Geoff Lawson was unavailable to play due to a back injury. Leg-spinner Bob Holland was overlooked for selection despite taking more first class wickets that summer than any other bowler. The writers of Wisden later argued this was a major mistake. Bill O'Reilly was delighted with the selections of Steve Waugh ("one of the best selections in the whole era of Greg Chappell's career at the selection committee's wheel") and Bruce Reid ("strong claims to be recognised as the finest left-arm speedster we put on the international arena since Alan Davidson"), but was disappointed in the selection of Ray Bright over Holland, and Greg Ritchie over Mark O'Neill: