The Australian batting line-up is currently as fragile as butterflies made of snowflakes. As pretty as that sounds, from an Australian perspective it makes for some ugly, albeit extremely engaging, Test cricket.
As exciting as yesterday’s finish to the 2nd Test against New Zealand was, and there is no doubt that it was as gripping as David Warner’s bottom hand, the reality is that Australia’s batting performance in the Test simply wasn’t good enough.
It is true that the pitch in Hobart was challenging and a tinge of Hulk-green.
However it wasn’t a minefield, and after collapses of varying degrees in each of the last four Tests it is clear that something needs to change ahead of the Boxing Day Test against India.
David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke are all safe. Warner just carried his bat and hit a gritty ton, Khawaja has probably done just enough to be persisted with, and Clarke is the captain (and a selector).
Brad Haddin is hanging onto his place by the webbing of his ‘keeping gloves. Haddin’s likely successor is Tim Paine, but with Paine on the long-term injury list the selectors will persist with Haddin.
So those under the microscope are narrowed down to Phil Hughes, Ricky Ponting, and Michael Hussey.
While there has been a lot of noise about Hughes and/or Ponting being dropped, Mr Cricket has been flying under the radar. Let’s take a look at their recent stats:
Hughes’ scores over the last four Tests: 9, 9, 88, 11, 10, 7, 20. Avg = 19.25.
Ponting: 8, 0, 0, 62, 78, 5, 16. Avg = 24.14.
Hussey: 1, 0, 20, 39, 15, 8, 0. Avg = 11.86.
It is true that even I was proclaiming the evergreen Hussey as somewhat of a superhero after the series against Sri Lanka. Not least of all due to the fact that he looks eerily similar to Reed Richards from the Fantastic Four.
But the stats speak for themselves (figuratively, not literally) and this is not the first time in his career that Hussey has hit a dry patch. Although Ponting and/or Hughes may also go, with age against him and his form on the wane, Huss is a man under pressures to hold his spot.
If he is fit, Shane Watson should come in for Hussey and bat at six. If not, the man in need of a surname, Dan Trevor Christian, should come into the side.
The inclusion of Watson or the in form Christian will also improve balance of the Australian side as it would add depth to the Australian bowling attack.
This is something that could prove invaluable should India’s batting line-up hit form down under and force some long days in the field for the Australians during the series.
Al from ctown
Guest
There is no silver spoon feeding in Liverpool growing up TD, just so you know. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Rhys
Guest
Based on coach Mickey Arthur's very deliberate comments in support of both Ponting and Hussey's continued tenure in the Test team, it is almost a certainty that both will play in the Boxing Day Test. The cynic in me begins to wonder if Cricket Australia's biggest payday of the calendar,in terms of gate receipts, Australian television ratings, not to mention a huge audience on the sub-continent, is a driving factor in ensuring all the 'big name' players are on stage at the MCG come the 26th, regardless of form. 'Ponting v. Tendulkar' sounds a lot more attractive from a marketing viewpoint. And of course we all know what motivates C.A. these days.
TD
Guest
If Huss does get the nudge, I personally think Cal Ferguson should be the next in line. Think back to before he ruptured his ACL in the Champions Trophy a couple of years ago, he was the next best thing in Australian cricket. I have seen him in the nets and on the field for SA a bit this season and you would be hard pressed to find a better bat. I dont think Watson and Christian in the same side would be of any benefit. In any case, Huss will play out this summer and then probably get the option to jump or be pushed. I really dont like Clarkes leadership either so someone with more experience has to stick around ie. Punter/Huss. He is a silver spoon fed, CA puppet who has been a poster boy since making a few 20's in Sydney grade cricket.
Fisher Price
Guest
Meanwhile, Ponting who some are argue is needed for his nous and supposed mentoring abilities, sees fit not only to take up a spot when a younger alternative could be blooded, but keeps insisting he can't see the finish line. Team man? Pah!
Fisher Price
Guest
Cricket Australia's employees lack a winning mentality.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
The new players have definitely all grabbed their chances. A great sign for the national side.
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
I agree Silvio. The selectors will probably use Hughes as the fall guy. Though maybe they will show a bit more resolve than selection panels of the past?
Lee McDonald
Roar Guru
I suppose making into the Test side is not just about skill level but timing as well. Rogers in particular was probably a tad unlucky not to get a gig a couple of years back
Tommy
Guest
I think Clarke is lucky that so many other batsman around him are out of form. I believe that Clarke dreadful swoosh outside off yesterday was the reason we lost. His defence has become extremely loose & you can't even blame T20 for this because he doesn't even play it. He should have been dropped after the Ashes debacle last summer. Since then, his only performance of note in 2 years has been the 150 in South Africa. His centruy in SL was on a dead pitch & he should have been bowled for 20 at the Gabba if the umpire didn't check for the no ball. Unless he does some drastic remdial work on his defence, I predict he will be out of the Australian team within 2 years.
jameswm
Guest
If the "experience" defence is so important, why have Marsh, Warner, Paine, Pattinson and Cummins all done so well recently when given their chance? They've outperformed the incumbents, esp Ponting, Haddin and Johnson.
Matt F
Roar Guru
I think his performance s in the Ashes and against SL should give him more time (at least make him safer then Ponting from the axe.) I'd be moving Ponting and Haddin on now and give Hussey the first 2 tetsts to make some runs. The "experience" defence doesn't wash anymore when it doesn't help us beat NZ. Wev'e already sacrificed Katich, surely we can't lose Hussey as well just so the worse performing Ponting can continue on with his World Tour of Denial? I don't see the point of persisiting with Haddin just because we've marked Paine as the next keeper. With Paines' injury, the question should be is Haddin better than Wade? The ansmer right now almost certainly favours Wade so lets put him in now. If Paine is truly the better keeper then he'll win the spot back soon enough.
TomC
Guest
Tricky one. Hussey looked like a dead man walking before last summer, and then was clearly Australia's best batsman in the Ashes series. And as you note, he was fantastic against Sri Lanka. Man of the match in all three tests, I believe. The problem for me is not just that hasn't made any runs in the last few tests, but that he's occupying the valuable number 6 spot, which could be used to give Watson a break from opening, or protect young Khawaja from batting so high up early in his test career. At 36, there's not really a lot of upside in waiting around for him to score runs. Even if he does well this summer you'd think another dry patch will come along soon enough that he'll have to be carried through.
Silvio
Guest
Lee great article but Ponting and co have close friends within cricket Australia and I think they will survive although I think Hughe's will be the sacrificial lamb to take the heat off Ponting and Mr Cricket! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Red Kev
Guest
I agree, Ponting (11 scores of less than 17 in his last 17 innings), Hussey and Hughes all have to go but Haddin has to join the list. For all the hype about Tim Paine he's only very very slightly and arguably better than Matthew Wade. What does Wade have to do to earn a call up? Warner, Cowan, Marsh, Khawaja, Clarke, Watson, Wade is going to be a better batting order what we've had recently.
Harry
Guest
Agree. Sadly. Hussey seems an admirable, dedicated cricketer, his fielding and bowling examples of his approach as well as his many fine innings, however the stats tell the story. Sad that his brother and Chris Rogers never got a chance (Rogers got 1 test?) to see what they could do wearing the baggy green.