Looking at the Australian Test team, it’s hard to see anything being wrong.
Steve Smith and David Warner are scoring tons for fun, and other players chipping in runs as well – three times in three Tests we’ve scored more than 500 runs in an innings, and we’re on track to do it again in Sydney.
The bowlers have taken 20 wickets in each of the Tests, India look bereft of confidence, and we’re currently second in the rankings for the ICC Test Championship.
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Yet something is wrong.
Let’s start at the top.
After his 95 on Tuesday, Chris Rogers has scored five half-centuries in as many innings. Which is fantastic, but Rogers only seems to score runs once the media questions his ability to do so. Most people seem to have forgotten that he had the same problem against Pakistan in the UAE, against South Africa last year, and against England.
After failing in the first Test against India, the media began to question whether Rogers deserved his baggy green (again). Cue his current run of half tons. His decision to retire from international cricket after the Ashes may well lead to him playing well in England – but it may not, as once he regains confidence in his batting the runs seem to dry up, and out come scores in the 30s and lower.
The problem I have with Rogers that he’s 37 and a player of his age is right to be considering his retirement. But the axe should have swung earlier.
So, Rogers gets out, and who is in next? Australia’s first drop is another player who faces the axe. In his entire Test career (which spans 10 years now) Shane Watson has only 4 hundreds to his name, and 24 half tons. He also has 71 wickets, which people tend to point to in order to justify his spot in the team, which would make more sense if he were batting in a traditional all-rounder’s spot, around six or seven.
This series, however, Watto has only taken two wickets, for 164 runs. By contrast, Peter Siddle, who is three years his junior and has only played one Test match this series, took two wickets for 109. Siddle didn’t get a chance to bat, but Watson managed 47 runs over two innings. Watson is almost 34. Surely it’s time to declare.
There are other surprisingly old players in the Test side. Shaun Marsh, who’s only played 11 Test matches, doesn’t come across as an old player – he’s only just got into the team, right? SE Marsh is 31 years old. Brad Haddin, our wicketkeeper, is 37. Michael Clarke is 33, as is Mitchell Johnson. Ryan Harris is 35. Siddle was actually the youngest member of Australia’s pace battery – which is not to say that he deserves his spot over Johnson. Even players outside of the Test squad who are considered up-and-comers are surprisingly old – Usman Khawaja, for instance, is already 28.
With the series over after the draw in Melbourne, Australia should have considered its ageing stable of Test cricketers (the average age of the Test team is just under 30). Sydney is a dead rubber, and with Smith filling the role of captain rather nicely in Brisbane (less so in Melbourne), maybe the time was right to test new players, to give the young guns a chance and some exposure against an India side that has been poor.
There are three players who should definitely be dropped from the Australian side – Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin, and Shane Watson. Clarke, Shaun Marsh, Harris and Johnson are also on their way out of the side; Harris and Johnson due to age, Marsh because of unconvincing form, and Clarke because of near-permanent injury. But who would fill their places?
If we’re considering like-for-like changes, then Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh (yes, I know he’s injured), and Glenn Maxwell are surely pushing for a batting place, with the added bonus of Marsh taking the all-rounder position. Either Matthew Wade or Ben Dunk need to be in the Test team as soon as possible – wicketkeepers tend to need time to settle, and both are already in their late 20s.
Our pace bowling stocks are in a particularly good way. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Sean Abbott, and James Pattinson have all the makings of a brilliant pace battery.
The future of Australian Test cricket looks bright, but we need to face the facts that our team is ageing, and the final Test of an already-won series would have been the perfect time to give the kids a chance.
Bearfax
Guest
Oh Steve, have you never read my comments. You're very much misdirecting your accusation at the wrong person. I have always maintained substance or results over Style. Style is lovely to watch but it doesnt fill the scoring coffers. My Argument about Maxwell is about substance, the substance of raising his first class average from mid 30s to the 40s in the past two years (40.39 average at 26 years...not bad). And I have always maintained that averages are something you watch over a couple of seasons and cumulatively based on age, not just a few games or even one season. You need at least 2 seasons to show you're on the rise. That's why I've changed my opinion about Cowan, a mid 30s 30 something batsman who through some apparently hard work and adjustments to his batting, has in the past season risen to a 40s batsman with some promise of even further increases. But at that age that's rare. I certainly arent suggesting Maxwell should automatically in the long term leap frog some others but at this stage lets go through those you've identified.to justify my point about Maxwell in the here and now. Dunk: Not in the picture. High 20s average Pomesbach: 30 year old a shade under 40 average. A maybe Maddinson: I have high hopes for this lad but like Silk needs to address his demons. But still young and though mid 30s average like Silk should be pressing his claim in another year or two. Henriques: All rounder with batting average in low 30s. Challenge maybe for Mitch Marsh, not for Maxwell Stoinis: 25 with good high 30s average but has only just started. Bit in the Maddinson league for me. I would like to see him over a longer period. Carters: Outstanding 2013-14 season but slow start in 2014-15 until his last big score in the 190s. Again like Maddinson needs a while to show consistency. Ferguson: Aged 30 and yet to reach 40 average. Could be a Cowan on the rise, could be a Doolan on the way down. A wait and see player. Good start to 2014-15 season though boosted by two not out scores. Cooper: A late bloomer and one I will concede could be well in the mix right now Lynn: Just back from his second long injury. Could be anything but a long way between drinks scoring centuries (last one over 2 years ago). Want to see how this fellow goes for an injury free season. Has a fine average though but built up mainly a few years back. Khawaja: Like Lynn could be anything but went through some trying times after debacle in test team selections with Micky. Wont be back until late 2015 so it'll be another year before we can see this fellow again. His one day performances were outstanding but recent first class efforts were mediocre. Bancroft: Another Silk. A wait and see over a few seasons Cowan: Yep he's in the mix as far as I'm concerned and I would have him as opener or No 3 if Smith doesnt want it. Burns: Already there so there's no discussion. Deserves to be next cab off the rank at this time. So as I see it Cowan and Cooper are the only two serious options to Maxwell now that Burns is in the team, at this stage. 6 months down the track may see something different.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Sorry mate. Maxwell may as well write this season off. The poor bloke is stuffed. He could do with a fishing holiday. In any case, going on last year's aggregates, who does he deserve to leap frog out of Carters, Cooper, Lynn, Silk, Burns, Henriques, Khawaja or even Ferguson, Dunk, Pomersbach, Stoinis or Maddinson? If you're fair dinkum you'll say none of them. Then this season you've got Bancroft and even Ed Cowan banging the door down. Style over substance is not my bag, Bearfax. However, I will say that I have been a long time fan of both Smith and Warner. They were too supremely talented, each with great game awareness not to make it and cricket nouse can't be taught. While your man Glenn (I was going to call him Big Glenn but have realised he's shorter than me) obviously has plenty of the former he is blessed with none of the latter.
ozinsa
Guest
I don't agree with much this author had to say. I hope we never treat test matches as an opportunity to "try out" new guys with little to recommend but youth. The guys who won the series deserve the right to rack up the scores and take the wickets in a dead rubber. As an IT professional, I liken trying out youngsters in test matches as doing testing in a production environment - simply not done. Oh, and if the article had any pretensions of being taken seriously, they flew out the window with the sentence "Chris Lynn, Mitchell Marsh (yes, I know he’s injured), and Glenn Maxwell are surely pushing for a batting place". Whoa.
Nudge
Guest
Good stuff Bearfax. The only problem with Maxwell is that that continued development in the second half of the shield you spoke about is unlikely to happen because of the World Cup. Makes it difficult to make big strides in first class cricket when potentially he could only play 2 red ball games in 18 months. If he is serious about wearing the baggy green cap for an extended part of his career, he should not play in the IPL this year and look for a county contract and get a dozen first class games there.
Bearfax
Guest
I like to travel. But I'll assume your comment was not about my touring prowess and was a dig at my defense of Maxwell. I'll respond with it this way. A few years back I copped criticism on these forums for arguing that Smith and Warner were future permanent test players. I suggested watching out for the big four, Warner, Smith, Khawaja and Hughes. I still think Khawaja will make it and I believe Hughes would have been an outstanding test batsman but for the tragedy. I also suggested Burns should be watched. I'll now go a step further and suggest Maxwell, Maddinson and Patterson will be future test batsmen of worth. Ask me again in 2 years. By the way there's no sugestion that I have some astounding insight. I do nothing more than gauge their level statistically based on their age and experience and postulate based on those figures their likely performances in future. No brains needed, just careful note of their stage of development.
Gav
Guest
You go a long way to go with that one Bearfax
Bob Sims
Guest
Yes, our team is ageing, but age on it's own is no reason for someone to be shown the door. At the start of this series there were questions asked of Rogers, Haddin, Siddle and Watson. Rogers and Harris have responded well, not so much Watson, and Siddle looks to be done. We would all do well to remember the old saying that form comes and goes, but class is permanent. If the younger brigade want to play Test cricket,then let them bash the door down with runs or wickets and more of the same. I'd love it to happen, but I'm not seeing too much of it at the moment.
Steele
Guest
No mention of Nevill as Haddins Replacement? He averages 40 with the bat compared to Dunks 27! And he Keeps wickets better than Wade. Not sold on M.Marsh yet as Watson's replacement, Henriques is further advanced for mine and Faulkner has better numbers too. Faulkner is obviously a bowling allrounder though, but maybe that's better than being equally mediocre at both? Rogers deserves to bow out after the ashes and any suggestion he leaves now is ridicoulos for several reasons. Lynn ticks the boxes as a young guy with a handy average and Maxwell is better than most people want to believe. Reminds me of the derision the same people use to give Smith!
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Because somebody who averages 35 in FC cricket might suddenly become a test batsman average 50, despite the fact that history says they're more likely to end up average 20.
Bearfax
Guest
Good to see young Burns make a half century. I think that will just about confirm him for a trip overseas. He looks the goods.
Bearfax
Guest
Maxwell? Absolutely Steve. Maxwell reminds me of where Smith and Warner were about 2 years ago. Many were knocking those two for lack of style, flashiness, impetuousness etc. But Maxwell has been building up on his first class averages from the mid 30s to now over 40 and in first class cricket does seem to be showing a little more responsibility. In the 2013-14 Shield season he averaged 45.33 with two centuries. He's unfortunately only played one first class match this Shield season for 24, but there are signs that he is maturing. I'll grant you that Burns should be first, and Lynn and Khawaja deserve a look in when fit. But I suspect Maxwell will show a continuance of improvement in the second half of this Shield season
Matth
Guest
Costing us games?? Proof?
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Sorry champ but I can't agree with the theme of this article. Age should not be a deciding factor when choosing the test team. Mike Hussey didn't get a chance at test cricket until his early 30s and look at his performances for the next five years. Rogers has been terrific in this series. He complements Dave Warner at the top of the order and his experience in England will be invaluable. I like his attitude. He is humble and grateful to have the opportunity to play and he has rewarded the selectors with consistently good performances. Mitchell Johnson has rediscovered his form and he is 33. Ryan Harris is 35 but has the best strike rate of any Australian fast bowler in tests. Who gives a toss how old they are. If they are the best performers among those available for selection they get a spot in the team. Sorry but until Glen Maxwell grows a brain he has no place in the test team and blokes like Lynn, Dunk etc need to be scoring big runs consistently to force out players like Rogers, Shaun Marsh etc
Scuba
Guest
Watson is the fifth bowling option - ok he is not much of a strike bowler but he ties down an end well which is important in a test - India could have the best bowler in the world (hypothetically of course) and it would be irrelevant with Yadav going at 6 an over at the other end and releasing all the pressure.
Scuba
Guest
Very harsh - he has read the criticism that says that he tries too hard to score off every ball and has been working hard - with spectacular results - on leaving the ball!
Scuba
Guest
He's a good fieldsman - could be a specialist 12th man?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Steve, Form is irrelevant. Age is important. According to the author.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
I was keen to climb into you about much of your article until I read your proposed solutions. Come on. Please. Harris and Johnson are on their way out? They are both in the top 5 ICC ranked Test bowlers and at the top of their games. Rogers has just peeled off five 50s on the trot and is ranked on equal points as Alastair Cook in the ICC batting rankings. And the the doozy ..... "Maxwell (is) surely pushing for a batting place." You have seen big Glenn bat lately? The poor bugger is fried. Sorry, Chris, but this piece is way off the mark. Until any of the kids start banging the door down with 1000 run domestic seasons or 40-50 wickets a season they can wait until they do. Like so may of the old farts have done in the past.
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Maxwell? Really?
SteveOL
Roar Pro
Your whining about "old codgers" yet you want to replace one with 32 and a half year old Eddie Cowan. Turn it up! As soon as some of the kids start pumping out 1000 runs in a domestic season then they should be seriously looked at, just as Hussey, M. Waugh, Hayden, Elliott, Martyn, Langer, etc had to do.