There were some notable exclusions from Australia's 16-man Ashes squad, some more surprising than others.
Statistics alone won't win an argument - and it's the composition of Dale Steyn and Allan Donald's careers that will tell the truest tale.
The here and now, arguably, has been forsaken for more pressing matters of the future. This mentality will only take a team - and its think tank - so far, though, before the need for immediate results outweighs premature foresight.
England's finest and Sri Lanka's standout fill the spin department, while a West Indian talent weighs in at number seven and Jacques Kallis rightly secures the all-rounder berth.
Imran Tahir walked into this XI, while it seemed sacrilegious to select Sachin Tendulkar, and there was more than enough room for Eoin Morgan.
3rd_man says...
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