Australian test selection 2018/19

[the big bambino]

If Mitch and Marnus both play I will have a moment. I don’t know what I’ll do but it’ll involve hostages, a series of reasonable demands and a time limit. After our admin crippled the team you’d think the selectors would utilise the remaining resources to maximise the runs we could get. Instead they play Finch in a position he is known to fail and now consider two fellas whose batting doesn’t even make the 30 grade, at 5 & 6. Just to accommodate Finch in a still out of position no.4 and rewarding repeat failure S Marsh with a promotion.

If you want an extra bowler who can bat just pick Pattinson. Play Paine at 6 and select Burns to open. Paine at 6? Better than Mitch and in front of Marnus.

 

[NUFAN]

Accidently deleted my post when editing

My 6
U Khawaja
S Marsh
M Renshaw
C Ferguson
J Burns
P Handscomb

Next 6
T Head
K Patterson
G Maxwell
C Bancroft
M Harris
A Doolan
---

 

[social]

A few "experts" are starting to realize that the sheduling of the BBL is less than ideal wrt adequately preparing players for test matches

Unfortunately, that isn't going to change due to broadcasting commitments so we'll just have to make do with the remaining time available

At a bare minimum, this is what I believe should happen

1. No more scheduling of tours or international fixtures between the start of our season and the first test

This would ensure that all players are assessed on an equal basis when it comes to test selection while improving the quality of the local game early in the season

As an example, I can't even remember who we played odis against recently (SA?), let alone the result and certainly can't think of a single benefit to come from them

2. Move (or even discard) the JLT Cup

It's a largely pointless competition played on 2nd rate grounds and the players themselves don't like the scheduling

Preserve the beginning of the season for the longer format (should be able to schedule 5, comfortably spaced rounds of the shield prior to the first test)

3. Attach some significance to Futures League/2nd X1

Atm, they are glorified practice matches where you can field up to 13 players and replace one on a whim

Making it a real 2nd X1 comp with games over 4 days under standard match conditions plus a final would have to be better than what we have now.

4. Finally, this bs of trying to jag the next big thing with zero evidence to back up selections has to stop

We tried it for years when trying to find a replacement for Warne and now we're doing it with our batting AT EVERY LEVEL OF THE GAME

It's nonsense and doomed to failure

Get rid of Hohns & Chappell as they have form in this regard and beg somebody like Steve Waugh to come back into the fold

I'd also much prefer skull to the current mob as he actually watches the game, knows what it takes to make it and can dissect players techniques

There's probably about 10 other changes but the bottom line is that the current system is broken and failure to make changes is tantamount to gross negligence

 

[NUFAN]

So for me.. Only 2 of my 6 play Test Cricket for Australia and only 4 of our 12.

If I added another 6 bats, I would include Finch. But am I confident that MMarsh or Labuschagne would make more runs over Wade, White, Bailey, Henriques, Silk, Weatherald, Pucovski, Lehmann? Not really...

 

[NUFAN]

This is just BS. Morgie picks 6 bats and out of the 7 in the squad currently, only 2 make it and Gnske only had 1.

I swear this isnt a case of players getting rated higher from not playing

 

[Gnske]

A few "experts" are starting to realize that the sheduling of the BBL is less than ideal wrt adequately preparing players for test matches

Unfortunately, that isn't going to change due to broadcasting commitments so we'll just have to make do with the remaining time available

At a bare minimum, this is what I believe should happen

1. No more scheduling of tours or international fixtures between the start of our season and the first test

This would ensure that all players are assessed on an equal basis when it comes to test selection while improving the quality of the local game early in the season

As an example, I can't even remember who we played odis against recently (SA?), let alone the result and certainly can't think of a single benefit to come from them

2. Move (or even discard) the JLT Cup

It's a largely pointless competition played on 2nd rate grounds and the players themselves don't like the scheduling

Preserve the beginning of the season for the longer format (should be able to schedule 5, comfortably spaced rounds of the shield prior to the first test)

If it were me, I'd be tempted to move the BBL to the beginning of the season right after AFL/NRL finals and all that. Screw New Years games and all that gimmicky gobbilty gook. It's only scheduled where it is so casuals can come in during the holiday window.

Then go back to having JLT/Shield games in unison undisturbed, boost the amount of JLT games. Maybe have a bunch of JLT games undisturbed around Christmas/New Years to break up the melancholy of watching the boring cricket.

Accidently deleted my post when editing

My 6
U Khawaja
S Marsh
M Renshaw
C Ferguson
J Burns
P Handscomb

Next 6
T Head
K Patterson
G Maxwell
C Bancroft
M Harris
A Doolan
---

You know, I'd throw Marsh into my 6 above to properly meet your criteria, probably in place of KPat. But I would desperately love to learn something new about Maxi, KPat or Burns if its possible.

 

[Gnske]

So for me.. Only 2 of my 6 play Test Cricket for Australia and only 4 of our 12.

If I added another 6 bats, I would include Finch. But am I confident that MMarsh or Labuschagne would make more runs over Wade, White, Bailey, Henriques, Silk, Weatherald, Pucovski, Lehmann? Not really...

You can see MMarsh maybe doing a Renshaw and getting lustful with smashing the hell out of County Bowlers with a frenzied bloodlust. I think if I had to take a wild swing on who would make hundreds, Khawaja, Renshaw, the other Marsh and Mitch could most likely make them at County through various means. But when it comes to the Marsh brothers as I said with Shaun, I'm not sure we ever learn something from such performances in domestics.

At least Mitch isn't 35 yet I'll say that. He's got time to get his head in.

 

[stephen]

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

I'm going to revise my previous XI since I forgot to include Head, who despite his technical flaws has performed well at test level so far and deserves a spot.

Wade moves to reserve bat, Neser as reserve all rounder. Tremain/Bird as backup quicks.

 

[TheJediBrah]

County Division 1 can be pretty weak, especially compared to Test cricket. I'd expect the same Swampy hacks that dominate Shield cricket to dominate there but still be useless in Tests.

 

[stephen]

This is just BS. Morgie picks 6 bats and out of the 7 in the squad currently, only 2 make it and Gnske only had 1.

I swear this isnt a case of players getting rated higher from not playing

I think people are fed up with mediocrity from the incumbents.

With the current squad I'd pick the batsmen to bat in these positions:

Khawaja
Harris
Handscomb
Finch
S Marsh
Head

I think that's the batting lineup that we're going to get the most runs from. Keep Head at 6, Shaun Marsh at 5 (his best batting position), get Khawaja and Harris to open and then fill the other two spots, pushing Finch as far down as possible.

 

[NUFAN]

County Division 1 can be pretty weak, especially compared to Test cricket. I'd expect the same Swampy hacks that dominate Shield cricket to dominate there but still be useless in Tests.

It can be. But dont you think its weird that we are playing bats who we dont think would be able to dominate county as much as others.

I know for instance the 6 i named have almost no bowling ability, but its jist annoying seeing who does/doesnt get picked.

 

[TheJediBrah]

It can be. But dont you think its weird that we are playing bats who we dont think would be able to dominate county as much as others.

I know for instance the 6 i named have almost no bowling ability, but its jist annoying seeing who does/doesnt get picked.

Hey it's no secret that Aus national selection has been at an all-time shocking level, with no accountability. It's been horrific for the last year or so IMO, just made more obvious when the team loses embarrassingly.

Since the squad selection for UAE Tests though it seems to have stepped up in a level of idiocy

 

[Prince EWS]

I know this is basically a roundabout question but anyways.

If you were in charge of county cricket and had a rule where division 1 had to field 6 Australian batsman. The teams have no specific needs such as a bowling option, need for a veteran, young gun, opener etc, you just want the best 6 bats who will perform the best in the upcoming county season. Who would you pick?

Khawaja
S Marsh
Harris
Renshaw
Maxwell
Ferguson

I've left out Head and Handscomb more because I think they'd struggle specifically in England rather than thinking they're necessarily worse than the batsmen I did pick though, ftr.

 

[Gnske]

It can be. But dont you think its weird that we are playing bats who we dont think would be able to dominate county as much as others.

I know for instance the 6 i named have almost no bowling ability, but its jist annoying seeing who does/doesnt get picked.

Not to get into word play, but when I read your question and had to think of the top six I thought to myself, "Okay, most of these guys will probably produce similar output. A hundred here possibly, a 50 or two there, overall middling results. But who can be the better middlers outside of maybe two batsmen who can realistically dominate?"

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Hypothetically I would consider something like this for a lineup sans Smith and Warner:

Renshaw
Harris
Khawaja
Burns
Maxwell
Head

Hardly inspiring but cupboard really is that bare

 

[stephen]

The thing that shits me about the youth policies around the country is that they don't actually make much sense. When you elevate batsmen before they're ready all they do is weaken the side and disspirit the guy who should be there in merit but isn't.

Burns has probably had his cards marked because he's not 5 years younger. But both Langer and Hayden didn't really get a good run in the side until they were Maxwell or Burns' age, nor did Hussey. Martyn was scapegoated out of the Australian side for six or seven years and then bossed it on his recall in his late 20s.

It's the class of the early 80s that are sucking - Ferguson, White, Bailey, Cowan, S Marsh. One or two of these guys should have kicked on to become a 45+ averaging test match batsman.

The late 80s kids who should be given a run to cement their place are now languishing in the shield - Wade, Burns, Maxwell - or are being shoehorned into roles they're not good at (Finch).

Mitchell Marsh needs to have some Martyn- type treatment. He's still young, he can afford to sit out for a few years and start compiling huge shield seasons. Ditto Handscomb.

The continued selection of mediocrity is unacceptable. Labaschagne got recalled entirely because he's a Langer favourite. Watch Bancroft get picked against Sri Lanka.

Langer's XI:

Bancroft
Harris
Khawaja
S Marsh
Labaschagne
M Marsh
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

 

[Second Spitter]

Yeah, Australia has such an embarrassment of riches in batting, they can afford to leave out players with non-conformist attitudes.

 

[Gnske]

It's the class of the early 80s that are sucking - Ferguson, White, Bailey, Cowan, S Marsh. One or two of these guys should have kicked on to become a 45+ averaging test match batsman.

Well not necessarily Marsh. Here's my favourite post from 2005 on this forum.

I alluded to him earlier. He's also (interestingly, seeing his father was the Australian coach) he's supposed to be the second dumbest person to go through the Academy in recent times. Cosgrove had him covered, from all reports.

So really, Cosgrove is the one that has failed us.

 

[Spikey]

tell us your source vic

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Cosgrove is pretty much the embodiment of most Elizabeth stereotypes. Then again I am from Salisbury just down the road, really don't have a leg to stand on with this one