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When the national selectors dropped Usman Khawaja from the third and final Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo, they unknowingly triggered a new-look leftie.
He had scored 613 runs in the Australian summer to average 87.57 with four Test tons and a half-century.
In Sri Lanka, in his next two Tests, he managed only 55 runs to average 13.75 and he was dumped to continue a history of being out of favour with four ‘wise’ men
Reinstated for South Africa at home, he’s scored 307 runs at 76.75 and all things being equal he’ll become the 11th Australian opening batsman among 52 worldwide if he carries his bat in Adelaide today.
Jack Barrett was the first baggy green to achieve the feat at Lord’s in 1890.
He was followed by Warwick Armstrong (1902), Warren Bardsley (1926), Bill Woodfull in 1928 and 1933, Bill Brown (1938), Bill Lawry in 1969 and 1971, Ian Redpath (1974), David Boon (1986), Mark Taylor (1998). Simon Katich (2008), and current teammate David Warner in 2011.
An illustrious list for Khawaja to join as Australia’s premier Test batsman adding to his overnight score of 138* off 285 deliveries.
Khawaja has been on the field for every minute of this Adelaide Test, underlining his endurance and immense powers of concentration.
Khawaja’s feat overshadowed South African paceman Kyle Abbott’s superb bowling of 3-38 off 25, and Peter Handscomb impressive debut with 54 off 78.
With Dale Steyn injured, Abbott has taken over as the spearhead, even though he wasn’t picked for the first Test at the WACA.
Selections?
It’s interesting how Trevor Hohns picked Matt Renshaw, Handscomb, and Nic Maddinson to make their Test debuts in Adelaide.
The top Sheffield Shield batsmen last season were:
Ben Dunk (Tasmania) with 837 runs at 46.55 with four centuries, and two half-centuries.
Travis Head (Vics) – 807 at 44.83 with 3/4.
Peter Handscomb (NSW) – 784 at 43.55 with 3/4.
George Bailey (Tasmania) – 761 at 47.56 with 3/3.
Matt Renshaw (Queensland) – 738 at 52.71 with 2/4.
Kurtis Patterson (NSW) – 737 at 52.64 with 2/4.
And down the list Nic Maddinson (NSW) – 488 at 30.50 with 1/2.
Bailey (34) is by far the most experienced international batsman on the list, while Dunk (29) and Maddinson (24) have played three and two T20s respectively with little success.
Dean (24) has played 16 games for the Vics, averaging 39, Renshaw (20) 12 for Queensland averaging 44.38, with Handscomb (25) with 61 games for the Vics, averaging 40.56
But the most impressive of the younger brigade has been 23-year-old Kurtis Patterson (The Roar 28 November 2011 titled The old and the new: Katich and Patterson shine).
Patterson became the youngest Sheffield Shield century-maker on debut with 157 against Western Australia at the SCG, the full story in the 29 November 2011 column.
In 33 games for NSW, he’s averaging 42.01 with two tons and four half-centuries – and he’s yet another leftie.
Renshaw and Handscomb deserve their Test debut, but Patterson would have been the better bet ahead of Maddinson.
Having said that, the trio deserve a pick and stick selection, with Patterson knocking on the selection door as the next cab off the rank.