Ashes stat attack: Australia

Date released: 10 July 2009

With seven days to go we countdown to the the Ashes Test at Lord's with a great story each day for ten days. Today: an Australia Ashes squad stat-pack.

Stats updated to include First Ashes Test 2009

Below you will find a list of each member of the Australia squad's statistics for all Tests; Tests at Lord's and Ashes Tests.

Analysis

The first detail which leapt out whilst compiling these statistics is the lack of height in the Australia batting line-up.

Small man, big talent: Phillip Hughes In their batting order for the first Test in Cardiff you have to get down to number six before you find a man over six feet tall - Marcus North.

Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Hughes all come in at under 5'8" with wicket-keeper Haddin a towering 5'9".

Whether this is an advantage or disadvantage remains to be seen. The adage "If you're good enough you're big enough" may ring true - height certainly hasn't stopped Ponting becoming only the fourth player ever to breach 11,000 Test runs.

The contrast to England, who have two six footers in their top four is striking - with short-pitched bouncers set to be a key bowling weapon perhaps the diminutive Australians are at an advantage.

From a great height

Conversely the Aussie bowlers hurl the ball down from a great height.

At 6'5" Stuart Clark (left out of the first Test) is the joint tallest player in the Series, with England's Stuart Broad.

Johnson (6'2"), Siddle and Hilfenhaus (both 6'1") lend height to the attack and with Clark and Brett Lee (6'1") in reserve the attack won't lack stature.

Lack of experience?

Warne: Australia lost a great bowler and key experience Much has been made, pre-Series about the key Australia players who have retired: Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and more.

The loss of these players would hurt any team but the loss of their experience may prove telling too.

Though the Australia team boasts a higher average age than England (29 vs. 27) they have a lower average number of Tests played (26.1 vs. 29.6); fewer Ashes Tests played (70 vs. 85) and far fewer at Lord's.

Only Ponting, Katich, Michael Clarke and the injured Lee have played at The Home of Cricket before.

If, as seems likely, Lee fails to recover from his rib injury in time for Lord's, more than two thirds of the Australia team will be playing in their first Test at cricket's most famous venue - something England will look to turn to their advantage.

Stat pack - Australia

Squad: Ponting; Katich; Hughes; M. Clarke; Hussey; North; Haddin; Johnson; Siddle; Hilfenhaus; Hauritz; Lee; Manou; McDonald; Watson;S. Clark

^{Stats include First Ashes Test of 2009}

Ricky Ponting
Height: 5'8"
Age: 34
Role: Batsman & captain

Simon Katich
Height: 5'10"
Age: 33
Role: Batsman

Philip Hughes
Height: 5'6"
Age: 20
Role: Batsman

Michael Clarke
Height: 5'8"
Age: 28
Role: Batsman

Michael Hussey
Height: 5'8"
Age: 34
Role: Batsman

Marcus North
Height: 6'1"
Age: 29
Role: Batsman

Brad Haddin
Height: 5'9"
Age: 29
Role: Wicket-keeper

Mitchell Johnson
Height: 6'2"
Age: 27
Role: Bowler

Peter Siddle
Height: 6'1"
Age: 24
Role: Bowler

Ben Hilfenhaus
Height: 6'1"
Age: 26
Role: Bowler

Nathan Hauritz
Height: 5'10"
Age: 27
Role: Bowler

Brett Lee
Height: 6'1"
Age: 32
Role: Bowler

Graham Manou
Height: 5'9"
Age: 30
Role: Wicket-keeper

Yet to make his Test debut

Andrew McDonald
Height: 6'4"
Age: 31
Role: All-rounder

Shane Watson
Height: 6'0"
Age: 28
Role: All-rounder

Stuart Clark
Height: 6'5"
Age: 33
Role: Bowler

Australia squad totals

Average age: 29
Tests: 429 (avg. 26.8)
at Lord's: 6 (avg. 0.3)
Ashes: 81 (avg. 5)