The Australian squad for the First Test against South Africa was named earlier this week without too many shocks.
Victorian wicketkeeper Matthew Wade got the nod over veteran Brad Haddin in about the only contentious decision, but by the sound of it, Haddin knew that was coming.
The pace bowling stocks are in pretty good knick. It’s likely that Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus and James Pattinson will join off-spinner Nathan Lyon in the XI for Brisbane.
Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Ben Cutting, Alister McDermott, Jackson Bird, Luke Butterworth and even Mitchell Johnson (yes, that guy) could easily play at least one form of cricket for Australia this season.
We’re not short of wicket-keepers either. Both Haddin and Tim Paine have Test match experience. Some have wondered whether back-up NSW keeper Peter Nevill should in fact be the number one NSW stumper, while Queensland veteran Chris Hartley is still arguably the tidiest of them all.
The spinners are another story, although Lyon should be pretty secure with Victorian Jon Holland out for the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction. That’s not to say an all-rounder like Glenn Maxwell or Steven O’Keefe couldn’t step in either.
No, what worries most Australian fans is the apparent lack of quality batsmen coming through. Very few are knocking on the selection door, let alone kicking it down.
In the current batting lineup, only David Warner is under 30. Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey need strong starts to prove last year’s efforts against India weren’t the final exploits of dying stars. Ed Cowan still needs that three figure score to really nail down his place in the side.
What of the others? While Phil Hughes has made an impressive start to the season and looks like the next in line, the rest are just lacking that ‘je ne sais quoi’ that selectors are looking for.
Players like Callum Ferguson, Moises Henriques and Usman Khawaja have all made solid starts, while Liam Davis, Rob Quiney and Alex Doolan were all picked in the Australia A side to play South Africa before the Test.
Yet, you would probably argue that these guys are only tapping on the door, rather than thumping it.
But what if I said that there’s an overlooked batsman, who has a first class average in the mid-forties, can bowl some handy medium-pace a la the Waugh twins, and is still 18 months away from celebrating his 30th birthday?
Tasmanian Mark Cosgrove is probably better known as the man you want to beat to the buffet, but like New Zealand shape-sake Jessie Ryder, he has a touch of class about his batting.
He’s started the season well, scoring a century in Tasmania’s opening match and backing it up with another 80 runs in their second game.
In yesterday’s Ryobi Cup match against former team South Australia, Cosgrove got Tasmania off to a good start with 37 from 47 balls, striking seven fours.
Sure, Cosgrove is a bit bigger than normal, but so was Darren Lehmann… who was 28 on his Test debut. Keep making runs, and “Baby Boof” may well Lehmann once more.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
i think Cosgrove is a reasonably good batsman but he has been overlooked and is way too far down the totem pole. A few years ago he won the award for 'Best young Player" at the Allan Border Medal night. If he was ever seriously considered for the Australian team he would have been given a chance back then.
Oracle
Guest
No turning one's into two's with Cosgrove. Equals no promotion to the Aust side
Martin D.
Guest
They were all fattish early on before losing some baby fat. Today, they frown at that.
A1
Guest
Kallis fat? You need a new TV.
Jason
Guest
Bingo. Also, 8 first class centuries in 8 seasons.
peeeko
Roar Guru
66 first class matches with an average of 36 (whilst having a home ground of adelaide oval)
pope paul v11
Guest
On the depth issue, Hughes and Khawaja both scored well in a pretty unexpected victory against old SA. Today Cossie got nuffink and Ricky Ponting followed.
Evan Askew
Guest
What I don't get is that a professional athlete who presumably doesn't have another job is so out of shape? Can't he devote some time to getting in shape?
Evan Askew
Guest
Boycott, Stackpole and Pollock were fat?
Jsteel
Roar Pro
Great article sajjittariaus, its this lack of batsmen depth that is so dangerous in causing our unfolding against South Africa. On the Cosgrove matter I couldn't agree more that his extremely close to deserving a test gig, a first class average of 44 and ODI average of 38 isn't anything to sneeze at (and is actually more impressive than Ed Cowans). If the selectors believe he can last the 5 days of a test match at a reasnoble intensity and his making runs no reason why he shouldn't get a game
Martin D.
Guest
Lots of fat batsmen in history: Geoff Boycott, Keith Stackpole, Graeme Pollock, Inzamam Al Huq, Warwick Armstrong, etc. Jacques Kallis is no lightweight either.
Mick H
Roar Rookie
Callum Ferguson anyone ? Had a couple of injuries but I think he is a class player who needs time and backing of the board. If Watson was given so many chances why can't Ferguson ?
Mick H
Roar Rookie
He was about 15 metres from the ball from the angle I saw and I don't expect him to dive for anything lol
TheGenuineTailender
Roar Guru
He's just so fat! On a serious note though, in the modern era there is no place in an Australian side for as great a liability in the field as Cosgrove, especially when you consider batsmen of similar calibre are also in existence who won't leak runs in the field or drop the tough chances you need to be taken.
Cameron
Guest
Cosgrove, with his big hitting and full figure swagger, has cult hero written all over him - bring him on!
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
I agree, if he knocks down the door with consistent runs, his case may be too hard to ignore. That's fair enough. Runs are a batsmans currency. However, he's a shocking fielder. They don't put him at slip becaus he's a great slipper, they put him there because he's a liability everywhere else. As long as he continues to have suspicious footwork, a questionable work ethic, and be a poor fielder, he's a fair way off representing Australia if he only scores 'some' runs. He'll need to score mountain loads, and significantly more than anyone else. .
Red Kev
Guest
Cosgrove is not close to the fielder that Boon was. Someone suggested he's a good slipper, I haven't watched a lot of him at domestic level, but the two matches I did catch of him last year, he grassed a regulation slips chance and didn't take one.
matt h
Guest
Two words - David Boon
Adam Ludeke
Roar Pro
So what? What difference does it make if he's scoring runs and fields well?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Ponting's in tip top form in part due to General Cosgrove getting the Taswegian Army off to an excellent start. Although he's chunky isn't he a good slipper? If SA clean up he's versatile as well, being able to bat anywhere in the top six. And a nice hot tour of India should sort him out.