Australia changed tack yesterday, fielding six specialist batsmen for only the second time in their past 27 Tests.
The result was the same as the last time – a spectacular batting failure.
The previous occasion Australia ditched their so-called batting all-rounder, they were humiliated even more intensely, rolled for 60 by England at Nottingham last year.
I link these two Tests not to suggest picking six batsmen was a mistake. But rather to underline that it may not the solution to Australia’s batting frailty many fans had hoped it would be.
On a moist pitch like this one at Hobart, picking six batsmen undoubtedly is the correct choice. With the inability of most batsmen across the world to prosper against the moving ball, such surfaces are likely to result in Tests which are lucky to go beyond the third day.
This means there is no need for a decent fifth bowling option, a strategy designed to keep the frontliners fresh, incisive and healthy on flatter surfaces. The Adelaide pitch for last summer’s day-night Test was even juicier than this Bellerive deck.
Whatever happens across the rest of this second Test, Australia would be wise to again select six batsmen against the pink ball in the third Test.
Yet yesterday, they could have had 11 specialist batsmen and not passed 150.
This was the kind of disaster Australian fans have become resigned to witnessing.
Once the ball moves off the seam or laterally through the air, most Australian batsmen are rendered inept. Of the five times Australia has been dismissed for double digits in the past six years, each pitch has been moist.
Across a few months late last year, Australia lost six veteran members of their Test team – opening bowlers Ryan Harris and Mitchell Johnson, skipper Michael Clarke, ‘keeper Brad Haddin, all-rounder Shane Watson and opening batsman Chris Rogers.
While he had the lowest profile of those six players and played the least number of Tests, Rogers has been arguably Australia’s biggest loss. Only Harris has perhaps left a bigger hole in the Australian XI.
Year upon year of grafting on lively English county decks taught Rogers the value of ugly runs. If the bowlers were amid a fine spell or the ball was moving appreciably, Rogers was prepared to bat well within himself. He would batten down the hatches, ride the rough seas and wait for calmer waters to emerge before expanding his strokeplay.
That circumspect approach helped Rogers top the batting averages in England last year. At present, Australia don’t have a single batsman in the Rogers mould.
Indeed, there are few left at all in world cricket, hence the constant calamitous collapses we see.
Of our domestic batsmen, the player most similar in style to Rogers is Western Australian opener Cameron Bancroft.
The 23-year-old is one of the few batsmen in Australia who is prepared to play according to the circumstances, scrapping for every run when batting is tough and unfurling a wider range of strokes in friendly batting conditions.
Last year, Bancroft batted for more than six hours in daunting 40-degree Chennai heat while making 150 for Australia A.
Underlining the quality of that knock was the fact India A had a fine spin attack – including Pragyan Ojha who has 113 Test wickets at 30 – and the pitch was such a raging turner that Australian seamer Gurinder Sandhu gave up bowling pace and took three wickets bowling off spin.
Over the past two years, Bancroft has made just under 2000 runs at 46 in first-class cricket. Of course, Bancroft is yet to play a Test and could well fail when he is given the opportunity.
Australia does, however, require an improved mix of batting styles in their top six, which badly lacks patient operators. Rogers offered the line-up far better balance with his grinding style, which perfectly complemented David Warner.
This Test match is not yet over though, for all of Australia’s batting woes yesterday.
First, the Australians must keep South Africa’s lead to less than 150, which seems doable considering how well Australia bowled yesterday.
Second, they need to show some belated grit with the blade. South African batsmen Hashim Amla and Temba Bavuma showed that once you survive your first half an hour at the crease, scoring becomes considerably easier on this surface.
The Australians need to emulate the Rogers way and be prepared to make some ugly runs.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The sub-continent seems the perfect place to play Shaun Marsh. His obvious weakness on his off stump is nullified by the lack of movement and bounce and when set he does play spin well.
Don Freo
Guest
David Hussey has retired.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
A 30 year old batsmen could play 50 or more test matches, which is worth looking at. After 34, there is little point unless, like Chris Rogers, they average 20 more than the younger options.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Mennie is worth a few games but Lyon is overrated and over played. There is no way he can realistically be viewed as Australia's premier red ball spinner. Mawxell's domestic bowling average matches Lyons. Sayers would be playing in Adelaide if I was a selector.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
There is no second Chris Rogers? Show me who is averaging over 52 in domestic cricket, who could strengthen our test side. David Hussey is the only one playing that comes to mind and he has little time left to make his mark.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Klinger? First class average of 40 hardly screams "pick me", although that worked for Adam Voges. The selection of Chris Rogers was a sensible one. His average was over 50, he had years of making big runs in English conditions and he basically replaced Cowan. Similar style, with Rogers far more experienced and a few levels higher quality-wise. Klinger would being experience, yes. However, his figures suggest he is no more likely to stabilize our top order than the younger players, so why not invest in the future, expecting a longer lasting return. I totally agree that we need livelier pitches in shield cricket, despite CA sending an edict out a few years ago, directing day one domestic pitches be drier and less bowler-friendly. Sadly, this has led to our young batsmen being even less experienced when the ball is moving. One thing I will give Joe Burns, despite my belief that he is not a test opener. (He is a middle order stroke player batting at the top of the order - There is a difference) He ignored chasing the big IPL money last year to head to England and gain experience in seaming overcast conditions. Apparently, he needs more but I applaud the commitment to his prospective test career. I hope Bancroft, Patterson, Handscomb and Lehmann all attempt to gain as much exposure to county and other foreign conditions. I hope they see the worth in our Baggy Green as greater than the lure of big bucks in India. At least early in their careers when their game is developing. Plenty of time for IPL millions, just ask Gilly, Mike Hussey and Brad Hodge.
dan ced
Guest
I've been a long time proponent of Klinger, following his run plundering in shield, matador, BBL, and all 3 forms of county cricket for the past few years, not to mention his two state cricketer of the year seasons for the Redbacks. I still there there are two or three occasions where they have picked Shaun Marsh over him in a straight shootout where it could've gone either way, at this stage I think his only chance is a consolation cap for the AUS T20 team, but I have no doubt he would succeed. When we lost to Pakistan in Dubai due to getting smashed by Younis Kahn, who was the same age then as Klinger is now. I still think a mix of Youth and Experience is the way to go.
Harvey
Guest
I will go out and say what most are thinking. T20 is ruining the patience that is required of a test batsman.
Matthew H
Guest
The thing is that the selectors are supposed to be knee deep in all things cricket and know who our best players are. Clearly they do not. It's absolutely irrelevant who 'you would have in the side' cos it aint gonna happen unless the selectors agree. Find a new CEO (and gradually replace entire management), find a new selection panel, find a new coach if that's really necessary and start picking a few young blokes for 6-12 month stints (ie, drop anyone over 30). We simply cannot put a band-aid on this and make it better by shuffling players around. This is the time, retire some off for good never to return and ruin anything ever again. What we do not need is another Argus review - what a complete waste of money to come up with simple common sense. Taylor's been a director of CA for a few months now, hopefully he can do a good job.
13th man
Guest
I agree Tim, the only real 'grafter' in really good touch in the Shield is Michael Klinger but he is mid 30s..... we've been down this line with Hussey, Rogers and Voges with success however I think the selectors are hesitant to do this again. I really want them to just throw a few youngsters like Bancroft, Patterson and Head into the side and give them an extended run in the side. Forget about results... treat this period like an AFL style 'rebuild' and the selectors need to be patient Aim for the next ashes... if we lose to SA, Pakistan and India along the way I am willing to accept that.
adam
Guest
My team would be: Warner c Bancroft Smith Patterson Finch Hanscomb wk Faulkner O,Keefe Starc Cummins Hazlewood
The Barry
Roar Guru
"If the bowlers were amid a fine spell or the ball was moving appreciably, Rogers was prepared to bat well within himself. He would batten down the hatches, ride the rough seas and wait for calmer waters to emerge before expanding his strokeplay." That's the key to it for mine. It seems modern day batsmen are afraid to dig in and grind out 20-30 of a hundred deliviries when the situation calls for it. It's like scoring at less than three an over is a slight on their ability (or manhood). Channel 9 showed the highlights of the Australia v South Africa test in 1993 or so from the SCG where Australia famously collapsed in the second innings chasing 117. South Africa gave up a pretty big first innings lead and were facing a rampant Warne who took 12 for the match. South Africa were in trouble a few times in their second innings but dug in. Their first 150 came off close to 450 deliveries. In the end they ground out enough runs to give their bowlers enough to play with and scored a famous victory. Those sorts of wins are few and far between but the ability to bat like that seems beyond this Australian team. It's not how quick you score your runs on day 2 that counts - it's how many you have on the board at the end of five days. Someone on the Roar the other day was trying to tell me that the Australian team of this era have higher concentration levels that sides of the 80s and 90s...
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
So what? Some players never figure it out, but Shaun Marsh has. He is in career-best form and could still have 30+ Tests ahead of him, comfortably. Also, he one of our better players of spin, it would make sense to keep him in form for India.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I agree 100%, Bearfax. Lyon hasn't performed well lately. Let's give SOK an extended chance. His record is better than Lyon's in head-to-head contests, he just hasn't been given a proper chance at International level. Change of pace with unerring accuracy is an underrated strength- just ask Jajeda's victims.
matth
Guest
I'd like to see the Sheffield Shield go back to being a hard as nails comp where the state teams are given only one brief - win the Shield. Pick the best whether young or old. set up your pitches the way you want them to be to maximise your chances of winning. No picking CA project players unless they are the best player in the position. We need to go back to where the guys coming into the Australian team have proven themselves in the toughest competition in the world. Back in the 90's the comment was often made that Shield games were often as tough or tougher than test matches. We need to breed resilience and players who are used to winning the tough sessions.
matth
Guest
It was not that long ago that the decks were juicier and the call went out to develop spinners, allow batsmen to play for longer periods and help bowlers develop instead of thinking they would take test wickets by just putting the ball on the spot - around 2010/11 I believe it was.
matth
Guest
I am not sold on Bancroft and S Marsh appears over the past two years to have finally worked his game out. I would be sticking with him, as he has not contributed to this latest debacle
Don Freo
Guest
That would be a golden 36 months.
matth
Guest
All we need to do is change the specs required from Kookaburra. I'm sure if CA said "larger seam please", they would be happy to comply
matth
Guest
Yes but you can't talk about that Australian A form without also commenting on his poor start to this season as well. Bancroft has had a golden 18 months and then nothing else either side.