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West Australian batsman Adam Voges is continuing to pile up runs, this time in English county cricket. But it could be his accurate left-arm spin that helps him earn a Test debut in the West Indies next month.
The pitches in the Caribbean will almost certainly be dry and slow, as they were during the recently-completed three-Test series which the West Indies drew 1-1 with England.
England batsman Joe Root underlined just how handy it can be to have a competent part-time spinner in such conditions, regularly troubling the West Indian batsman.
Root may have only taken three wickets in the series, but each was a key breakthrough and he gave up just 2.19 runs an over from his 46 overs, offering skipper Alastair Cook valuable control while the frontline bowlers rested.
On Australia’s last Test tour of the Caribbean in 2012, it was captain Michael Clarke who filled this role for Australia, taking five wickets at 24.
Clarke now rarely bowls, with Steve Smith the go-to part-time spinner for Australia. Clarke has, however, often looked reticent to use Smith except almost as a last resort. This seems to be because, although he is a wicket taker, Smith typically serves up a buffet of boundary balls to go with his occasional rippers.
This is where Voges comes in. The veteran West Australian is very similar in bowling style to Clarke – he is accurate and difficult to get away. Neither player imparts extravagant revolutions on their deliveries but probes away waiting for mistakes. Both Clarke and Voges have reputations as partnership breakers and have been under-utilised during their first-class careers.
Voges has emphasised his value with the ball during the current county cricket season. In his first three county games for Middlesex this season, he snared six wickets at 22. What makes those statistics significantly more impressive is that four of his six wickets were of top-six batsman. Again, just like Clarke, Voges has the ability to dismiss good batsmen.
Given the Australian selectors’ love of multi-skilled players, this could push him closer to making his Test debut in the two-match series against the West Indies next month. Not only will the pitches in that series likely be parched but it’s possible Australia could encounter similarly dry, slow decks in the following Ashes series.
Australia may well play two frontline spinners in one or even both of the Tests in the West Indies, pairing incumbent Nathan Lyon with newcomer Fawad Ahmed. Voges’ bowling returns in the UK will have given the selectors pause for thought though.
If they wish to play three pacemen, then Voges would be a very capable spin partner for Lyon. The fact he spins the ball in the opposite direction to Lyon works in his favour also.
Of course, first and foremost, it is Voges’ batting which will be considered. On that front he could not be doing any more to warrant selection.
Over the past two Sheffield Shield seasons, Voges has blazed a phenomenal 2127 runs at 79. His scorching touch has continued for Middlesex, with 451 runs at 56.
Outside of Steve Smith, David Warner, Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke, Voges is the next best long-form batsman in Australia at present.
The makeup of Australia’s top six for the first Test against the West Indies is very much up in the air. The positions of Smith, Warner, Rogers and Clarke are assured. But Voges, Shane Watson and the brothers Marsh are all competing for two spots in the batting order.
Watson should not even be in the squad. His time has come and gone. The manner in which he has floundered in the heat of the past two Ashes and then inflated his stats when the pressure was off is a serious concern.
Shaun Marsh has been okay during his current stint in the Test team but has a discouraging record of being an all-or-nothing batsman.
At 35 years old, Voges is the same age Rogers was when he was handed an opportunity by the selectors for the last Ashes in England. That selection has reaped major dividends for Australia.
It’s time to take another punt on experience. Voges must play in the West Indies.