So, with the Ashes series on a mini sabbatical and the attention turning to warm-up games, I thought it would be a good time to do a quick run down on the first two Tests and come up with a combined XI.
Let’s start with the openers and number three position:
Joe Root – 221 runs at an average of 55.25 with highest score of 180
Shane Watson – 109 runs at an average of 27.25 with highest score of 46
Jonathan Trott – 106 runs at an average of 26.50 with highest score of 58
Chris Rogers – 89 runs at an average of 22.25 with highest score of 52
Alastair Cook – 83 runs at an average of 20.75 with highest score of 50
Usman Khawaja – 68 runs at an average of 34.00 with highest score of 54
Ed Cowan – 14 runs at an average of 7.00 with highest score of 14
I’ve gone with a top three of Root, Cook and Trott.
Clearly Root is standout, having scored 180 in the second Test even if being a little fortunate with Haddin’s non-ability to move his feet and take what would have been a regulation catch for most keepers.
Cook and Trott are joining him in the top order as both have made contributions at different times for their team.
Watson and Rogers have really let Australia down by not going on with starts. Khawaja showed promise in the second innings in difficult circumstances, but it’s still too early for me to include him in the combined XI.
Middle order:
Ian Bell – 317 runs at an average of 79.25 with twin highest scores of 109
Jonny Bairstow – 139 runs at an average of 34.75 with highest score of 67
Michael Clarke – 102 runs at an average of 25.50 with highest score of 51
Kevin Pietersen – 85 runs at an average of 21.25 with highest score of 64
Phillip Hughes – 83 runs at an average of 27.66 with highest score of 81*
Steven Smith – 73 runs at an average of 18.25 with highest score of 53
Here, I’ve gone with Bell, Bairstow and Hughes.
Clarke and Pietersen have been the real disappointments for me in the series. Both are experienced players who really were expected to make a large impact for their sides but have both been rather lazy. Clarke’s dismissal in the second innings at Lord’s was particularly weak considering Australia’s position and their need for some leadership.
Hughes gets the last spot purely on the back of his gutsy first innings at Trent Bridge, a contribution that helped Australia avoid another flogging.
Wicketkeepers:
Brad Haddin – 86 runs at an average of 21.50 with highest score 71. 12 catches
Matt Prior – 39 runs at an average of 13.00 with highest score 31. 8 catches
Haddin just gets the gig for me after the first two Tests.
The keeping position is an interesting one. Prior, much like Pietersen, has been a disappointment for me. It’s not just the fact he hasn’t really contributed with the bat but the way in which he’s got himself out playing very loose shots.
On the other hand, Haddin batted brilliantly in the second innings of the first Test in his failed attempt to get Australia home.
When it comes to glovework, even though Haddin has taken more chances, I think that Prior has been slightly more tidy.
However I’m going to go with Haddin, and my reasoning for this is that he’s played pretty well considering the expectations placed on him, compared to Prior who has been one of England best over the last 12 months yet is performing well below expectations, especially when it comes to batting.
Spinner:
Graem Swann – 38 runs at an average of 19.00, with highest score 28*| 13 wickets average 22.10 Best Figures 5/44
Ashton Agar – 130 runs at an average of 32.50, with highest score 98 | 2 wickets average 124 Best Figures 2/82
Clearly, Swann wins this spot hands down.
Swann came into his own at Lords with nine wickets for the match.
Despite Agar’s outstanding debut innings of 98, he’s certainly lacked any effective penetration with the ball and appeared mostly unlikely to cause England any real problems which is his main role within the team.
Seamers:
James Anderson – 13 wickets 238 runs average 18.30 Best Figures 5/73
Peter Siddle – 11 wickets 276 runs average 25.10 Best Figures 5/50
Ryan Harris – 7 wickets 103 runs average 14.71 Best Figures 5/72
James Pattinson – 7 wickets 307 runs average 43.85 Best Figures 3/69
Mitchell Starc – 5 wickets 138 runs average 27.60 Best Figures 3/81
Tim Bresnan – 4 wickets 58 runs average 14.50 Best Figures 2/28
Stuart Broad – 4 wickets 174 runs average 43.50 Best Figures 2/54
Steven Finn – 2 wickets 117 runs average 58.50 Best Figures 2/80
Anderson, Harris and Siddle are the seamers I’m going with after the first two Tests.
Anderson has been the leader of the attack for England. He carried his team on his back at Trent Bridge when Swann was clearly not at his best.
The inclusion of Harris in the Australian side provided the consistency that had been lacking with the new ball. His immediate impact in the first innings was not given the recognition it deserved thanks to the debacle of his team mate’s batting efforts. This in no way should’ve taken away from his efforts to really put Australia in the game on day one.
Siddle, well he’s just Siddle. The Lion Heart! He always busts his guts for Australia. His spell in the second innings when Australia was at its lowest point really sums up the man. Certainly a man to go to war with.
As things stand, Australia really has a lot of work to do to get themselves back into this series.
With a few sleeping giants yet to really produce for England in Cook, Pietersen and Prior, I do feel that Australia is really in for a tough time.
However, all that Australian public wants to see, is some renewed fight from our players.
Our top six really need to start showing some pride in the Baggy Green and produce the fight that has been missing in the first two Tests.
Really looking forward to see how they respond.
Bearfax
Guest
If we were hoping for saviours from the Australia A batting order, Aust A are 7-70. Doolan, Finch out for ducks. Shaun Marsh out for a couple. Mitch Marsh out for 1. Again Australia As saviour again is Maddison with 47 not out and realistically the only batsman not on the Ashes tour deserving a look in if the present should the present lot fail again.
nickyc
Guest
On what we've seen so far the only one in the top seven who categorically deserves a spot in a joint team is Ian Bell. Nobody else on either side has produced more than one good innings at best. The spinner is obviously Swann and you've got four contenders for three pace bowling spots Anderson, Broad, Harris and Siddle. Broad looks the odd one out there but he was injured during the first test and has bowled much better than his figures suggest in his role as foil to Anderson, added to which he has scored crucial runs.
Johnny Banter
Roar Rookie
Dingo I've heard tales of your club's Senior Pro. It was very unfortunate he was born in Australia during the time of Healy and Gilchrist, as rumour has it he would have played 100 Tests for any other nation
DingoGray
Roar Guru
Hookin, My friend I too am a wicket keeper from way back, so you are preaching to the converted about Haddin's foot work and glove work over is his career. The Senior Pro at my club always taught any keeper worth half his salt would not require dives in front of 1st slip, he would move his feet and ensure he's caught the ball the inside of his hip! Where you have happily pointed out Haddin's misgivings and chances, you've yet to Mention Messrs Prior's blunders in the same series. Whether I've come accustomed to Australia's wicket keepers mediocrity since Heals and Gilly, could be a reason why I've probably not come down hard on Hadds...This what we've always got from Hadds. It's not likely he's been worse than ever..... Prior probably has fallen victim to his own lofty standards...... As for Australia's keeper, I have no doubt in the World our current best Wicket keeper is Chris Hartley..... I do have some small glimmer of hope that we may see him in the side during the return series in Australia. Fingers crossed!
Hookin' YT
Guest
Here you go, Heals, probably tied with Alan Knott as the best I ever saw, the catches inthe clip I doubt Haddin would have got within 8-12 inches of (there are some catches after the 4:30min footwork lesson that our glorious): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey2PXy8c0Ss
Bearfax
Guest
You guys took me too seriously. I was giving DingoGray a hard time as a bit of fun. I knew what he was intending but the way it was presented opened up an opportunity for mischief. I think also some consider statistics are misleading in the big picture. Certainly at the level of two test matches that argument is quite correct because the sample is way too low to be valid. I wouldnt be considering stats of a sample under at least 30 ininngs to be saying anything more than tendencies. And stats apply best when the subject his reached close to optimum performance. Stats do tell you something about a batsman or bowler in the early twenties, that is that they probably have or have not potential, though its variable because the player is in the developmental stage. But a player in the late twenties to early thirties has reached close to what we would consider their optimum level of performance and it is there that stats become far more valid. That doesnt mean that they are immutable, only that significant change is unlikely Therefore a batsman for example who is in their mid twenties with a first class average of 40+ but limited test experience with an average of about 30, says only that he is developing and will probably with experience reach a substantially higher level by his late twenties/early thirties. But if he is thirty with those averages, its statistically likely that that is close to his peak scoring ability. That's why I would look at Smith, Hughes, Khawaja and Warner as potential test batsmen with high 40s average at least by their 30s, but I would not see players like S. Marsh, Quiney, Cowan etc as going much further and Doolan is on the fringe being 28. Maxwell is 24 and presently erratic but he has a lot of development to go so he may well be in that first group along with Burns, Silk, Maddison. To suggest stats arent one of the most important factors determining selection, is ignoring the majority of top ranking players in the game and their averages. There are rare ones like Geoff Marsh, who had a low 30s test average, but he was surrounded by increasingly champion batsmen who covered his limitations. But DingoGray, I well know what you are proposing. Just thought I'd give you a little hurry up to get your juices flowing so you could improve your personal stats on these forums.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Haddin hasn't actually dropped six he never got his gloves to five of them (except Broad to Clarke off Haddin's glove). Awful keeper technically now hamstrung with age. The worst gloveman in inernational cricket and not in the top 8 in Australia. I've played a lot of cricket as a keeper at grade level and junior state rep and two points: 1. You dive AFTER you have moved your feet (foot to foot sideways skipping motion unless diving forward); 2. As far as slips go, anything between his inside testicle and you is YOURS. Darren Berry: https://twitter.com/Chucksaca/status/355275630369185793
Johnny Banter
Roar Rookie
Bearfax - as mentioned earlier you should never rely purely on statistics to make this type of analysis. It is too easy to manipulate statistics, for example I could argue that the team should be: Root Watson Trott Bell Bairstow Clarke Haddin Swann Anderson Siddle Harris This is backed up by statistics assuming the criteria is most runs & most wickets. Also, if we could only name a side based purely on statistics, we would have nothing to debate (such as the fact that Dingo's lineup included Bairstow, who is clearly a hump).
Brian
Guest
Shows how stats are misleading, the real combined XI would be Cook Root Trott Pieterson Bell Clarke Prior Pattinson Siddle Swann Anderson
JGK
Roar Guru
Is a team with a Root but no Warner called an Assange?
Sydney Kiwi
Guest
Surely gotta have Root AND Warner in the same team!!! ;p
DingoGray
Roar Guru
I never stated that I was picking the team on pure stats...I just listed them to show the numbers. Numbers don't necessary tell the whole story. I'll use Trott as an example. His numbers are certainly not outstanding, however he's looked very assured when batting. Also got triggered in 1st Test The great thing about this site, we are here to debate and discuss these type of issues. Clearly people will have different / varying views.
Bearfax
Guest
Trouble is DingoGrey that you are using double standards. You're saying selections are based on the first two tests and then for some positions you base it on reputation. What are you basing it on because if its purely on performances in the first two tests then the team should read Watson Khawaja Root Bell Bairstow Hughes Haddin Anderson Harris Bresnan Swan Of course I would never base selections on such a limited set of games but that's irrelevant. based on your figures the above should be the team, whether realistic or not.
Johnny Banter
Roar Rookie
Don't forget Prior's slow reactions in his missed stumping of Agar in the 1st innings at Trent Bridge...
DingoGray
Roar Guru
6 missed chances? I must of been watching a different series. I recall 2 blatant misses from Haddin, 1 Johnny Banter points out...the Other off Jimmy Anderson who actually was then out the very next ball. U want to whack Haddin for his missed chances...However what about Prior? I recall 2 stumpings, 1 off Clarke when he was 2 in the 2nd dig at Lord but one that was more potentially important was off Steve Smith in the 1st Test at Trent Bridge when Smith was hardly any. Smith managed to score a half century in this innings. My choice of Haddin was by a hair...And it was more in the context of expectation. Haddin has been what he has been the whole time he's played Test cricket for Australia. Prior on the other hand, has been absolutely outstanding for England. This series that standard has dropped and I've decided on that basis.
Johnny Banter
Roar Rookie
I think using statistics as the sole adjudicator is a very poor method. In fact your own post could be seen as contradictory. On the one hand you're saying it's wrong to use statistics and then disregard them, but then you've selected the English XI with Siddle & Harris replacing Broad & Bresnan. Bresnan has a bowling average of 14.50, nearly 11 runs less per wicket than Siddle. Statistics should form part of an analysis, but rarely should they be the only criteria.
Johnny Banter
Roar Rookie
6 misses? I can recall a couple but I'm struggling to come up with 6. There was an easy one he green lighted from Root, though it literally passed over Clarke's left knee so they can share the blame for that one. Let's face it, picking either Haddin or Prior is open for criticism as both have been less than impressive.
Jayvan Collins
Roar Pro
Is this meant to have a Ha? You use statistics to evaluate and then disregard them. Why would you use statistics to evalutate Haddin and forget the missed chances (at least three, arguably more)? You pick Cook over players that have better statistics based on one innings, yet miss the nature of others contributions in very similar circumstances. Your premise and XI make very little sense to me. Personally, take the ENglish XI, drop Bresnan/Finn and Broad and put Siddle and Harris in. Team sorted.
brother mouzone
Guest
agreed,i'm disgusted with some of his efforts.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Haddin? You are joking. Awful keeper. Horrendous footwork behind the stumps and unwilling to commit. His 6 'misses' have cost over 300 runs.