***Official*** Australia in South Africa + South Africa in Australia 2016/17

[adub]

What are people's thoughts on Jake Lehmann? FC average of 48, and coming off a century in his most recent Shield match.

Needs to be batting further up the order to be taken seriously yet. But certainly a prospect.

 

[Prince EWS]

The big problem is when you're arguing over guys like Bancroft, Handscomb, Maddinson and Head you're arguing over a bunch of guys who've all had several years at Shield level and all average well under 40. That **** just ain't good enough. People used to slag off Smitteh being talked up when he had a mid 40s Shield average. We'd kill for a young guy like that right now.

Yeah, and I think it'd be fair enough if they'd recently improved and broken through that barrier, either by averaging mid 40s for a couple of seasons running or 50+ for a season.. but they haven't.

Ferguson is just better than these guys at the moment -- he was basically the Handscomb/Maddison of 5-10 years ago, but he's matured and improved a bit from that point, whereas they haven't yet. It's not as exciting as picking someone who might be in the team for another twelve years but it is it what it is if you're trying to actually improve the batting lineup and not just make yourself feel good.

Patterson should come in for Voges and Fergo should get a little run to see if it's worth having him fill a gap for a while. Marsh should be back for Burns as soon as he's fit. I think I'd sooner consider Lehmann than bring in one of these under-achievers unless it was specifically for India where Handscomb and Bancroft's comparatively good spin-play could be valuable.

 

[Tangles]

I'd suggest if you're going to have a sook about that then you don't belong in a test team. Sorry, I know that sounds harsh but to me it rings true.

I'm with you but I don't know if we have any sooks in the team and I don't think Smith needs any more problems (like a clique). The cupboard isn't bare just doesn't have any standouts. Might have enough to move out any sooks for similar players with better attitudes though.

 

[howardj]

The big problem is when you're arguing over guys like Bancroft, Handscomb, Maddinson and Head you're arguing over a bunch of guys who've all had several years at Shield level and all average well under 40. That **** just ain't good enough. People used to slag off Smitteh being talked up when he had a mid 40s Shield average. We'd kill for a young guy like that right now.

Yep, I wouldn't have any of the aforementioned, other than Bancroft - only interested in Bancroft, Patterson and Lehmann.

Part of the reason for raising Bancroft is that it appears very likely he will tour India. However, your stats breakdown of his record is concerning/

 

[adub]

Yeah, and I think it'd be fair enough if they'd recently improved and broken through that barrier, either by averaging mid 40s for a couple of seasons running or 50+ for a season.. but they haven't.

Ferguson is just better than these guys at the moment -- he was basically the Handscomb/Maddison of 5-10 years ago, but he's matured and improved a bit from that point, whereas they haven't yet. It's not as exciting as picking someone who might be in the team for another twelve years but it is it what it is if you're trying to actually improve the batting lineup and not just make yourself feel good.

Patterson should come in for Voges and Fergo should get a little run to see if it's worth having him fill a gap for a while. Marsh should be back for Burns as soon as he's fit. I think I'd sooner consider Lehmann than bring in one of these under-achievers unless it was specifically for India where Handscomb and Bancroft's comparatively good spin-play could be valuable.

This

That's why I no longer hate Smarsh. He did actually improve his game and now makes consistent runs whenever he's back in the Shield. Fergo is the same. Meh for a long time, but the last few years has been super reliable. If Bankers or Handjob come out this summer and shoot the lights out of it then that's the sort of improvement deserving of reward, but they ain't do nearly enough at this stage. We're not Zimbabwe FFS.

 

[Dan]

The big problem is when you're arguing over guys like Bancroft, Handscomb, Maddinson and Head you're arguing over a bunch of guys who've all had several years at Shield level and all average well under 40. That **** just ain't good enough. People used to slag off Smitteh being talked up when he had a mid 40s Shield average. We'd kill for a young guy like that right now.

Yeah, we used to speak of the Rohrer Test. Should it now be the Bailey Test or the Cowan Test? I mean, in Travis Head we're literally talking about picking a specialist batsman with a lower career FC average than Brad Hogg!

 

[howardj]

This is a great discussion

It's great to get the insights and lowdown on these fringe players

 

[Dan]

The 'My Knee Jerked So Hard I Just Put A Hole In My Desk' Australian Test XI:

1. D Warner
2. C Bancroft
3. S Smith *
4. K Patterson
5. N Maddinson
6. P Handscomb +
7. T Head
8. A Zampa
9. P Cummins
10. M Starc
11. J Hazlewood

 

[Black_Warrior]

Lol can't believe you picked Zamba

 

[howardj]

Gerard Wheatley on the ABC was advocating bringing in Bailey, Wade, and Cam White

I almost crashed my car

 

[adub]

If Lehmann on the other hand moved up to 4 for SA and pulled out another 50+ season then I'd be looking for an opening to give him a shot. He'd probably end up getting dropped after a while, but which really great Australian bat other than Hussey hasn't? Batting 5 or lower though is too much down hill skiing for mine at Shield level. If you're serious about playing for higher honours you have to be batting at the pointy end. It would probably do Head good to drop down the order to make room for him and work on tightening up so he can get back up the order a better player.

 

[Prince EWS]

If Lehmann on the other hand moved up to 4 for SA and pulled out another 50+ season then I'd be looking for an opening to give him a shot. He'd probably end up getting dropped after a while, but which really great Australian bat other than Hussey hasn't? Batting 5 or lower though is too much down hill skiing for mine at Shield level. If you're serious about playing for higher honours you have to be batting at the pointy end. It would probably do Head good to drop down the order to make room for him and work on tightening up so he can get back up the order a better player.

There's room for both in the SA top order anyway if we assume Ferguson isn't going to get dropped straight away.

 

[adub]

Gerard Wheatley on the ABC was advocating bringing in Bailey, Wade, and Cam White

I almost crashed my car

Where do you even start with that? Look out for the Mobile Drug Test units on the drive home Gerard.

(although tbf Wade can't be a million miles away from a recall).

 

[adub]

There's room for both in the SA top order anyway if we assume Ferguson isn't going to get dropped straight away.

True enough. I was thinking more tomorrow's game and after Christmas assuming Fergo isn't in the ODI side. When he is on deck Lehmann should be batting above Head 100% of the time to test him out a bit more.

 

[Dan]

Lol can't believe you picked Zamba

That was the joke, tbf

 

[Julian87]

Ben Dorries XI

Warner
Renshaw
Bancroft
Smith
Lehmann
Patterson
Wade
O'Keefe
Starc
Hazlewood
Bollinger

fmd

 

[Prince EWS]

Haha Bollinger just really tops it off. "Drop all the batsmen over 28 except for Warner because #youth but then recall a 35 year old fast bowler".

 

[Starfighter]

Fox article strongly implying that the saliva Faf was applying to the ball had a higher sucrose content than normal.

 

[Starfighter]

That was the joke, tbf

I do wonder when Warnie is going to make a huff about picking Zampa again though. Another performance like his last Shield effort and his average will drop below 50.

 

[Daemon]

Fox article strongly implying that the saliva Faf was applying to the ball had a higher sucrose content than normal.

Faf WAG. Always taking one for the team. Some weak captain like Cook/Smith would have assigned the tampering duties to someone else.