"If you had told Australian observers six months ago that their Test team in Sydney would involve Travis Head opening the batting with Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja at five, no Cameron Green, and some bowling combination of Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Todd Murphy and Brendan Doggett, they would have assumed disaster. Fifth Ashes Tests are the land of Scott Borthwick, of Boyd Rankin and Mason Crane: fringe players getting a glimpse at the wreckage after a series has crashed and burned."
"Khawaja was one such, in the debut reflected upon so much this week after his retirement announcement: the game when he replaced an injured Ricky Ponting after two Australian defeats by an innings, only to play in a third. Instead the Australians won this series comfortably before Christmas, despite a run of injury and health issues that should have made their campaign shambolic. Three of the Big Four bowlers are on the rehab list, replacement captain Steve Smith missed the series decider,"
Australia won the Ashes series comfortably before Christmas despite significant injuries, unexpected selections, and absent regulars. The Sydney Test featured Travis Head opening with Jake Weatherald, Usman Khawaja at five, no Cameron Green, and a bowling attack including Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Todd Murphy and Brendan Doggett. Three of the Big Four bowlers were on the rehab list and replacement captain Steve Smith missed the series decider. Marnus Labuschagne and Green underdelivered. England's selection and preparation problems, including faith in Will Jacks as a spinner and doubts about Shoaib Bashir, compounded Australia's surprising success. Pitch conditions and late team announcements influenced final choices.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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