Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Tangles]

Which you can't if you only have 3 specialist bowlers and he is effectively playing as the 4th bowler. With Smiths captaincy that would see Agar bowling 4 overs and the other 3 bowling 25+ overs a day.

I suspect Smith likes Mmarsh so much because of how good his seam bowling is. So we should really consider Forkers for the AR spot. The selectors want a 5th bowler and Smith doesn't trust batting all rounders.

 

[Red]

Which you can't if you only have 3 specialist bowlers and he is effectively playing as the 4th bowler. With Smiths captaincy that would see Agar bowling 4 overs and the other 3 bowling 25+ overs a day.

I suspect Smith likes Mmarsh so much because of how good his seam bowling is. So we should really consider Forkers for the AR spot. The selectors want a 5th bowler and Smith doesn't trust batting all rounders.

Yeh you might be right. I think our number 6 still needs to be able to average 35-40 long term to be sustainable, regardless of their bowling.

 

[Tangles]

Yeh you might be right. I think our number 6 still needs to be able to average 35-40 long term to be sustainable, regardless of their bowling.

If Smith won't trust batting all rounders to bowl then just pick a batter. The problem is the selectors belief that we need a 5th bowler. On roads it spreads the load when you bowl a lot of overs. But only if the captain actually bowls them.

 

[Compton]

Once Australia have Cummins, Starc, and Haze in the same attack; is there any value in a seam bowler at six?

 

[Burgey]

Really, why wouldn't they pick the side they originally picked that's doing the job here, but substitute one of the spinners out for either Cummins or Patto when we get back to playing on real pitches and then choose Maxwell as the allrounder?

 

[Burgey]

Like, Maxwell is as likely as anything to string together five brain farts in a row, but the bloke is a better pure batsman than most of the options around and he gives you a handy four overs for every two days you're in the field.

 

[Compton]

Makes perfect sense.

Maxwell is the best of the options to come in at 6, is a gun fielder, and provides you with an emergency bowler when required.

Sort the wicketkeeper out, Starc for one of the spinners, and Australia have found their best XI as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Malleeboy]

Number 6 has three possible tasks

1) Part time bowling (eg Watson, MMarsh)
2) Bat with the tail (MHussey, SWaugh)
3) Provide quick batting to pick up tempo after upper order has ground the opp bowling or going for a declaration (Lehmann)

Maxwell has ability to do 3, and if Smith learns to trust him he could do 1

 

[TheJediBrah]

Makes perfect sense.

Maxwell is the best of the options to come in at 6, is a gun fielder, and provides you with an emergency bowler when required.

Sort the wicketkeeper out, Starc for one of the spinners, and Australia have found their best XI as far as I'm concerned.

Khawaja comes back for certain though

 

[Compton]

Khawaja comes back for certain though

Ah yeah, Usman for Marsh (sorry, Shaun).

 

[Shady Slim]

but if they drop lyon how will all the filthy casuals make ****** nice garry memes

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Don't really agree that O'Keefe is just as likely as Lyon to take wickets, especially not at home. Can definitely hold up an end and is a better batsman though.

It's a difficult selection situation and I kinda feel like a lot hinges on the champions trophy. Assuming Australia are at least competitive in Dharamsala I think the current XI (aside from the second spinner) will have the inside running for test spots when Australia next play, whether that's in Bangladesh or in the home summer or whatever, not totally sure what the next series is. But that would probably mean Maxwell at 6 and Khawaja missing out, but I think both those positions could change in the CT if for example Usman makes a bunch of runs, or Maxwell has a terrible time of it. There's so much potential for other formats to influence test selection. I doubt much is changing with the seamers though, if Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins are all fit in November they are playing the Ashes.

Can't remember an Australian player ever really being in Usman's situation as an apparent automatic selection at home and not away though so it's hard to know what will happen with him.

 

[mr_mister]

Usman being omitted from the next test series would be absolute bollocks. had 2 amazing home summers and its understood by nearly everyone he was only dropped because of his weakness against spin

the selectors said theyl pick XIs best suited to the conditions and Usman has proven he's definitely one of the top 6 batsman we have in seam/pace friendly conditions

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Would seem fair to pick him again yes, but let's imagine for example that Marsh and Maxwell both make runs in the next test. Does one of them get dropped for someone who hasn't played in the test side for the best part of a year? If Khawaja has made a bunch of runs in the ODI team or maybe in shield cricket and someone else has struggled, possibly, but if not it's hard to say who they'd drop for him. Certainly everyone else in the batting lineup is undroppable. Hence I think it'll come down to the CT in large part, unless there's a Bangladesh series.

 

[mr_mister]

Honestly I can see Uzi in for smarsh straight away during the home summer

 

[burr]

Are there any shield matches before first ashes test. Surely if one of them such as usi smashes runs and the other such as smarsh fails that will have some kind of bearing on who gets the nod.

The danger in this horses for courses policy is you play someone like khawaja out of form and confidence.

All things being equal though, marsh hasn't done enough to replace khawaja permanently. And Maxwell still has a ways to go to secure his spot.

 

[Tangles]

Warner has 131 @ 21.83
Darsh has 146 @ 24.33
Maxwell 106 @ 53

After 3 tests in India. Argue conditions all you want but none of those should be picked before Uzi next summer. Obviously Warner will be picked because he's the undroppable VC. I could see them leaving Uzi out due to Marsh love tbh. Also could see them try to find a reason to drop Renshaw to squeeze Uzi in. Uzi probably has the inside running unless Darsh does something big.

 

[Top_Cat]

Can't remember an Australian player ever really being in Usman's situation as an apparent automatic selection at home and not away

That's right and I can't see an Aussie selection panel wearing that situation for long. They might forgive poor scores in Asia but not everywhere else too. Khawaja's just turned 30 so, if they haven't already made the decision, first sign of trouble in even his next few knocks and it might be over. S Marsh does a job for the moment then they blood a young player who might scores runs overseas. Can't see him making Brisbane at present.

 

[stephen]

That's right and I can't see an Aussie selection panel wearing that situation for long. They might forgive poor scores in Asia but not everywhere else too. Khawaja's just turned 30 so, if they haven't already made the decision, first sign of trouble in even his next few knocks and it might be over. S Marsh does a job for the moment then they blood a young player who might scores runs overseas. Can't see him making Brisbane at present.

Uzi is easily in our best XI at home. And 30 isn't too old either. Hell, M Hussey only cracked the test team at 30.

 

[Tangles]

Darsh will be 34 in July. Sure use him for specific things like the India tour but there's no future there beyond a couple of seasons before he Voges once his eye goes. Challenge Uzi to get better vs spin and if he doesn't then look at someone else. Burns, KPat or someone else could fill a middle order role if Uzi can't secure a full time spot.