Ashton Agar ready for Test recall

Me too. I also liked James Taylor better when he was a singer songwriter

This is roughly the team I'd go with, particularly if it means Shaun Marsh doesn't get another run. Although I'd probably play Burns at the top and Khawaja at 4. I'd also have Maxwell as first reserve batsman, and Faulkner in the squad, possibly even in a bowler's position.

I would take a risk, given its Bangadesh, and use Khawaja and Bancroft as openers, with Burns at 4 after Smith and Voges at 5 to steady the ship. I think a lot of Maxwell and I think he should be next in line but I would stick with Mitch Marsh at 6 because I think he's destined to be one of our all time best all rounders.

I wouldn't put Agar into the same boat as Maxwell. I think he's definitely a real bowler who's a handy lower order batsman, rather than a batting allrounder which is probably what Maxwell qualifies as. I still think he'd be best with another year or two of first class cricket before he plays test cricket again, but he does seem one of those players the selectors spotted young, really liked, and then look for every chance to get him into the team even if he's not quite ready yet. As I mentioned above, I think Fawad Ahmed's issue is that he seems to have bowled a fair bit of rubbish in the tour games and really needs to show he's got very good control and the ability to tie down batsmen to get selected for test cricket. They've got a part-time leggie who can rip it but bowl plenty of long hops along the way, a specialist spinner has to be better than that. Definitely not Klinger to replace Rogers. Sorry, but we don't need another 35 year old, let alone one who, after 155 first class matches playing for years in both the Sheffield Shield and County cricket, still only boasts a career average of 38. Rogers may have been picked as a 35 year old, but he had a first class average of 50 and Voges not as good averaging around about 45, but he pushed his way with an absolutely incredible season combined with the fact the Ashes were coming up and he'd played a lot of County cricket. If we were just playing Bangladesh and the West Indies during the Australian winter, I can't imagine Voges would have made the cut, even with the season he just had.

It is a bit misleading, although I do believe that Agar only played one of the two unofficial tests while O'Keefe played both. So while O'Keefe certainly had the better figures there, it wasn't quite as pronounced as 16 v 3 looks. It will be an interesting selection. O'Keefe seems to have so many people against him despite the fact he just keeps performing year in, year out. It feels almost like the selectors feel like so many anti-SOK people on here, but just his continual performance forced their hand to select him for UAE last year and the A-tour this year. But do get the feeling that they are almost desperate for anyone else to select ahead of him. Not sure why that should be, but it feels a bit like it. Fawad Ahmed is the third possibility, and I'm sure they like the idea of a leggie, but I just get the feeling that there are worries about how many loose balls he's likely to bowl. Going for O'Keefe or Agar would give Smith more control than Ahmed gives. If they want a leggie who can give it a big rip, has a few variations, can take wickets but also bowl some real rubbish in between, they've already got Smith for that. So Ahmed really needs to show he's got pretty good control and the ability to tie batsmen down to really have a shot I think..

Bf, the "word on the street" is that the politics surrounding SOK is history now that Clarke is gone, but if SOK plays tests, expect Warnie to whinge about SOK not spinning the ball, his stats don't matter bla bla bla, in his commentary.

Correct Viv, I was thinking the same thing about the misleading list A/1st class combination on that A tour, but using the same logic, SOK made 26 runs on that tour without being dismissed, while Agar made 27 runs@5.

That does seem to be the latest rumour. I don't think hugely of SOK.. but he is a spinner out and out, not a part timer. We need a real bowler, not an Agar or a Maxwell. I would applaud that selection (if Fawad is already off the radar). I don't think our other leggies (Boyce/Zampa) are ready. It's funny that people are talking about Sandhu is an option because he bowled off spin for Aus A, I think it's his pace variation that makes him an option. If it won't seam or swing in Banladesh you have his slower balls and cutters to mix things up. Also: Klinger is perfect replacement for Rogers. The fact the Media still think S.Marsh is a viable choice hurts my brain. He wasn't a poor selection for West Indies based on form, but he needs to re-prove that form domestically before he gets another Test.

Jamesb. The problem with the best spin bowler in the country ...by a country mile mind you....is that he is perpetually out of favour with the selectors, media and the public (just wait for the negative rantings to this comment). I dont know what he did but forgiveness obviously is not a factor. He should be in the test team but I bet he wont even get a look in.

I have heard that Steve O'Keefe will be the second spinner to tour.

It will be a tough call as both are good players and so handy batsman too

Talented player who is very similar to Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi (probably not ready for test cricket yet, but useful in ODIs).

Agars 5/39 was in a list A game. In fact, in the FC games he took 3 wickets. His success came in the one dayers. SOK took 16 wickets @ 20 in the 2 unofficial Tests. I think this represents where these two are at re an international call up. SOK for Tests ( alongside Lyon) ans Agar the ODIs. The Aussies can't use the Bangladesh tour as a training run as a loss would be detrimental. Let's pick our BEST team for the conditions. Lyon and SOK, an allrounder, and two paceman that can land the ball in the same spot 2 balls in a row. Reverse swing will help.

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