Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Prince EWS]

Yeah but that will only work if you have Handscomb keeping or you find a keeper who can bat top 6. If Agar and not Lyon had got these hauls though, it would have simplified selection so much for Oz for that first Ashes test.

Having Handscomb keep and batting Pattinson at 7 at home where keeping isn't as difficult wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, but I think I'd rather have a proper keeper than a proper fifth bowler.

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah realistically Oz just has to select 3 of the 4 and hope they get the job done.

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah but that will only work if you have Handscomb keeping or you find a keeper who can bat top 6. If Agar and not Lyon had got these hauls though, it would have simplified selection so much for Oz for that first Ashes test.


Warner
Renshaw
Khawaja
Smith
Maxwell
Handscomb (wk)
Agar
Quartet.

Well I honestly don't rate Agar any higher than Pattinson/Cummins with the bat. His 98 on debut was similar to a lot Starc innings actually, lots of hoiks and swipes.


Nevill/Handscombe at 6 isn't that worrying for me. I've yet to see Handscombe keep though

 

[mr_mister]

I think this could be interesting to try

Renshaw
Warner
Usman
Smith
Maxwell
Handscombe +
Pattinson
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood


All depends on whether Handscombe is up to the job. Surely it's easier to keep on flat aussie tracks to a pace quartet than to 3-4 tandem spinners in India though

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah realistically Oz just has to select 3 of the 4 and hope they get the job done.

They'll be lucky to get even 3 of them fit at the same time

 

[mr_mister]

FC batting averages:


Agar - 26.7
Pattinson - 25.7
Cummins - 27.5
Starc -24

 

[stephen]

I'd feel a lot more comfortable with 6 genuine batsmen and a genuine keeper. If we can't get the job done with 3 of the 4 and Lyon then we can change things up later. The question is which 3 would we pick. At the moment I think it'd be Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins. But I'd prefer Pattinson to be in there over Cummins.

 

[burr]

This argument about Handscomb being a keeper is insane. You have to prioritise keeping and he has clearly said batting is his priority, and rightly so. Why f up what is a real batting talent and even being talked about as a future Aus captain. It's up to actual keepers to put their name up and force selectors to drop Wade. I don't think it will take much convincing; they have a golden opportunity. I hope it's not Nevill though, he is seriously underwhelming.

 

[Tangles]

Keepers need to stand up and sledge constantly in the first 3 shield rounds. Boof to take notice and consider options based on the sledging quality.

 

[honestbharani]

Needs a committee of sledgers instead of selectors, tbh.

 

[Burgey]

N Bertus to be keeping for Australia in tests by 2020.

 

[Red]

Having Handscomb keep and batting Pattinson at 7 at home where keeping isn't as difficult wouldn't be the worst idea in the world, but I think I'd rather have a proper keeper than a proper fifth bowler.

Agreed.

Keeping shouldn't be so undervalued that we feel we can do this. For all this desire to play the quartet and therefore maybe playing Handscomb as a keeper, it should be remembered that Lyon is our best performed bowler over the last 4 years, taking over 4 wickets per test on average. Guy deserves a proper keeper.

Let's not turn Peter Handscomb into a Wayne Phillips or Alec Stewart.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

N Bertus to be keeping for Australia in tests by 2020.

Best keepers come from Queensland I think Peirson needs a bit more work and he'll be ready

 

[Midwinter]

Is Alex Carey actually any good ?

 

[Gnske]

Is Alex Carey actually any good ?

He's got the Brad Haddins about him with his footwork from what I've seen even if his general glovework is tidy. His batting will be a downgrade from Wade's unless he's improved in the off-season. Remember a couple of years ago when he had just started being the regular wicketkeeper that he looked absolutely pants against pace. A real beneficiary of the Darren Berry school of trying to bat like Phillip.

 

[Tangles]

A downgrade from Wades previous test batting or his current?

 

[Gnske]

A downgrade from Wades previous test batting or his current?

Under Wade at his normal/better times, as he's probably good enough to play as a pure batsman when he's not being utterly fecal where Carey isn't.

Wade since the recall, I can see Carey only doing marginally better. If we want a specialist we may as well go for Nevill who may actually come around with the bat at some point and is just as tidy/tidier with the gloves.

 

[randycricfreak]

Bird is so damn unlucky. The timing of his career could not have been worse. There would have been many eras where he would have been our number 1 bowler.

I dont know what you're trying to say, he'd rather be Australia's best fast bowler now, than being the the best bowler in the Glenn McGrath era, or when Rhino,Siddle era.This is his best chance.

 

[randycricfreak]

Warner
Renshaw
Shaun Marsh (Khawaja sucks,useless in SC)
Smith
Handscomb
Decent AUS mid order batsman other than Maxwell
Peter Neville
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood
Cummins

 

[vic_orthdox]

Haze plays as the third seamer - he's best suited to the "Siddle" role in the attack. To me, only one of Starc and Pattinson can play as they are both trying to hit the stumps a lot, whereas Haze is drier, and Cummins can do everything.