Hayden would have made sweet FA difference. He was on the slide 12 months ago, he did the right thing by pulling the pin.
Unlike most here, I think that dropping Hughes was justified in a way. He has some pretty major technical flaws in his batting and it was only a matter of time before the test class bowlers figured him out. The kid has got talent no doubt, but still needs a bit more polish. At this stage I'd be more inclined to bring back Jaques, who scored a ton in his last test if I recall.
Anyway the batting wasn't the major problem. Our ineffective bowling attack cost us the Ashes. Mitchell Johnson was diabolical for a so called spearhead, he had the yips something chronic. Not having a test class spinner also found us wanting. I don't how many more guys they are going to try before they make up their mind who is going to be the one going forward. Hauritz went OK, but he's hardly a formidable weapon, nonetheless he should have been picked in the last test.
We should have won in Cardiff but couldn't seal the deal. Got outplayed at Lords. 3rd Test we probably could have been a chance of setting England a 400+ chase but rain cruelled any hope of a result. Smoked them at Leeds. Choked on it in the 5th Test, with a combination of a poor 1st innings with the bat and some ineffectual bowling on a dodgy pitch. Inconsistency was what cost us The Ashes.
Hilfenhaus was the pick of the bowlers and hopefully can keep it going this summer. Johnson needs to get on the leather couch and sort his head out. Siddle solid. Clark ? well I don't know, I'm prepared to give him a bit longer, he's got experience and we all know he has the ability, maybe a yard or two short of pace at the moment.
I love the Huss but he is hanging onto his spot with his fingernails. The ton might have saved him for another test or two, and hopefully will give him some confidence, but he needs to see the same shrink as Johnson.
Let's be realistic though, our side doesn't strike fear into the opposition anymore. We've come back to the pack quite a bit since the loss of oodles of talent and experience over the last couple of years. You don't replace 3-4 outright gamebreakers (Warne, McGrath, Gilly and probably Hayden) overnight. We've just got to suck it up and knuckle down and start fighting for wins instead of just expecting it will happen like we have in the past. Personally I like the uncertainty of our winning prospects at the moment, our team is merely mortal again and it adds a bit of interest.