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Leading into this week’s crucial Test series with world number one South Africa, the current round of Sheffield Shield results reflects the state of the Australian Test team – that bat is dominating ball.
After years of drought post Warne/McGrath, the heavens have opened and we are inundated with bowlers taking wickets.
This round of Shield games has seen the batting sides produce some low totals. The highest score by any team in any innings was 256 for Queensland in their second innings against NSW.
Eight innings scores were under 200. The highest score by a batsman in any match was Marcus North for Western Australia in a losing cause against the Bushrangers, followed by Travis Head (SA 75) and Mike Hussey (WA 65).
Hussey’s score will be reassuring for selectors, but it cannot be said that the other batsmen are in current selection calculations.
Of those that are, Usman Khawaja looks most impressive with half centuries in each innings for Queensland against the Blues. He has been in good form for his newly adopted state, and could well be in with a chance of selection should he continue his good form and a spot becomes available.
Khawaja was one of only eight top-six batsmen to get past 50 in the round, only two of which (Hussey and Matthew Wade) are in the current Test side.
It must be noted, of course, that with Australia A playing South Africa at the SCG this weekend, some players were missing from state sides. The fact that the Australia A side was so batting heavy, with only two specialist bowlers included, suggests that the selectors are worried more about current batting stocks than bowling.
With the in form Phil Hughes (5) missing out in this game, Alex Doolan (161) and Rob Quiney (85) have done nothing to harm their future selection chances. And with Shane Watson racing against time to be fit for the first Test, this may come sooner rather than later.
Back in the Shield, seven bowlers took more than five wickets in the three matches played, five of which have yet to represent Australia.
Jason Behrendorff from the Warriors impressed with match figures of 7/53, while Luke Feldman (Queensland 7/105), Kane Richardson (SA 6/66), Chad Sayers (SA 6/82), and Cameron Gannon (Queensland 6/96) all had good returns.
Of those in the current or recent Australian set-up, James Pattinson was in good form, taking 6/96 for the Vic’s against WA. Teammate Clint McKay impressed with 5/101, while Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc and Trent Copeland all took wickets.
All three Shield matches this round were completed within three days, a fact which has either positive or negative connotations, depending on your point of view.
The positive is the form of the bowlers across the board and the potential for establishing depth in fast bowling stocks for years to come. The negative is the very fact that the same cannot be said for the batsmen.
An interesting point also is whether these results are reflective not just of the quality of bowling but also the pitches being used. In an interview with ABC radio, current Redbacks coach Darren Berry expressed concern that Shield pitches being prepared are too bowler friendly and that matches ending within three days are not good for either the competition or the players development.
Will constantly playing on bowler-friendly wickets give a bowler confidence in their ability to take wickets or lull them into a false sense of security? Does a batsman playing the moving ball on a green-top benefit by developing technique on how to play it, or simply lose confidence in their own ability with each false shot?
Certainly players coming in to the five day game are at a disadvantage if their experience in playing for longer periods is limited. Any batsmen will tell you that time in the middle is invaluable in preparing to compete at the highest level.
The same can be said for bowling and fielding. Time learning physical technique and mental application in a match environment is essential for individual and team success., and the more time the better.
The Australian team is always reflective of the domestic competition from which it is picked. Right now, the inconsistency in our top six and the reliance on the bowling attack to win games is confirmation of this.
Whatever the cause or result, the fact is that, to re-establish the national team as a world dominating side in all forms of the game, our domestic competition has to be strong and consistent with both bat and ball.
With a Test series about to start against the most balanced and consistent side in world cricket, this is truer than ever. This weekend’s Sheffield Shield results may indicate that, while our bowling is looking good, our batting still needs some work.
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