Uncapped duo Glenn Maxwell and Moises Henriques and fellow allrounder Steve Smith face a potentially career-defining moment in Australia’s opening two-day tour game starting on Tuesday in Chennai.
The sudden retirement of middle-order batting great Mike Hussey and star allrounder Shane Watson’s decision to play as a batsman-only in the first Test against India on February 22 have created a massive opportunity for off-spinner Maxwell, leg-spinner Smith or seamer Henriques to grab the No.7 batting slot.
National coach and selector Mickey Arthur has already indicated wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is being considered for a promotion to No.6 with an all-rounder to follow then four specialist bowlers.
“With two tour games (February 12-13 and 16-18), it’s an opportunity for someone to score runs and take wickets,” Australian opening batsman Ed Cowan said on Sunday in Chennai.
“I’m sure whoever manages to do that of that three (will be a big chance to play).
“I don’t think there’s a clear standout.
“The hand has been shown a little bit with Shane Watson only wanting to bat – there is a need for an all-rounder.
“Whether that’s a spinning all-rounder or a medium-pace allrounder is one dictated by the conditions they think they’ll face but, two, dictated by form.”
Cowan says NSW pair Henriques and Smith and Victoria’s Maxwell are all super-talented players but they lack consistency.
All three have international experience in limited-overs cricket.
“There are three guys who can provide two options with bat and ball,” Cowan said.
“We’ve seen how good each of them can be in patches but it’s just that consistent effort that you get from guys who get to know their game.
“They’re young guys and their consistency will come.
“It’s exciting to see guys at the start of their career.”
Maxwell is the highest-profile player of the trio after landing a $1 million deal at last Sunday’s Indian Premier League auction when he was snapped up by Mumbai Indians.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Queensland does seem to bare the brunt of the near-miss selections (I would have had Hartley and Cutting on the tour in a squad of just 14), but neither Burns or Lynn have done much this season. Its a pity, as I really liked everything I saw and heard about Lynn last summer. Still, he is young and can bounce back.
DJW
Guest
Did you notice Agar played for Australia?
Jeffrey Atkins
Guest
Maxwell got out for a duck in he India Pres 11 vs Australia match. Cowan 58 Khawaja 32 Wade 35 Smith 41 They're the only scores worth mentioning since we only made 240ish. Some Indian leggie picked up 7 wickets...
Jeffrey Atkins
Guest
Maxwell got out for a duck in he India Pres 11 vs Australia match. Cowan 58 Khawaja 32 Wade 35 Smith 41 They're the only scores worth mentioning since we only made 240ish. Some Indian leggie picked up 7 wickets...
Bearfax
Guest
Ah Barrowman. The confidence of fandom. Were it so simple. I hope your sentiments are justified
DJW
Guest
I hope Doherty doesn't play. He shouldn't be anywhere near the test team. There is a reason his bowling is called slow left arm and not offspin. The Indians will have a field day with his flat darts. He has no flight, no variety, just the same ball on repeat. G Don't know what O'Keefe has to do to get a look in. Either way Lyon is our best option in India. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
lolly
Guest
Kind of admire him for saying that. He has to be taking the piss.
lolly
Guest
I don't think Faulkner has been put aside. He's still pretty young and has only just been given decent opportunities for Aus. If he keep impressing, I'm sure he'll get a shot at test cricket. Let's face it. most of our bowlers are made of glass apart from Johnson, so Faulkner will be in the mix in the next year for a test spot I'm sure.
Just Short of a Length
Guest
At this moment in time stick with Lyon, with Clarke and Warner to back him up with variation, our key will be the quicks and we have plenty of variation there. If you need to play a second spinner, how about a seasoned hand, it takes longer to learn the craft, what about SOK or Hogg, SOK is more realistic given age and he can help develop the up and coming, and where it matters, in the heat of a test match under pressure. With his current form there is no better time, pity he wasn't picked
Just Short of a Length
Guest
Best batting order I've seen in a while, not to mention four out of the six there can at some point contribute with the ball, might be time to let the all rounders prove themselves before they get thrust into a test spot.
Just Short of a Length
Guest
Easy on about Maxwell, he's the most graceful cricketer to ever pick up a shovel and play international cricket, I'm sure all that technique will help him bat out a full day of test cricket
Joe
Guest
Spot on mate.
Sanjay
Guest
Bearfax couln't agree with you more bud. We just lost our best batsman in Mike Hussey so how does it make sense to replace him with a keeper at 6 and half baked allrounders at 7. What you need is a solid batsman such as Khawaja or Ferguson(who should hvae been in the squad) at 6. My pick would be Khawaja, this would allow Cowan to prove his worth in the India series but i don't think he will. Hopefully we go with the team you have listed as it gives us the best chance to win but i think we won't and will have to learn the hard way that we can't have wade batting at 6.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
People are talking about Smith and Maxwell as it would seem that at least one laughably labelled all-rounder will be played. Surely they wouldn't take so many without playing them (although that makes as much sense as taking them in the first place.) A third seamer would be more beneficial than Doherty, even on the most spin-friendly of wickets. Doherty is decent limited overs spinner, but at this point not a useful first class one (he may actually be worse than Maxwell). So, while I think they should play six specialist batsmen (given the squad chosen, my top seven would be the same as yours), it is more likely that they will play fove with the second spinner being one of the all-rounders. That is why people are discussing which one, because it wouild seem that the NSP either prefer to, or have been told to, play an all rounder who can neither bat nor bowl.
Steve
Guest
We have to remember we've won in India in the past with our pace attacks....not with our spinners! There's no use playing a 2nd rate spinner against India, even with the average form they are in at present....if we play Doherty or smith I'm afraid we'll awake a sleeping giant ! Better to play 3 seamers with big hearts and Lyon with maxwell , Warner, Clarke as spin supports. I have to have faith in maxwell being special, even though He seems to have been given a golden ticket i do sense he has a bit of Agro in him which we'll need against England! Loved the way he gave a bit back to Sri Lanka in the t20! His actual flight and spin loop isn't that bad at his age...much better than smiths too full non Turning leggies!!! And his fielding is special! And for me Watson at the top instead of cowan, who just looked all at sea against the Sri Lankan spinners. I bet the selectors arewishing they'd taken bailey and Voges/Rogers as well too!
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
I don't often get to say it, but I agree 100%.
Rob Barrow
Guest
BearBass i think you will find that Khawaja will outscore Cowan in the warm up matches and will get the spot in the first test. I like the feel of the batting lineup alot more with Watson and Warner at the top and Khawaja at 6. Cowan had 13 tests but he hasn't proven himself.
Rob from Brumby Country
Guest
Hard not to consider Wade's batting amongst the top six in the country when his Test average is higher than the Shield averages of most of his 'contenders'...
Rob Barrow
Guest
I strongly feel Watson can be Australia's opener in tests no matter he bowls of not. Gives him a chance to go back to opeing Can think of bigger role as bowler. . As he was a opener, he can also build innings of in crisis.. With Australia having Warner and Watson who can open, it just makes Khawaja's move to 4 easier. Warner, Watson, Hughes, Khawaja, Clarke, Henriques, Wade and 4 bowlers. Let us leave alone the averages and all the stuffs. Had stats as opener been used as yardstick to pick opener, not many would have opened in international cricket. Likes of Sehwag, Sachin, Sanath, Gilchrist were never openers in their domestic team
dcnz
Guest
From a neutral point of view, the saving grace for the NSP is that India is also going through a transition as well, with Gambhir dropped and bowlers such as Dinda and Kumar new to the international scene......