With a new leader and potentially a new ethos, the Australian Test team is in transition.
Steve Smith is Australia’s glue this summer. If he does not fire I struggle to find another bat, other than David Warner, who will make a big score.
My first Test XI has changed since the last time I wrote an article on this issue. It reads Steve Smith (C) David Warner, Ed Cowan, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Johnson. This team will be youthful and full of enthusiasm.
The other players who will also be in the frame throughout the series against New Zealand are Peter Siddle, James Pattinson (for the pink-ball Test), Cam Bancroft and Nic Maddinson.
The loss of Chris Rogers, and his ability to hang around and consume time at the crease, is why I have chosen Cowan over Bancroft.
The pink ball will be in use for the second Test, and this will bring a new element to Test cricket. A late declaration could potentially be game-changing – South Australia lost 3 for 3 late in the day’s play after NSW declared during the Sheffield Shield this week. The ball, being more like a white ball, will also help players such as Starc and Johnson, and Pattinson could be handy for that reason.
The team that they put out on the Gabba in the first Test may not be there for the whole summer, but it will be super exciting to see cricket back on our TV screens.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Well played, I had a chuckle!
Nudge
Guest
Pattinson was bowling lightening bolts in the recent one dayers in his comeback. 14 wickets at 19 with very good economy rate of exactly 4 shows that he's in really good form. Took the second most wickets during the tournament behind Starc
Craig Swanson
Guest
Starc was all over the shop for the Blues today. Went for something like 35 off a handful of overs before Kelvin Smith and Travis Head gifted him their wickets. If the ball does not swing early in the first test I want Smithy to remove Starc pronto before he begins to leak runs.
Craig Swanson
Guest
I want Khawaja at three. The earlier the better to avoid his facing spin...not his strongest suit. Smith at four can steady things should early wickets fall. Burns opening worries me somewhat. Prefer him down the order. Hope he proves me wrong.
Craig Swanson
Guest
He has a point . The selectors have only picked the squad for the first two tests. So what does that tell us? It tells me that they want to evaluate performances using the pinkie under lites before picking the side for the first ever day/nite test match. Makes sense to me.
Gav
Guest
I'm liking the look of Cowan too, but not at the expense of Burns. I think Khawaja is a bit lucky actually, but prior to his injury he had sustained good form. Hope he does well.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Not funny? Tough day? Just playing mate.
Don Freo
Guest
They both played in The Matador Cup. Stanlake played every game bar one. Stanlake was Queensland's best bowler. A couple of 3 fors. 6 foot 10 inches, smooth side on action. Fast. Outswingers. Accurate. Richardson is very fast...only around 6 foot. Very accurate...although his first ball was a very wide wide.
Jameswm
Guest
How can I watch Stanlake and Jhye Richardson? Are they on TV at a time I can watch? You didn't answer my question though.
Jameswm
Guest
Oh FFS - of FC cricket
Don Freo
Guest
Hmmm. I'm ok with trying them. It's a bit strange. Really Khawaja has done very little at all...but he is classy. Very much like Shaun. Either is fine. Either could have been picked. I think Shaun's failure in the 3/31 beginning in Tassie probably was his death knell. I just object to folk saying he is out of form. He's in good form. Good luck to Ussie and Burns. I expect Ussie to succeed....but he's lucky.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
Yep all done. I thought so too, but his good latter half of the Matador cup and the century vs the kiwis seems to have done it.
Don Freo
Guest
I hope you're not really saying you don't know where they have come from. Surely you watch the up and comers? Pattinson is delivering very little and is nearing the second half of his career. Others show more.
Don Freo
Guest
Has it been picked? I'd have thought that Burns has batted his way out of contention.
Don Freo
Guest
Not at all. The batting conditions there wouldn't count for anything. Marsh has come in so late, a stray shot wouldn't count. Everyone was retiring so it was obviously not any test of batting. Far more important would be the sustained batting of Marsh in The Matador against the flaky stuff of Burns and Khawaja.
josh
Roar Rookie
That's what I'd expect.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
I reckon Khawaja will bat 3.
Jameswm
Guest
Only question then is who bats 3. They did look like they were trialling Burns as Warner's opening partner in the ODIs in England. David Warner (vc), Joe Burns Steve Smith (c), , Usman Khawaja, Adam Voges. Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, 12th Peter Siddle
The Bush
Roar Guru
How many Pink Ball games do they play a season? It could take him 7 years to get to that point...
Sideline Comm.
Guest
It's Burns! He's got the opening spot.