Australian test selection thread 2015/16

[Tangles]

I doubt the selectors have totally gone off Darsh so I think he may open with Warner post Ashes. The other Marsh will probably come back in at 6 leaving 4/5. So do they want to try someone new plus Burns or will they go conservative and keep Voges for some experience alongside Burns. 2 new guys at 4/5 (including Burns) could lead to some collapses and fan/media headhunting. Voges may do the same but it buys them time if he's disposable if needed anyway.

 

[honestbharani]

Isn't Burns an opener? Why can't he open and Shaun Marsh bat 4?

 

[Tangles]

Burns has opened for Qld in the shield. I'm just guessing that Darsh scoring in the WI gives him some credit to have a go at opening.

 

[NUFAN]

Burns has opened but he looks like a 3 or 4 to me.

Regarding Marsh at 4, well I was listening to some nutter in NZ on a podcast recently and he basically said that Marsh was rocks and diamonds so you can't really pick him at 4 when his job is to prevent collapses. The guy in NZ who importantly to this story had an English accent is probably on the money but then again having an opener who often fails ain't good either. Basically no idea where Marsh should bat but if I had a choice it would be at 5... for WA.

 

[Spikey]

for western australia

where he hides at 5

 

[Prince EWS]

Marsh being rocks or diamonds at Test level so far is really quite amusing given he's spent his entire domestic career scoring 40s every innings. It's true though.

 

[NUFAN]

for western australia

where he hides at 5

Haha just edited that in and saw you had said it too. #BFFforever

 

[Tangles]

Look I would punt Darsh and go with Cowan/Bancroft up top and put Burns at 4. I'd also try someone like Lynn at 5 but I worry how short a rope any new guys might have. So there may be value to Voges if Darsh is dumped as a 'who cares if he fails' but if he doesn't we shore up the batting for a summer.

 

[social]

Not advocating it by any means but could do worse than considering Wade as a batsman

Also selecting Bancroft is akin to the calls for Silk last year - guy has literally had half a decent season in fc

 

[Tangles]

If Cowan is still in reasonable nick he can fill that role short term. Give the younger guys a bit of time to get more experience. Even an ugly 30/70 would be useful to protect Smith and 4.

 

[NUFAN]

Do we think that the selectors will:
- rebuild and select batsman all under 30 + Marsh
- pick someone off the back of a strong ODI series
- select the next test team with a view to the next ashes and pick bats that they think can handle Jimmy and broad best.
- keep Voges, bring back/retain an over 30 for experience and bring in a youngish guy OR
- Watto back as opener and vice captain, Faulkner in to debut.

 

[Howe_zat]

Burns has opened but he looks like a 3 or 4 to me.

Regarding Marsh at 4, well I was listening to some nutter in NZ on a podcast recently and he basically said that Marsh was rocks and diamonds so you can't really pick him at 4 when his job is to prevent collapses. The guy in NZ who importantly to this story had an English accent is probably on the money but then again having an opener who often fails ain't good either. Basically no idea where Marsh should bat but if I had a choice it would be at 5... for WA.

The main thing I thought was a ****up was deciding he was going to be your reserve bat in the first place. So after Edgbaston when the collapsing has started and you want a buffer at #4 for Clarke... you ended up bringing in the worst possible sort of player to do that job.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Do we think that the selectors will:
- rebuild and select batsman all under 30 + Marsh
- pick someone off the back of a strong ODI series
- select the next test team with a view to the next ashes and pick bats that they think can handle Jimmy and broad best.
- keep Voges, bring back/retain an over 30 for experience and bring in a youngish guy OR
- Watto back as opener and vice captain, Faulkner in to debut.

The selectors will want to have the papers saying how even if the guys they choose fail, they're looking to the future. So all under 30 is pretty likely.
Although I like the last choice you have here because it gets Faulkers in the team

 

[aussie tragic]

Now that Clarke has retired, how about bring back Watto who seemed to hate playing under him.

Averages with Clarke as captain: 29T, 1648 runs @ 31.09, 28 wkts @ 35.67

Averages with Clarke not captain: 30T, 2083 runs @ 39.30, 47 wkts @ 32.48

Isn't it great that you can make statistics show anything you like

 

[Spikey]

No Cookies | Fox Sports

Lol

 

[Spark]

it begins

 

[The Battlers Prince]

Maybe there's a curse since Katich was forced out by big scary Pup.
Wait no, I was thinking VC's were all not great decisions. Haddin made little sense to me, but Smitteh did. Warner now seems a touch crazy. He's trying to turn his image around, but he's still been a goose too recently for this call.

 

[Howe_zat]

What does a vice captain do other than 'be an established top 7 batsman' anyway

 

[The Battlers Prince]

There are times they have things to do. I guess there's not many others to choose from

 

[vic_orthdox]

To be honest, the idea of Lyon being VC was one I could get behind.

*shudders at agreeing with Craddock*