Six players including four potential debutants have been added to the 12-man squad to take on South Africa in Adelaide, with Australia’s new selection panel cutting hard and harsh after disappointing results in Perth and Hobart.
Matthew Renshaw, Peter Handscomb, Nic Maddinson and Chadd Sayers are all in the mix to earn their first baggy green after being called up to the squad, while Matthew Wade and Jackson Bird have been recalled.
Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Peter Nevill, and debutants Joe Mennie and Callum Ferguson have all been dropped from the side that performed so very poorly in Tasmania.
Steve Smith, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon are the only players from the XI that took to the field in Hobart to have kept their spots.
Australia’s Test squad (one to be omitted)
Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Jackson Bird, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Matt Renshaw, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade
“Matt [Renshaw] has established himself in a short period of time as one of the best young opening bats in the country,” said interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns.
“His form is currently very good and we see him as a very exciting prospect for the future.
“Peter’s form over the last couple seasons, and with Australia A, has been very consistent.
“He has a good all-round game and we think he is the type of player who could succeed at the next level.
“Nic is an exciting and talented young player and we feel now is the ideal time for him to be involved with the Australian team.
“He has the ability to break the game open and we think he will flourish in this environment.”
Hohns said Wade’s improved keeping had earned him another chance at national level.
“Matthew has worked extremely hard on his keeping in the past few season and we consider it to have improved substantially,” Hohns said.
“He is also a very valuable player with the bat and will add to the depth in our batting order.”
He also had words of praise for potential debutant Sayers, and Jackson Bird.
“We consider Chadd and Jackson to be very good bowlers that also can bowl a large amount of overs in conjunction with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood,” Hohns said.
“Chadd bowls very well in Adelaide and Jackson is coming off a strong performance in his last Test match earlier in the year and both deserve their chance.”
Don Freo
Guest
...or a Wade.
Don Freo
Guest
You have made that comment 5 different times on this thread and it makes no point at all.
Don Freo
Guest
Strange as it may seem, how Nevill bats has no impact on how Wade bats. Two Test centuries in the past is history. Nothing in his current form indicates that is likely ever again. Nevill has 3 far more recent Test 50s in his short stint. One in this current series when the batsmen failed. What does that signal to you?
Don Freo
Guest
What point does that make? SOK is no longer an all rounder. He is an also ran tailender. That 34 would be made up of 8 lots of 4no, a 2no and a duck. This season he averages 10 with a highest score of 12no. Compelling "fact". When you bat at the tail, that's what happens. Mitch Marsh averaged 50 with the bat in Shield cricket last season...That's fact Duggster. The explanation is that he played one Shield innings only...for a 50. I think Hazlewood's average was 70 plus. That's what "facts" do. If you think Test selectors are considering SOK for his batting...you're funny!
Don Freo
Guest
Batting isn't the issue. Failing with the bat is the issue. You don't pick extra batsmen in case the others fail...just pick batsmen that will play well.
Don Freo
Guest
That would make sense. They are obviously teaching him a lesson and punishing him by giving him Wade. "Now you have something to really complain about."
Mike Dugg
Guest
Hartley is still the best keeper and never got a look in Craig. Runs are important. Nevill was the worst batsman of all the international keepers
Mike Dugg
Guest
22 just isn't good enough James. I think he had one really good domestic season a while back which tricked people into thinking he could be a big time keeper batsman. But his odi average and fastly dropping first class average show the true story. I honestly think the selectors were embarrassed to have a keeper with the worst batting average of the international keepers.
Mike Dugg
Guest
Chris, Hartley has averaged in the 40s for the last 5 years or so. His early career drags his record down. Plus he gets runs quite often when Queensland really are in a bind
Mike Dugg
Guest
Bird has taken 7 wickets in 2 of his 5 tests. And was crucial in Australia winning the game in his last test
Mike Dugg
Guest
Nevill has the worst batting record of all the international keepers
Mike Dugg
Guest
If wade isn't a good batsman with 2 test centuries and an average of 35 at the top level, I wonder what you would call Nevill's efforts in tests
Mike Dugg
Guest
Nevill had one big domestic season a few years ago and hasn't done much since. He is worst performing batsman of all the international keepers. Plus his glove work wasn't flash in Sri Lanka or this summer
Mike Dugg
Guest
Poor Don doesn't like facts
Tony
Guest
Well I remember Smith saying that he never got the side he has asked for.
matth
Guest
You have to wonder how much influence Rod Marsh has had over the selection panel. One change to a 4 man panel and we change half the side. I also wonder if this is a side more in tune with Steven Smith. He seemed frustrated after Hobart and would not answer whether the team was the one he wanted.
matth
Guest
Really? Ever? You obviously missed the 80's and all the post Warne spinners. I see your Maddinson and raise you a Beer.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I think you'll find that Wade's work in the Aust ODI squad has benefitted him so you can't limit viewing his selection based on Shield alone. In the case of Maddinson - the Aust A series over winter. When we review those matches we had the following stand out performances: 1st v SAf A:, (incl Cook, Elgar, Bavuma, Philander) Patterson 74, Stoinis 120, Whiteman 40 with the gloves, Mennie 50* Tremain 5/75, Mennie 2/27 off 20 overs, Whiteman 4 catches Bancroft 74, Renshaw 94 (setting up a declaration, don't take too much notice of the scores after that although Maxwell smacked 38 off 22 balls with 2 4s and 3 6s) Mennie 5/38 2nd v SAf A: Mennie 5/61, Swepson 3/55, Whiteman 3 catches Handscomb (capt) 137, Patterson 92 (opening), Swepson 4/33, Stoinis 3/24, Whiteman 1 catch (8 byes) Patterson 50*, Bancroft 32* to wrap it up for 10 wkt win. So, vs Sth Afr A, clearly Mennie stood out with 12 wkts including to 5fers. 1st v India A: Swepson 4/78, Moody 3/26, Whiteman 2 catches Burns 78, Handscomb (capt) 87 Sayers 3/21, Worrall 3/43, Moody 3/64, Whiteman 3 catches Bancroft 58* to guide to a 3 wkt win 2nd v India A: Richardson 4/37, Bird, 3/53, Whiteman 3 catches (1 bye) Maddinson 81, Webster 79, Cartwright 117, Whiteman 51 Holland 3/59 Drawn game. Maddinson only played the last game, of which Burns was skipper. Whiteman keeper in all 4. Clearly on the radar. Given the selectors have had that close a look at Whiteman and have Wade in the ODI squad - they surely know enough to make a value judgement so we must respect the selectors opinions there. The selectors saw a good amount of Bancroft opening - and also saw Renshaw. 4 Aust A matches in this format vs good international opposition is clearly a good way to get the players together and see them in that environment. For Handscomb - a feather in the cap to captain the 3 games he played in. Alas run out for 87 v India.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I wondered that too - because we've now seen that Mitch Marsh is out with a shoulder so he wasn't so much dropped for Hobart. Mennie is out with a niggle of some sorts then too. We just don't want to give away such key secrets to the opposition!!!
JamesH
Roar Guru
Mennie is better than Bird... based on what, exactly? One good season of Shield (in which Bird still had a better average and strike rate)? Apparently that overrides about 5 seasons of being one of the best Shield bowlers in the country and some solid test performances. Move over, facts. They picked him ahead of Bird because they were spooked about our batting depth.