There was always going to be a dramatic period of change in the Australian side with Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Chris Rogers, Ryan Harris and now Shane Watson announcing their retirements.
ENGLAND VS AUSTRALIA THIRD ODI SCORECARD
The interesting part about this is that it’s hardly what Cricket Australia wanted.
The Test side looks fresh and inexperienced, and with David Warner set to miss the series in Bangladesh next month, a lot will be left to the new Australian captain Steve Smith.
What this side needs right now is experience and leadership to assist Smith. I am looking forward to seeing younger and in some cases untried players brought into the side as they look to the future.
West Australian Cameron Bancroft, Queenslanders Usman Khawaja, Joe Burns and Chris Lynn are all contenders to bat in the top six.
It is a period of significant change.
Questions beg coming into both the Bangladesh series and the home summer beginning at the Gabba in less than two months’ time now. Will Australia keep Adam Voges in the side after a couple of reasonable performances later in the Ashes, somewhat glossing over the troubles he had early on?
Which brings me to another man: George Bailey. The situation right now makes me think Australia need to pick Bailey for the Bangladesh tour primarily for his leadership abilities and character.
Does he deserved to be selected? Based on numbers and performances previously at Test level, probably not.
Bailey is the current vice captain of the ODI side and has previously led the national T20 side for some time.
I won’t ignore his numbers and failings though. Bailey was a part of the 5-0 whitewash in the 2013-14 home Ashes series against England, yet aside from a half century at Adelaide and a whirlwind clubbing off a Jimmy Anderson over in Perth, his contributions with the bat were minimal. He scored 183 runs at 26 in that series, being the only member of Australia’s top seven not to score a century.
He has not played a Test since.
I honestly didn’t think he quite deserved his place in the side initially, as an ordinary season in the Sheffield Shield preceded his Test inclusion.
Bringing Bailey back into the Test scene isn’t a long-term thing, it’s not going to solve any significant problems but I just think this side needs another old head and some stability in the immediate future. A batting line-up containing Bancroft, Burns, Khawaja and Mitchell Marsh is too inexperienced.
I don’t think Bailey has earnt the right to play at Test level again, however I think he has attributes that this side will require in the short-term.
Don Freo
Guest
Thanks dad. Me and Vogesy will be old enough for Bangladesh....no room for George too. Love Shaun
Don Freo
Guest
What is so special about a number Kev? That's all a bit strange. Is 30 a numerology thing or something? What's wrong with 28 , 31 or 34?
fp11
Guest
Hear, hear!
Swampy
Guest
isnt Bailey suited to the pitches in the sub-continent? I'm sure George is very happy George has played as many tests as he has. I'll bet he really thought he'd play none. My view for any test is you pick the best available team. Building for the future is pointless. No series is more important than any other. Just win and keep that culture.
Julian King
Roar Guru
Absolutely a retrograde step. Bailey showed in his brief stint in test match cricket that he's a limited player without a sufficient defence. Good bloke, but handy at best. We'll never know how good the next player will be unless we give them a shot.
Bearfax
Guest
No! No! No!. Backwards step. Voges yes because he has the first class pedigree and would held stabilise the middle order. But Bailey is not test material. Again we should remind that his first class average is 37.5. Nick Maddinson ten year his junior has a better first class average. relying on 30 something batsmen with less than 40 first class batting averages, is what got us into trouble before. I say stick to the script. Go for youth
AREH
Roar Guru
Yep and this is what I think might be the worry dc is that without the new vice captain in Warner, the side would appear pretty thin on leaders and there is little assistance for Smith aside from Johnson/Siddle and maybe Lyon.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
No. Just no.
dan ced
Guest
A mix of experience and youth is a must, if you load up on youth.. they will lose heavily, get downtrodden, and ruin their careers. You need a couple of experienced campaigners to get you out of trouble. Like Klinger ;) They've bought players like Maddinson and Doolan in who have done nothing, and have been thrown straight back into domestic cricket. When one says "pick and stick" you're in danger of the Watson phenomenon, where you stick with them through a dozen shit innings.. they have one redeeming innings to solidify their selection.. then just go back to mediocrity. That's how I see it anyway. Go with the form, go with the runs, give a few youngsters a go but maintain a decent foundation of reliability and experience.
jonty23
Guest
Bailly is barely hanging on in ODI cricket let alone bringing him back to the test side. I think you`ll find they will give Voges another series to fill the void of experience and leadership on the back of while not outstanding numbers but something that at least warrants another crack.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
No-one should be playing who is over the age of 30. This is a transitional period, embrace it. Bringing in guys like Cowan, Klinger, Voges, S.Marsh, etc is backwards thinking. Make the change now and team is set up nicely going forward, keep selecting 33 and 35 year olds and we'll just keep having this same conversation over and over again.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
I have always felt picking someone just because of their leadership is a farce. Whats the point when there are so many better players. Does their leadership involve things like "hit that ball, dont hit that one, take that catch etc"?
Pope Paul vii
Guest
No way. Great bloke but not good enough. I'm happy for George he got 5 tests in the 2013/14 but it stifled development ( not just George but Quiney, Cowan, Doolan, Marsh. S ) which has lead to where we are now. If they have to lose to Bangers and NZ in order to build the team by picking younger players with a future ie Burns, Bancroft, Khawaja, then so be it.