Australian test selection 2018/19

[Spikey]

idk why travis head is considered a lock, as far as i'm concerned his spot is still very much contested

He's not for me. It's just that he's performed better than the other middle order options, which isn't saying much. He's in danger if Patterson and/or Young Will perform

 

[howardj]

Don't have a problem with Patterson being drafted

He was on the cusp a couple of Summers ago, and most agree he's very talented

There's a body of work there, and good judges rate his ability

 

[CricAddict]

I agree but it's hard when the axe is hanging over two of the six batsmen for the Ashes. Because there's no way Warner and Smith don't get picked.

FWIW:

Warner
Harris
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Patterson/ Pucovski

Is what I predict our ashes top six will look like.

I don't expect Labaschagne to play for Australia for a very long time, if ever, after Smith and Warner return.

Will Bancroft not be picked once his ban period is over?

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Patterson should have been clearly ahead of both Labuschagne and Pucovski imo

 

[stephen]

Will Bancroft not be picked once his ban period is over?

He would have to hit 4 tons in as many games in the back end of the shield season IMO. He was on the verge of being dropped first time around and probably shouldn't have been picked. Needs to go back to shield and improve (a bit like Renshaw).

 

[howardj]

Will Bancroft not be picked once his ban period is over?

He was sort of on the verge of having his position in the team questioned (on performance grounds) before Sandpaper drama

Unlike Smith and Warner, he won't come straight back in

Will need a mountain of Shield runs to make the Ashes squad, even then he will struggle if Burns/Harris/Renshaw/Usman nail things down versus Sri Lanka

With Usman and Warner almost certain to tour England, there's only so many top order spots available

 

[Prince EWS]

Will Bancroft not be picked once his ban period is over?

His ban period is already over, and he's not been selected for the series against Sri Lanka, so I think we've already had that answered.

He's not blacklisted or anything but I think he's kind of back to square one and will need to force his way back in the same way he did initially, due to not being established in the first place.

 

[Spark]

not to mention that he was probably on the way to getting dropped anyway

 

[Prince EWS]

not to mention that he was probably on the way to getting dropped anyway

He was right on the cusp of being dropped before the tour to South Africa, but that 70 odd in Cape Town would've bought him some time given how poorly everyone else fared.

 

[Burgey]

idk why travis head is considered a lock, as far as i'm concerned his spot is still very much contested

Yeah I don't think he's a lock in the medium term, but I do think he's a lock to play vs SL for the reasons others have given - was basically the least awful of the middle order lot vs India. I would love for a couple of the new blokes to perform well and place lots of pressure on not just him, but on Tontine as well. Unfortunately there's going to be an element of taking the new fellas' runs with a grain of salt given it's SL in Australia - much like Handscomb and Renshaw vs Pakistan a few summers ago (in hindsight).

 

[Spark]

oh yeah for SL for sure, but if he doesn't make runs there then his spot should be highly questionable for the ashes. he hasn't really done anything so far.

and irrespective of his performance here, I believe quite firmly that Anderson will make mince meat out of him if he does get picked for the ashes

 

[morgieb]

oh yeah for SL for sure, but if he doesn't make runs there then his spot should be highly questionable for the ashes. he hasn't really done anything so far.

Yeah I'd agree with this. He's fine for now but I think he needs a big score in one of the next two matches to avoid facing the axe when Smith/Warner return.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

I am a big Head fan, but I would like to see him get to three figures during the SL series to secure his place for the Ashes.

 

[stephen]

oh yeah for SL for sure, but if he doesn't make runs there then his spot should be highly questionable for the ashes. he hasn't really done anything so far.

and irrespective of his performance here, I believe quite firmly that Anderson will make mince meat out of him if he does get picked for the ashes

Yeah his technique is decidedly dicey against any real movement. He'll be warming the hands of slips for five tests against Broad and Anderson.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I am a big Head fan

Depends heavily on quality IMO, which can vary greatly

 

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Depends heavily on quality IMO, which can vary greatly

Usually too much teeth involvement my liking.

 

[Burgey]

Usually too much teeth involvement my liking.

We often hear on this website that technique is over rated. This is one part of the game where it most certainly is not

 

[howardj]

Joe Burnt

Three test centuries in 14 appearances

Better average than SMarsh who, as we know on these boards, has been gifted ample chances

Drafted in post-Sandpaper, where he top scored in the 2nd innings

Then overlooked completely not just for the next Test in the UAE but overlooked for the wider squad (leap-frogged by the aforementioned Marsh, and Labus

One of the best performed Shield bats in the last two Summers

Now he's set to be overlooked again...on his home wicket no less

Burnt indeed, on the stake of Chappell's twink fetish

 

[stephen]

I am hoping Burns will play. He's the best option to open with Harris. And while we've been talking about Harris as though his spot is nailed down long term, he really hasn't done a lot so far.

 

[GoodAreasShane]

Burns definitely should be there, therefore Usman can assume his preferred #3. I would personally go for Marnus over young Will for the other spot in the order, but I suspect most will disagree with that

As for Harris, he's in a similar boat to Head. A lock before Smith and Warner return, but needs runs against SL imo