JOIN USAustralia are shelving their controversial rotation policy for back-to-back Ashes campaigns that are in danger of falling into complete disarray barely two weeks prior to the opening Test against England.
Described as “informed player management” by national selector John Inverarity, the policy designed to safeguard key players from burn-out has drawn heavy criticism from the media and a number of former internationals.
Struggling for form and beset by disciplinary issues, rotating players is a luxury the team cannot afford and Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive James Sutherland confirmed that the strongest available side would be selected throughout the Ashes.
“...looking ahead to the Ashes series in England and next summer in Australia, you won’t see any of that rotation policy, as you call it, in the fashion that we have in the past,” Sutherland said on ABC radio.
“It's about providing opportunities to players for a team that's in transition, so the selectors can give players opportunities at international level and see how they cope with that and respond,” he said.
“For well over a decade, the Australian selectors have adopted a policy of doing that, particularly with one-day cricket.
“I've got no doubt that will continue but for Ashes Test matches, we will day-in, day-out be picking our best team."
The decision is likely to be welcomed by newly appointed coach Darren Lehmann, who has been critical of the policy in the past.