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This has been a watershed week for Australian cricket, and hopefully it is more of a beginning than an end to the restructuring that must take place.
The appointment of Darren Lehmann has been roundly applauded. The zeitgeist has been yearning for someone to take charge who believes in nets and matches, and lots of them, as the best way to improve skills and further our players’ understanding of the game.
Lehmann’s ascension to the ranks as head coach of the Australian cricket team is a popular decision. He should now follow it with an unpopular one.
Steve Smith must be in the first Test side at Trent Bridge, and he must be batting in the top six.
Many of our Roar readers will be tempted to stop reading there and head straight for the comments to hurl all sorts of abuse at me. But please, allow me to outline my reasons.
With the addition of Steve Smith to the Ashes squad, ostensibly as cover for Michael Clarke, there are now eight specialist batsmen from which to pick our top six.
David Warner is one of these eight, and he simply can’t be considered after his off-field exploits of recent times, let alone the fact he won’t have played a first class match for over three months. If Lehmann is the sort of strong leader Cricket Australia needs, this won’t even be a discussion point.
Michael Clarke is obviously a given, and we can take it as read he’ll be batting at number four if Lehmann’s tweet from March third is to be enforced (grammar notwithstanding): “Clarke needs to bat four And in a hurry, how many times do some of us have to say the best player in the world has to bat in top 4!”
If Clarke walks out at five in the first Test, then we’ll know for sure where the balance of power in the dressing room truly lies.
Chris Rogers must be opening the batting, and surely would have done so regardless of Warner’s antics. He can’t just be in the squad as back-up, as his vast wealth of experience must be utilised at the top of the order.
This leaves Shane Watson, Ed Cowan, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith fighting over the second opener’s position, first drop, and five and six.
It’s interesting to note Watson will be opening in the tour match against Somerset, while Khawaja has been named at three and Hughes at four. Cowan has been batting solidly at first class level in England without getting a really big score, while the others need time facing the red ball.
I’ve got a feeling Ed will sleep easier if Watson falls cheaply, as big runs as an opener for the latter would make everyone understand exactly how valuable he could be in his favourite position.
I change my mind nightly over who should be in, who should be out, and who should be batting where between those two and Hughes. All three continue to battle their inner demons at the crease, unable to truly conquer them.
I’m firm in the belief Khawaja has the technique and temperament required to succeed at Test level, and needs to be employed for an extended period of time, whether at three or five. His well-publicised relationship with the new coach can only enhance his chances, but tour runs are still required.
When it comes to six, it must be Steven Smith, and it’s hard to believe anyone who watched his sterling performances in India could argue.
We all know about the old Steve Smith, the 21 year old selected before his time after limited first class exposure. He couldn’t have looked more inadequate or out of place as a Test cricketer, either with bat or ball in hand. In fact, he was doing a Glenn Maxwell before being Glenn Maxwell was (un)popular.
We all know what a debacle the Australian tour of India was. A complete farce. Shambolic in every way. With the matches covered exclusively on Foxtel, many Australians wouldn’t have seen a ball bowled in anger, but were furious at the scorecards and match reports coming back our way.
It would be easy to write off the entire tour and everything from it as a disaster. But from the ashes, Steve Smith was the phoenix that rose.
Picked for the third Test after ‘Homework-gate’ decimated the side, he embraced the chance with a resilient 92 in the first innings, second-top score behind Mitch Starc’s magnificent 99. It would stand as the third highest innings by an Australian over the series.
A highly regarded player of spin, his use of his feet to the Indian spinners on the crumbling pitches was still impressive, alongside good decision making and shot selection. It was also noted how at ease he was at the crease, lacking the fear that had overcome many of his teammates by this stage.
In the fourth Test, Smith faced the most balls in each innings for the Aussies, again displaying a maturity previously unseen. With a strike rate of under 35 on both occasions, he surely put to bed any thoughts of his batting impertinence.
For those still not satisfied, let’s look at his recent first class century for Australia A. I can hear the cries now – “It was only against Ireland!”
Well, it was an Ireland that had Australia A at 2/22 when Smith walked to crease. It was an Ireland that had the side 6/139 within 41 overs. It was an Ireland that Smith spent almost four hours defying for his 133.
Australian cricket, now more than ever, is crying out for young men of character. Smith is the youngest batsman on tour, yet is rarely – if ever – the subject of negative press. His recent batting against the red ball has shown he has the stomach for a fight, and the talent to succeed when others are failing.
Cricket Australia has been bold in its actions this week. Let’s hope our batting selections for the first Test follow suit.