A number of names have been tossed up to strengthen Australia’s feeble batting order, from Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja to Callum Ferguson and Michael Klinger. One could be fooled into thinking Australia’s batting stocks are relatively healthy.
According to ESPNCricinfo, there were 21 batsmen who amassed 500 runs or more in the Sheffield Shield last season. Between them over 40 centuries were posted, with Adam Voges leading the pack.
Voges was impeccable at Shield level last season, but has struggled to adjust to the considerable leap in standard to international level.
Whether Voges maintains his position in the Test side is a point of serious contention, and a big performance in the final Test at The Oval may not be enough to guarantee his place for Bangladesh.
As a Test cricketing nation, we find ourselves in a considerable dilemma.
Michael Clarke will soon depart. Chris Rogers will call time on his short but brilliant career. Voges and Shaun Marsh are every chance to be given their marching orders come the Australian summer. Rational thought would suggest that Mitch Marsh will return to the Test team for the final Test, and will be given several series to prove himself.
That leaves three spots in the batting order.
With impressive recent form for Australia A, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns seem locks for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. That would leave an order consisting of:
1. David Warner
2. Khawaja
3. Steve Smith
4. Burns
5.?
6. M. Marsh
7. Peter Nevill
Below are the statistics of three players who have been selected for comparative purposes.
Player A
Age: 30
Runs: 6141
100s: 13
Average: 39
Player B
Age: 32
Runs: 6546
100s: 16
Average: 39
Player C
Age: 31
Runs: 10,438
100s: 26
Average: 42
If we were to summarise these three players off statistics alone, which player would you select for the number five slot?
Player A is Callum Ferguson, Player B is Shaun Marsh, Player C is Mark Cosgrove.
How about now?
In an age where fitness is at the forefront of selection and diet is everything, some relics of past eras have slipped through the cracks. An exceptional strokesplayer, ‘Cozzie’ has not been the poster child of athleticism. His physique is devoid of rippling abs or bulging biceps.
But one thing he’s not devoid of is runs.
Australia’s desperate need for batsmen has left Rod Marsh and the selection panel with a sizeable headache. Unlike past generations, the liberty of picking prospects from a rich pool of talent is gone. The old saying of ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ has never rung truer.
Cosgrove has opened the innings for both South Australia and Tasmania at Shield level, which showcases his ability to be watchful early in the piece. On top of this, he possesses a wide array of strokes, and has been consistent at converting starts into big scores. Coming fresh off 100 with Leicester on the county scene, he’s an option worth entertaining.
Realistically, Cosgrove won’t don the baggy green. A greater devotion to fitness and health may have resulted in a different outcome for the big South Australian.
But before completely drawing a close on this article, reflect on past experiments. Shane Watson, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, George Bailey. Would Cosgrove be any worse?
Certainly not. And at 31, he could be a vital cog in Australia’s middle order for two or three years.
Tricky Ricky
Guest
Cosgrove? I too will go to Jenny Craig and source a batsman for the national team.
Lancey5times
Guest
Love it
Patrick Mathews
Guest
Keith Stacpole was a great chubby opener bowled useful spin and was great slipper then we have Tubby.
Bovs
Guest
I agree his build is irrelevant. But I think the fact that he is not only unfit but probably less fit now than he was when we became a professional cricketer is very relevant. It speaks to his desire to improve himself, exceed the competition and do whatever it takes to reach the top either personally or as part of a team. In the absence of any single candidate with the numbers to push their claim... a ready-built international player such as Lehmann or Hussey who's just been waiting for a chance... the selectors are basically left needing to pick players who, given an opportunity, are going to take it with both hands and rise to the occassion. This is where I think someone like Bancroft, who was a pretty average young Shield player until Langer told him we WAS the Warriors opener so go out there and play like it, has a clear edge. Whoever gets into the Aussie team will basically be joining a shambles, and will also be perceived as only in there because no-one else was available. That person's only hope of succeeding is to go above and beyond to prove the doubters wrong... I think if Cosgrove had this in him he would've already done it 9 years ago when he was a fringe international player.
jamesb
Guest
Those players were so chunky, they could carve it with the bat.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Darren Lehmann was quite similar to Cosgrove in a lot of ways. Both talented, both beefy. We are on hard times, and I don't think we are in a position to be getting picky about what physique a player should have. His build is irrelevant to his potential selection, especially when half the test squad struggles to stay on the park for more than a few tests at a time (Watson, Marsh brothers). Inzamam-ul-Huq looked close to a borderline diabetic and amassed over 8,000 test runs at 49 (25 centuries), if you consistently make runs and play good cricket, you should be a chance.
Bovs
Guest
I think Cosgrove's inability to improve his fitness even as a professional athlete and with a baggy green there to be taken reflects exactly what's wrong with the entire current generation. There seems to be an attitude that if I just keep playing good cricket, then I deserve a chance. I think guys like Hussey, Lehmann, Hayden, Langer and Katich would've had the attitude that unless I am constantly improving on the other guys, I'll never get a chance. Whether it's a lack of competition due to lack of talent, or a shift in attitude of players today whereby they feel entitled to play international cricket just because they're good players at state level, the end result is the same. Guys in the team who haven't had to exceed themselves to earn it, and therefore don't know how to exceed themselves again once they get there. Steve Smith for me is the only batsman the Australian team has had under Clarke's captaincy who has improved himself once playing at test level.
Don Freo
Guest
What's the best FAT 11 eleven? Barry Shepherd gets a game...John McLean as keeper...although Marsh was obese when he started for WA. Keith Stackpole early. Peter Burge. Dav Whatmore. Gary Cozier. Merv. Chris Matthews. Johnny Watkins and Johnny Martin...
Don Freo
Guest
Fatties who have to be hidden in the field?...Paul Sheahan?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
3 Big Macs, 3 large fries and a 2 large cokes thanks. Love Cossie. Can bat and catch. Hope he gets heaps to put himself in contention. Inzi the Big Aloo did alright. Big Collie Milburn and W W "The Big Ship" Armstrong also.
blanco
Guest
Agreed with the fact that Crosgrove has a fairly good record and should strongly be considered.I'm on the Bancroft bandwagon for opener and Lynn should be given the number 5 spot. All indications are that M.Marsh will be back at 6 and rightfully so. Think selectors always had Burns in mind heading into the ashes and Voges was selected ahead of him cause of the fact he had a heap of runs and the experience in English conditions. So Burns will be back. He being included in the odi team gives a strong hint, he will anyways. Selectors can do a lot worst than pick Crosgrove. He can bat anywhere in the other and last I remember bowled some useful seam up deliveries. As I've said we're not particularly spoilt for options to let guys with fairly good record remain on the fringes. I love looking at the matches to hundred ratio and Cossie scores a hundred in just under every 6 matches. So it does appear when he gets a start he goes on and scores big.
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
Believe it or not, Cosgrove is exceptional in the slips. 107 catches in first class would suggest he's not as big of a liability as popular opinion would make out. Good call on Lynn though, I admit I overlooked him. However as Bearfax pointed out, Lynn has not played a lot of shield cricket. Bancroft is still very raw, he's putting some nice innings together right now, but keep in mind he only averages 34 at shield level. Voges may well keep his spot, but he's nearing 36. Cosgrove has been making runs consistently for years and continues to do so. Lynn: 5 100's Cosgrove: 26 100's
Justin Ware
Roar Guru
My thoughts exactly.
John
Guest
Fatties who have to be hidden in the field are worse for team morale than WAGS
Bomb78
Guest
Greg Ritchie would have put a higher price on his wicket than the current crop of test Australian test batsmen.
Bearfax
Guest
Greg Ritchie was better than Shaun Marsh, Bailey, Doolan, Cowan, Quiney, yet they selected them. And he had a better test average than Geoff Marsh or Paul Sheahan and dont forget David Boon, Darren Lehmann and Mark Taylor and were also chunky...didnt stop them.
Bearfax
Guest
Of course you are talking about Lynn and I agree. My only concern about Lynn is that he hasnt played a lot of cricket in the past few years owing to injury. But he should definitely be in the mix. And then there's Bancroft. My only concern about him is the limited time he has had in Shield Cricket. But he's playing with loads of confidence and should be considered. But this is about Cosgrove. There just seems to be some players who have soiled the sheets or something. SOK is another example. I mean how can you select Agar who had an indifferent performance against India A in the 'tests' but did well in the one dayers, while SOK killed them in the tests and has averages a fast bowler would be proud of...not to forget his batting and fielding. Cosgove is in the same exile. Sure he's not as fit as he should be. Not by a long shot really. But he scores runs consistently, averages almost 42 but most importantly scores at least 50 every three innings, he's a top ranker. What Cossie would be if fully fit is anyone's guess. But is being a little beefy that bad. If he was placed in the slips, he has an excellent eye and would probably be test quality. And we tend to forget about Babe Ruth, the US baseball star. He makes Cosgrove look lean but would the New York Yankees have ever considered dropping him. Cosgrove is a tough fighter, something we could use in an Australian side. He doesnt give his wicket away easily and with such a good eye he could manage the swinging ball better than most. Yep he should be considered...but he wont be. because like SOK, there's a bias against him. I suspect Bancroft will get the nod, if they dont decide to stick with Voges. And I dont think they lose with Voges. Had a bad English tour, but he'll be back.
jamesb
Guest
Cosgrove might do a great ' Mahatma Cote' impersonation.
Edgar Slosh
Roar Guru
Do we really need a reincarnated Greg Ritchie in the side?
blanco
Guest
Player D averages 45.88 from 35 matches.He is only 25. Has a wide range of strokes.Its not like we have great options , why should we keep over looking a player with such a record?