Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Prince EWS]

Oh he said it's not?

Well guess that's that, no way he could just be saying that for the media

What I find weird is that this kind of defeats the purpose of disciplining a player for off-field stuff. The whole point of such a thing would be to set an example and let others know it wasn't acceptable, but if they all think he's just been dropped for on-field performances then it won't accomplish anything.

I still think it most likely is the off-field stuff because it's just too incredibly dumb to drop him for any other reason, but it's not all adding up there either. It's a bad decision and their official line doesn't make sense no matter which way you slice it.

 

[Red]

Pretty stunned at SOK not being picked. Has to be off-field rather than on. He bowled fine in India imo.

I suppose Agar or Maxwell will definitely play, more likely Agar for #variation. I wouldn't mind seeing them play Cartwright if they're going to go with two spinners. I don't think that much of his bowling, but I do believe he could become a really good top order bat at test level. They may as well give him a shot, I think he's the best batsman out of any of the allrounders we have.

Looking ahead, if they're going to play the #pacequartet in the Ashes, it'll bite them on the arse because, quite frankly, our batting isn't good enough to carry five specialists, a bowling allrounder and the #fearsomequartetwhatgoesfor5.5rpo

I don't dislike Maxwell as a test player but I'd prefer to see Cartright given opportunities over him sooner rather than later.

He's batting at #3 for WA and giving them good returns.

 

[Red]

Jesus I just looked up Agar's FC stats and they are worse than I'd thought. FC bowling avg of 40 and a SR of 77. FC batting average of 26 with a top score of only 106.

Seriously what are they basing his selection on? Worse batsman and worse bowler than the fairly maligned Mitch Marsh.

Can't help but wonder why we keep deviating away from just picking the six best bats, a keeper at 7, and the four best bowlers, one of whom is the best spinner. It's not that complicated. If we're trying to jam Agar in in order to select the quartet, I don't like it.

 

[vic_orthdox]

The jungle drums were going about O'Keeffe after India anyway - Bangladesh would be a chance to give another spinner a chance, as SOK won't be around for the subcontinent tours after that. It's why O'Keeffe put in so much effort for that tour - skipping BBL etc. - because he had to knock down all the pins in India.

I don't have much time for picking spinners for "experience" - it's such a fickle discipline, just ask Dan Cullen - but this has been sitting over his head before the Cricket NSW incident.

 

[vic_orthdox]

What the hell - was about to look up Agar's season by season statistics and found out you have to pay for Cricket Archive now? Jeepers. Sad day.

EDIT: was trying to get a hold of his non-WACA record, which from memory isn't too bad as a bowler.

 

[Gob]

Ashton is ****

 

[TheJediBrah]

Only just realised his name is Ashton. Is that even a real name?

Ashton

Sounds weird

 

[Gnske]

We took the wrong Ashton tbqh

 

[Midwinter]

Jesus I just looked up Agar's FC stats and they are worse than I'd thought. FC bowling avg of 40 and a SR of 77. FC batting average of 26 with a top score of only 106.

Seriously what are they basing his selection on? Worse batsman and worse bowler than the fairly maligned Mitch Marsh.

Can't help but wonder why we keep deviating away from just picking the six best bats, a keeper at 7, and the four best bowlers, one of whom is the best spinner. It's not that complicated. If we're trying to jam Agar in in order to select the quartet, I don't like it.

Yep, anyone who has followed the shield knows Agar's figures are very ordinary for the last 2 years.
This years figures were bolstered by teh 10 wickets he took on the bunsen at the SCG ( O'Keefe and Somerville took 17 between them) in the first game, After that he took 6 wickets in 3 games.

He is a handy one day player because of his fielding

Perhaps they might pick him in the test team as a specialist fielder

 

[stephen]

With 4 potentially ATG quick bowlers I can see why Agar is attractive for the selectors. Especially given that Cummins and Pattinson are good enough with the bat to almost be considered proper all rounders.

If we had Gilchrist or Haddin over Wade I'd probably be all for it as well.

 

[Tangles]

The jungle drums were going about O'Keeffe after India anyway - Bangladesh would be a chance to give another spinner a chance, as SOK won't be around for the subcontinent tours after that. It's why O'Keeffe put in so much effort for that tour - skipping BBL etc. - because he had to knock down all the pins in India.

I don't have much time for picking spinners for "experience" - it's such a fickle discipline, just ask Dan Cullen - but this has been sitting over his head before the Cricket NSW incident.

So he was under pressure for his age? Because we have so many young spinners tearing up the Shield right. Our selectors are priceless.

 

[TheJediBrah]

With 4 potentially ATG quick bowlers I can see why Agar is attractive for the selectors. Especially given that Cummins and Pattinson are good enough with the bat to almost be considered proper all rounders.

If we had Gilchrist or Haddin over Wade I'd probably be all for it as well.

Unless it's a real turner they can just use Maxwell though.

I mean Maxwell's FC bowling stats are pretty much the same as Agar's anyway. And O'Keefe's batting stats are better.

Agar playing ahead of either of those guys would make no sense at all

 

[stephen]

Holland has been tearing up the shield in recent years and he's certainly not old.

 

[stephen]

Unless it's a real turner they can just use Maxwell though.

I mean Maxwell's FC bowling stats are pretty much the same as Agar's anyway. And O'Keefe's batting stats are better.

Agar playing ahead of either of those guys would make no sense at all

Agar is seen as a bowling all rounder while Maxwell is seen as a batting all rounder. The selectors probably have a desire to have 5 front line bowling options if 4 of them are pace.

 

[Top_Cat]

With Agar, I assume the selectors aren't looking at him because they know he's going to be a great spinner, more that he's talented, has a nose for the occasion and could be anything given the right team and opportunities. Was telling that a 19-year-old kid bowler spanked all but a ton on Test debut but noone who knew him seemed surprised.

I also, for one, do not buy Pattinson or Cummins as potential Test all-rounders. Keeping them on the park as quicks first, pls.

 

[Gob]

We took the wrong Ashton tbqh

Kutcher?

 

[TheJediBrah]

Agar is seen as a bowling all rounder while Maxwell is seen as a batting all rounder. The selectors probably have a desire to have 5 front line bowling options if 4 of them are pace.

Yes the point I'm making is that in reality Maxwell's bowling is just about as good as Agar's anyway, and he's a much better batsman. And likewise with O'Keefe, his batting is just as good as Agar's and he's a much better bowler.

How the selectors "see" the players is the issue

 

[Jarquis]

Bring back Marcus North

 

[Top_Cat]

Yes the point I'm making is that in reality Maxwell's bowling is just about as good as Agar's anyway, and he's a much better batsman. And likewise with O'Keefe, his batting is just as good as Agar's and he's a much better bowler.

How the selectors "see" the players is the issue

Come on.

 

[Top_Cat]

Unless it's a real turner they can just use Maxwell though.

No they can't because he's not good enough to take advantage of conditions on offer. Barely gets bowled even in ODIs any more.