Process. It’s one of the ubiquitous buzzwords that are associated with modern sport. “We’ve just got to get the process right and the results will follow.”
Well, as far as the National Selection Panel (NSP) and the Australian Test cricket team is concerned, the process is broken and the results are concerning.
A great deal of time and energy has been spent cataloguing instances (real or perceived) of flawed process in picking Australia’s best Test XI.
Be it the pre-Ashes super-squad named by the Andrew Hilditch-chaired NSP, the apparent fixation on all-rounders, the lack of red-ball cricket opportunities afforded to Usman Khawaja in the early part of 2013 or the ‘informed player management’ system preferred by the NSP and general manager of team performance, Pat Howard.
With both eyes firmly fixed upon the upcoming Ashes tour, it’s critical that the NSP gets the process right. So, what is that process?
The key is patience. Australia’s tour of England commences on 26th June, with the first Test starting on 10th July. There is no need to name a full squad of 16 or 17 in the coming days.
The NSP may be inclined to do so on the basis that naming a squad well in advance of the Tour creates the perception of certainty.
That may have been the case when Australia’s best XI was set in stone, but after observing the revolving door policy applied in India it is clear that the best XI, or even a preferred XI, is far from settled.
Instead, the NSP should tell us what we already know. There are 11 players who are locked in to tour.
They are (in batting order) Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Nathan Lyon, with Brad Haddin travelling as reserve wicket keeper.
I should note, I’m not advocating selection of any of these players, I’m simply noting the clear preferences of the NSP.
Observing the statements of NSP chair, John Inverarity, one could also infer that Ryan Harris has done enough to book his ticket without any need for further audition.
Accordingly, the NSP should name these 13 players as the core of Australia’s touring party.
The NSP should then use the Australia A tour of Scotland, Ireland and England (Gloucestershire) for its proper purpose, to test the ability and form of players on the fringe of national selection.
By all means, focus on youth. But pick cricketers who can fill the remaining four or five places on the Ashes tour.
Those names must include Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Moisés Henriques and Jackson Bird who were on Australia’s tour of India.
Glenn Maxwell and newly contracted James Faulkner will almost certainly be part of Australia’s ICC Champions Trophy team and will not be available for selection.
The balance of the touring party should be made up of the players who are so frequently discussed as potential Test players.
Players like: Jordan Silk, Alex Doolan, Joe Burns, Tim Paine, Chris Hartley, Steven O’Keefe, Ashton Agar, Ben Cutting, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Gurinder Sandhu, and Chad Sayers.
The players who, in the eye of the NSP, perform well on the Australia A tour should join the Test tour after the final Australia A match concludes on 23 June.
Adopting such a selection strategy makes it clear to both the players and the public what is required for selection – runs and wickets in the second XI.
Or, to phrase it in a manner suitable for publication in a Cricket Australia press release, the utilisation of the prevailing selection criteria provides transparency to all stakeholders.
Finally, when making selection decisions, the NSP should consider both pedigree and results. Which is code for ‘if Chris Rogers is averaging 70 for Middlesex come mid-June, pick him!’
Geoff
Guest
Im done for words with these selectors, they have no idea. Still even without Mitchell Johnson we have 4 good fast bowlers who can take 20 wickets each game and Lyon doesnt need to play. The batting is embarrassing for an Australian team although they have finally remembered Chris Rogers. If it was up to me i would have asked Brad Hodge to bat at 3. This team is totally different to the Indian team who will now learn nothing from the hiding they copped and team unity is again starting from scratch. The Maxwells and wades who should never have played in front of Haddin or Rogers in the 1st place can now call india an almost total waste of time. Whatever happened to the days of having to make a certain amount of runs for your state before you are picked? Mark Waugh had to score 25 hundreds yet Maxwell was averaging 21 in FC for the yr and ended up OPENING!!!! When Khawaja was at NSW would Steve Smith ever been picked in front of him as a batsman? How is a Steve Smith 21 yr old good enough to bat at 6 for the Ashes but not now? Does anybody picking teams have any idea? Why didnt they let Mike Hussey play out the one dayers last summer? because they wanted to get 30 or 40 1 day games into blokes for the world cup! You would learn a hell of alot more playing 7 games with mike hussey than what you will playing 40 without him. We can only hope, but the selectors need to pull their head out and pick the best team, Australia is not Inveraritys experiment.
Disco
Roar Guru
"Poor glovework, the fact he does not put a price on his wicket, and is unable to play himmself in when he comes in at 5-70." That's Brad Haddin all right.
Bearfax
Guest
Well it seems some sanity has finally prevailed in the selection of the ashes team and the Australian A team. As recently announced the teat squad is Clarke (Cpt) Haddin (v. Cpt) Warner Hughes Watson Khawaja Cowan Rogers Wade Lyon Siddle Pattison Starc Harris Bird Faulkner Australia A side Haddin (Cpt) Steve Smith (V. Cpt) Agar Bird Doolan Harris Henrigues Khwaja Lyon Maddson Pattison Sayers Siddle Silk Not sure Haddin was the way to go. I think Paine would have been a better long term solution. Smith must consider himself unlucky but being vice captain for the 'A's says he's still in the mix. Faulkner has enough to be second all rounder should Watson falter. Good to see Rogers being given a chance. Glad that Warner, Hughes and Khawaja are there and I think they'll do well in England. Bird will be a big asset I'm especially happy with the Aust A side because many of the young future potential stars have been added. Smith of course, and Doolan and Henriques have been doing well. But its great to see the new faces of Maddison, Agar, Sayers and Silk. Also good to see Khawaja has a double dip so he can get some much needed cricket under his belt before the test series. In all a pretty decent selection.
Freddy of Bondi
Guest
Agree totally. I'm really nervous about todays announcement! There is absolutely no form on the board to suggest that the selectors are going to get it right this time... Surely that cannot include Haddin in the first XI purely because they have no other candidates for VC. It wasnt that long ago that the public were criticising his poor glovework, the fact he does not put a price on his wicket, and is unable to play himmself in when he comes in at 5-70. Wade's not perfect, but he's young and will improve and is IMO a better bat than Haddin. Plus, what will dropping him do for his confidence after a solid start to his career....did they learn nothing from P.Hughes!