Australian test selection 2018/19

[TheJediBrah]

I’ve got a real issue with Finch opening at home, even against India. But I do think he should be in the side atm. Given I also want Khawaja at three, we need two openers. One is Renshaw but the other is problematic tstl.

Renshaw
?
Khawaja
Head (also problematic imo but as worthy of a spot after the first test as most going around atm)
Finch
Maxwell
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Haze

is probably the best I can come up with. I think Stoinis’ bowling is trashier than either of the other all rounders and iirc his FC stats are even worse than theirs.

Finch and Maxwell at five and six could do some serious damage at home.

The other option is someone like Ferguson or whoever has a big Shield start to the season bats four in place of Head. But I suspect Maxwell won’t get a game and MMarsh will bat six

I don't see any issue with Finch opening in Aus. Maybe in England I wouldn't feel confident.

 

[morgieb]

Khawaja going in for scans on his twisted left knee. ****.

 

[Tangles]

I’ve got a real issue with Finch opening at home, even against India. But I do think he should be in the side atm. Given I also want Khawaja at three, we need two openers. One is Renshaw but the other is problematic tstl.

Renshaw
?
Khawaja
Head (also problematic imo but as worthy of a spot after the first test as most going around atm)
Finch
Maxwell
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Haze

is probably the best I can come up with. I think Stoinis’ bowling is trashier than either of the other all rounders and iirc his FC stats are even worse than theirs.

Finch and Maxwell at five and six could do some serious damage at home.

The other option is someone like Ferguson or whoever has a big Shield start to the season bats four in place of Head. But I suspect Maxwell won’t get a game and MMarsh will bat six

Burns deserves a shot in the team. Is Head, Finch, Maxwell the best order for them?

 

[the big bambino]

Apart from the captaincy selection Warney's XI is actually sensible. Presuming Maxie's absence from this round of the shield isn't related to injury the odds of him making the side are even longer. If you want Finch down the order then I think you're looking for a no.3 as Usman would stay opener with Renshaw. Given the bowlers are a lock if fit the top 7 could either be Usman, Renshaw, Ferguson, Finch, Head, Stoinis, Paine or Finch, Renshaw, Usman, Ferguson, Head, Stoinis, Paine.

You'd be a pretty wary buyer of Stoinis but if M Marsh can't bowl the overs required then he's preferred. Besides he doesn't bring any more technical deficiencies with the bat. If Ferguson doesn't take his chance would be looking for Lehmann instead. Anyway I'd like to lock in Renshaw, Usman, Finch, Head and Paine for the top 7 which means Stoinis and Ferguson will be competing with Lehmann, Hughes, Weatherald and Burns for the other two spots.

EDIT. I guess I can't rule out M Marsh or Labuschagne but not consider S Marsh.

 

[Gnske]

I pray Lehmann doesn't get a debut before he learns he can use his feet against pace.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Damien Martyn did ok without it

 

[stephen]

Stoinis has a worse first class batting average than Mitch Marsh. I don't like him for the test side at all.

Renshaw
Maxwell
Burns

Should be the next three in line for a spot. I think the following is a fairer batting lineup:

Renshaw
Khawaja
Head
Maxwell
Finch
M Marsh
Paine

Burns to slot in when someone fails.

Let's not forget than Bancroft will be back for the majority of the tests so he's a guaranteed spot as well.

 

[NUFAN]

Khawaja going in for scans on his twisted left knee. ****.

Yep. Out for the remainder of 2018 (most likely) so that messes up every XI ive seen recently.

It probably means that Renshaw and Finch will open vs India now.

SMarsh and Labuschagne spots will IMO be up for grabs from the top 7 and XI really as Cummins and Haze will return.

3 Marsh vs Burns vs Ferguson vs Weatherald vs Short
6 Labuschagne vs Maxwell vs Handscomb vs Stoinis

 

[Burgey]

There’s a bloke playing for Sutherland who might get a call up

 

[stephen]

We should get Pattinson fit and play 5 bowlers. He's a better first class bat than half the shield batsmen anyway.

 

[Starfighter]

This is really depressing. We might hand a historic series to India over a pathetic moral panic.

 

[Burgey]

There’d be no shortage of irony in India benefiting from it, would there?

 

[Gnske]

I give it halfway through the first test before people start begging for the return of Smith and Warner.

 

[stephen]

The worst thing about Khawaja getting injured is that out makes the Marsh brothers less likely to be dropped.

 

[aussie tragic]

The worst thing about Khawaja getting injured is that out makes the Marsh brothers less likely to be dropped.

How could any sane person not drop both of them....oh wait

 

[Burgey]

Need Cartwright to start making runs very quickly. He's from WA so probably already a lock as replacement, but still, it would be nice.

 

[Burgey]

Actually, with Khawaja now likely missing through injury, it seems to me the side should include #Bertmentum at three and Sabba at five in the Mitch Marsh role.

 

[morgieb]

The worst thing about Khawaja getting injured is that out makes the Marsh brothers less likely to be dropped.

At this point I'm semi convinced that they're involved in voodoo.

 

[Burgey]

They've been haunting Australian cricket for over a decade tbf.

 

[stephen]

Langer has inked in Bancroft as soon as he's available.

Langer's XI

Bancroft
Finch
S Marsh
M Marsh
Labaschagne
Stoinis
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Behrendorff

Never to play:
Renshaw
Maxwell