Australian test selection thread 2015/16

[Prince EWS]

Tremain just took a Michelle but first change Boland could only manage a solitary tail ender. Does Chris now leapfrog him to the standby position for Hobart?

Respect the Boland.

 

[adub]

Respect the Boland.

Nah, no NSW heritage. Must be a nuffy.

 

[Midwinter]

Tremain just took a Michelle but first change Boland could only manage a solitary tail ender. Does Chris now leapfrog him to the standby position for Hobart?

Boland was nominated as back up in case of Siddle's back injury, due to his economical bowling, is which is supposed to be Bananaman's role.

Boland's good at keeping the runs down, Tremain less so

 

[Red]

Not for the first time, Lehmann emphatically ruled out the prospect of dropping the allrounder Mitchell Marsh, insisting that the fifth bowling option was vital for team flexibility and cover for any injuries that might crop up. "There has been talk about 6 batsmen and no all-rounder," he said, "but we saw in the day night Test against New Zealand where [Mitchell] Starc got injured that you need the all-rounder. We will certainly play Marsh."

David Warner may need to stand in as captain | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

"…certainly play Marsh".

I can't figure this out. Sure, bowling flexibility is important, and having a 5th bowler ideal, but surely averaging 20 at #6 is just not ok. And Faulkner has just made a good return for Tas. Runs and tidy with the ball.

Our selection can't centre around "we better pick Marsh at 6 in case a quick gets injured during the test". Surely.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Marsh is young (as are a few other options) and he's got runs on the board in FC a few times. He's looked a distinct step down from a test number 6 though.
Is he being kept in the side because of his bowling, which I've found quite impressive lately or due to this selection panel love for the Marsh family?

 

[Dan]

His bowling and the desire to play an all-rounder. Other options are Henriques, who has been injured, and Faulkner, who is also just returning from a minor injury.

 

[Tangles]

Think they see him as a project player who will eventually come good. This will be easier to get away with in home series. Any away series we have big batting issues like in England the heat will be on when he doesn't contribute runs.

 

[Gob]

David Warner may need to stand in as captain | Cricket | ESPN Cricinfo

"…certainly play Marsh".

I can't figure this out. Sure, bowling flexibility is important, and having a 5th bowler ideal, but surely averaging 20 at #6 is just not ok. And Faulkner has just made a good return for Tas. Runs and tidy with the ball.

Our selection can't centre around "we better pick Marsh at 6 in case a quick gets injured during the test". Surely.

After 11 tests

Mitch Marsh with the bat averages 23.75,with the ball 17 wickets at 33.70
Steven Waugh with the bat averaged 26.92,with the ball 18 wickets at 32.32

i'm not obviously suggesting that MMarsh is going to be anywhere near as good as Waugh was but i think he'll eventually come good with the bat more in a Flintoff style and his bowling already is pretty useful (which is what keeping him in the side atm). His batting input atm is definitely a concern and i can understand the calls for some others particularly Forkers and Moz but i can understand why the selectors give him all the chances to prove him self because i think he has a much higher batting ceiling than all the other candidates.

 

[adub]

With Forkers and Moz having recent injury issues I'm ok with Mmarsh atm. Against a minnow like the Windies is a good level to hopefully give him a chance to score big and get some confidence that he belongs. Only problem is he might never get a hit. I can't see the top three failing consistently and Voges loves these guys.

 

[Gob]

Nev being such a good bat also helps. Don't think i'd feel all that confident if it was Haddin doing the keeping duties but Nev is as good as most front line batsmen out sode the team so you don't lose much

 

[Spark]

Surely we can't judge MMarsh's batting performances this summer. They haven't been remotely meaningful apart from Adelaide.

 

[Red]

After 11 tests

Mitch Marsh with the bat averages 23.75,with the ball 17 wickets at 33.70
Steven Waugh with the bat averaged 26.92,with the ball 18 wickets at 32.32

i'm not obviously suggesting that MMarsh is going to be anywhere near as good as Waugh was but i think he'll eventually come good with the bat more in a Flintoff style and his bowling already is pretty useful (which is what keeping him in the side atm). His batting input atm is definitely a concern and i can understand the calls for some others particularly Forkers and Moz but i can understand why the selectors give him all the chances to prove him self because i think he has a much higher batting ceiling than all the other candidates.

Surely we can't judge MMarsh's batting performances this summer. They haven't been remotely meaningful apart from Adelaide.

I dont disagree with this and I do agree he has great potential with the bat. But I also don't see what's wrong with saying go back to the Shield and actually bat properly at number 4 or something and learn how to be a top six bat.


His batting isn't even likely to improve doing what he's doing now.

 

[Red]

FWIW I would interchange him with a fully fit Forkers or Moises right now without blinking. I don't feel the selectors feel the same way though.

 

[Top_Cat]

Surely we can't judge MMarsh's batting performances this summer. They haven't been remotely meaningful apart from Adelaide.

Yep. And knock like that, absorbing pressure, are why he'll keep being given a go above others despite overall statistics. Bowled well in Adelaide too I thought. Bloke's potentially a weapon.

 

[NUFAN]

FWIW I would interchange him with a fully fit Forkers or Moises right now without blinking. I don't feel the selectors feel the same way though.

But what about http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/65001-mitch-marsh-going-outstanding-test-cricketer-thread.html

 

[Top_Cat]

FWIW I would interchange him with a fully fit Forkers or Moises right now without blinking. I don't feel the selectors feel the same way though.

That's because they're trying to build a team and picking a bloke who, only a few months ago, let the team down (and was dropped for it) over another young bloke who's done everything expected of him wouldn't send a great message to said team or anyone else, really.

 

[marc71178]

FWIW I would interchange him with a fully fit Forkers or Moises right now without blinking. I don't feel the selectors feel the same way though.

All well and good, but can you really tell me that Faulkner is a good enough bat to go in at number 6?!

 

[Dan]

All well and good, but can you really tell me that Faulkner is a good enough bat to go in at number 6?!

Probably not, but then again, Marsh's current output (as compared to his potential output) isn't good enough to go in at number 6 either.

 

[Red]

But what about http://www.cricketweb.net/forum/cricket-chat/65001-mitch-marsh-going-outstanding-test-cricketer-thread.html

As I've said thru a few posts, I think he has massive ability, but I think he's not learning how to be a top 6 bat doing what he's doing in the test team at present. I'd send him to the Shield for 1 or 2 years and instruct WA to bat him at #4.

 

[Red]

All well and good, but can you really tell me that Faulkner is a good enough bat to go in at number 6?!

I'd wager good money that right now he'd give us a fair bit more at #6 than Marsh is currently. And he's on par or better as a bowler.