Sticking with Shaun Marsh for this Boxing Day Test would have required a reshuffle of a flourishing Australian batting line-up. The selectors deserve great credit for the strong move of dropping him for the sake of team balance.
I thought the worst of the selectors, assuming that they would favour Marsh, who has been somewhat of a golden boy.
Instead, they recognised that, during a major rebuild of the side, stability is paramount.
Opener Joe Burns looked set to be axed after some dwindling returns. Yet the selectors seem to have taken a longer view – both in looking beyond Burns’ recent failures to his prolific start to the summer, and in considering the potential for Australia’s top three to grow together over the next five to six years.
The 26-year-old Burns is six years younger than Marsh, so he offers far greater upside, as well as the possibility of forming a long-term top-order combination with 29-year-olds David Warner and Usman Khawaja.
First drop has been the most troublesome position in the Australian line-up since Ricky Ponting vacated the spot four years ago. Khawaja is the first of a dozen or so players since to have enjoyed generous success in that position, yet it looked as though he may be shunted up to the foreign role of opener to accommodate Marsh.
Instead, the selectors sagely allowed Khawaja to return in his favoured position and were promptly rewarded by both he and Burns.
Granted, the West Indies attack has ranged in performance from pathetic to pedestrian in this series. But both Australians yesterday showed admirable patience and restraint. After Warner gifted his wicket with a needlessly aggressive stroke in just the fifth over of the day, Burns and Khawaja set about building a platform for their side.
Over the next 17 overs, the visitors actually bowled well (for once) but the two rookie batsmen calmly soaked up this pressure. Scoring at just 2.4 runs per over in that period, they appeared happy to bat without ego, slowly playing themselves in and waiting for the Windies’ attack to begin to stray.
It was inevitable that the tourists would not be able to maintain this standard with the ball and when they dropped Khawaja and Burns was perfectly placed to cash in. Having different gears to your batting, like this, is something which all too often is missing in modern Test cricket.
After dawdling for well over an hour, the Aussies swiftly shifted the momentum of the match. The next six overs went for 38 runs and, in the process, Burns and Khawaja seemed to break the resistance of the West Indies.
From that point forward, there was at least one boundary ball offered up in most overs. With their eyes in, exploiting such generosity was simple for the Aussie pair. They both cantered to hundreds.
Rather than bullying the West Indian attack, like Warner tried and failed to do, Khawaja and Burns merely manipulated it. They identified the rare danger periods and reined themselves in, before upping the ante when they spotted a weakness.
This bodes well for Australia’s future. Smashing cavalier hundreds in these circumstances can be wonderfully entertaining, but such innings are extremely difficult to reproduce against quality opponents in more difficult conditions.
Australia’s next series is in New Zealand, where the pitches may well be slower seamers like those on which the Aussies repeatedly have stumbled. Flaying Trent Boult and Tim Southee on such decks is the stuff of dreams, not reality.
Runs in that series will be hard come by, and success with the bat will require a thoughtful, circumspect approach. The intelligent, mature manner in which Khawaja and Burns set about their work yesterday is a blueprint for how the Australians should bat in New Zealand.
The opposition will be far more gifted and spirited, and the conditions more testing, but this was Test match batting from the inexperienced Australians – the kind of cricket which historically has prospered all over the world.
Bearfax
Guest
Well said Jammel and I agree with you entirely. Maxwell and Maddinson are two batsmen who I believe are test quality, but their application must improve lest they end up like Shaun Marsh, Cowan and Klinger. Maxwell has started fairly well this Shield season, but the two of them have said they have recognised their deficiencies and are addressing them. They need to work on them big time over the next year if they hope to grab a test place before the emerging up and comers pass them by.
jammel
Guest
So proud of the way Khawaja has performed! I think - finally - Khawaja's here to stay in the Test XI, and probably also at #3 in the ODI team with Smith at #4. Khawaja's always been class. For mine, after Warner and Smith, it was always Phil Hughes and Khawaja that would be the long-term mainstays for Australia. Well done also to Burns and Khawaja for their application in batting. It's application in batting that leads to big scores - the likes of Glenn Maxwell should learn from Burns' and Khawaja's application. Big runs, consistently = permanent Test selection.
jamesb
Guest
Yep I agree. We only seem to care about West Indies cricket, when Australia plays them in a test match. The minute they leave Australia, we concentrate on the next toy (NZ tour), rather then putting pressure on administrators to do something about Windies Cricket.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Woakes has always stuck in my mind as an all-rounder moreso than a genuine frontline bowler but he was very good with the new ball today, he was unlucky not to get a wicket. I don't know whether he has added pace Stephen because whenever I've watched him he's always had decent pace, he's just one of those guys who doesn't look very quick for whatever reason. He was the quickest of the English bowlers yesterday - average of 136kmh and a top of 147kmh.
Stephen Martin
Guest
Super Slo-mo also showed some rotation on the ball as it passed the edge, but whatever. Nothing new about captaincy affecting the form of a top-class player, but he's not standing out as a leader as yet either. What did you think of Woakes? When you said England had gone with two specialist bowlers, presumably you weren't including him. I've never seen him in county cricket, but the commentators said he had added some pace recently. Been playing one days for years - just his 5th test - without making any impact but bowled a good line. I was disappointed when the ball was given to Moeen instead.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"then had two lives (one very thin edge picked up on Snicko but not referred, then dropped behind the wicket) even before being out for 7." I wouldn't call that first one a "life"...it was the tiniest spike on Snicko I've ever seen, no way you could dismiss him on that limited evidence
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Yep Nudge England have got themselves into a great position, particularly given SA's tail starts at 8. It was a one-man show from Broad - he bowled exceptionally well, as he did in the Ashes. He's now one of the truly elite players in Test cricket.
Gnasher
Guest
Amla doesn't seem to be enjoying himself. Let England off the hook a little on day one with conservative field-placings and strange bowling changes (though Steyn was off the field a few times), then had two lives (one very thin edge picked up on Snicko but not referred, then dropped behind the wicket) even before being out for 7. I imagine it's symbolically important for SA to have him as captain, but they might gain in two ways if they gave the job to someone else.
Nudge
Guest
4 for 150 odd now, so the poms on top with AB and Amla out. I could be proven wrong later Ronan, but it's not often 340-360 is a par score.
Bakkies
Guest
It's really good listening to the combined Super Sport and Sky Sport commentary teams.
Bakkies
Guest
Tests in SA are played on grounds which are suited to Cricket. They stopped hosting Rugby and Soccer matches on them decades ago.
Bakkies
Guest
What Counties would sign these players though? Bravo, Blackwood, Holder and that's about it have potential and the right attitude to do it. As for the rest.... English County Cricket you have to work your socks off as a full time professional.
Andy
Guest
Cant really complain, Englands 2 gun batsman fail and still get 300. Looks to be a great test.
Mitcher
Guest
Even better, Mr Lawry (God bless his enthusiasm) declared today that Australia need to ditch the line and length bowling. Proving once and for all that the soul of the Ch9 commentary team is constant, mind numbing negativity that searches only for the 99 approaches (as opposed to the one the actual captain has to implement) the esteemed members would surely have introduced to undeniably stunning effect 'in their day'. Horrid, horrid listening. Postscript: Can anyone offer a reason why Ch9 has dished up regular AFL puff pieces throughout the summer when their flagship is rugby league. Before the code wars start - I'm a sydney-based afl fun. Just genuinely interested in the commercial wiles of promoting your main competitors product.
Bearfax
Guest
Havent seen your items for quite some time Red Kev. Maybe I've just been writing in different areas to you, but if not welcome back.
Annoyedofit
Guest
He isn't swashbucking like Khawaja or Warner therefore he isn't good enough. It's the only thing I can think of
jamesb
Guest
Red Kev Khawaja certainly seems close to Warner, which is understandable as they have grown up together. I do think the side looks more happy or comfortable under Smith.
Nordburgs
Guest
What annoys me the most about this W.I. tour is not their performance but the media,C.A. and former players comments about the WIndies.W.I. cricket has been on the decline for over 10yrs but the only time the above mentioned people give a rats ass about them is when it affects their TV ratings,finances,paper sales and crowd figures.Folks like Sutherland,Clarke and Warne go on that we need to do something about this,but I bet my left nut that the second the WIndies leave our shores they won't give a care about what happens to them -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
England all out for 303. Not a poor score but the pitch is actually decent for batting, so I reckon a par total is 340-360. The Durban pitch looks like a great surface for Tests - a little bit in it for everyone. Pity we don't see more of those sorts of decks in Australia these days.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'm surprised how many people are negative about Burns. When a rookie comes in and averages 54 in his first 5 Tests as an opener you'd think that would be reason for a dash of optimism!