At the start of this summer, Australia’s Test team faced a major rebuild and most cricket followers agreed patience would be crucial. Yet, somehow, just months later there’s a push to drop young opener Joe Burns who is averaging 42 in Tests this season.
It’s a habit of many cricket followers that we agitate for change in the teams we follow. Even if the side is on a roll, we still speculate over whether player x or y should be jettisoned because of a form slump.
I’m as guilty of it.
When you write up to 100 opinion pieces on cricket per year, as I do for The Roar, you are bound to make some poor or hasty calls. Just weeks ago I suggested Mitch Marsh should be on the cusp of being dumped as Australia’s all-rounder because of his continued lack of impact with the blade.
In hindsight, it was borne of impatience. I betrayed my own instincts, which had prompted me to argue repeatedly in the previous 12 months that Marsh was capable of averaging 35-plus with the bat at number six and should be afforded a generous run in the side to develop.
More cricket:
» The Liebke Ratings: New Zealand vs Australia first Test
» Raw Australian Test team exceeding expectations
» Australian bowlers show the Kiwi attack how it’s done
» Adam Voges, batting ugly but sitting pretty over Bradman
» Watch: Aussies down Kiwis by an innings and 52 runs
» Scorecard: New Zealand vs Australia first Test
Right now, Australia’s batting line-up is formidable, with two superstar strokemakers in Steve Smith and David Warner, and two rampantly in-form batsmen in Adam Voges and Usman Khawaja.
While the side continues to churn out big totals they can afford to keep playing Marsh in the hope the sparkling first-class form he showed outside of Tests the past two years will eventually translate to the highest level.
Marsh’s penetrative seamers add a new dimension to the Australian bowling unit, meaning that – even without the two other Mitchells or James Pattinson – the attack remained potent at Wellington. Marsh arguably outperformed frontliners Jackson Bird, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell, and has been bowling with the skill of a specialist quick for nine months now in Tests.
In his past ten Tests, Marsh has snared 23 wickets at an average of 25, at the extraordinary strike rate of 41. What makes that return even more impressive is that he isn’t often used to clean up the tail, so there are few cheap wickets among that haul.
Repeatedly he has made key breakthroughs for Australia, as he did in the second innings at Wellington when he trapped LBW both Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson in quick succession, ending any hope of a Kiwi revival.
Australia’s next Test series is a three-match contest in Sri Lanka and on dry, slow pitches they likely will look to play two frontline spinners. Australia can do so with confidence because they still will have three world-class pace options due to the presence of Marsh.
Hopefully, at that point, Burns will still be in the XI alongside Marsh. Only three innings have passed since Burns batted for more than five hours in making an impressively patient 128 in the Boxing Day Test. Yet the mainstream media are claiming Burns is under pressure to retain his spot, and commenters on The Roar are criticising him.
So nonsensical has the debate become at times in the past week that I’ve repeatedly seen Australian fans suggesting Burns should be replaced by NSW veteran Ed Cowan. I am absolutely flummoxed by the idea of dropping a 26-year-old opener for a 33-year-old who averaged 32 across his 18 career Tests.
If there was a specialist opener dominating the Sheffield Shield then debate over Burns’ position would at least be somewhat understandable. But there is not. A rebuilding Australian team would be mad to prematurely jettison Burns for a tried-and-failed old stager like Cowan or a soon-to-be 33-year-old non-specialist opener like Shaun Marsh.
Burns won his spot back in the Test team by edging out gifted 23-year-old Western Australia opener Cameron Bancroft. While Bancroft remains a fantastic prospect, his Shield campaign was poor until scoring 144 against NSW yesterday. His Shield season average of 44 is almost identical to Burns’ average in Tests over the same period.
Replacing Burns with Bancroft would be change for change’s sake. Leave Burns and Mitch Marsh right where they are, and give this inexperienced but in-form Australian team a chance to flourish together.
My2cents
Guest
Mitch marsh has been disappointing with the bat, however he's been great with the ball. ultimately though marsh has the potential to be a legitimate test all rounder and should be batting up the order for WA and getting some runs on the board. He's still young and needs that extra room to grow. As for burns I agree that dropping him would be ridiculous
Offsideman
Roar Rookie
Triple zing.
Bearfax
Guest
Bosisto, like Doran, is having a little difficulty in settling into Shield cricket. Mind you he's only played less than 10 games. His bowling average is actually at this stage superior to the older Turner, though Turner has the better batting averages at this stage. I suspect Bosisto will turn into a tough competitor as the years pass and his averages will certainly improve. Whether he reaches test level wont be known for a few years yet. Need to see how he develops. But I suspect his toughness will lift him to a point where he could surprise in 2-3 years.
Don Freo
Guest
Burns might not be an original opener but... Katich was a 4 or 5 batsman and Boon and Langer were number 3s. Even Keith Stackpole was a 4,5 and 6 and Ian Redpath was a number 3. Players adapt and take opportunities. Burns is doing that.
The Bush
Roar Guru
AlanKC, I know he's played 9 Tests, what's your point? We're talking about innings, of which he's played 15 (as you have in your own stats and I stated). Where exactly have I made a mistake? Look at Ronan's post for why you and TWAS are wrong.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"As Train says our best openers had made more of a mark at this stage than Joe has." Alan you and TWAS are wrong in assuming that Burns' record at this stage is worse than Australia's best openers. These are the averages (after 9 Tests) of Australia 5 most recent good Test openers: Langer - 21 Hayden - 23 Rogers - 32 Warner - 41 Katich - 41 BURNS - 40
matth
Guest
Burns" test average is as good or better than any other contender's FIRST CLASS average. No Pressure at all at this point
AlanKC
Guest
TB, Burns has played 9 tests in total. Tests 9 15 0 603 129 40.20 902 66.85 Not hard old mate, just go to any of the cricket stats sites... A decent start but as Train says our best openers had made more of a mark at this stage than Joe has - I want to see the selectors stick with him but at the same time he needs to get among the runs sooner rather than later. At the mo both he and M Marsh get time due to the runs being scored by the others but it doesn't take too many low team scores for the goodwill to run out.
AlanKC
Guest
A significant proportion of Roar commenters who, thankfully, have zero say in what will happen.
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
I think it is a bit premature to be including Renshaw and Lehmann on your list- sure they are showing great promise, but would need to back it up with a second good shield season before they are pushing for test selection. The same could be said for Paris, although he is a little older and is looking very good, and as a bowler is probably only going to improve, so he may well push for test selection in the next 12 months. I don't think Faulkner is pushing for a test spot and could be struggling to make the ODI or T20I team given his poor form, and I reckon Hastings will never play another test- he is considered a short form specialist now. Joe Mennie should be mentioned far more frequently than he is, along with Chadd Sayers and Jackson Bird, who are both in NZ right now.
Don Freo
Guest
I would have Ashton Turner ahead of Bosisto. Turner has a few more gears with the bat and is a genuine bowler, not just a handy part timer. Turner's captaincy skills have also been acknowledged by Oz selectors. He has captained youth sides and the Oz under 23s against touring sides last year. I like the trend in state cricket at the moment where most sides are promoting youth rather than recycling seniors that are shifting states for a game.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
I think Joe Burns is a very good #5 opening the batting for Australia atm. Burns played at #3 or #4 for Queensland for years until last season when he was put in as opener. We seem to have an abundance of middle order batsmen but few quality openers since M.Hayden and J.Langer. Its a bit similar to Watto in the 2009 Ashes in England, who was promoted from #6 to open after Freddy Flintoff and the Poms worked Phil Hughes over with short pitched bowling. Apart from Dave Warner, no opener has nailed the spot. I look at it that Joe Burns will keep his spot until either A.Vogues retires or loses form, and/or a young gun rips the Sheffield Shield apart. So J.Burns has the opener spot until the end of the 2017 season, then moves down to #5. No-one is kicking the door down yet in Shield and remember it took Phil Hughes 2 years of destroying Shield bowling attacks before he was promoted to the Australia side.
Bearfax
Guest
I've had my eye on young Bosisto ever since his U19 World Cup performance when opposition teams just couldnt seem to get him out and he ended the competition with an average in the 200s. Shows he's a tough little competitor, a grinder who tries not to give his wicket away too cheaply. Gradually finding his feet in Shield cricket. WA have a couple of good young batsmen in Bosisto, Bancroft and Harris. Could be interesting in a few years. As for Patterson, he has now passed Maddinson's average, despite being 18 months younger. Another innings over 50 and he will be averaging over 40.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
You are correct there James. Mitch J came on the test scene in 2006-2007, he would have been 25 or 26 years old, yet he was marked as future star quick when he was 17. I think he was about 20 yo when he first played 1st class for Qld, but kept breaking down after a couple of matches. He only has about 150 Shield wickets but over 300 Test victims which says most of his wickets were post 26 years old. When he did hit the test scene, he was as strong as a bull as all the time he was injured, he was in the gym building up his core strength. I imagine Pat Cummings needs to consider the same path. But to be sure, all of our quicks seems to need well-formulated strengthening programs over the years from 20-25 yo.
ThugbyFan
Roar Guru
Imagine a world with Donald Trump as POTUS and Clive Palmer as PM of Australia. Shudders, only thing one could do is listen to The Offspring LOUD all day long and wait for Armageddon. :)
Craig Swanson
Guest
Should have read" youngest NSW player to score shield century on debut". Even better.
Hmm
Guest
Marsh and Nevil are horrible with the bat at test level. The Both Average under 30 which is not good enough for the top 7. If they want to use the Nevil is there for his glove work excuse. Why not pick Chris Hartley who is the best gloveman in the country?
Craig Swanson
Guest
Patterson will be getting more press now after his match saving ton in Perth. Another of Bosisto's U19 squad, The youngest NSW player to score a shield century (I stand corrected).
Craig Swanson
Guest
Would add Will Bosisto to that list. Captained the 2012 U19 side to the final of world cup. Picked up his first shield century a couple of months ago. Plus is a handy off spin bowler.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Cummins would be in my future side as well. Only 22 with hopefully his back troubles now over after this latest setback. Remember watching this young tearaway hurling 150kph thunderbolts for the Blues in a BBL game. HE was not even 18 . Seems like yesterday. This bloke will be as exciting and as dangerous as was Thommo and will lead our attack with Hazlewood.