There will be much hope among Australian cricket supporters that the three new additions to the Test team step up to the plate and ignite the failing Australian team.
While that makes sense, to a degree, placing too much attention on the debutants is wrong. Between Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Nic Maddison they are only bringing the collective aggregate of 8528 first class runs with a shared average of 39.66.
Reasonable figures, there selections are warranted and they should be given every chance to prove they are up to Test level.
But expectations are high. They enter as a team on a low, facing a team on a high and now possibly angry as a result of ‘Mintgate’.
There is also the added issue of day-night conditions and a pink ball likely to swing for the South Africans.
They should be wished well and any runs of note should be congratulated and celebrated, but where the higher expectation should be placed is on Dave Warner, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith.
They are the best three in the country and are the ones that really need to step up to the plate.
Without big runs from all or at least two of them over the remaining Tests of the summer, Australia’s problems will only deepen.
And they haven’t been setting the world on fire.
Their collective average over the past five Tests is an uninspiring 34.36, with a return of just one century.
While their class cannot be doubted, it is these three that really need to shape the immediate fortunes of the Test team.
Just imagine a summer where Warner does not fully spark, there is the odd aggressive 50 but he does not go big. He bossed the New Zealand and West Indies attacks last summer but with pressure on this is a different kettle of fish.
Same goes for Khawaja. It was easy pickings when he returned to the Test team. He was a joy to watch but you do wonder if he has a touch of the Carl Hoopers about him. We all hope not, but he will know and all those around him that is now the time to fully fulfil his burning talent.
Then there is Smith, a young captain under pressure. A further loss against South Africa and a poor series against Pakistan will raise the inevitable questions if he is the right man for the job.
Imagine a scenario of another loss against South Africa and let’s say a 1-1 return against Pakistan. This would bring his overall captaincy record to just seven wins over 17 Tests and just one win in the last nine Tests.
Pressure will mount and both his tenure and that of coach Darren Lehmann, whose own win ratio has already dipped under 50 per cent will leave much for Cricket Australia to consider.
It will only be the runs of the big three – not the new three – that will save the day
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