There's room for McDonald and Watson in Australia's Test side
The Sunday Age
Sunday November 15, 2009
THE Australian selectors will meet this week to select the squad for the first Test against the West Indies in Brisbane and a few interesting questions need to be answered. Will Phillip Hughes return to open the batting? If so, what number does Shane Watson bat? Does Michael Clarke walk straight back into the team with no cricket under his belt after such a long lay-off? Does Michael Hussey retain his position in the middle order? Is Brett Lee worthy of a recall? Have Brad Haddin's brittle fingers recovered sufficiently to justify immediate reinstatement?Another item that should also be on the agenda is how can they fit Andrew McDonald into the line-up. McDonald, at 28, has finally arrived as a top-class player. He is highly unlikely to even be considered, but he would certainly be a shrewd selection for Brisbane.If Watson, as we all expect, moves back down the order and Hughes returns to open, then it's difficult to mount a case for McDonald. But if the Watson experiment as an opening batsman continues, McDonald would be an ideal choice to bat at No. 6 or 7 and bowl his nagging medium-pacers.He has developed into a genuine all-rounder and now has strong claims with both bat and ball. He was a standout player for Victoria in the recently completed champion's league tournament in India, albeit a Twenty20 series, but, more relevant, started the Sheffield Shield season in Adelaide in career-best form. He scored a polished and composed century in the first innings and bowled with beautiful control and patience throughout. He is primed and ready for the first Test should the call arrive.In the summer of 2001-2002, €śRonnie€ť or more recently €śTorch€ť to his teammates, made his debut for Victoria and it would be fair to say he struggled in his early years, particularly with the bat. His back-foot play against the quicks was his major stumbling block. He went into the team with a reputation as a batting all-rounder, but opportunities at that point were limited with Ian Harvey still on the scene. He was played mostly as a bowling all-rounder, batting as low as No. 9 in some games. His admirers at Melbourne CC continued to blow his trumpet as a class batsman, but he looked slightly out of his depth at the next level.His bowling has always been of the highest quality and in Victoria's shield-winning season of 2003-04 he played a major role in the team's success with 32 wickets at just 26 apiece. He was then, and still is today, much underrated as a bowler, simply because he is not that fashionable. He does not charge to the wicket, he does not bowl fast. In fact, at times, he can look to be a bit pedestrian. Underestimate him at your peril. No frills, no bells or whistles, but a very clever trundler.McDonald is a crafty bowler with great control and subtle variety. Many top-class players have grown to realise his strength is his unnerving accuracy and persistence. He has matured enormously in the past few years and now totally understands his own game. A lot of hours have been spent honing and building the all-round cricketer he is today.He has already shown in his four Test matches the value he provides to a well-balanced attack. He can bowl maidens, build pressure and he chimes in with a valuable wicket.The Gabba provides ideal conditions for McDonald's recall. The wicket is normally a belter, although it always offers some assistance for the bowlers who put it in the right area. Control is crucial at the Gabba and more often than not the seamer who hits the right areas on a consistent basis is rewarded far more than the big quick who tries to blast sides away with pure aggression. McDonald can move the ball both in the air and off the seam, an ability that first-picked all-rounder Watson does not have in his repertoire. It would be unlikely to occur but an attack of Johnson, Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Watson and McDonald provides great variety, although all five are seamers. McDonald's presence gives Siddle and Johnson the freedom to charge in and bowl fast in short spells. The huge problem of leaking too many runs in England is plugged by McDonald's economy.The Australians missed a huge chance by leaving him out of their starting line-up throughout the Ashes campaign. He was used successfully against South Africa as a bowler who could bat a bit and filled the lowly No. 8 position. He is a better player than that. His recent form with the bat in all forms of the game has been top class. If the selectors are still a little unsure about his batting credentials then the solution is easy €” they should break from tradition and play keeper Haddin at No. 6. Both are more than capable of holding down either position.
© 2009 The Sunday Age
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