Rowland Kelly today announced the offical Boxers squad for the 05/06 ASCL season. The team remains a balanced side with Razzaq the starting all rounder, and Watson and Oram the 2 backup all rounders. Batting remains solid, and MacGill replaces Kumble as the spinner in the team who was cut after last season, where he played behind better performing team mates for most of the season.
First XI-
1- Phil Jaques- One of the ING cup players to be called up to international level, will partner another lefty to opening the batting. Strike rate of over 80, and averages a little over 37. Replaces Nick Knight, who served the Boxers well in previous seasons.
2- Graeme Smith- Captain of the team, veteran of the Boxers. Average over 40, and strikes at 76 per 100 balls.
3- Saleem Elahi- Normally a number 4 batsman, but finds himself in the number 3 position this season again, batting ahead of Dravid, due to his better strike rate.
4- Rahul Dravid- "The Wall" finds himself without the gloves this season, and should be able to concentrate on his batting better. Also averages over 40.
5- Jaques Rudolph- Very talented South African batsman, who has also led South Africa. A natural number 5 and averages in the high 30s.
6- Abdul Razzaq- Abdur or Abdul? Razzaq or Razzak? one thing is for sure, you have to be a solid preformer to kee Shane Watson and Jacob Oram out of the side, but he finds himself ahead of the 2. Can bat virtually any position from 3-7.
7- Geraint Jones- The Papua New Guinean born, Queensland raised, English keeper is the gloveman for this season, and may also open the batting if need be throughout the season.
8- Brett Lee- World class paceman, will lead with the new ball with Ntini and also very handy batsman in the lower order. Second best s/r in the game, only behind Shane Bond.
9- Makhaya Ntini- Has been consistently in the wickets in past seasons, often also being economical. Will partener Lee in opeing the bowling, and with his wide of the crease bowling, which is so different from Lee's whcich may cause batsmen and umpires difficult LBW decisions. Capable to hit out like Lee if needed at the end of an innings.
10- Darren Gough- Ageless warrior, will take the ball first change, and bowl at the death with his famous yorkers.
11- Stuart MacGill- Finally in the international arena where he belongs. Can be expensive, but he takes wickets also. Not much in the batting department here though.
12th Man
12- Shane Watson- Gifted all rounder and athlete, unlucky not to be in the starting XI, though will get plenty of games anyway. Bowls over the 140k mark, and powerful hitting down the ground. Stats don't do justice to his talend at this stage of his career.
Reserve players
13- Jacob Oram- Big NZ all rounder will fill bowling or batting roles if needed. Can dish out big hits, and also bowls economically.
14- Imran Farhat- Specialist backup batsman, first on call if ant of the top 6 batsmen go down. Opens for Pakistan, but may be requireds to fill many roles this season.
15- Rashid Latif- Backup keeper will likely only get a game if Jones is injured.
ING players unlucky to not get a contract were Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark and Dominic Thornley, but all will be considered next season.