George Bailey’s Test and Twenty20 days already are over. Having snuck back into Australia’s ODI line-up due to Glenn Maxwell’s form slump and David Warner’s injury, he looks to have one last chance to revive his international career.
Signs were not good for 33-year-old Bailey when he was dropped from the starting XI for the first match of the current series in the Caribbean.
The Australian selectors favoured Usman Khawaja at first drop, which pushed captain Steve Smith down to four, the batting position Bailey had occupied in the side’s previous 14 matches.
That 14-match streak had started directly after last year’s World Cup, during which Bailey had been dumped in favour of returning skipper Michael Clarke. This ruthless decision prompted anger among many Australian fans, who believed Bailey had been shafted.
The reality was that the Tasmanian deserved to be dropped. His form with the blade had been disastrous, averaging just 21 across his previous 22 ODIs. His shifting aside for Clarke for only the duration of the World Cup, after which Clarke retired, continued the unconventional nature of Bailey’s international career.
He came from nowhere to be announced the captain of the Australian T20 side four years ago, having never even played for his country in any format. Bailey’s Twenty20 tenure was patchy, with Australia winning 14 of their 28 matches under his leadership, while he averaged a below-par 26 with the bat.
During this period he managed to vault himself into the Test team off the back of sparkling ODI efforts, despite his ordinary returns in first-class cricket. His Test career spanned only the length of a 5-0 Ashes pounding of England, during which he made just 183 runs at 26.
These failures did not hurt his ODI career, but they did coincide with the start of a prolonged form slump. Prior to that Ashes series, Bailey had made a phenomenal start to his ODI career. In his first 34 ODIs he piled up 1535 runs at 57, passing fifty in 13 of his 32 innings.
The second half of his ODI career has told a wildly contrasting tale – 974 runs at 28 from his past 38 matches. Soon to turn 34 years old, and amid a two-and-a-half year form trough, it seems extremely unlikely that he will be around for the next World Cup in three years’ time.
What value, then, is there in continuing to play Bailey? As the holders of the World Cup Australia should be building towards defending that trophy. Surely it makes more sense to move on from Bailey and offer opportunities, instead, to the likes of Travis Head.
The 22-year-old is in the current squad but is sitting on the sidelines in the Caribbean. A prodigiously-gifted strokemaker, Head shapes as a long-term player for Australia in all three formats.
He is a leading contender to replace Adam Voges in the middle order of the Test team when the soon-to-be 37-year-old finishes up – likely to be within the next two years.
Offering Head exposure to the highest level in the less pressurised environment of 50-over cricket would be tremendous preparation for a potential tilt at Tests. Aside from him, the likes of 23-year-old Cameron Bancroft and 24-year-old Nic Maddinson both are coming off brilliant domestic 50-over campaigns and, like Head, have the talent to push for Test honours down the line.
Sticking with Bailey makes no sense. He has been a great presence in the Australian side, offering fine leadership whether as captain or not. But his time is up. Give the young fellows a crack.
zenn
Guest
Play Alyssa Healey as a combination of HEAd and baiLEY. This is bound to improve Starc's performance and drive. No double entendre intened
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
It was obviously more difficult than it looked to bat on for the Aussies. We don't have a Mike Hussey down the order anymore who has that level of experience and can adapt quickly.
Nudge
Guest
Not sure why you're bothering Burgygreen. One look at Finch's excellent one day international stats and outstanding 20/20 international stats will tell any cricket person here on the roar that old mate Ajay is clueless.
BurgyGreen
Guest
"why don't you understand he is a club slogger?" Mostly because he makes runs at international level, I guess.
Ajay
Guest
So you mean, had he been in the playing x1 Australia would have won ? Lol, why don't you understand he is a club sloggar? I'd pick Shuan Marsh over him, both are terrible in test but shuan edges him in odis.
BurgyGreen
Guest
And that was one of their biggest mistakes. They went for style over substance and paid for it. Doesn't matter how a batsman looks, only the number next to his name at the close of the innings.
Ajay
Guest
"Played a lone hand 70-odd in tough conditions just the other day." Did you watch the game ? He had survived 5-6 appeals and catch, before he finally got out. I have nothing against him , but he doesn't look a 'decent' batsman let alone an international player. Whenever he comes to bat, I see him walking back to hut. Selectors are aware with this fact and that's why he was dropped from the playing x1 in the world t20.
danno
Guest
Maddinson's technique is very poor against quality bowlers. Head will be putting pressure on Maxwells's position as he bowls handy off spin and Maxwell is struggling for runs. Ferguson when fit will put pressure on Bailey's spot.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Played a lone hand 70-odd in tough conditions just the other day. The only Aussie batsman who even looked like he knew what was going on on that pitch. His average is better away than at home. Unless there is some specific evidence I've overlooked, I don't see how you can justify framing him as a flat-track bully.
Ajay
Guest
I'm surprised most people consider him a 'reliable" batsman. Apart from manuka, mcg and some other flat decks, He is liability. Although He has a good pair of hands, fat fella can't run like Warner, so he is average in field as well. Get Lynn in place of him.
Eski
Guest
It should be now because apart from the fact he averaged 11 in his last series he has averaged 17 in his last 8 odi innings And on the experience subject even without Bailey there are 5 players with 45 or more odi games currently playing the side include smith makes it 6 so to me adding youth now would be a good idea
JamesH
Roar Guru
Yes, and I conceded he should have made way for Clarke in the WC. But I'm specifically talking about post-WC, in which he has averaged 39. If he wasn't dropped after the WC then why should he be now? Plus he's been an important leader in a team that lost a heap of experience with Clarke, Watson, Haddin and Johnson all retiring at the same time. Youth is great, but you need to retain some experience too.
Annoyedofit
Guest
But Head is apparently the better player. Not sure what people are basing that on.
Nudge
Guest
Maxwell averages more in one day international cricket then what Head does in domestic one day cricket. And you can hardly even compare their strike rates. Head averages 100 with the ball in domestic one day cricket compared to Maxwell's 40 in one day international cricket. Maxwell is one of the best, if not the best fielder in the world, Head is average in the field.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Finch is one of our most reliable players. It feels like he's been around forever and for good reason. He may not always look pretty but he often makes the tough runs when we really need them. He's greatly underappreciated in my opinion.
BurgyGreen
Guest
I'm yet to be convinced by Head. In the Matador Cup he didn't contribute much after that (admittedly sensational) double ton. I'm all for recognising and nurturing promising talent, but not as far as handing out easy international caps. If they're looking for a replacement for Bailey, they should be going to someone like Lynn, Bancroft, or even Maddinson as Ronan suggests. As for Head being "a leading contender to replace Adam Voges", I hope not. He wasn't even the best young batsman in his team last season, let alone in the competition, and he averages just 33 in FC cricket. Considering the current relative strength of our batting stocks, I'd like to think that's not enough to earn a baggy green.
Annoyedofit
Guest
So consistent that his List A batting record is 3 runs lower than Maxi's and his bowling average is about 40-50 runs higher. Try again
VivGilchrist
Guest
Any chance of our batsmen accelerating the scoring a little the next game? I don't care who they pick as long as they try to set a competitive score rather than boost there batting averages and making sub par totals.
Ajay
Guest
Well, I agree with you Ronan. Travis head is perhaps most exciting young batsman in Australia and scores when it matters most. On the eve of new year - 101 of 57 single handedly he won the match for Strikers. 192 of just 170 balls again he played a much needed inning. 2017 champions trophy, I can't see Bailey, Finch, Wade and Usman khawaja making the squad. Finch - I have never seen him comfortable at the crease. Usman - While he has great technique, his poor running and horrible fielding may cost him his place. Bailey- As you say, He is old and should have been dropped from the squad. In- Head, Maddinson/handscomb and Bancroft. Out - Wade, Khawaja, Finch and Bailey. You can't drop everyone at the same time but lots of Odis are coming up.
eski
Guest
James I can see what Ronan is saying In the 8 ODI series played from 2014 to the world cup he has averaged 36, 25, 15 , 25 , 5 , 56 , 58 and 11 personally I believe with his age and experience to average under 35 in 5 of the last 8 series isn't good enough