Such are the prognostications of armchair selectors, four years ago I boldly predicted the starting XI of the Australian test team for this test summer just gone.
They were:
- Hughes (NSW)
- Bailey (c) (Tas)
- Khawaja (NSW)
- Ferguson (SA)
- Marsh, M (WA)
- Smith (NSW)
- Paine (TAS)
- O’Keefe (NSW)
- McDermott (QLD)
- Hazelwood (NSW)
- Pattinson, J (VIC)
The 1st Test versus India in Adelaide featured the following players:
- Rogers
- Warner
- Watson
- Clarke (c)
- Smith
- Marsh, M
- Haddin
- Lyon
- Johnson
- Siddle
- Harris
….all of which proves on the basis of my guessing four years ago, of the 11 who played in Adelaide, I tipped two. That said, Josh Hazelwood and James Pattinson are likely to feature in the future more, although I did have the batting order of Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith mixed up.
I won’t even try and tip a test team four years from now – except to say I reckon Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, and quite possibly McDermott, and the aforementioned Hazelwood and Pattinson may feature; so too Sam Whiteman and Ryan Carters. Of course, the more Victorians the better!
That said, cricket can be a cruel game. And this fan will forever remember Phillip Hughes.
