australia already has an all-rounder in the team. his name is mitchell johnson. making him the all-rounder opens up all sorts of options.
if they must have a true all-rounder, faulkner would be an ideal replacement to allow khawaja, doolan or cowan to slot in at number 3...
I really dont think that CA want to look to MJ as an all-rounder, whilst he can be brilliant with a bat, he more often than not throws his wicket away.
Plus i dont think he would handle the extra pressure to perform as an all rounder, he's only just got his action under control to be the main strike bowler.
As far as the others they may get a chance & derservedly so, but thay have been tried & tested.
But when he bowls he gets injured then misses games. Plus it seems they want him to bat only and Mitch Marsh be the allrounder. So does he need to bowl? If he does then how about Faulkner? Reasonably consistent with bat and ball. In his only test made a 50 and took wickets. Watson seems to be Ponting like late in his career, dead rubber specialist!
But he also takes wickets.
I agree that MM looks a likely candidate for the allrounder spot, but he's not long in the test side so they wont throw him to the wolves at #3, that plus there is & has always been a natural progression up the batting order for the middle order.
I also think that CA would prefer a batsman who can bowl rather than a bowler who can bat to fill the all rounder slot.
I agree that watson must produce with the bat but also believe he does have some value to the current team.
I do think though that Rogers will most likely be dropped before watson.