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Steve O’Keefe, James Faulkner and Usman Khawaja all should be given another crack at Test cricket in Australia’s first match in Bangladesh in four weeks.
Australia are on the verge of announcing their Test squad for the two-Test tour of Bangladesh. It will be littered with fresh faces due to the retirements of Ryan Harris, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Chris Rogers and Shane Watson, the expected resting of Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood, and the injury to David Warner.
With Shaun Marsh no certainty to be picked for the tour and Fawad Ahmed very unlikely to be selected, that means Australia could go to Bangladesh without 10 members of their Ashes Test squad.
This is my squad for Bangladesh, beginning with the starting XI.
1. Joe Burns
2. Cameron Bancroft
3. Steve Smith
4. Usman Khawaja
5. Adam Voges
6. Mitch Marsh
7. Peter Nevill
8. James Faulkner
9. Steve O’Keefe
10. Mitchell Starc
11. Nathan Lyon
Reserves:
12. Pat Cummins
13. James Pattinson
14. Glenn Maxwell
The biggest challenge for the selectors is deciding upon a new opening pair. David Warner and Chris Rogers’ partnership has been the biggest strength in the Australian batting order for the past two years.
There has been any number of players suggested as potential replacements. Many pundits and cricket followers have argued Australia should choose at least one of the experienced trio of Shaun Marsh, Ed Cowan or Michael Klinger.
Khawaja also has been put forward as a strong opening choice despite barely any experience batting in that position, having been at either 3 or 4 throughout almost all of his first class career.
The elegant left hander has been treated harshly by the Australian selectors, having been dropped three times in nine Tests.
Soon to turn 29 years old, his next crack at Test cricket could be his last. So he deserves the chance to bat in a position with which he is familiar, which is why I’d have him at four behind skipper Smith.
Marsh and Cowan both have had generous opportunities in the baggy green and failed – the former having averaged 33 from 15 Tests and the latter 31 from 18 matches.
Warner’s injury, together with the retirements of Rogers, Clarke and Watson, give Australia an opportunity to get a look at some young batsmen in this series.
Bancroft is fresh from a great Sheffield Shield season. Arguably even more relevant is the fact that he was easily the best batsmen on either side in the recent two unofficial Tests between Australia A and India A.
In those matches he prospered against quality Indian spinners on dustbowl decks similar to what Australia will encounter in Bangladesh.
Burns, meanwhile, was very unlucky not to be in the Ashes squad after a handy start to his Test career last summer and has averaged 50 as an opener over the past two Shield seasons. His selection is a no brainer.
At five, Adam Voges is fortunate to remain in the team after a shoddy Ashes series. But Australia cannot field a top six packed with inexperienced players and, as the best domestic batsman of the past two summers, he deserves a little bit more time.
Australia desperately need Voges to play to his ability and provide stability and leadership in their malfunctioning middle order. Mitch Marsh should be persisted with as the all-rounder at six.
His propensity for prodding at pace deliveries outside off was exposed in the Ashes. He did, however, show in his debut Test series against Pakistan in the UAE last year that he has the game to make runs against good spin bowlers on dry decks.
Marsh’s accurate bowling will also be crucial in building pressure and keeping Australia’s frontline quicks fresh.
Probably the most controversial selection in my starting XI is James Faulkner as the second specialist paceman to support Starc. Realistically, Faulkner looks unlikely to even make the squad. But if it was my choice I would have him ahead of veteran Peter Siddle, who is a hot favourite to play at Chittagong.
Siddle’s accuracy and experience are his main assets. While he bowled well in Australia’s last Test at The Oval, those conditions could scarcely be any different to what he would bowl in at Chittagong.
At this stage of his career, bowling at 130-135kmh, Siddle is best suited to slow-ish, seaming wickets similar to that which he prospered on at the Oval.
On dead pitches like those in Bangladesh, a paceman often needs to possess something unique to be effective. That can be extra pace, like Cummins, the ability to swing the new or old ball, like Pattinson, or sharp lift like the 6’6 Starc.
Siddle possesses none of those attributes, having lost the extra 10km/h in pace which had made him a very effective Test bowler for most of his career.
In his past 12 Tests, Siddle has taken only 26 wickets at an average of 45. He has looked completely toothless on flat surfaces – taking 2-217 in the UAE, 2-185 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth, and 2-109 against India at Adelaide.
Faulkner, meanwhile, is a greatly underappreciated red ball bowler and has the requisite control to play the Siddle role in the attack. With 170 wickets at an average of 24 in first-class cricket, there can be no argument that Faulkner has earned a chance to play as a frontline bowler.
He has been in fine fettle with the ball in county cricket, snaring 23 wickets at a brilliant average of 22 for Lancashire. Coupled with his 310 runs at 35, Faulkner has had a wonderful season.
While he has as strong claims as Siddle to a bowling berth, Faulkner crucially would strengthen Australia’s very raw batting order.
Australia’s biggest problem on dry decks has been with the blade, even when they have fielded vastly experienced batting line-ups. An 8, 9 and 10 combination of Faulkner, O’Keefe (who averages 29 with the bat in FC cricket) and Starc (who has a Test 99 in India) would be a huge asset on expected turning decks.
O’Keefe may well lose out to the younger and more popular Ashton Agar when the selectors choose their team. He shouldn’t though.
Aside from being the dominant domestic spinner over the past five years, he also was tidy on Test debut in the UAE and excelled in the recent four-day games against India A, taking 14 wickets at an average of 20.
Agar is the better limited overs prospect, but O’Keefe still has him covered as a long form spinner.