Australian test selection thread 2015/16

[stephen]

I'd actually run with the following bowling attack in the short/mid term future:

MMarsh
Johnson
Siddle
Hazlewood
Lyon

I think it should be an either/or thing with both Mitchells and despite the stats I thought that Johnson was a better bowler this series. He's also more experienced and a better bat (though not by much). Starc is the "wicket taking at all costs" seamer heir apparent but both him and Johnson in the team together hurts our balance way too much. We become far too reliant on jaffas and are not able to contain when batsmen get set.

 

[SeamUp]

Can we not be kneejerk by picking Bancroft after one good season? Remember when everyone anointed Silk as the Rogers replacement after his good year?

If he can back it up this year, sure, he's in contention. But one good FC season does not a Test opener make.

That is a fair point.

But then Cameron goes and scores a big hundred for the 'A' side in alien conditions (first tour there I imagine) and shows more adaptability than some of the players said to be close to selection for the test side and been around the domestic set-up for 5+ years.

There are arguments both ways. So it could go either way.

 

[Howe_zat]

Yeah it is. Just on Bancroft again, I don't actually think he will debut next game. I think ShaunMarsh will play "he was unlucky in England" "next in line" "did well in West Indies" "has made runs over here before (debut ton vs SL)" "exciting talent".

Vs Bangladesh

1 Marsh (15)
2 Warner (43)
3 Smith (33)
4 Burns (2)
5 Voges (7)
6 Marsh (7)
7 Nevill (4)
8 Johnson (71)
9 Starc (22)
10 ??
11 Lyon (46)

The numbers in brackets must be your prediction for series averages

 

[the big bambino]

With our batting being so weak and now with vacancies You can understand why people are getting excited about Bancroft almost sight unseen. Even former test players are making the rookie error picking the rookie just bcos he's the shiny new thing. No doubt they would justify their selection of him saying the best time to pick a young player is when he's making runs but I'm not sure if Healy, Tub or Warne have actually seen him play.

Things are pretty crook but not so bad to rush Bancroft imo. Aus has alternatives with Usman, Cowan and Silk.

 

[Tangles]

Warner
?
Smith
Voges
?
MMarsh

This is what we have right now. If Voges is going to continue short term then he has to play 4 to buffer 5 and the lower order. Burns deserves a shot at 5 first IMO. The opener is harder because of the lack of experience after Smith. Any new opener and even Burns will need some time to adjust to the step up to Test cricket. How long will they get from the selectors and fans is the big unknown. Do we really want a young opener with 2 st innings specialist Warner? Smith will be under immense pressure at 3 so I'm leaning towards a known quantity like Cowan to at least average 30 and eat up some time.

I think Voges should be on a very short leash for mistakes. If he can't buffer 5 down and can only score occasionally when his spot is questioned then he might as well go for a young guy (not Darsh). If he can at least get through the summer forming partnerships and scoring then reevaluate at the end of the summer.

 

[Prince EWS]

I've got no real issue with Voges continuing to be selected in isolation, but man I really hope Clarke wasn't pushed if that's the case. I know his back injuries are getting worse and he's not what he was, but I definitely still think he had more to offer than Voges despite that. I'm going to assume for now (in spite of what I've been told) that Clarke wasn't pushed as it doesn't make much sense otherwise, but if I find out later that he was I'll be extremely annoyed, and I'm not exactly a Clarke fanboy.

So assuming Clarke wasn't pushed I'd just be bringing Marsh and Burns in for Clarke and Rogers. Boring I know but I do think they're the next best batsmen available; Marsh for all his faults has actually scored a lot of runs on the last couple of tours and he only played the one Ashes Test. That'd leave:

1. Burns
2. Warner
3. Smith
4. Voges
5. Marsh
6. Marsh
7. Nevill
8. Johnson
9. Starc
10.
11. Lyon

The last bowling spot is still up for grabs a bit. I'd pick O'Keefe in Bangladesh but they'll probably go with Fawad or Agar in the squad instead (I do hope they actually pick two spinners there though). Back at home SIddle probably has the edge over Haze at the moment and that's fair enough, but I never feel great about Siddle and Johnson both being in the same attack.

 

[Spark]

If Clarke was pushed then he wasn't pushed very hard - he's sounded mostly quite relieved at being able to retire.

 

[adub]

Agree with pretty much all of that PEWS. I think Burns/Smarsh will be the first two they try but which one opens is now a live question. I'd hope Siddle doesn't move too far up the pecking order. He got one test in conditions made for his 130kph, but will that horse perform on other courses?

And as for Clarke being pushed, I think I'm with Spark. He has looked cooked all tour (and even in WI) and I think once they lost the Ashes he knew it was time to accept that fact and did it with class.

 

[ImpatientLime]

lads be honest with me, is there any chance i'll get to witness faulkner and maxwell in the same test side over the next 6 months?

 

[Julian87]

Gee that Warner thumb fracture throws a spanner in the works. I'd honestly give Watson a crack with Bancroft if Warner is out. Short term solution and his glaring technical problems will probably be a bit ironed out over there.

 

[Riggins]

Opening away against the banglers would really be a dream Watto situation

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah please no. He would probably make a coupe of double centuries and cement his spot for another 5 ****ing years

 

[adub]

Yeah, nah.

It's a good opportunity to give some guys a shot in a head to head situation with the best securing the spot to partner Warner in the summer.

 

[Red]

Exactly. Bancroft and someone else to play for an opening slot

 

[NUFAN]

Exactly. Bancroft and someone else to play for an opening slot

If Warner is out of the squad I expect we will pick: Bancroft Marsh Smith Burns Voges Marsh which is a fairly fragile looking lineup!

Khawaja will likely be the reserve bat and I expect Maxwell to tour too.

I've seen people slot Burns Voges and SMarsh in 1,4,5 which is their Shield spots. I just feel as though the positions I've named them in is the best for Australia. It is probably because I don't feel we need to cater for, if he plays he is batting in the spot we need him to bat.

 

[adub]

I'd be surprised if Maxwell doesn't get a test against the Bangas especially with Warner out.

 

[Dan]

Seriously, don't pick Cameron ****ing Bancroft yet!

 

[Red]

Seriously, don't pick Cameron ****ing Bancroft yet!

We've lost both our openers from the Ashes. It's as good a time as any to try someone young and in form out.

Guess the other options are Watson (again), Burns, SMarsh or Khawaja. I'm in the camp that thinks Burns is our long term #3 and Smith can drop back to #4. And I'm also in the camp that thinks it's time to move on past Watto as a test cricketer. Dunno about Marsh but maybe. So all that said, I think for Bangladesh is ideal to play Bancroft and bed down our batting order.

Bancroft
Khawaja/SMarsh
Burns
Smith
Voges
MMarsh

 

[TheJediBrah]

Shaun Marsh hasn't really got that much more cricket in him than Watto

 

[Dan]

Yeah, (potentially) two new openers and the best option is to pick a guy with 3 months of runmaking behind him?

You have a perfectly good Cowan sitting there, Smarsh is still an option short-term, and hey, Watson actually does make some sense opening in Bangladesh (insofar as it gives you extra flexibility to pick a second spinner, be it O'Keefe @ 8 or Maxwell @ 6).

1. Cowan/Smarsh
2. Watson (temp for Warner)
3. Smitteh
4. Burns
5. Voges
6. MMarsh/Maxwell
7. Nevill
8. O'Keefe/Cummins
9. Starc
10. Siddle
11. Lyon


If Johnson and Haze are both being rested, who do they draft in as the fast bowling depth behind Starc-Cummins-Siddle?