In the aftermath of Chris Gayle's mission to single-handedly convert T20s harshest critics, the cricket focus fleetingly reverted back to the red ball format. Australia's long-awaited Ashes tour squad has been revealed, leading to a flurry of critiques by the mainstream media, blogosphere and on social media.
Here's an attempt to unfurl ten curly questions reverberating in cyberspace.
Is this squad a mismatched collection of cricketers?
It's hard to stereotype this squad. Despite the selections of Brad Haddin and Chris Rogers, it's not exactly Dad's Army. Nor does it have the essence of Australia's '89 underdog squad, which triumphed because persistence with a new batch of cricketers had been rewarded.
It's an unbalanced side on paper, with Haddin and Rogers being resurrected because of an alarming dearth of experience and leadership.
The side hasn't formed an identity. It's not a squad brimming with battle hardened and mature cricketers. On the flip side, it's not an exuberant team with an abundance of precocious players.
Right now, only Michael Clarke and perhaps James Pattinson can be considered guaranteed selections.
The question remains. Can this team form a persona during their English journey?
Has Australia been having Ashes tryouts since November?
Yes. The dirty little secret is that the Ashes is basically viewed as cricket's championship. Beating the Old Enemy is what matters. Sure, it's nice to knock off India or South Africa but the Ashes is cricket's holy grail.
Under the guise of rotations, selections have been essentially tryouts for the Ashes. The mishmash of players during the Australian summer and Indian tour was arguably demeaning to the Baggygreen, as some probably weren't deserved selections.
But, previous calamities will be forgotten if Australia reclaims the fragile urn.
How has Haddin usurped Wade?
I have to confess. I detest Haddin being made vice-captain. As I wrote previously, I don't believe Australia should have selected a mere stopgap deputy.
I don't like selectors juggling confidence in their shaky hands. This is what they are inflicting on Wade, who even a few days ago appeared a candidate for the vice captaincy. It's been a merciless slap on the face.
But, if the Ashes is the ultimate, and winning takes precedence over future development, then Haddin is a logical inclusion. Two of his three Test tons have been against England and he has an average of 44.5 in nine Ashes matches - nine runs more than his career average in the whites.
And it's hard to argue that Haddin isn't the more reliable keeper right now. More importantly, it appears Clarke isn't comfortable playing a one-man band. He needs a confidant. He trusts Haddin. They are long-time mates.
Due to his good Ashes record, the English fans fear Haddin. They have been hoping Wade gets the nod. That has to count in Haddin's favour, right? Australia isn't seeping with players possessing an aura of intimidation.
Haddin with the gloves is Australia's best chance of celebrating Ashes glory. But will it compromise Australia's long-term prospects?
Why isn't Steve Smith playing?
Smith has a devoted following. Perhaps swayed by his deeds in the coloured clothing or maybe influenced by his decent performance amid the carnage in India, a chorus of surprise from the Smith bandwagon echoed after his Ashes non-selection.
Smith is a spare parts cricketer. He's handy with the bat and is capable of snaring wickets with his tweakers. But not being especially competent with either bat or ball isn't the recipe for a successful Test career, which demands specialists.
His cricket career is destined to be consigned to the white ball formats.
Are the Test careers of Mitchell Johnson and Shaun Marsh over?
Due to the fickleness of the Aussie selectors, one can't consign a cricketer to the scrapheap (insert Chris Rogers).
But one feels Johnson's schizophrenic Test career is indeed finished. His Test career was surprisingly resurrected during the Australian summer thanks to the selectors' penchant to trial everybody.
Some of Johnson's most infamous moments came at the mirth of the Barmy Army. His bid to put the ghost of Ashes past to rest has been futile. The apparitions of wayward Johnson being rattled by the Barmy Army tunes were enough to convince selectors to punt with emerging all-rounder James Faulkner, who showcased his big-game prowess with stellar bat and ball efforts during Tasmania's Sheffield Shield final win.
As a long-suffering WA Warriors supporter, my head still aches after years of banging my head in frustration over Shaun Marsh's continuing struggles. He's a limited overs wonder but in the longer format, Marsh's inability to cope with pressure has negated his prodigious talents.
At 30, and after more than a decade of first class cricket, Marsh may frustratingly be destined to never reach his vast potential.
Why has Chris Rogers been selected?
The 35-year-old is insurance for a top order that is more unpredictable than the stock markets. Warner may become Anderson's bunny. Cowan's run of mediocrity could continue. Hughes could become fodder for England's slips.
No-one would be shocked if Australia's top order is more wobbly than an inebriated David Boon. It smacks of desperation that Australia has reverted to Rogers - the same player they red stamped five years ago after twin failures in his only Test against India in Perth five years ago.
Rogers has scored a plethora of runs in the first class ranks, especially in England. There's a good chance his experience will be tested during the Ashes.
Where is George Bailey?
Australia's T20 captain is the enigma in Australian cricket. He oozes with leadership and would have been an inspired choice for the deputy position.
Cricket is a sport that is consumed with statistics, so enamoured that I believe it skews judgement on players. Every time I watch Bailey bat, no matter the format, I'm impressed. I love his grit. He's like an old fashioned Aussie battler, who'll fight to ensure his wicket is intact.
Unfortunately, the stats tell a different tale. He has a first class record under 40 and had a horrendous Sheffield Shield season.
Perhaps he doesn't have the class to succeed in Test cricket. That's what the selectors believe.
One spinner was selected. Wait, what?
Rightly, Australia is backing their quicks to deliver the bulk of the wickets. A bevy of talented pacemen ensures this is not Australia's weakest squad to England. And the brigade has a chance of scything a shaky English line-up and delivering an upset series victory.
There will probably be Tests where Australia goes retro West Indian and fields an all-out pace attack.
Nathan Lyon is serviceable but will never be a match-winner. The Xavier Doherty experience will never again be repeated. Fawad Ahmed has been deemed the best spinner in the Sheffield Shield but is still waiting on the Federal Government granting citizenship.
The pace attack is the one redeeming feature of Aussie cricket.
Graeme Swann is salivating at the prospect of bowling to a plethora of lefties, right?
Swann should be licking his lips. Australia could field four or five top order lefties. But England shouldn't be burdening their offie too much, with Swann recuperating from shoulder surgery.
Australia has been Swann's kryptonite, evidenced by 29 wickets (40avg) in 10 Ashes Tests. Expectations shouldn't be too high for a big Swann series.
What is Australia's First Test line-up?
Warner, Cowan, Hughes, Clarke, Khawaja, Watson, Haddin, Pattinson, Harris, Bird, Lyon/Siddle (depending on conditions).
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