Oz media calls for revamp of team batting line-up for Ashes success

The Australian media has called for a major revamp of the Australian batting order, starting with former vice captain Shane Watson returning to the opening position to have success in the Ashes.

According to News.com.au, although such wholesale changes may appear risky, but Australia may miserably fail against a strong England line-up if it does not take any action.

The report further said that an unchanged status quo had created havoc in the team during its wretched failure to take back the No. 1 Test ranking from South Africa in Perth last summer and the recent 4-0 thrashing by India.

The report suggested changing the line-up by playing the team's most experienced players in their best positions, which, it added, meant keeping captain Michael Clarke in the No.5 spot and bringing in veteran Chris Rogers as Watson's opening partner.

Stating that Watson must be given an opportunity against the new ball as he has flourished as an opener, the report further said that current opener Ed Cowan would then be collateral damage, while his partner David Warner should move down the order away from the new ball to capitalise on his naturally aggressive nature.

According to the report, although replacing Cowan with Rogers may seem harsh, but it will be a success for the team as Rogers, who is Australia's most experienced player in English conditions, has almost 20,000 first-class runs, mainly scored in England, while Cowan has just one century and averages under 33 from 17 Tests

The report further said that elegant Australian player Usman Khawaja must be given an opportunity in the middle order, while Phillip Hughes needed to transfer his prolific first-class performances into the Test arena.

However, the report said that Australia's exciting group of fast bowlers, consisting of Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc with Jackson Bird and a fit again Ryan Harris as back-up, should create opportunities which can set them up to regain the Ashes, although it added that it is up to the batsmen to reinforce those chances with runs.