Seven talking points from winter squads

Cricket Australia Chairman of Selectors Rod Marsh was today on hand to field questions following the announcement of Australia's squads for the upcoming tours of the Caribbean and United Kingdom.

Quick Single: Test squads named for winter tours

In the candid interview, Marsh touched on James Faulkner's Baggy Green prospects, the selection of Fawad Ahmed and Steve Smith's position in the batting order.

Indian summer for Joe Burns

"It's worked out quite nicely for Joe in a lot of ways," Marsh said, "in as much as he'll be going to India, where he's never played cricket."

"He'll have two four-day matches and five one-day matches in India and I reckon that will be very, very good for his overall development as a batsman."

Joe Burns was in dominant touch against India in Sydney

Glenn Maxwell – watch this space!

"You realise I rate him very highly. I love watching him play.

"I'd love to have him in every side that I could. It's a tragedy we can't play him in every game at the moment, but watch this space."

Patto still a shot for Ashes

"He's injured. Unfortunately.

"We hold him in high regard. He's a hell of a good bowler and it's just a shame he's injured.

"We want him right. When he gets right, then we're going to have some real selection problems trying to pick the best three because they are pretty good bunch of fast bowlers at the moment.

"No way (Pattinson will be ready by July), but that doesn't mean if someone gets a niggle we can't get him to England."

James Pattinson leaves the field during the Bupa Sheffield Shield final

Big things coming for Faulkner

"Well, he's a pretty good cricketer. Very hard to take more than two allrounders. James desperately needs some red-ball cricket.

"It's not his fault that he's not played any red-ball cricket really.

"Glenn Maxwell is another one who hasn't played much red-ball cricket and we're giving Glenn some. We've also got hopeful plans, which I can't reveal right now, for Jimmy Faulkner.

"He'll be right, he's a hell of a good cricketer. He's a hard man to keep down as we know.

"We certainly haven't forgotten him, put it that way."

Experience counts for Rogers

"It's always difficult getting the right balance of ages and experience.

"I think we've got enough hunger in there to be able to allow these senior players of yet another series if you like.

"We thought long and hard about Chris Rogers, got to be honest - how long can he keep going?

"We thought are we doing the right thing by a younger batsman?' But then the overruling thing is are we doing the right thing by Australia?

"What's most important? We decided his experience will be invaluable, as it was last time, and we just had to give him another go."

Smith to bat at No.3 in Tests?

"Personally, if you're not asking me as the Chairman of Selectors, I would say yes.

"If you're asking me as the Chairman of Selectors, I'll give you the stock standard answer: the captain sets the batting order."

Steve Smith on his special summer

Fawad right for leftie-England

"He doesn't bowl too much rubbish.

"He creates a lot of pressure. He is able to have men around the bat in most instances and he keeps on asking the batsmen questions.

"That's what good spinners do. You need to be able to remain on as a leg-spinner.

"It's all very well coming in and ripping the ball but if you bowl two full tosses and two long-hops it's hard to keep you on. He maintains good economy.

"He asks many questions of both left and right-handed batsmen, which is very important, remembering that England may have about seven left-handers in their lineup."

Fawad Ahmed collected eight wickets in the Shield final