There are 19 contenders for national selectors Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh, Darren Lehmann, and Trevor Hohns to consider for the opening Test of a busy summer, starting at the WACA against South Africa next week.
Six Tests, 11 ODIs, and three T20s will keep the selectors on their toes.
The contenders, starting with the batsmen:
David Warner is an automatic selection, but both the selectors and the aggressive left-hander will hope for a return to the rich vein of runs a year ago when Warner blasted 64, 85, 163, 116, and 253 in successive digs, but only one unbeaten century in his last 16 visits to the crease.
The far tougher decision will be Warner’s opening partner – the left-handed Shaun Marsh on his home ground, or the right-handed Queenslander Joe Burns.
Marsh (33) has been capped 18 times averaging 40.22 with four centuries and four half-centuries, with Burns (27) averaging 41.52 from his 12 Tests, with three tons and four half-centuries. Marsh scored 73 against South Australia this week, Burns 129 against NSW, but Burns has the age advantage for the more acceptable left and right handed opening combination.
That will favour leftie Usman Khawaja for number three, if his dumb public criticism of the selectors hasn’t cost him dearly, accusing them of making him the scapegoat for the Sri Lankan whitewash series loss. His 44.93 average from 17 Tests should safely see him in Perth, especially after his 79 at the Gabba this week against Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon.
Skipper Steve Smith is another automatic selection, as is Adam Voges.
Smith’s average of 58.55 from 44 Tests includes 15 centuries, and 17 half-centuries makes him a premier batsman in world cricket, with Voges (37), a late bloomer, averaging 72.75 from his 18 Tests, with five tons, and four half-centuries
Genuine all-rounders like Keith Miller, Doug Walters, and Gary Gilmour are hard to find.
Mitchell Marsh and Moises Henriques are the only contenders for one spot, but neither are consistent enough to warrant automatic selection. In fact, both are very disappointing, given their natural talent.
Marsh (25) averages 24 with the bat, and 36.33 with the ball from 18 Tests, so he’s been given plenty of chances, while Henriques (29) has been more of a fringe selection with just four caps, averaging 23.42 with the bat, and a whopping 82 with the ball.
Editor’s note: Glenn Mitchell has today suggested that Australia select a specialist batsman to attempt to hold out the fearsome Proteas bowling line-up, and drop Marsh.
Peter Nevill has the keeping berth all sewn up, he’s by far the best gloveman in the country.
Offie Nathan Lyon and young leggie Adam Zampa are the pick of the spinners, and even though the WACA is more a paceman’s wicket it would be ideal to have them both in the side. Lyon is Australia’s most successful offie with his 211 wickets at 32.80, while Zampa with his loopy and accurate control in ODIs and T20s has yet to win his first baggy green.
That leaves the quicks with Starc and Hazlewood standouts, and automatic selections.
But the third paceman would be expected to be between top contracted Scott Boland, Joe Mennie, Chris Tremain, Andrew Tye, and Daniiel Worrall, with Nathan Coulter-Nile and John Hastings injured.
But Jackson Bird is the best bet, and the best bowler, even though he’s not on top contract dollars.
Bird is a mechanic, he fires away economically at a brisk pace, but his career has been cruelled by injuries, a common problem among far too many Australian quicks.
As a result, his career stats from five Tests are spread over four years, but they are impressive with 21 wickets at 25.28
This week he sent Aaron Finch, Cameron White and Daniel Christian packng at the MCG to claim 3-75 off 30 with 10 maidens, and that should be more than enough for his sixth cap.
The team I expect the selectors to name for the WACA:
David Warner (vc)
Joe Burns
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith (c)
Adam Voges
Mitchell Marsh
Peter Nevill
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
Jackson Bird
Adam Zampa (12th man)
If Marsh fails again, especially on his home track, Zampa to play at Bellerive and Adelaide, with Marsh 12th man.
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