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Australian captain Steve Smith advised the media that the Australian selectors would be considering an all-rounder option for the next Test in Melbourne, due to the excessive number of overs bowled by the Australian quicks and Jackson Bird in Brisbane.
With that statement in mind, it’s worth considering; What do Australian Selectors talk about when they talk about all-rounders?
So let’s consider.
Shane Watson
The poster boy of Australian all-rounders since 2005, “Watto” was as divisive as he was inconsistent.
Seemingly picked originally as a response to Andrew Flintoff doing well for England, the other Shane went on to; open the batting, bowl stump-to-stump, run out team-mates, waste referrals and get out LBW so often that it actually became hilarious.
In summary, the selectors may remember the issues associated with a player that can help a team with batting, but hurt it with bowling (or vice versa) and toss the all-rounder idea out altogether.
Pat Cummins
Not really what you’d call an all-rounder, or even match fit for the most part, but the prodigal son of Australian Cricket did perform well in the recent ODI series against New Zealand and can bat a bit.
Picking him to bowl 10-20 overs in short bursts is probably reasonable and any runs he scores could be a bonus, like Mitch Marsh.
Mitch Marsh
Having been dropped from the side for some pretty ordinary performances with the bat and a lack of wickets, despite bowling pretty well, Marsh is most likely in the ‘drunk dial’ category for the selectors.
He may well get picked, but it will probably be based on their success, or lack thereof, with others and the result of many beers consumed.
James Faulkner
Faulkner is arguably the best all-rounder in Australia but seems to have been ‘friend-zoned’ into the short format categories despite his talent.
Faulkner has played only one Test, but took 6 wickets and scored a handy 45 runs across his two innings.
While that isn’t a lot of runs, he did score 100 not out in his last Shield effort (against NSW) and scored 129 across two innings in his last Shield game at the MCG.
He also has considerable experience in India thanks to the IPL, which can’t hurt your bank balance or selectors opinions of you.
Moises Henriques
Like Faulkner, Henriques is a man that has played Test cricket for Australia before, though with less success.
In four Tests with the Baggy Green he has scored 161 runs at 23 and bowled 55 overs for just two wickets at a not so desirable 82.
Recently given a prolonged spell in the ODI team in the Sri Lanka tour, Moises didn’t wrap himself in glory, averaging five with the bat and 88 with the ball.
Like his namesake, he seems more likely to part the sea than the stumps.
Glenn Maxwell
The selectors definitely do not talk about Glenn Maxwell at the moment, especially not as an all-rounder or an option for the coming Test series in India.
Nope, not talked about. Forget about it.
That Travis Head though…
And then there’s Hilton Cartwright, apparently.
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