Australia can always look to the counties? An Englishman in Australia writes that the often maligned County system could be their Ashes saviour and calls for Watson, Hughes, and Khawaja to be dropped.
The Australian second innings at Lord’s should be career-defining one for some of the top six.
The game is gone and it looks like Australia will need to win the last three Test matches to regain the Ashes, an unlikely scenario.
The top six are struggling, the bowlers lack penetration and the spinners are better batsman than bowlers.
It’s not good and things could possibly get worse rather than better unless some radical action is taken. It’s time to call in the County Busters.
A glance through the current County squads provides the Australian selectors with ample alternative options to enable them to make the hard decisions and replace Watson, Hughes and Khawaja.
The other three get to stay, Clarke (of course), Rogers (because he deserves more than two matches) and Smith (horrible to look at but he has improved)
Unless Shane Watson scores a century at Lord’s he should be dropped for the next Test match, even he does he should be dropped in the longer term.
Put aside the negative of broken/fractured relationship with Clarke, his equivalence of penis envy when it comes to the DRS (he’s yet to realise he’s hasn’t got one) or the positive of his useful medium pace, the simple fact he is in the team as a batsman and ‘he ain’t up to the job’.
An analysis of his stats since the beginning of 2011 (up to this match 30 innings for 799 runs at the average of nearing 26) is simply not good enough and the selectors need to have a quiet chat and put him out of his misery.
Let him be a one-day and T20 specialist and everyone can move on.
But who to replace him with?
Many will say bring Hughes back to open and will offer the view that his technique has improved and ‘he will come good’ in the long term.
Not so and the Aussies would be better off cutting their losses now.
He has a lot of the Watsons about him, so much so that his stats make very similar reading (last 30 Test innings for an average of nearly 29).
Ok a useful 80-odd in the first Test, but he always run hot and cold and in the long term is not the answer.
Neither is Khawaja, and anyone who kept an eye on his sojourn over to Blighty when he played for Derbyshire will know he’s not a good option for English conditions (even given the current heatwave).
His form in England was indifferent, in his 13 innings there were only two of note and his first innings display made nonsense of Clarke’s statement he was ready for the number three spot.
No doubt he is talented but he’s like a young racehorse that he needs to mature more and in his case score more runs at the first class level before coming back to the fold.
And what about Cowan?
Probably harshly dropped but hasn’t done enough and not sure he has the confidence of either coach or captain, and then of course Warner- at best he could make the last two Tests but he is so out form (on all fronts) it might just be best to rule a line through the tour for him.
Droppings done, now for the County saviours. The current list of Aussies playing County cricket makes interesting reading and their merits are briefly considered:
Marcus North
Tried and tested but form patchy, off spin would help on the spinning front but not enough runs to come under serious consideration.
Michael Klinger
Experienced campaigner, in form and would bring a calm hand to proceedings.
Daniel Christian
Only over in England for the T20’s but the Aussies already have Faulkner who is yet to play. Unlikely.
George Bailey
Played for Hampshire early in the season but is probably back in Australia. If not is a favourite of the selectors and might be good in a crisis
Simon Katich
He’s the man if Clarke can swallow his pride. In form, experienced and proven. Make the phone call.
Joe Burns
Talented but too early.
Adam Voges
Should have played Test cricket before now and should also get a call.
Cameron White
Only in England for the T20s but there would be worse options.
Glenn Maxwell
Tried in India and not ready. Leave him be.
Phil Jacques
Experience and has much in common with Chris Rogers. Probably not a serious option but he has been in form.
David Hussey
The forgotten one. Not in great form but he’s a Hussey and has the experience to do a job over three Tests.
So there you have it and if the selectors really want to get through this series, ‘a horses for courses’ and pragmatic approach may be the way to go.
Out of the above Katich, Voges, Klinger, Hussey and Bailey could all fit the bill, with a top six potentially looking like:
1. Chris Rogers
2. Michael Klinger
3. Simon Katich
4. Adam Voges
5. Michael Clarke
6. Steven Smith
Alternatively move Haddin up to six and slot James Faulkner into the number seven spot, giving the captain another bowling option.
Either way (and even for the most loyal of Australian followers) it is hard to argue that these options do not have robustness about them compared to the current fragile look.
A quick word on the bowlers: Pattison looks out of sorts and will need a rest. Lacking penetration, possibly struggling with the Duke ball and holds no demons for the English batsman.
I think the same could be said of Starc so recommend leaving him on the bench. Australia will be hoping Harris can back up at Old Trafford and that Siddle will continue to hold things together.
Either way with Pattison rested/dropped it is time to give Jackson Bird a go, he impressed in his first couple of Tests and looks like he has control.
Of course the selectors are unlikely to succumb to the pressure and stick by the players they selected in the first place but another dismal batting performance overnight and the County busters just might get a look in.
But what do I care, stick with Watto, Hughesy and Usie!
Bearfax
Guest
Yes Klinger is in form but he has a first class average of 37 and I doubt he would offer much to the team. There is only one player realistically in that bunch mentioned who I would grab if he announced he was available and smoke the peace pipe with Captain Clarke, and that is Simon Katich. With a first class average of 53 and test average of 45, he would make a formidable opening partner to Rogers, once the latter gets his test legs.
Dan Ced
Guest
Klinger! Give him a go. Apart from a flaky Shield season just gone he is a dependable opener, good at strike turnover but still has a great trickbag of shots :) I also think Travis head should be in the Aus team for the tour match instead of a 3rd spinner to be honest. I'm Redbacks biased though.
Jermayn
Guest
Who else is there though? The above names are not exactly world beaters and no one else is beating the door down with hundreds after hundreds in the Sheffield Shield comp. Stick with them and let them get experience and we will see them improve. Have patience - yes if they continue to fail after 5-7 tests in a row, you can them but you cannot after just two bad matches.
Greg
Guest
Batsmen.
Greg
Guest
What a Bunch of apologists we all are accepting demoralising defeat after defeat if the top 6 keep failing how long do you give them to rectify the situation. So if we stick with the same team more or less and we lose the third test we may as well blood some New players give them some experience for the fourth test as there is nothing to lose so to speak. If we end up three zip with the series all done the pressure will lift off our batsmen , they will probably play better but it will all be too late and will gloss over the situation and perpetuate mediocrity . No one can really say that this top 6 look like the top 6 that will take us forward , it's time to blood some new players.
Glenn Mitchell
Expert
Unfortunately, I think you will find that Katich is not available for Test selection as he has retired from first-class cricket in AUS and therefore cannot be chosen in accordance with CA's selection rules. Remember when Brad Hodge flirted with a Test comeback an hoped to be chosen for this Ashes series, he had to get a first-class match with Vic before he could even be considered. He ended up abandoning the idea.
GraGra
Guest
This series is gone. Our priorities must be two-fold: prevent a whitewash; and use the last three tests to work on improving on all the basics - the current 11-12 should be given every chance to learn and to improve themselves with a view towards establishing a genuine challenge back home at the end of the year. This series must now become a means to another end. Part of that will be the reality that certain members of the top 6 will be out of time if they show no ticker or no capacity to work on their shortcomings by the end of the series. Watson has to turn a start into a ton or even an 80-90 that represents a vital contribution in the context of a tough game. Hughes has to score runs - period. And if he fails to do so he has to have a line drawn through him permanently - or at least until he delivers a sheer weight of first class runs that can't be ignored, a la Katich 2007. What's more, Clarke has to step up and bat at 3 - he may be comfortable at 5, but he should be more intent on helping guys like Khawaja feel comfortable and taking it upon himself to prevent the loss of the first wicket quickly becoming the loss of two and three. There can be a glimmer of hope that we can salvage something in our own summer - maybe even win a test match. But ultimately the work has to be done further down. Ricky Ponting's rule of thumb re: test selection - a Shield average of 60-plus - would leave a very empty team sheet given the current crop of Shield players, so something is very much awry and it will take a generation of attention to fix.
Bearfax
Guest
I'd say that they would struggle just as much as the present lot are. Look at Rogers, Clarke, Haddin each good or top line batsmen and even they are struggling at the moment. They are facing a damned good Engllsh bowling outfit. What is needed is time and experience. Get the media monkey off their back and let them work through it. That's how good batsmen develop. All the skill, technique, first class performances etc are fine and good. But in test cricket, what's most important is experience, adaptability and perseverance.
Bearfax
Guest
I think we've had enough of the 'punishment' angle dont you think after the Micky debacle. These guys are not over there having a great time. They are struggling with lack of confidence against a very good English test side. They're not intending to be complacent and I would suggest its fear of losing their place that is making them not play their natural game. They dont need punishment, they need support and encouragment. Threatening them with other players coming in wont fix the problem and it may make it worse
Ads
Guest
I'm not saying he hadn't made runs, but he has played 20/20 type innings for the entire tour, look at how many balls he faced during his big innings. Just got his eye in and had a go, just don't think that's what will help right now. He's not going to get out there and score a hundred off a hundred balls against an England test side in England. But those are the types of innings he has played. If we need a player who plays like that, Warner probably does it better. His style of play is not suited to test match cricket on the current Australian side. But put him in at home when we next play Sri Lanka or India and he would probably do ok.
twodogs
Guest
They have been bringing in batsmen thobani. Sometimes you can try any method and still it won't work. They just gotta keep together and work through it, however painful that may be.
Bearfax
Guest
Ads and JGK. In fact Maddison played two outstanding innings from four starts for Australia A recently scoring 113 not out in the first game and 181 in the second. In his last 12 first class innings, he has been scoring at an average of 52.7. Not bad for a 21 year old wouldnt you say. I'm not saying he's the next big thing, but he's far better than you guys seem to think he is.
Matt
Guest
Andrew McDonald. Has improved his batting vastly (several vital, patient shield knocks before his injury) since his brief test stint and bowls an extremely tight line. He can bat at 6 and bowl 10-15 overs. He's got all the skills of Watson with a Siddle attitude.
thobani
Guest
the 2nd innings at lords were wat Australian batsman needed to prove to themselves that they are BASTMAN. however they proved again that they are not ready...all of them! as for Rodgers I am worried about hez age, are we building a team or fixing the problem? if our top order cant bat for 30 overs then why not bring in the 1 day batsmans who are inform and still young to 'rather build the team' than doing this patch fixing nonsense. Watson has proven us he wont bat for more than 20 overs! so why keep him as an opener in a test team? brad haddin has cocst us both the tests with hez poor wicket-keeping. here is my team= 1.warner, 2.hughes , 3.khawaja, 4.clark, 5.bailey/vogues, 6.smith, 7.paine, 8.faulkner, 9.lyon, 10.siddle, 11.bird
JGK
Roar Guru
Agree. Maddinson reflects everything bad about the state of Australian cricket.
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Guest
Maddinson played 1 decent innings for Aus A where he flayed a county attack and played a 20/20 innings. Anderson would sort him out in about 10 balls. Nothing about the way he plays suggests he has the required style of batting we need right now. Voges and Bailey sure except they made absolutely no runs in the shield this year and are now doing ok against Div 2 county sides. Let's not forget that Watson destroyed the county attacks in the tour games but has been found out by test bowlers. Bailey and Voges would be found out too, they are the 2nd tier of Australian batsmen, why would they do better???
Deep Thinker
Guest
It was an ugly 50 and there is nothing classy about getting to 50 and then getting out. It is a touch of the Watsons.
twodogs
Guest
Constant tampering with personnel on a wholesale basis will do no good. Most of the guys must be kept if they are the best we have. Our guys arent far behind talent wise. There is just that 'something' missing. The 'something' I refer to here is not only related to cricket but all sports and other endeavors. It is intangible and something which cannot be taught, but learned. Once you grasp it it is hard to speak of. It is often realised after a period of hardship. So, let the guys loose a few more. Dont damn them. Things will turn.
Casper
Guest
Plenty of opinions, you know what they say - everyone's got one. Biggest issue nowadays is that these guys make a fortune from playing short form games with always another chance next time. A few points need to be made: Watson is a serial underachiever who needs to be punted to India forever; Hughes will never succeed with that technique; Khawaja deserves another test on his efforts & will only develop a test temperament playing tests; Joe Burns & Chris Lynn are good young Qld players who see the swinging ball at the Gabba every year so look at them but make them play shield & stress they need to show they can play a long innings; give Alex Doolan a shot soon as he's already going on 28, how long do we persist with duds and dissolution those with potential; Bailey might make a test player if given encouragement & he's a good tactician; James Faulkner is 24 years old with first class average of 50+ and 125 wickets at 22; Hartley has always been the best keeper in Australia & he'd at least have the grit to hang around for a few hours although Haddin did ok; Bottom line, Boof is the answer but he can't make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Did any note that Root & Bairstow scored heaps against Australia A last year but ourbig rungetter was 33 year old Michael Klinger? see a problem with that?
Will Tearle
Guest
This is a rubbish article by the look of it he did not watch the second test at all. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.