I was really disappointed by the selection of the ODI team for the England series, knowing that Australia will go with almost the same top six or five in the next Ashes series.
To me, it’s time to inject new blood, with the likes of Joe Burns, Nic Maddinson and Jordan Silk in the squad.
Cricket Australia have missed plenty of opportunities to introduce their younger players at the top level. As a selector, you need to hit the hot iron i.e. pick the player, when he is in good form.
The most recent example is Nic Maddinson who was overlooked by the National Selection Panel for the ODI series against England.
If you go back to the Australian summer season, Australia should have given chances to their younger players against West Indies and Sri Lanka, which were relatively weaker sides as compared to South Africa or England.
Australia were 2-0 up in the series against Sri Lanka, but still retained the same side. Such dead-rubbers provide excellent opportunities to the management to inject new players and build towards a strong leadership in the squad.
They should have rested Micheal Clarke in the 3rd Test against the islanders and given a chance to Usman Khawaja (12th man in that match). It would have been great for his career. Instead, he was thrown into the field in the pressure cooker situation in the Lord’s Test. Same is the case with Rob Quiney.
Now, coming to the one day series against West Indies and Sri Lanka, I wonder what Australia achieved in those series.
Joe Burns was the 12th man against Sri Lanka, but since then has not been given a chance. He scored a ton against the England lions but was again overlooked. Luke Pomerbach is a far better player than Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges in T20s, but still finds himself out of contention for a place in the side.
It’s now being rumoured that Adam Voges is a contender for the vacant place i.e. no. six, in Test batting line-up.
Voges will soon be 34, Shane Watson’s fitness is unreliable and so is his form, and I think Chris Rogers has done his job. So it’s time to reconstruct the opening partnership because you can’t afford to lose another home Ashes.
The National Selection Panel should know that England managed to win the series 3-0 despite being below par, as their top three did not contribute. Australia can’t handle their bowling with five or six left-handed batsmen in the squad. Chris Rogers was good against seamers but vulnerable again Graeme Swann (dismissed the southpaw six time in the series).
It’s time to invest on future and produce future stars. The National Selection Panel should select young players who have decent techniques and who can play all three formats of the game.
Best wishes for Cricket Australia.
A Punter
Guest
Baggy_Green, Yes, while his average is not great, it's higher than I thought and not much lower than all the current young contenders such as Hughes and Smith. I am sure he has been seriously considered for a test spot.
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
sure there cant be any argument that his FC average is not great..but somehow he has been able to rise above himself and show a very good temperamental side of his game when selected to play in ODIs for Australia..that would be my basis of his selection This would then be a good batting order till the next wave – Doolan , Burns , Maddo and Silk comes through – followed hopefully by Lynn, Patterson , Travis Head , Handscomb and Marcus Harris
jijesh
Guest
why don't australia think about william bosisto? who was the best player in the last u-19 world cup.
A Punter
Guest
A Punter
Guest
Bailey has a poor first class average. what would be the basis of his selection?
Baggy_Green
Roar Pro
I would play Bailey at 6... i was surprised he was not part of the first Ashes series !! The guy shows guts and temperament...and though he averages only 37-38 in FC , he has definitely lifted his game since being selected for the Aussie ODI and T20 side.. Apart from that, I think Warner, Smith and Khawaja need to be given chances to establish themselves...They will form the spine of the batting line-up in which Doolan , Burns , Silk , Maddinson (and i hope Lynn , Patterson and Marcus Harris) will come in
Simoc
Guest
We'll see won't we . Get your excuses lined up shortly.
Ken Hambling
Guest
Well said Varun, in paricular watch for Warner, Khawaja and Smith to fire for their states.
unknown
Guest
Don't drop Pup he is the best so for in Test. south has ABD,Dale styne.Miller(Future)Faf,Dumminy etc,in India Kohli Dhawan Dhoni. you need to slect a player who can adjust himself in all three or atleast 2 formate.
Varun
Guest
Guys like khawaja, Hughes and Warner will fire in the early shield games and will fire in the home ashes as the pitches wont be tailored for swann
matt h
Guest
As for blooding young players, I am sick to death of younger players being put forward on the basis of maybe half a season to one season of good form. The reason our young players in the past few years have so far univerally failed is that they are being blooded too early, before they have had enough time in the Shield or A tours to work out their flaws. The social media bandwagon is very much "this guy just made a score on the weekend - get him in!". Maddinson is a case in point. He is this month's golden boy who will look better and better by not playing in the national side. Who was it a few month's ago? How did Khawaja work out for us? Let's see Maddinson translate that form from 4 games into a season. Otherwise until the yong guys bang down the door, I have no problem with picking solid professionals like Rogers or Bailey until the young guys take the spot away from them. And Silk has played maybe 5 games. Really??
matt h
Guest
Agreed. the all time greats can do it, but as the three games get further apart it will become more rare. By your reasoning should we drop Clarke becasue he's no good at T20?
Matt F
Roar Guru
Disagree. While some players are good across all formats, others are simply more suited to one format over another. The ODI side should be picked from players who excel in that format of the game. None of the players that you've mentioned have proven themselves in one day cricket. I don't see how playing them, in a format that they don't see to be very good at (Silk has a decent average but has only played 3 one day matches so it's way too early to consider him) will be good for their development. If they're not great one day players then they'll probably fail in the ODI team which, if anything, might hurt their confidence. Besides, Joe Burns has had a pretty poor 12 months. He might turn out to be a good player but he had an average domestic summer and a poor county stint. Also, keep in mind that we have a World Cup at the end of next summer. Now is the time to settle on a ODI squad and let them get used to playing together.
unknown
Guest
Means likes of gilly Haydon Roy Marto they were excellent in all three formates if NSP select a player who has 50% of their skill they will conqure the world again.
BargeArse
Guest
Nope ... we need to win things and win them soon. We need to carry as much confidence back with us as possible for this summer. Not a time for experiments.
Varun
Guest
One thing I do agree in this article is that we must stick with our young players once they are picked, that's the only way they will develop, guys like maddinson, khawaja, Warner, burns will be test stars if you stuck with them
Fry
Guest
And I agree with nothing you have said. Pick players who can play all 3 formats, that has got to go down as the worst suggestion I have ever heard.