Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Gnske]

I reckon Handscombe is skating on pretty thin ice after his first innings here, ironically because he lasted so long and didn’t look any better. He fought hard but never looked comfortable; constantly beaten by fullish deliveries and seemingly incapable of scoring runs in front of the wicket.

It just seems his unusual back-at-the-stumps technique has been found out a bit and while he may get a bit of time if Australia keep winning, unless he can find some run-scoring options other than third man and fine leg before the end of the series I can’t see him going to South Africa.

Yeah you could see he was really desperate when he tried Smithing it up and moving way across with his back foot in the dire hopes he might about to flip something around the corner legside. Worked maybe twice.

 

[Second Spitter]

Why did I think of Graeme Smith when you said "Smithing it up"?

 

[adub]

Maxy laying down another marker batting 3 won't be doing his confidence any good.

 

[Second Spitter]

This selection policy about "not changing a winning combination" needs to be tossed. It's dumber than RoPo.

 

[mr_mister]

yep. Maxwell in for Handscomb next test regardless of victory if Handscombe fails again

 

[Burgey]

If Handscomb digs out a 50 odd second dig he’ll be retained,

Marsh’s ton looking amaze in the context of the match.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Handscomb playing around with his technique like that mid innings - it'll be like Phil Hughes getting bumped out in 2009 Ashes. Averaging 50, in hindsight might be harsh, but they'll make this call.

 

[mr_mister]

Handscomb playing around with his technique like that mid innings - it'll be like Phil Hughes getting bumped out in 2009 Ashes. Averaging 50, in hindsight might be harsh, but they'll make this call.

Down from like 80 at the end of last summer though

 

[morgieb]

Down from like 80 at the end of last summer though

Yeah he'd be lucky to average 30 since the end of the home summer last year. And it's even worse because he's getting a lot of scores that are neither here nor there rather than a mixture of failures and the odd crucial score.

 

[stephen]

Burns has just hit a double ton. Maxwell hit one last round. Bancroft the round before. Doolan has one too.

Have our domestic batsmen learned how to hold a bat all of a sudden? How many are in line for a call up? Surely Doolan is furthest away but is Burns a smokey?

 

[Gnske]

Burns has just hit a double ton. Maxwell hit one last round. Bancroft the round before. Doolan has one too.

Have our domestic batsmen learned how to hold a bat all of a sudden? How many are in line for a call up? Surely Doolan is furthest away but is Burns a smokey?

Was just thinking, if Bancroft doesn't work out it seems more likely for the SA tour that Darsh or Khawaja will just shift down to accomodate Stoinis or the other Darsh just to have a fifth bowling option.

 

[Gnske]

https://twitter.com/plalor/status/937915628861603841

For LO formats apparently.

Not as interesting as it could be.

 

[NUFAN]

Thats a long list.

Gnske just on Stoinis, man he needs to start performing. He has had a terrible season and a half in the Shield, dont even know if hes passed 50.

 

[Gnske]

Thats a long list.

Gnske just on Stoinis, man he needs to start performing. He has had a terrible season and a half in the Shield, dont even know if hes passed 50.

Mmh yes I don't know if he will get it back for the time being though. I'd be surprised if he's been in a good headspace all season given his personal situation.

He might still end up on the tour regardless of Marsh's return to bowling, 15-18 man squad, knee-jerk selection policies, still time in the season and plenty of potential BBL and ODI games to get his mojo back if he gets retained for the latter format.

 

[Second Spitter]

Siddle still on the radar in case of a plane crash involving the Test team.

 

[stephen]

Maxwell surely has to play ahead of Handscomb in the next test. He's done more in the shield than Bancroft did before he was selected.

 

[NUFAN]

Maxwell surely has to play ahead of Handscomb in the next test. He's done more in the shield than Bancroft did before he was selected.

Something to consider：Handscomb has outscored Bancroft in all 3 innings that theyve both batted in.

I know Bancroft making a good fourth innings score in Brisbane is a positive for him but at 2 nil up do we drop the man who was ranked what our 4th best batsman a month ago？Its a no from me.

BTW Maxwell deserves the next chance but at the WACA Im thinking the selectors would consider （not definitely pick）MMarsh.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yeah I'm thinking they'd sooner go with Mitch Marsh at Perth than Maxwell too. Only having three quicks at Perth probably isn't a situation they'd be thrilled with, especially since Cummins didn't end up having his planned rest in Adelaide.

I still think they'll end up rolling in unchanged, but they'll talk more about MMarsh than Maxwell at the selection meeting IMO. Maxwell's chance will come in Melbourne if they don't pick Marsh and Handscomb fails again.

 

[Second Spitter]

Not sold on Bancroft, tbh. He's an off-stump prodder which makes him Jimmy's bitch. I think if he fails at the WACA they should have long, hard think about Weatherald

 

[mr_mister]

Bat Cummins 7 and play Bird

stick the gloves on Bancroft and **** off Paine and Handscombe