Australians worried over lack of runs ahead of Ashes

Australia have announced just six specialist batsmen in a list of 20 centrally contracted players ahead of the next 12 months.

Injured captain Michael Clarke heads a thin group of names in which he is the only batsman to average over 40 in Test cricket.

David Warner (39.46), Shane Watson (35.34), Phil Hughes (33.00) and Ed Cowan (32.90) are the other batsmen, while Twenty20 captain George Bailey is yet to make his Test bow.

“There is a concern, I mean we do not have the batting depth now that we enjoyed seven or eight and 15 years ago, we just don’t,” said Inverarity.

“That’s something that cricket in Australia really needs to address and we need to get more batsmen making runs prolifically.”

Australia failed to pass 250 in five of their eight innings during the recent 4-0 whitewash in India while Clarke was the only batsman to score a century. The next best Australian score was paceman Mitchell Starc’s 99 in the third Test.

To add to Australia’s problems is Clarke’s back injury, which forced him out of the fourth Test, and which is set to sideline him for up to two months and hinder his Ashes preparation.

With veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey having called time on their Australia careers in the winter, Inverarity admitted the team were suffering for a lack of experience.

“After the runs they made and the general confidence and leadership they showed, they are big losses,” said Inverarity.

“But that’s life, people retire and move on and it’s a new generation and it’s a period of transition and there are opportunities, and we’re looking to our young players to grasp those opportunities and to grow from them.”

Steve Smith was one of the young batsman to show some promise in India, scoring 92 after being recalled for the third Test, but was left out of today’s list alongside the likes of Usman Khawaja, Alex Doolan and veteran Adam Voges.

Despite that Inverarity said the door remained open for them to play a part in the Ashes, which begin at Trent Bridge on July 11.

“Steve Smith is one – he acquitted himself well in the third and fourth Test and he’s a young player who has a future so he’s in contention,” he said. “Adam Voges, who did so well in the ODIs and is a very good all-round player, he’s in contention.

“Alex Doolan is another player of prospect and Usman Khawaja is strongly in contention for the Ashes.”

Contracted players: George Bailey, Michael Clarke, Ed Cowan, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, Phil Hughes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Shane Watson.