.
Spinners Glenn Maxwell and Jon Holland were ineffectual and even Usman Khawaja was thrown the ball with England none down in the final session.
National selector John Inverarity admitted when the side was selected that it was a deliberate move not to give England a look at bowlers in Test contention.
“They all have a chance (the bowlers) but I think leading into a series you’re wise in not giving the opposition a good look at your bowlers,” Inverarity said at the time.
Cricket Australia caved into England complaints for next week’s third and final pre-Ashes tour match at the SCG, and will field a stronger Invitational XI to replace a NSW second XI.
However, the big name players all called up to play for the Invitational XI are batsmen, meaning England will once again face a less than blue-ribbon attack.
Meanwhile, Shane Watson was cleared of a serious left hamstring strain and remains confident of being able to play as an allrounder in the first Test.
It appears Watson is a chance to still bowl in Brisbane provided he responds well to treatment and can get through training when the team assembles in Brisbane on November 17.
Australia are likely to pick a 13-man squad on November 12 featuring allrounder James Faulkner and an extra batsman as cover for the possibility of Watson being ruled out.
