Let’s just say that Australia’s pimply new-look batting order totally craters in this upcoming series against India.
Let’s imagine the confidence of this adolescent unit is obliterated by subcontinental guile and their bright-eyed bushy tails end up between the legs in the usual stance of those vanquished.
If those in selection power are still offering their usual pint-sized probation period, it will mean more delicate tinkering or belligerent bulldozing of the top six before a squad is picked to enter the Lion’s den of the Ashes series.
Considering there is frail youth and inexperience dotted throughout the team now that a personnel revolution is in full swing, one would think the first place to turn in a time of baby-faced humiliation and destitution would be to the match-hardened elderly.
So if the wicket landslides and budget totals are to continue surfacing in this series- and lets admit it, there’s a very good chance they will- how about taking a punt for England by calling up Adam Voges to add some Sandgroper cement to the middle order?
His Sheffield Shield numbers are certainly not turning heads on the selection catwalk this season (367 runs at 33.36 with a high score of 94), but it’s the West Australian’s current splendid patch of form and his bucketloads of experience in English conditions with Nottinghamshire that make him an attractive option.
Voges is coming off an outstanding 112 not out for Australia in last weekend’s ODI against the West Indies, plus there’s a 72 in his most recent Shield hit-out along with a 112 and an unbeaten 77 in his last two Ryobi Cup matches.
His County record for Notts is a cracker too, having amassed 2736 runs at an average of 45.60 in his five seasons on the Pom first class circuit.
With Shane Watson almost surely to be elevated to the opener’s position with his repeated public reminders of ‘shotgun’ recently, Voges could be the perfect strengthener to wedge in the middle and help Michael Clarke give the batting guts some settled solidarity.
He can also bring another wise head to the skipper’s round table of generalship, plus his gentle left-armers are also a value-add.
I know this portfolio has the all-too-familiar echoes of a Marcus North project, but really, can Australia afford to deep-end more of the puerile and untried if they limp home from India?
The team could do a lot worse than having ‘Hank’ around the traps.
We know the selectors aren’t comfortable with endemic batting failure, reasonable displays of patience and Ed Cowan.
They also have made it clear that weathered campaigners with cascading runs columns like George Bailey and David Hussey aren’t on their list for such roles.
So could it be Voges that is used as an Ashes band-aid?
Renegade
Guest
He's averaged over 50 in a season of shield prior to being part of the Australian setup....go check the stats bud.
Renegade
Guest
Exactly Richard. But apparently performing at state level against South Australia in Australia holds more weight than performing in England for Australia. FFS It's common sense guys..
Renegade
Guest
I'm not confusing ODI form with test form....i'm just looking at cricket form. I think your confusing state form with International form. I don't really care if someone averages 50 at state level if after 20 games at international level is averaging single figures.... I'd pick Bailey and for that matter Voges in front of all the names suggested above...Proven Australian players at international level.
lolly
Guest
I suggest you look at his record last seasom. It was good. I don't particularly want him in the test team but don't go making stuff up to back up your argument.
Richard
Guest
If the new look batting order in India craters they will look to bring in Bailey next. He has a cool experienced cricket head and has done well in oz colours in odi's. Don't forget he was our only performer in Uk odi series last year. I think he was third on the batting averages for both teams and we were drubbed 4-0.
Sanjay
Guest
Vogues has done nothing in shield in the last 2 years, hence why he is not even close to test selection. This year its been guys such as Hughes, Khawaja and Doolan who have scored in shields hence why they are on top of the pecking order.
Sanjay
Guest
Yes you can't pick Bailey based on 1 good ODI innings. He has to score in shield first and he hasn't done that this year.
Sanjay
Guest
Key point here is that pick test players based on shield performance, which is why the likes of Hughes and Khawaja are the best young prospects as they ahve done the hard yards in shield. The issue we are having is that people see a player get 1 ODI century or a single good bowling perfomance in a ODI or T20 game and thnk that person is ready for test cricket and it doesn't work that way. Maxwell is a perfect example of that and we will learn that the hard way hopefully before the ashes rolls around.
Sanjay
Guest
Red Kev i see the point Roger is making, the issue we have with Khawaja which i think the current selectors will rectify for test cricket is that he always gets 1-2 matches at one time so the guy can never play freely. I think if you give him a full series and say you have the series to prove yourself then he will bat alot better. I am hoping he gets a big one in the second warm up game and will prove his mentle for the Indian series. As for the Bailey comparison if you give Khawaja jstu half the ODIs(i.e 5) in a row he would have got a big one, but the kid got dropped after his debut ODI and then got picked on a bowler frinedly perth pitch. Manuka and SCG wouldn't have been bad pitches to play on.
Sanjay
Guest
Agree with you Matt F, most folks are confusing ODI form with test form and the 2 don't match, Pick based on shield form and on that you wouldn't go with Voges
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Numbers aren't everything, though they are usually a reliable guide. Look over 2-3 seasons rather than just thbis season, compare that to before, and I think you'll find he has improved. He's just nowhere near the best of a bad bunch of spin options.
jameswm
Guest
How has he improved? He hasn't played a Shield game since taking 2 for 160 earlier on.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Inverarity was correct in that comment. Doherty has improved at FClevel. He's improved from "utter tripe" all the way up to "below ordinary".
AndyMack
Guest
has anyone seen maxwell bat in the shield, or are we basing all this on his odi slogging?? you dont get a fc average of 42 by slogging everything.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Actually Invers said that Doherty had shown great improvement in first class cricket, which is quite possibly the most farcical statement that he's made all summer (and there are probably a few candidates there!) I have absolutely no idea how taking 2 wickets at 80 this Shield season is considered "improvement," especially when O'keefe is averaging 24 for the season.....
Matt F
Roar Guru
I don't have an issue with age. If we had a soft 12 months coming up (eg a test series against NZ or the WIndies) then I'd probably agree but given the 12 months that we do have coming up I'd just pick the best XI players for right now. The next few series are too important to throw away by playing players who aren't ready yet, even if they might be stars in a few years. That being said I wouldn't be picking Voges anyway as his form is in one day and T20's, not first class matches. I would have picked Chris Rogers as he's in form right now
Red Kev
Guest
I guess my point is that Bailey has stepped up to international level and done well, whereas Smith, Maxwell and (as much as it pains me to say it) Khawaja have come into the national side and performed poorly - not just this summer, but whenever they have been given chances.
Roger
Guest
Its funny because Inevarity said Doherty was picked based on his ODI form, but same wasn't applied for the batsman, in my view you should never pick test players based on ODI form and which is why i wouldn't pick Bailey in the test team. He needs to show shield form before he gets picked and this year he hasn't had good shield form.
Roger
Guest
Completely agree, Bailey has averaged 27 this year in shield, he got 1 century in 10 ODIs, how does that mean he is ready for test cricket. Get some solid runs in shield before he is considered. Same goes for Voges as well.
Roger
Guest
Red Kev i take your point mate but keep in mind that unlike Bailey who had a full 2 series(10 ODI games in total) this summer, Khawaja had essentially 2 batting chances, 1 of them on a tough Perth pitch. Give Khawaja a full series and you would have a solid performance. I hope he gets a full series in India where he can show his class. As for Bailey he got 1 century in the 10 ODIs he played but he has to get shield runs to show that he is ready for test cricket as he is only averaging 27 this year in shield