Josh Hazlewood will be Australia’s most important bowler on the likely seaming decks in New Zealand in February. After playing nine Tests in less than six months, he should be rested for the third Test against the West Indies.
His pace colleague Peter Siddle will be similarly important against the Kiwis, on pitches which should favour him. Siddle is suffering from a sore foot which restricted him to just nine overs yesterday, compared to Mitch Marsh’s 17.
There is nothing to gain from pushing either quick to play at the SCG next week and captain Steve Smith yesterday indicated it was possible Australia would change their attack.
Given Australia’s dominance over the listless Windies, that Test shapes as a perfect opportunity to rest Siddle and Hazlewood and offer opportunities to Victorian paceman Scott Boland and left arm spinner Steve O’Keefe.
Getting a good look at those two players would help inform selections for their next two tours – a two-Test series in New Zealand starting on February 12, and then three Tests in Sri Lanka starting in July.
Boland will be a leading contender to make the tour of New Zealand, while O’Keefe is the favourite at this point to be picked alongside Nathan Lyon as Australia’s second specialist spinner in the Test squad for Sri Lanka.
Smith yesterday hinted that O’Keefe was in the mix for the SCG Test. “We go to Sri Lanka later in the year, where there is a good chance we’ll see two spinners playing, or in the touring party,” he told media.
“It’d be good to see a second spinner play and see what he has got to offer. We’ll wait and see what the pitch looks like and if the conditions are going to suit. If they do, there’s a pretty good chance we could see a second spinner playing.”
Having been the dominant spinner in domestic cricket for the past four years, O’Keefe deserves to have another crack at Test cricket. On debut in the UAE against Pakistan last year he bowled tidily, although without great penetration.
It must be noted though that Pakistan’s batting line-up was in the rarest of touch in that series and showed extraordinary skill in their handling of O’Keefe and Lyon. To condemn O’Keefe on this single match would be unwise.
Fortunately, the selectors appear to recognise this and have the left armer as next in line after Lyon. Boland has done less to justify his place in the Test pecking order yet a spate of retirements and injuries has left him on the verge of being picked for his first Test tour.
You get the sense that the selectors, at this stage, see the attacking right armer as a like-for-like back-up for James Pattinson. With strike bowlers Mitchell Starc, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Pat Cummins unavailable through injury, and Mitchell Johnson retiring, Boland was vaulted into Test calculations.
While it seemed unfair Boland was picked in the squad against the Windies ahead of proven performers Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers, that pair are different bowlers who would play the holding roles currently filled by Hazlewood and Siddle.
As far as strike bowlers go, Boland’s current competition at domestic level was limited. Australia clearly prefer to have at least one such out-and-out wicket taker in their Test attack at all times to add variety alongside the more reliable and subtle skills of bowlers like Hazlewood, Siddle and Lyon.
With Starc and Cummins all but certain to miss the series against the Kiwis, and Coulter-Nile injured again, Boland looks likely to travel to New Zealand as Pattinson’s back up.
Given Pattinson is fresh back from yet another long injury layoff, and is physically fragile, there is every chance Boland could take the field in New Zealand. Surely, then, it would be better to get Boland’s debut nerves out of the way in a low-key Test against the Windies in Sydney rather than in what will be a very tough series in New Zealand.
As boring as the SCG Test shapes to be, it does provide Australia the chance to freshen up key players in Hazlewood and Siddle and test drive rookies Boland and O’Keefe.
Don Freo
Guest
Well...we are winning everything.
Bearfax
Guest
Sandgropers must be in season Don.
Don Freo
Guest
Bancroft Marcus Harris Head Doran Mitch Marsh (Capt)...averaging 56 with the bat by then Whiteman...averaging 60 in Shield by then Agar Faulkner (VC) Jhye Richardson Paris Stanlake (the only one who can't really bat) Zampa (12th) While Smith is not much older than Marsh and Faulkner, he'll be gone by then because Roarers reckon his technique sux and his eye will be gone by then. That's a shame. I liked Steve Smith too.
jammel
Guest
Disagree AlanKC - I certainly hope we don't see both Faulkner and MMarsh in the Test XI in the future. Let's have one of them for when we need an all rounder, but not both. How does your future XI look with both Faulkner and MMarsh playing? I think we have far too many specialists - particular in terms of quick bowlers - to accommodate both Faulkner and MMarsh. I want to find room for Starc + Hazlewood + Cummins/Pattinson + Lyon first.
AlanKC
Guest
I don't see the qualification of "this season" anywhere in the comment I responded to fellas. For what its worth, even with his start to this year, I think Faulkner will be a long term test player (maybe even alongside MMarsh Don).
Don Freo
Guest
I think you'll find that Western Australia...more specifically, Fremantle...is the geographical reference point for all Texans, not vice versa.
Bearfax
Guest
West Australia? That's just east of Texas isnt it Don?
Bearfax
Guest
Maybe Mennie is worth a look though the 'flavour of the month' comment is not so far off at this stage. He's had a very good half Shield season so far, but that's just five games. Before that he was averaging over 30 with the ball. Maybe at 27 he is coming of age but I'd like to see him for another season before taking the punt. Certainly in a purple patch though. But his average before this season was a fair 31.6 that has now dropped to 28.96. Needs to do more I think before worthy of tests in my opinion.
Don Freo
Guest
BTW...Victoria is the home to some really good AFL teams. Hawthorn is an embarrassment to the Victorian spirit of sport. To compromise integrity (read Mitchell, Hodge and Stevic) in order to achieve success, is not the Victorian way. Vics play it tough (especially, as Bucky Rogers said, when front running). They will sledge and scrap...but will draw the line at identifying with Hawthorn.
Don Freo
Guest
Happens a lot. I am a parochial Aussie. I just make many comments about West Australians because the east can't see this far so it is my duty to educate the not-so-wise-men from the east. Those of us in the west can see all of the nation.
Col in paradise
Guest
Agree.....Pattison needs overs and matches don't see why he should be rested unless injured.....okay he has had injuries but the only way to really stay fit is on the paddock..the only way you going to get better at your required skills is playing....like footy players..
Col in paradise
Guest
Wow Don Freo going for and talking up Victoria !!!!,....the home of your arch enemy the Hawks!!!......plenty of 2-3 wicket as you say..also plenty of zero and one per innings...pretty standard return for a key shield bowler...and yep stand by my only one really great return comment....not up to test just yet....suppose your right - want to give him a taste then this may be the game.......
Col in paradise
Guest
Yep I was stirring....seems okay to bring in old guys as Bats but not bowlers...where are all the old buggers spinners ????
Craig Swanson
Guest
Is there a chance the selectors will move Mitch to seven and play him as a bowling all rounder/ power hitting batsman? His bowling is now test class and he should be a frontline bowler not simply a change bowler. Moving him down the order and away from all the scrutiny, would also open up other possibilities. They could then bat a specialist at #6 or move Neville, who averages 41 in first class cricket, there
Craig Swanson
Guest
Hazlewood with bounce and line and length. WE have others around as well that could do a job. In Jackson Bird and Joe Mennie. They hardly ever get a mention in selection dispatches
Craig Swanson
Guest
Are you saying rest Hazlewood because he is out of form or physically weary? He said he does not want to miss one test match, in particular, his home test. Ok he went wicketless in the second test but he was his usual economic pressure building self... just that luck deserted him. He was, though, a little down on pace and is showing some signs of a very heavy workload on these pityless Aussie decks. Apart from the little bit of reverse Hoff and Sids are getting no lateral assistance. A big heart gets you wickets on these decks as Sids proved.
davros
Guest
I don't know about Flavour of the season ? Just the leading Sheffield shield wicket taker this season ..but also very consistent over the last 3 seasons . Has taken over 100 first class wickets at very good ave's etc and troubles a lot of Australia's best batsman . Im just surprised all the so called experts on here hardly mention him ...but you have to allow for a lot of keyboard warriors that prob never even been to a shield game . Sitting at home and getting told what to think by the media . You know the Sheffield shield ..where they play supposedly as an audition for the aussie team .
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I'd like to see Voges rested for Sydney simply because he's sewn up a spot and Mitch Marsh played up the order. Perhaps 4. Give him some time in the middle and a chance to fail. We came into the WI series with a question mark over whether Mitch was capable as a top 6 bat and with the series won, we don't know anything more than before it started. Was good to see Mitch shuffled to 5 in the 2nd innings clearly signalling intent to get time in the middle but unfortunately he didn't get enough time to either succeed or fail with the willow. Perhaps both Marsh's in Sydney or another option would be good to see where our batting depth lies.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Probably more the issue with Behrendorff isn't being a young guy and that being a tough debut, but rather that he's just coming back from some serious injuries and without anything but a few T20's under his belt may not be physically up to 5-day cricket as yet. As far as making his debut in NZ, it might be easier for him than doing it here. In recent years Australia has produced a lot of pitches that aren't too friendly to the fast bowlers. If he made his debut in NZ in conditions with some swing and seam that might actually be an easier, rather than harder, debut for him. I don't necessarily agree with it being easier for players to debut at home. Plenty of players have made their debut's in away tours. A few examples off the top of my head include, Clarke who scored 100 on debut in India, Hughes scored 70 on debut and a hundred in each innings in his second test in South Africa, Cummins played his one and only test in South Africa and won man of the match. That's making a debut overseas against a tough opponent and doing well. If Behrendorff is of test quality, which he looks like he could well be, and he's 100% fit and firing (which is the main question) then I don't see any issue with making his debut over there.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Finn has always shaped as a potential Test star he just lost his way for a while with his problem kicking the stumps and then Saker shortening his run up. He's still only 26yo though so just entering his prime.