Australian test selection 2018/19

[Spark]

He's definitely has appeared to have pissed off someone. There's probably also the view of him being a pure white-ball batsman.

Think the second sentence is it tbh. Even Warner got pigeonholed for a few years before the sheer weight of runs forced selectors into picking him

 

[GotSpin]

Think the second sentence is it tbh. Even Warner got pigeonholed for a few years before the sheer weight of runs forced selectors into picking him

I’ve heard the first sentence from a very good source

 

[morgieb]

Think the second sentence is it tbh. Even Warner got pigeonholed for a few years before the sheer weight of runs forced selectors into picking him

Warner's a bit different though, he was basically playing no Shield cricket before 2011. I believe he made his ODI/T20 debut before his FC one.

 

[Spark]

Warner's a bit different though, he was basically playing no Shield cricket before 2011. I believe he made his ODI/T20 debut before his FC one.

yeah that's what I meant

 

[Victor Ian]

In a parallel universe that we aren't living in pat cummins is being interviewed over the 150 he scored to win Australia the match.
Don't bother picking another 30 average batsmen. Invest money in wormholes.

 

[OverratedSanity]

In a parallel universe that we aren't living in pat cummins is being interviewed over the 150 he scored to win Australia the match.
Don't bother picking another 30 average batsmen. Invest money in wormholes.

In that parallel universe, in the long term Cummins probably gets ruined by the team trying to turn him into an all rounder batting at number 6.

 

[stephen]

Honestly what we need right now more than anything is players that we can somewhat trust to make runs at test match level.

Burns, while never setting the world on fire was averaging 37 and hit 3 centuries in 14 tests, which is more than the entire Australian batting lineup in the 9 tests since Sydney last year.

Matthew Wade without the keepers gloves could be worth a shout. He's been making stacks of runs at shield level for the last two years after making technical adjustments after he got dropped from the test side.

Shaun Marsh knows how to construct an innings but is a shocking starter.

Matt Renshaw knows how to construct an innings but is in a form drought at the moment.

Marcus Harris is our most consistent shield performer.

Maxwell has some part time filth that can contribute, is an awesome fielder and does have the ability to bat long periods. He's also incredibly talented but appears to have a personality conflict with members of the team. He's probably the most naturally talented batsman who isn't currently in the side.

Cooper, Doolan are journeymen, Larkin and Silk both need a few more seasons of his current form. Hughes and Lehmann have both been consistently slightly above average without setting the world alight. Patterson is the Joe Root of shield cricket. Needs to sort out his conversion issues and he'll be a shoe in for the national side. Henriques has been consistently inconsistent across his career.

That's all of the shield batsmen who have scored >400 runs in the first half of the season. The only players of note below this mark are Handscomb (who is averaging 45), Pucovski (who needs more seasons under his belt) and Neser, who could realistically bat 7 on current form.

The vast majority of the rest of the batsmen are averaging under 30 for this season.

Based on this, I think the following batting lineup would be the strongest:

Harris
Burns
Khawaja
Maxwell
S Marsh
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

If we absolutely must play a genuine all rounder, then we should pick Neser and move Paine up one spot.

 

[Second Spitter]

I think Head is fixable.

In that parallel universe, in the long term Cummins probably gets ruined by the team trying to turn him into an all rounder batting at number 6.

Happened to Starc to some extent.

 

[Starfighter]

Longer term, I wonder what excuse Langer will use to bring Bancroft back for the SL series. I can't believe Marnus has been recalled presumably on the basis that he can send down some part time leggies when his batting is crud and the bowling is relatively fine. It's sad that he can be recalled with such a poor season average. I'm guessing it also shows an India friendly pitch for the match (why do we keep doing this).

I'd like to see one or both of Burns and Wade for the SL series, though Wade's previous efforts make me wary.

 

[Second Spitter]

Bancroft was on the way out of the team. He may have indirectly prolonged his career in the Test team by getting suspended from the Test team.

 

[GRAB]

This Nick Larkin fellah who's having a good season (at 28, despite very little FC before that) but was in the Ireland squad not too long ago... Is he still committed to playing for Ireland or are you guys gonna want him back?

 

[Prince EWS]

This Nick Larkin fellah who's having a good season (at 28, despite very little FC before that) but was in the Ireland squad not too long ago... Is he still committed to playing for Ireland or are you guys gonna want him back?

He bailed on Ireland when he got a NSW contract a couple of seasons ago. It was always his second choice.

It'd be some rise to fame if he ended up playing for Australia any time soon given every third post in the AusDom thread earlier in the season was complaining about him still getting selected for NSW.

 

[Dan]

Really hope this Shield season gets Larkin an Irish central contract tbh.

 

[Prince EWS]

Really hope this Shield season gets Larkin an Irish central contract tbh.

I think he could've had one by now anyway if that's what he wanted.

 

[Dan]

Australian FC cricket has been wrecked by fast-tracking youngsters who haven't earned their spots and devaluing actual performance up the grades, so the solution is definitely to fast track another youngster who hasn't earned their spot

There are plenty of batsmen in the shield who "look good". Getting fooled by batsmen who "looked good" is why we have a generation of blokes who excel at making pretty 30s but can't grind out a six hour innings.

Different for bowlers. Fast track them all you like so long as you can keep them fit.

Yeah, so much this.

If I had to make one weird pick though, I'd consider leaning towards Silk. Facing a lot of balls this season.

 

[Spikey]

the mad dog's arm is healed in a couple of weeks. do it.

 

[Spikey]

ponting with a galaxy brain take

"I've seen Labuschagne has come into the line-up so to me straightaway that means Finch has to miss out and Usman will open the batting, I'd imagine," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"That's how it looks – Labuschagne probably bats four, (Travis) Head five and Mitch Marsh six – I think that's the way they're going to line up.

"I can't really think what else they can do.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ric...h-marnus-labuschagne-khawaja-kohli/2018-12-30

 

[Top_Cat]

For what it's worth, I think he's right. It's absurd times but in terms of the likely selection algebra going on, Finch has been exposed as an opener and Marsh has The Pedigree so just needs time. Also, as bad as Marsh has looked, against the tweakers he might sock a few dingers whereas Finch is an order of magnitude worse so they can't bat him any lower. It was why he got the gig opening in ODIs unless I'm horribly mistaken.

 

[Top_Cat]

I thought the lack of opportunities given to Maxwell was down to Lehmann not rating him, or am I wrong? What's their problem with him exactly? He clearly doesnt have technical weaknesses as glaring as Handscomb or Mitchell Marsh and yet he hasnt been given any where near as many chances, He was the only middle order batsman apart from Smith who looked competent in India. Didn't look terrible in Bangaldesh ither iirc and he hasnt played since.

Wild guess, strikes me as the sort of character who's difficult to reign in. Current set up might struggle to deal with 'different' personalities these days perhaps?

Agreed, though. Thought he looked really good in India prior to being dropped, ironically because he reigned himself in a bit.

 

[Second Spitter]

Is Renshaw still a pull?
Or he injured like Prithvi Shaw?

No, he’s gone **** like Hamed.