Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[stephen]

Faaip is spot on. Real shame though if we don't get to see more of Bird / Pattinson in the near future though.

 

[stephen]

Cartwright absolutely has to be the next batsman in line based on form.

Next summer though might see Lynn or Burns push for a place but Cartwright should be next right now.

 

[Burgey]

Unfortunately Lynn plays so little long form cricket due to injury that it's hard to get a read on how he would go. He does have a habit of nicking off quite a bit in the (albeit limited) FC stuff I've seen him play.

 

[Red]

Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
Cartright
Nevill
O'Keefe
Pattinson
Starc
Hazelwood

 

[Red]

I really feel like we need to get our top six right for the next few years.

Warner's situation is becoming weird. He's been pretty consistently woeful away from home (apart from in SA) but he's epic at home.

I'm ok with either Lyon or O'Keefe, no real reason to split them.

 

[Compton]

Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
Maxwell
Nevill
Starc
Cummins
Lyon/SOK
Haze

That should be Australia's XI for the Ashes if you ignore all cricket played between now and then. You just can't drop Warner for a home series.

I wouldn't consider Nevill a lock, indeed I think they'll play Wade, but would probably play whichever keeper does best with gloves and bat in the Shield.

 

[Gnske]

Many a question after that tour, curious to see other answers to this.

1. Wade or Nevill? Or Someone else?
-Wade will probably keep his spot, but really Nevill should be in there.
2. Lyon or O'Keefe?
Garry, and I'm not sure I can justify it beyond he's a more attacking option.
3. Maxwell retained?
Totally not sure over this, can't justify him as an all-rounder the way Smith is using him.
4. Is Shaun Marsh finally done?
Yes, please. I know he made a contribution or two, but really.
5. If we need a seam all-rounder who gets the call?
Moz, but my gut tells me Faulkner's bowling will be a greater asset than Moises' batting.
6. Will Warner's homesickness ever get too intolerable?
Probably not, can't argue with his bullying at home even if its utterly meaningless runs.
[

 

[Spark]

There is no way you could make an argument for O'Keefe over Lyon based on this series alone. He's simply looked the better bowler overall.

 

[burr]

People are letting their hate for Wade cloud their judgment on Nevill. He was ordinary when playing for Australia. And he should have steered NSW into that Shield final. I'm not convinced. Be nice to see a young keeper come up next summer. We need a QdK.

 

[Gnske]

People are letting their hate for Wade cloud their judgment on Nevill. He was ordinary when playing for Australia. And he should have steered NSW into that Shield final. I'm not convinced. Be nice to see a young keeper come up next summer. We need a QdK.

Jimmy "Tax cuts" Peirson is your man then.

 

[Midwinter]

Alex Carey could be on the list

 

[Compton]

A good season for Whiteman and it'd need to be him, surely?

Probably the best keeper of the lot, and at least as good as most with the bat.

 

[Gnske]

Alex Carey could be on the list

Him and Inglis I'm curious about, the former because his athleticism behind the stumps is kock-like and the latter because I'm surprised someone with a backswing that awful hasn't acquitted himself too badly (with the bat).

Anyone been watching the streams enough to say anything on Carey's footwork actually?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Many a question after that tour, curious to see other answers to this.

1. Wade or Nevill? Or Someone else?
-Wade will probably keep his spot, but really Nevill should be in there.
2. Lyon or O'Keefe?
Garry, and I'm not sure I can justify it beyond he's a more attacking option.
3. Maxwell retained?
Totally not sure over this, can't justify him as an all-rounder the way Smith is using him.
4. Is Shaun Marsh finally done?
Yes, please. I know he made a contribution or two, but really.
5. If we need a seam all-rounder who gets the call?
Moz, but my gut tells me Faulkner's bowling will be a greater asset than Moises' batting.
6. Will Warner's homesickness ever get too intolerable?
Probably not, can't argue with his bullying at home even if its utterly meaningless runs.
[

1. Jimmy Peirson imo
2. Its going to be Lyon because everything bad always happens to me
3. If Aus have the young 4 quicks all available they should play (and no Lyon), in which case Maxwell's stock as a spinner goes up dramatically
4. Yes. Khawaja is well ahead of him.
5. Stoinkis
6. nah



and yah Carey's keeping has been very impressive. If he can average 35+ in the shield for a season or 2 he could be in business

 

[stephen]

The problem with Lyon is that he is really good in the same conditions that quicks are good. A team usually relies on their spinners to take wickets in situations where their quicks are ineffective (old ball, little bounce).

Which is why Lyon seems to go missing in the second innings a bit. He likes the bouncier, greener wickets of the first few days of the test instead of the drier, older wickets.

 

[social]

Very much doubt Starc (fitness permitting) is being dropped, nor do I think he should be. What's he done wrong exactly? Had a middling summer but wasn't terrible, some important, match-changing spells at different times, and his record over the last two years is almost identical to Hazlewood, who is quite rightly considered a lock by most.

That's 103 wickets @ 24.92, SR 43.91 in 22 tests for Starc and 109 wickets @ 25.06, SR 54.51 in 28 tests for Haze since the start of 2015. If you make the period shorter it tends to look better for Starc unless you just look at the last 3-4 tests. Throw in Starc's batting, which is 582 runs @ 21.56 with 5 50s in the same period, and his case is even stronger.

Obviously Pattinson is in the mix but I can't see the case for him replacing Starc at all. Clearly between him and Cummins for the third seamer spot, which also makes a really balanced pace attack.

I feel like if Australia tour Bangladesh (it's still not clear to me if this is actually happening, or when) they should go with basically the same team as India but give Khawaja a chance in the subcontinent for someone, at least if he's shown anything at all in the preparation time, in the nets etc.

If the Ashes were to start without any cricket between now and then, I'd go with:

Renshaw
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
Maxwell
Wade
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

And can't really see a strong case for any changes there. It's just overthinking things IMO. Marsh was a chance but I think his failure in the last test here probably means he'd need to play in Bangladesh and do very well to have a chance of being picked in the summer.

Pattinson obviously the next seamer in line, O'Keefe the spinner, batsman is a bit trickier because you've got some experienced backup but I can see them picking a young batsman instead if there was a vacancy. Cartwright, Lehmann, Patterson would all be a shot based on form.

I am a huge fan of Starc's talent (let's face it, there havent been many express left-armers who swing it in history) but simply don't think he is as good as Cummins or Patto

IMO. Cummins is far more smart and skilled whilst Patto is just mean

Anyway, it's my belief that they will pick Starc for variety anyway so it's probably a moot point

 

[Compton]

Questioning Starc's place in the team

Even ignoring how good he is generally, Starc is the best in the world at blowing away the tail. That swinging yorker at 90mph is downright unplayable.

If I were facing Australia, I wouldn't want to be looking at Starc and Haze knowing that Cummins was first change.

 

[Top_Cat]

Yeah Starc's been groomed to be the leader of the attack and with good reason. Soon as he's fit, he plays.

 

[Gob]

Maxwell playing in Aust only makes sense if you play all four quicks. I think you definitely need a seem bowling alrounder in Aust and given how poorly the front line spinners tend to perform in Aust, a part timer ala Maxwell would be next to pointless.

Picking him would be equal to going in with six bats and in that case there are better specialist bats. I do like Maxwell btw

 

[Gob]

I am a huge fan of Starc's talent (let's face it, there havent been many express left-armers who swing it in history) but simply don't think he is as good as Cummins or Patto

IMO. Cummins is far more smart and skilled whilst Patto is just mean

Anyway, it's my belief that they will pick Starc for variety anyway so it's probably a moot point

Cummins is just so natural at bowling isn't he. I mean you can toss the ball and trust him to be right on the mark (may it be vicious bouncer or perfect outswinger) even after six months without cricket