Australia ‘a’ is playing the Pakistani ‘a’ side this winter.
It is up in Townsville, so they don’t really have winter up there.
The squad is full of new names, some of which haven’t even played a full year of shield cricket.
Fair to say it isn’t really an ‘a’ squad, but a development squad.
There is no Hodge, Symonds, Harris, Nannes, Noffke, McGain, or Magoffin in it.
In the squad are some odd and surprising selections.
Ryan Broad: Whose career average of 35 in first class cricket doesn’t really turn me on.
Jon Holland: Victoria’s replacement for the injured and nationally indisposed Bryce McGain, sure he shows promise, but perhaps an ‘a’ gig is too much praise for little actual wickets.
Burt Cockley: Still hardly plays for NSWales, but everyone keeps talking him up.
Moises Henriques: All he needs is a hamstring injury and he is the new Shane Watson.
But my favourite selection has to be Shaun Tait.
Now we know why he was being held back from the IPL, because he had ‘a’ one day games (wasn’t picked for the four day cricket) to play.
Cameron White (Victoria, captain), Adam Voges (WA, vice-captain), George Bailey (Tasmania), Doug Bollinger (NSW), Ryan Broad (Queensland), Burt Cockley (NSW), Callum Ferguson (South Australia), Brett Geeves (Tasmania), Moises Henriques (NSW), Jon Holland (Victoria), Michael Klinger (South Australia), Jason Krejza (Tasmania), Shaun Marsh (WA), Clint McKay (Victoria), Tim Paine (Tasmania), Shaun Tait (South Australia), David Warner (NSW).
