Around the Wicket - All Round Dilemma

Could Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds co-exist in a test side?

It seems unlikely, given that Australia has always been loathe to play an all-rounder in the test side – let alone two, but that is the selection drama that will be facing the Australian selectors after the Indian tour.

I suspect Ricky Ponting will want Andrew Symonds back in the side ASAP, but if Watson has a strong Indian tour with the bat and ball – he could secure that number 6 spot, and then it’s hard to see where Symonds fits back in.

Could Watson play as a specialist batsman up the top order? He averages 50 in first class cricket – playing on the bowler friendly Gabba wicket most of the time. I believe he probably could hold his place as a batsman – but that would depend on one of the other top 5 failing/retiring. Matthew Hayden is the batsman who’s probably next to leave the Aussie team – but could Watson open the batting for his country? Doubtful. But he’d have a better chance than Symonds. Watson has a good technique, and has done well opening in one-day cricket – but white clothes and red balls are an all together different prospect.

Would the Aussies consider moving Mike Hussey up the order to open – just to fit in Simmo and Watto? It was successful for Justin Langer late in his career, and Hussey is an ex-opening batsman. Again though – I think this is doubtful – that middle order of Ponting, Hussey and Clarke is settled, and shouldn’t be changed in the near future.

What happens if Watson has a poor Indian tour with the bat, but excels with the ball? Do the selectors then continue to pick him as a bowler, and bat him at no.8, behind Symonds and Haddin? Much will depend on how the spinner (McGain or Krezja) performs in India. If the spinners struggle to take wickets, we may well see no specialist spin bowler in the Aussie side in future tours. That could open the door for Symonds and Watson to co-exist. The Aussie set up (which is very rarely departed from) is generally 6 batsman, a keeper, a spinner, and 3 quicks. But if the spinners fail in India – Symonds and Clarke could share the spinning duties for the short term, and the specialist spinner could be substituted for the bowling all rounder – Shane Watson.

Take a look, and tell me - which side looks stronger on paper?

No Symonds, but with a specialist spinner:
Hayden, Jaques, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Watson, Haddin, Lee, Clark, Johnson, McGain

OR

Symonds, with no specialist spinner:
Hayden, Jaques, Ponting, Hussey, Clarke, Symonds, Haddin, Watson, Lee, Clark, Johnson