Australia's first Test is scheduled for December 6 which means that each of the Shield teams will have played 5 Tests which will give a bunch of guys who don't represent Australia in other formats a chance to impress.
I guess right at the moment the only locked in players who are currently in the UAE are:
Khawaja Paine Starc Lyon.
I'm going to say MMarsh is not locked in because maybe this is why they named 2 vice captains? Wishful thinking I know.
I guess after the group of 4, you'd expect Head and Finch to play too, I think the general public will be more okay with Finch opening at home than what I am, for sure.
With Cummins and Hazlewood only playing Futures Cricket, they just need to remain injury free and they are locks.
Finch
xxx
Khawaja
xxx
Head
xxx
Paine
Starc
xxx
Lyon
xxx
So that leaves 1 opener or perhaps a number 3, 2 middle order and 2 bowlers
- Top 3: Renshaw is the favourite IMO but you could argue S Marsh is and we will just stick with the top 3 as the "top order did well in UAE" (forgetting that Marsh did not). Weatherald is getting some buzz but surely white ball cricket is his pathway to higher honours. Burns is in with a chance too.
- Middle Order: The Marsh brothers are favourites due to lineage. Labuschagne is not much chance at all, Pucovski is probably only 2 100s and no concussions away, Stoinis could put pressure on young lineage. Maxwell wont get many (any) chances for Victoria as he will be away with Australia and that will be used against him. Ferguson should come into calculations but I don't think they love how he doesn't offer great fielding, leadership or bowling. This might cost Burns a bit too.
- Bowlers: Hazlewood and Cummins are definitely the two to pick. Besides them though? I guess you have to say Siddle, Neser and Doggett are in with a chance. But I would say next in line is Jackson Bird and surely Chris Tremain is after that.
The XI I expect:
01 M RENSHAW
02 A FINCH
03 U KHAWAJA
04 S MARSH
05 M MARSH
06 T HEAD
07 T PAINE
08 P CUMMINS
09 M STARC
10 N LYON
11 J HAZLEWOOD
12 J BIRD
So basically, Sheffield Shield performances wont help anyone yet