Day 2 of the Sheffield Shield left a number of big selection questions unanswered before the first Test starts in Brisbane on November 21st.
There have been a number of Roarers eluding to the possibility Inverarity and company have already picked the squad, and the next two rounds of Shield cricket are merely the net session the Warners of this world needed to have prior to the first ball being bowled.
Highlighting this very strong possibility is the fact that the team is ‘officially’ announced next Tuesday – nine days before the series begins.
If we are to believe this speculation – the starting XI will be as follows:
Warner
Rogers
Watson (if fit)
Clarke
Smith
Bailey
Haddin
Johnson
Siddle
Harris
Lyon
Forgetting the whole ‘is Nathan Lyon our best spinner?’ question as this is arguably the most debated selection question (shhh all you Mitchell Johnson haters!) – let us look at a few key positions that are looking for the tick of approval leading into the most important Summer of every Australian cricket fans lives.
1. Is David Warner ready?
2. Is Rogers still the man for the top?
3. Was Steven Smith’s hundred at The Oval a one off?
4. Is George Bailey, dare I say it, our next Michael Bevan?
5. What does Peter Siddle do?
6. Has Mitch got back his mojo?
I am most certainly not a prophet that claims the two rounds of Shield cricket thus far has answered all these questions without any further debate being required.
I am simply an Australian cricket fan that has had enough of text messages from English mates asking when we are going bring back Warnie.
Firstly, David Warner – great to watch when in full flight, we all said he needed to get his head right and get runs on the board.
After an ordinary start to the Australian summer with three failures, Warners last eight scores read, 139, 138, 32, 197, 14, 21, 15, 104.
He is in form and more importantly he is confident. He is somebody who, alongside the resilient Rogers, could be the perfect foil against the classy England attack.
Warner’s likely partner at the crease, the evergreen Chris Rogers, missed the slap and tickle of the Ryobi Cup, but his County form in September and his three innings thus far in Sheffield Shield read 32, 55, 108, 8, 65, 36, 42 and 88, top scoring against NSW yesterday for Victoria.
Not compelling reading, but solid top order stats (help me beat away the Ed Cowan disciples still believing in his Test future).
As above, I believe he offers the perfect Yin to Warner’s Yang. Long may he prosper, or please Matty Hayden, dust off the gloves.
I try hard not to like Steve Smith. I felt he was initially handed the baggy green when he hadn’t earned it.
His stats so far this season, apart from a few low scores in the Ryobi Cup, have been excellent, capped off with a timely century today against Victoria.
He has grown into a mature player, and his shot selection has gone from violently brash to viciously selective.
Where once his wicket could be bought on the back of a Corn Flake box, he now is willing to graft and fight and we are now talking top shelf, healthy cereal. A good summer could make this guy into a superstar – I believe he can do it.
Captain George is another thing. I want to believe, but I have to agree with Chapelli; runs playing on the Pacific Highway against a pop gun attack in India doesn’t ensure Ashes success.
I am not sure how accurate the statement he doesn’t have a cover drive is – but it certainly concerns me and should concern the selectors if it is even remotely close to the mark.
In his only real dress rehearsal prior to the team being named at Allan Border Field yesterday, from all reports Ryan Harris had him ducking and weaving for an unconvincing 34.
Considering possible future baggy greener Silk scored 107 and both Cosgrove and Cowan scored 70s, Bailey was tested and did not pass.
Peter Siddle’s 28th year is waning and, in my opinion, he will be handed a birthday gift when he turns 29 on Nov 25th by being in the starting XI for the Gabba Test.
Maybe with the injuries to Pattinson, Starc and Cummins he is the Australian bowling attack’s Steve Bradbury.
I agree, he has been a great servant and toiler for the Australian cricket team. I still get goosebumps when I see replays of him thudded into Stuart Broad’s pads for his hat trick – but picking P. Siddle is not going to pay the Ashes gas bill – as a matter of fact it is going to have our gas shut off.
I believe Doug Bollinger would run in lionhearted and do his best for us out there, but he isn’t going to wrestle the Ashes from Alistair Cook’s pretty little fingers either.
If you did a survey of Australian Shield players of who they didn’t like facing I am almost positive Siddle would not come in the top five
Cutting, Harris, Bird, Faulker, Hilfenhaus, Butterworth, Copeland, Johnson, Sayers, Mennie, Coulter Nile… we are thin in the batting department but we keep churning out quality bowlers.
I want Peter Siddle to do well but solid isn’t good enough, we need wicket takers. I wish him a happy 29th birthday.
Mitchell Johnson. Everybody has an opinion. England supporters rib him, but if given the choice of facing him in full body armour or Peter Siddle in thongs with a kanga cricket bat, most would choose Siddle.
He breaks fingers and gets batsman jumping. When on song, he bashes the ball around the park and is a genuine all-rounder.
He will be there, and I and every other Australian cricket fan hopes whether they love him or hate him, that he hurts England with bat and ball.
Will W QOS
Roar Pro
Red Kev - should Mitchell Johnson be picked ahead of Starc?
Choff
Guest
Excellent article, I agree with almost everything said however, I have to disagree with your comments on Peter Siddle. While he may not be the most attacking, threatening or dangerous bowler we have, the success that the Australian bowling attack had in the England tour was build off accuracy, executing our plans and staying disciplined, bowling to our strengths and their weaknesses. While Siddle may not be able to swing the bowl miles or have extreme pace, he does have the ability and the strength to execute this strategy. This is how we got on top of England, this is what we must do again, and Peter Siddle is the man for us.
Richard
Guest
Well agreed no one is crying out for selection, that is why I would go with Bailey, bring some mental stability to the team. I doubt he will get selected though as that would be too sensible for the selectors.
Bearfax
Guest
What's Bailey done to deserve selection in the red ball game? Check his averages in that game in the past 18 months and you'll find its around 25. Everyone is excited about him because firstly they are grasping at any straw that's available and that the establishment promotes and secondly he had an outstanding white ball campaign (but then so did Khawaja). This is Cowan, Quiney, Finch, Voges, Shaun Marsh all over again. If Bailey is selected just remember this comment., not after one test but after 3 or 4.
Hookin' YT
Guest
The deck England lost 5/118 on today. I'd have been most surpised if their wasn't life and green shoots after 3 days of sweating.
Hookin' YT
Guest
That spent 3 days under covers sweating. Hell, there was GREEN fresh shoots growing. Ever played on turf? Bailey is and will be a dud. Want a leader go to Forces Command HQ at Vic Barracks. We want a No6 batsman.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Khawaja is zero chance before the 4th and ONLY if he scores big starting this week.
Richard
Guest
I'd say you are traveling in a flying saucer Manoj. The selections were made some time ago IMO and so they should have been. Nothing has happened recently to make any material difference to opinion. Everyone is performing at par at best. The time is now to make the decisions and get people prepared.
Richard
Guest
Dodgy Bellerive deck?.. You mean the one that England scored 300 plus and then both openers retired on.. LMFAO!!!!!
Manoj
Guest
Agreed bearfax, but some folks will take any opportunity to knock Khawaja even though none of the batsman got big runs today, how could they when more then half the match was rained out.
Manoj
Guest
We are clutching at straws trying to seperate Klinger, Khawaja, Marsh and Doolan, none of them went on today(and they only had a few hours to bat) and we are no clearer on who the best replacement for Watson is if he is injured. Hopefully the next game allows us to do that. My tip is still that it will be between Klinger and Khawaja. And as for Khawaja like Bailey he had great white ball form, he was the form player in Ryobi and made match winnings 100 to help the Bulls win. I am hoping he can get shield runs in the coming rounds as he is a fantastic red ball player.
Richard
Guest
Whats Khawaja done to deserve selection?
Richard
Guest
Right now we need an experienced head in what is almost a rudderless team.
Bearfax
Guest
Bit much knocking Khawaja when they were in with no chance but to hold on until stumps. None of them managed it really. But the cricket gods are against him at the moment and seems they are going to go for Bailey as No 6 bat. Personally I think unless Rogers, Clarke, Warner and Smith, have blinders and Harris and Johnson take a lot of wickets, Australia is going to be found wanting. Cant see Bailey lasting and Watson as a batsman only is just not up to it. Too early yet but there are a number of batsmen beginning to knock on the door for selection. Lynn had another couple of fine knocks, Burns finally came alive, Maddison showed some form, Silk is going gangbusters again, Cosgrove had a good first innings even Cowan produced a couple of good innings. Dunk is showing form and young Travis Head aged 19 is starting off brilliantly and after his four Shield innings so far this series, he is averaging a shade under 50 I suspect with Khawaja and Hughes held back in Shield cricket for much of the test series, that we could start to see some big scoring from them as well as Maddison, Silk, Lynn, Burns, Cosgrove and young Travis Head. This will put the cat amongst the pigeons for the following test series, because I can see a couple of batting positions coming up with 'vacant' signs before this test series ends.
Hookin' YT
Guest
You'd pick Bailey on his 34 and 41? I'd go with Doolan on the 31 opening on a dodgy Bellerive deck against a Test attack.
JGK
Roar Guru
White's consistency at the moment is astonishing.
Richard
Guest
Well there goes Khawajas chances &Doolan 31. No one belting down the door, so it looks like its either Bailey or Faulkner depending on Watson
Simoc
Guest
Khawaja wasn't good enough to keep Anderson out just now. The best bowlers are to good for him at this stage.
Mitcher
Guest
Oh good lord!!! From the top ranked bowler on the world ALL the way down to 5th in the WORLD in the 'blink of an eye' 4 years?!?! Outrageous! Honestly, does anyone think Siddle is a legend of the game? Of course not. But in the current environment with our questionable troops and bunch of injury crocks, he's close to first picked. He'll give everything he's for whenever he's out there and on top of that his record is half decent.
Hookin' YT
Guest
Bailey a scintillating 41 to follow his 34. Lyon could get his 100 up shortly and Mitch went for 4 an over again but picked up some tailies to get 3. Warner may get an op to launch Sidds into the Yarra this arvo. All ticketyboo for the intelligent decision to announce the squad 9 days before the test. Smart money on a monstet squad, say a Rugby 22?