Australian Domestic Season 2018/19

[TheJediBrah]

Tough decision but id leave out Valente. The 4 other quicks deserve a game and Mennie is capable enough with the bat. I acknowledge that its a little risky but runs will have to come from the top 5.

Not a big deal but I think Lehmann and Cooper, plus Richardson and Sayers are switch around in the order.

Nah you don't need 5 specialist bowlers, even if they all deserve a spot. It just weakens the team overall.

 

[Prince EWS]

Nah you don't need 5 specialist bowlers, even if they all deserve a spot. It just weakens the team overall.

I agree with you less when it comes to fifty over cricket, especially if your seventh batsman is a **** ****, but yeah I entirely agree in the Shield. I don't really rate Valente as a Shield cricketer but Mennie isn't really good enough to bat seven IMO.

 

[Dan]

I'm ok(ish) with 5 specialists if a couple of them can hold a bat, the wicketkeeper is a competent six, and none of your top order are anything above part timers. If your batting ends at 5, it's definitely not worth it.

I think the fifth option is fairly valuable in FC cricket -- there's a higher chance of one of your main four having an absolute shocker and going at 7s, especially later in the season when young prospects are getting a crack.

 

[NUFAN]

Ideally I would be aiming for 6 bats, but when you look at the squad and make a case by case basis it doesnt seem right to leave anyone else out assuming they are all 100% fit.

Sayers and Mennie are recent Aussie reps and Mennie can bat a bit. Winter was excellent last year and offers variety. Then its just Richardson and Valente left ad while Kane's batting appears to be going south, I just cant see Valente's batting helping that much.

 

[Prince EWS]

I'm ok(ish) with 5 specialists if a couple of them can hold a bat, the wicketkeeper is a competent six, and none of your top order are anything above part timers. If your batting ends at 5, it's definitely not worth it.

I think the fifth option is fairly valuable in FC cricket -- there's a higher chance of one of your main four having an absolute shocker and going at 7s, especially later in the season when young prospects are getting a crack.

Valente is a bowling allrounder anyway though. There's a difference between "five specialist bowlers usually weakens the side" and "you don't need five bowling options".

 

[Top_Cat]

Mennie also has recent form, was good in the JLT. And Richardson is a far more recent Aussie rep if were talking LO.

Sayers had his first meh season in 17/18 and wasn't great in the JLT. I've no idea why he didn't get a gig with Sussex but with so much pace in the SA squad, he comes into this summer a little vulnerable, personally. He should start the season leading the attack as usual but when Worrall comes back, might not be room for him in an attack of Worrall/Winter/Mennie/Richardson/spinner.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I agree with you less when it comes to fifty over cricket, especially if your seventh batsman is a **** ****, but yeah I entirely agree in the Shield. I don't really rate Valente as a Shield cricketer but Mennie isn't really good enough to bat seven IMO.

I can forgive it more in 50 over cricket where you need 10 overs out of a 5th bowler(s). Unless you bowl the side out early of course. I still think it's better to have an extra batsman, or all-rounder at least and make the extra 10 overs from the top 7 that are the best top 7 bats available (inc WK).

Ideally I would be aiming for 6 bats, but when you look at the squad and make a case by case basis it doesnt seem right to leave anyone else out assuming they are all 100% fit.

Sayers and Mennie are recent Aussie reps and Mennie can bat a bit. Winter was excellent last year and offers variety. Then its just Richardson and Valente left ad while Kane's batting appears to be going south, I just cant see Valente's batting helping that much.

That's what I'm saying though, it's not about whether they "deserve" a place, or whether it seems right to leave them out. It wouldn't have "felt right" to leave Stuart Clark out of NSW Shield side in 2006 if they had Lee, McGrath, Bracken and MacGill available. But you're not going to play them all just because they deserve it. You need to pick the 11 that's going to the strongest team.

 

[Prince EWS]

Very occasionally based TJB ftw.

 

[Top_Cat]

So who would one pick as the 6th bat, though? SACA so short of qualified bats, even the Futures team went with 5.

 

[Gnske]

Let's hope that Phil Jaques has a better understanding of the last page of discussion than Trent Johnston ever did.

At least Sams being around the side means NSW's balance might be less NSW this year.

 

[Gnske]

So who would one pick as the 6th bat, though? SACA so short of qualified bats, even the Futures team went with 5.

Kelvin Smith was ripping runs in last season's Future's Grade. Even though he's never worked in FC.

Patrick Page and the other Winter seem to be the reserves for the middle order apart from Ross who isn't an FC batsman.

 

[Top_Cat]

That's partly the point, really. Does the obvious potential of those guys weigh more than the possibility of Valente having a day out with the bat, let alone what he brings with the ball?

All of those got away against Victoria yet the selectors have gone with Valente for the Shield match. Either it says a lot about what they think of Valente's batting or theirs.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's partly the point, really. Does the obvious potential of those guys weigh more than the possibility of Valente having a day out with the bat? Dunno, tbh.

Valente v random bats not selected is actually a different argument to the one we were having though.

 

[Top_Cat]

Sure but I'm only concerned with who leads SACA to win the game, not the what weakens a side thing. For me it depends a lot on who those options are, not the number of bowlers vs bats per se.

Valente a bowling all-rounder is name only, myself. Think he'll be more balanced from here.

 

[Dan]

Look I just want Valente to be a mix of Scott Kremerskothen and Chris Harris. Is that too much to ask?

 

[Top_Cat]

I'd love him to swing a ball occasionally, myself.

 

[TheJediBrah]

If Valente can actually perform close enough to one of the best 6 or 7 batsmen in the state anyway then I guess the point is moot in this case. Maybe he can, as has been said it's not like SA are brimming with batting talent and Valente has made some decent scores at domestic level already.

 

[NUFAN]

Queensland's Shield squad: James Peirson (capt), Max Bryant, Joe Burns, Luke Feldman, Peter George, Sam Heazlett, Charlie Hemphrey, Nathan McSweeney, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson, Sam Truloff, Jack Wildermuth

What about this XI, who would you leave out? I guess its out of Truloff and McSweeney.

I really want to see Heazlett kick on this year with a 800+ runs season.

 

[Gnske]

What about this XI, who would you leave out? I guess its out of Truloff and McSweeney.

I really want to see Heazlett kick on this year with a 800+ runs season.

He really is due.

I'd go with Truloff for balance, I think he has an FC ton in him somewhere.

Heazlett
Burns
Hemphrey
Truloff
Bryant
Peirson
Wildermuth
Swepson
Steketee
Feldman
George

Middle order doesn't inspire, but surely Bryant won't be opening.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

If Valente can actually perform close enough to one of the best 6 or 7 batsmen in the state anyway then I guess the point is moot in this case. Maybe he can, as has been said it's not like SA are brimming with batting talent and Valente has made some decent scores at domestic level already.

I more or less think of Valente as a batting allrounder anyway, when in form he probably would be close to making it. But he didn't look that great with the bat in this seasons JLT cup. As has been said, there is certainly not great batting depth in the SACA setup

Anyway, is Wildermuth fit to bowl again?