Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I do feel that there are elements of GChappellism sneaking into the thoughts of some of our NZ and SA posters as an over-reaction to their teams' Steadist recent selection policies. You're right that it's much worse.
-
Welcome to the Cricket Web forums, one of the biggest forums in the world dedicated to cricket.
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join the Cricket Web community today!
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.
*Official* Australia A in New Zealand 2022/23
- Thread starter G. S. Kohli
- Start date
Neil Young
State Vice-Captain
Though, to counter that, it's a little binary/reductive (delete as applicable) to suggest it's one or the other (and I realise you are not). Throwing kids in before they're ready is an obvious recipe for disaster, but there is a middle ground between that and the endless selection of 30+ year old journeymen, which is seemingly Gazza's safe place.
Clarkson for example.
Nup, no idea - can't even hazard a guess. Anyone who had an average of about 28+ and a current passport has played for NZ for the last 20 years or so, so I imagine it goes back further than that.
Neil Young
State Vice-Captain
It can't go back too far. Domestic batting averages in the 80s and 90s were perennially dire.
Edit: I swear Tom Bruce's face doesn't fit.
Edit: I swear Tom Bruce's face doesn't fit.
Neil Young
State Vice-Captain
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
I was going to guess Greg Hay at first but I see you've mentioned him later in the post so it seems too obvious.
straw man
Hall of Fame Member
Wasn't there a discussion on 50+ domestic averages in the domestic thread a while back? So just one of the players mentioned there.
On the topic of Bruce, I'm very far from wanting yet another 32 yr old in the NZ side, but imo he shouldn't be completely dismissed. Even with legitimate criticisms of how he's batted down at 5 or 6 most of his domestic career, scoring nearly 5000 FC runs at almost 50 does at least get you in the conversation if there's a vacancy at 5 or 6 in the test team. In the conversation, not necessarily in the team. All those that thought Colin Munro should have earned a second chance at test cricket after averaging 50+ over several FC seasons, well Bruce is your next one in that vein. He should be considered a cut above several other domestic journeymen who've made NZ A sides while averaging merely 30-35 in FC cricket. Runs are the ultimate currency.
I would still pick Young/Phillips over him in the NZ test team ftr.
edit: though Young is actually only 15 months younger than Bruce, so far from a push for youth.
On the topic of Bruce, I'm very far from wanting yet another 32 yr old in the NZ side, but imo he shouldn't be completely dismissed. Even with legitimate criticisms of how he's batted down at 5 or 6 most of his domestic career, scoring nearly 5000 FC runs at almost 50 does at least get you in the conversation if there's a vacancy at 5 or 6 in the test team. In the conversation, not necessarily in the team. All those that thought Colin Munro should have earned a second chance at test cricket after averaging 50+ over several FC seasons, well Bruce is your next one in that vein. He should be considered a cut above several other domestic journeymen who've made NZ A sides while averaging merely 30-35 in FC cricket. Runs are the ultimate currency.
I would still pick Young/Phillips over him in the NZ test team ftr.
edit: though Young is actually only 15 months younger than Bruce, so far from a push for youth.
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
Yeah I agree with this. Young and Phillips should be ahead of him in the pecking order but that's about it.
Nintendo
Cricketer Of The Year
Bruce has moved himself up to 4 while captaining NZ A recently, TBF. I'de say there's been some discussion around all of that with him and the management recently.
straw man
Hall of Fame Member
As he should be - should never bat below 4 in FC cricket again
Kippax
Cricketer Of The Year
I see Jones made about 2500 runs at ~36 uncapped.
I think identifying a third player down from Bruce (nearly 5000 at 49) and Hay (5000 at 43) would be challenging. Peter Ingram got to 4000 at about a 40 average uncapped. Potentially a 'city slickers done me wrong' Stags trifecta if I were to lower the bar to 4000.
ataraxia
International Coach
Apart from for NZ
Burgey
Request Your Custom Title Now!
You end up with NSWism, which has been a disaster for half a decade now.
TheJediBrah
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Aus A batting line-up here is genuinely weaker than most Shield teams
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
The bowling attack isn't really above normal Shield standard either but NZA still got rolled, by Buckingham of all people.
TheJediBrah
Request Your Custom Title Now!
Back when I was a kid the 'A' sides were serious business. Most countries would field something not too far off international standard. These are ordinary first-class teams
Prince EWS
Global Moderator
It's because there's so much other cricket. Teams have less Test depth because more players are specialising in other formats, and even when backup players are good at FC cricket they're often off doing other things to make a living and not available for these sorts of games.
A proper Australia A that was genuinely trying to win would probably look something like this:
1. Bancroft
2. Harris
3. Renshaw
4. Handscomb
5. Marsh/Green
6. Hardie
7. Inglis
8. Neser
9. Boland
10. Murphy
11. Morris
Now I definitely wouldn't pick Harris and I probably wouldn't pick Bancroft either (I'd prefer to open with Renshaw and get Maxwell in there actually) but I think that's what we'd get from the selectors if they were just ignoring the best Test XI and going from there with the game on the line.