Australian test selection thread 2015/16

[Spark]

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?

They'll probably go back to Patto tbh.

 

[Spikey]

if warner misses, i'd be shocked if marsh didn't open

on board with maxwell playing ftr

 

[TheJediBrah]

Now everyone coming around to the idea of Maxwell as a Test cricketer

2 months ago it was considered laughable by most

Justice will prevail. Australia's long-term no. 5

 

[Flem274*]

If Twatto plays he has to open imo. Get him set before Shakib and the guy with the hard to spell cool name are rapping him on the pads.

Though tbf he might be on 30 by the time they're on in which case he's going to get out somehow.

 

[NUFAN]

Opening with both Cowan and Watson would be so frustrating. These are two batsman who have under achieved in Test Cricket. 77 Tests combined for just 5 hundreds at an average below 35 makes me think it would be a step in the wrong direction. No disrespect to Bangladesh, but I just think it is the perfect time to blood someone and give them the Bang Tests plus the Aussie summer (so 8 Tests) and see how they handle it.

 

[adub]

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).

.
I'm actually not against that idea too much (other than the long term reluctance to pick Watto in any circumstances). Would love to see SOK get a fair dinkum go (but it won't happen).

 

[adub]

Opening with both Cowan and Watson would be so frustrating.

Yeah, overkill. One maybe, both too much.

I'd be keeping Cowan as a backup plan for the summer if not enough guys show form against the Bangas.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Has Cowan even been scoring anything lately? I thought there were much better players in Aus domestic cricket these days.

 

[NUFAN]

cricket.com.au ‏@CricketAus 4m4 minutes ago
BREAKING: Shane Watson has announced his retirement from Test cricket effective immediately


So Watson wont be playing..

 

[Spikey]

Dan must be taking this particularly hard

 

[The Battlers Prince]

I see the Burns opening in ODIs as a precursor to what the selectors are going to use him for. Short term at least

 

[Gnske]

Rest in peace Watto.

Devastated, the Test team has lost the meme factor.

 

[adub]

Has Cowan even been scoring anything lately? I thought there were much better players in Aus domestic cricket these days.

Cowan had probably his best Shield season last year. Started on fire with 4 tons before Christmas I think.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Cowan had probably his best Shield season last year. Started on fire with 4 tons before Christmas I think.

huh. Not a good sign that he wasn't on the recent A tour to India though.

I'd be surprised if he's selected.

 

[adub]

huh. Not a good sign that he wasn't on the recent A tour to India though.

I'd be surprised if he's selected.

Things were pretty different 6 months ago. I'd be surprised if he gets selected for Bangladesh, but if Voges doesn't perform consistently and we're struggling to find a solid opener then he'll come into contention during the summer if he starts well for NSW. Not my preferred option, but until we see what the guys who get first shot do I don't think he can be counted out completely.

Personally I'd hope Carters can get back into his best form, but with Hadds gone and Nev in the Test team he could find himself back at 6 for NSW.

 

[Dan]

huh. Not a good sign that he wasn't on the recent A tour to India though.

I'd be surprised if he's selected.

There's no way Cowan ever goes on an A tour these days (unless they want to test him as a captain). The selectors know what they're getting.

May as well give younger guys the A-team gigs, but that doesn't mean they should immediately leapfrog Cowan in the pecking order.

 

[Tangles]

Warner back for home series?

 

[Energetic]

Looks like history will be made when Australia tours Bangladesh. Hope everyone's ready.

 

[Gob]

Yeah got a bad feeling about Desh now that Warner is gone . Could be so very close.Smitteh is the key

 

[TheJediBrah]

Yeah got a bad feeling about Desh now that Warner is gone . Could be so very close.Smitteh is the key

I wouldn't be worried about Bangladesh even if it was an Australian 3rd or 4th XI tbh

I'm not saying Bdesh haven't been good, just that they are still a very, very long way off