It would have been fascinating being a fly on the wall as Rod Marsh, Mark Waugh, Darren Lehmann, and Trevor Hohns came up with Joe Mennie’s selection in the Australian 12 for the WACA starting next Thursday, for the first Test of the summer against South Africa.
The quartet would have mentioned the near 28-year-old South Australian paceman topped the Sheffield Shield wicket-takers last season with 51 at 21.21 – very commendable.
But would they have taken unto account those wickets were against first class cricketers, not internationals?
With the latter in mind, how about Mennie’s ODI debut against South Africa at Johannesburg with 0-80 off his 10, followed by a far more respectable 3-49 off ten in Cape Town.
But he wasn’t rated good enough to play all five ODIs, just two.
Yet Mennie beat Jackson Bird for Perth, a selection that defies description.
Bird’s Test career has been jolted by injuries over four years, yet he’s captured 21 wickets in five Tests at a very respectable 25.28, with an economy rate of 3.19.
Bird had to get the nod.
So how did they go in the recently completed Sheffield Shield games?
Bird took 3-75 off 30 at the MCG, and 3-59 off 13 against the Vics.
Mennie, playing against the West at the WACA, the scene of the Test, took 3-56 off 18, and 0-66 off 16.
Again it’s heavily in favour of Bird.
We’ll never know how the four selectors voted, but let’s have a stab at it.
How about Marsh and Hohns voting for Mennie, Waugh and Lehmann for Bird, and at 2-2, chairman Marsh had the deciding vote as chairman.
Joe Mennie in, Jackson Bird out.
Marsh virtually gave himself up when he praised Mennie after naming the team, adding – “He’s a dead-set professional seam bowler, that’s what I love about him”.
But Bird is deserving of exactly the same praise, and at proven international level.
David Warner, Steve Smith, Adam Voges, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood were automatic selections, leaving a couple of Marshes, no relation, Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle, and Nathan Lyon open to discussion.
It was a toss-up between Shaun Marsh and Joe Burns to open the batting with Warner with Burns the favourite to have a left and right hander opening partnership, against that the WACA is Marsh’s home ground.
In the just completed Shield games, Marsh cracked 73 and 110 against Mennie and Co, while Burns posted 129 and 36 against Starc and Hazlewood.
A toss up alright, Shaun Marsh won for two left-handed openers, but make it three with Khawaja selected to bat first drop – another reason to pick Burns.
But Khawaja’s lucky to escape, for reasons other than runs.
He has publicly criticised the “fickle” selectors for making him the scapegoat for the Sri Lankan Test series whitewash – not a clever employment call.
Rod Marsh didn’t miss in retaliation.
“He opened his mouth before his brain got moving, it might have been early in the morning, loves to sleep in Ussie.
“It wouldn’t say it was the smartest thing he’s ever said, but that’s life”.
It would be safe to say Khawaja will zip it in future, and just concentrate on scoring big runs.
Mitchell Marsh is lucky there’s no-one around to be a contender for the all-rounder berth, but it’s time he did something – anything.
That leaves an under-done Peter Siddle, and an under-rated Nathan Lyon.
Siddle is assured of playing, while there’s talk offie Lyon could carry the drinks, which would be as bad a selection as Mennie.
Lyon has only played three of his 57 Tests at the WACA, but has been very competitive on a paceman’s track.
That being the case, Joe Mennie will be 12th man, so why was he picked in the first place?
JamesH
Roar Guru
That perceived equality is the problem tho, Basil. Bird had a successful tour of NZ with the test side in Feb, not to mention a better average and strike rate than Mennie last Shield season. He was also picked in the Sri Lankan test squad ahead of Mennie, as was Coulter-Nile, despite the fact that Mennie is arguably more suited to sub-continent decks than Bird. The notion that Mennie and Bird were somehow neck-and-neck based on red ball bowling looks pretty thin on paper. I want to stress that I think Mennie has still earned consideration by the selectors after a great 12 months or so but I just don't see how he caught Bird in the pecking order (no pun intended).
Sideline
Guest
Couldn't agree more. Mitch having a season in the shield. It would do him a lot of good. On the replacement, I could get on board with Head, but honestly, I'm at a bit of a loss. I'd prefer a medium-pace allrounder, but they are thin on the ground. I'd almost just go for specialist like Kurtis Patterson.
Matth
Guest
So It's all good then...
Nudge
Guest
My dream as well James
jameswm
Roar Guru
Nudge I've never seen Mennie bowl. I'd love them to pick him just to get that chance. Some people just turn up and play every time. Maybe Mennie is one of those. Tough to get away when bowling, and tough to get out when batting. I rate Bird, but he hasn't made himself unmissable. Siddle - we know what we'll get, which helped at certain stages. If Cummins comes back and our quicks are Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Marsh, all in top form, all I can say is - look out.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I hope he does. He likes bowling at the WACA.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
Same here, it was a fairly gentle rebuke.
Don Freo
Guest
I think he is on thin ice. He is a good bowler but not that good that he can get away with #7, #8 level batting. He is a top 6 batsman but he has started this season poorly. Having said that, he was our 2nd best batsman in Sri Lanka, one of the few to show some resilience and one of the few to back himself with stroke play. I think he would benefit from a season of Shield cricket. Travis Head would be my replacement. His batting is really gutsy and his better than average offies can give Garry a chop out.
Sideline
Guest
What do you think about M. Marsh these days, Don? As I recall, you've always been a fan (as have I, I admit), but you'd have to admit he's not lived up to what we thought just yet. It'd be different if there was a clear replacement for him, or if Nevill was performing with the bat, but as far as I see it he is still the best option for an all-rounder. The real question is whether we should have 6 specialist batsmen, in the absence of a true all-rounder.
davros
Guest
might take a load off and give him more time to work on his bolwing too
Don Freo
Guest
Another silliness in David's thinking is choosing Burns over Marsh because he is a right hander. So if Davy and Ussie go early, who is going to bat left handed out of Smith, Vogesy, Mitch or Nevill? Maybe we should hope they can hit the ball regardless of which side of the bat they stand.
Sideline
Guest
No one is going to read this so far down the post, but: "Nathan Lyon open to discussion." Really? Lordy, your attacks on Lyon have been going on for a while, but this makes no sense. You state he's 'over-rated' (more for the turn of phrase than anything I assume), but then you say his selection is wise and he has performed well at the WACA. Honestly, if there was ever a spinner who has copped more flak than Lyon, and was as under-rated a part of the team, I can't think of them. He would be one of the first picked in the squad.
davros
Guest
nsw cruelled him ...picked him way too early and overbowled him ...and this is what we are reaping ...possible never get back ?
Nudge
Guest
Yeah I have it 55-45 to Siddle. I think with Mitch Marsh selected that increases his chances a lot. The problem I see is Starc's very underdone, to a lesser degree Hazlewood is underdone. If Siddle plays he is very underdone. Mennie though has plenty of cricket in him, can bowl 6,7 or 8 over spells and has an incredible record at the WACA. Whoever they choose I'm not going to have a problem with
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Dan do you not rate Cummins as a bowler (putting aside his fitness issues)? I'm a huge fan of Behrendorff but Cummins is an absolute freak - he's the most gifted bowler in the world aged 23yo or younger in my opinion (neck and neck with Rabada). It's just a case now of whether Cummins' body starts to hold up or he becomes a wasted talent.
dan ced
Guest
It wasn't a joke, it's just not as relevant now, he looked OK during Matador, just not so amazing he should be rushed into any AUS team.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Ok cheers Nudge. My money is still on Siddle. In a high-stakes Test like this I reckon the selectors will go with the guy they know well rather than taking a punt on a debutant.
Ash
Guest
smith's selection as captain defies description. when was the last time an australian captain led the team two consecutive series whitewashes. he should be sacked and warner made the captain.
davros
Guest
thats my mail too nudge ....12 man will be released to play shield ...twill be interesting ?
Don Freo
Guest
I think it is most of the season. I like Paris ahead of every young bowler...including a fit Starc or Cummins.