After Waugh criticism, Australia defend age profile of Ashes squad
Australia persisted with their veteran core for the five-match Test series that begins in Perth, leading to criticism from former skipper Steve Waugh.
New Delhi: Those who have performed well have the right to be selected irrespective of their age, Australia's chairman of selectors George Bailey insisted after criticism over the team's age profile for the Ashes series beginning on November 21.
Australia persisted with their veteran core for the five-match Test series that begins in Perth, leading to criticism from former skipper Steve Waugh.
Only one player in all-rounder Cameron Green is under 30 in Australia's 15-man Ashes squad announced on Wednesday.
A day earlier Waugh said that Bailey ought to make tough calls to reinvigorate the red-ball side, having failed to do so in the past that put Australia's future at risk.
"He's going to have to step up to the plate with the other selectors. The bowlers are in their 30s and some of the batsmen are getting on as well," Waugh had said at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Bailey defended the decision of choosing experience over youth, pointing out that the squad was picked on performance.
"We're aware of the age profile of the team. I'm interested when people have that view as to who they would like us to leave (out). Is that Nathan Lyon and Mitch Starc out, is that just because of their age?
"You've got to give due respect that the guys are performing very well and they have the right to be selected," Bailey said to media personnel on the Gold Coast.
Konstas dropped
Australia dropped opener Sam Konstas, 20, for uncapped Jake Weatherald and recalled 31-year-old top-order batter in Marnus Labuschagne.
Either Weatherald or Labuschagne will accompany 38-year-old Usman Khawaja at the top of the order for the Ashes series against England.
34-year-old Mitchell Marsh was considered as an opener but didn't make the cut.
"We went to the ICC (International Cricket Council) and the issue there was they wouldn't let the umpires take breathalysers out onto the field," Bailey joked.
"So if he was going to be six or eight beers' deep by the time the first ball was bowled, it was going to make it tricky."
Australia's bowling unit has the long-time quartet of Starc, Lyon, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, all well into their 30s.