In February and March the Australian Test team will be touring India for a four-match series.
Regardless who we pick in the squad we will be up against it to win a Test let alone the series in India.
India are currently taking apart the England team, leading 3-0 in a best-of-five series.
Before we get to the potential selections there are two things I find slightly strange in the lead up to this series. The first being that in the two rounds of Sheffield Shield in early February we are using the Duke ball.
This is to prepare our Shield players to win away against England (in 2019). It just seems strange timing. The second and even more odd occurrence is that we play no warm up matches in India.
Every touring team that comes to Australia plays at least one if not two warm up games to acclimatise to our bouncier wickets. Dave Warner, Steve Smith and co will play in New Zealand in ODIs and newcomers like Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb will be playing at Gabba and MCG in early Feb before heading off to India. Until this changes we’re not actually serious about winning in India.
But back to who should be on the plane to India. Let’s assume a 15-man squad with seven batsmen, a keeper, four quicks, and three spinners.
I’m going to squash the idea of a seam bowling allrounder because we don’t have one worthy of playing in Australian conditions so what makes us think whoever we take to India isn’t going to be a liability with the bat and get smashed to all parts with the ball. Mitch Marsh and Moises Henriques are not options for our Test team.
Here is who we should consider for the India Test series.
Batsmen
Smith, Warner and Usman Khawaja are a lock. Short of disaster in the next two games you would have to think Handscomb and Renshaw have locked themselves into the squad as well. Short of miracle in the next two Tests (assuming he plays them both) I think Nic Maddinson is no chance.
So we have five batsmen, who are the two others to be considered for the squad? I think it comes down to Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head.
I would go with S Marsh because his record in Sri Lanka (approx 400 runs @ 80 with two centuries and one fifty) is good and then I’d probably go for Maxwell in front of Head. If we only took two spinners and not three then maybe Head goes as an extra batsmen for the experience.
He is in form at the moment but his overall record with an average of 34 isn’t exactly brilliant. Maxwell to bat at six for the series and provide an extra spin option.
Keeper
Matthew Wade cannot tour India. He is a poor keeper and his substandard glove work will cost us any chance of being competitive let alone winning. At this stage there are only two options I can see. Recall Pete Nevill with a stronger batting line-up in front of him or opt for the experience of Chris Hartley until we’ve settled on our long term keeper.
I would be happy for either option, but would probably just lean towards Hartley at this stage.
Spinners
Nathan Lyon and Stephen O’Keeffe will both tour and unless Lyon has an upswing in form I would probably opt for O’Keeffe as our first choice spinner. If I was to take a third spinner I would be looking for a young leggie.
Adam Zampa has impressed in the short form but his record of 60 wickets at an average of 50 is poor. His strike rate of a wicket every 74 balls also doesn’t stack up. The same goes for Cameron Boyce who has 94 wickets at an average of 49. His strike rate is a lot better than Zampa’s at 49 but in his only two shield appearances this season he took a combined two for 160.
I would opt for young Mitchell Swepson who in his 14 games has 41 wickets at an average of 32 an economy rate of four and a strike rate of a wicket every 48 balls. If he plays well in the Shield games in February and then is bowling well in the nets in India I would consider giving him a game.
If not then the tour will be good experience for him. The only other option is Ashton Agar but I wouldn’t take him ahead of O’Keefe who is a far superior bowler and also has a better batting record.
Talk of Agar being an allrounder are premature as his first class numbers (26 with bat and 40 with the ball) are just not up to scratch.
Quicks
Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird and Chadd Sayers. We will need to get it reversing and also need to consider whether playing three quicks plus a spinner and Maxwell is a better option than two quicks and two spinners.
If our spinners are not firing it may well be a better option. The only time we won a series in India recently (2004) we played three quicks in every game (Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz) and then took a total of 45 wickets with 25 being taken by Shane Warne, Nathan Hauritz and Michael Clarke).
Final squad
Smith, Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Handscomb, S Marsh, Maxwell, Hartley, Lyon, O’Keefe, Swepson, Starc, Hazlewood, Bird, Sayers.
Over to you for your selection thoughts Roarers!
Andy Hill
Roar Pro
Warner Renshaw S Marsh Smith Handscomb Head Nevill O'Keefe Starc Hazlewood Bird Sayers, Lyon, Khawaja, Agar/ Holland I would like to see Maxwell there, but he needs to show some form in FC cricket to earn a spot ahead of Head. Agar offers more with the bat than Holland, but Holland is in great FC form so its a toss up.
Amrit
Roar Guru
Regardless of the team, India will wallop Australia
Immy
Guest
mostly I agree with you. Ultimately, we're going to get hammered. Whitewash. No preparation, no world class spinners and we'll be lucky if more than 3 bats survive the tour with reputation intact. Sorry to sound bleak. But we've got buckleys. I don't agree with Maxwell. Maxwell - zero hundreds in 2 years. Head also bowls a version of non-match winning filthy offspin. But Head is in form, young and can actually bat. Also, I think the pitches in India are actually slower now than in 2004 when we toured. England just tried with Broad, Anderson, Ball, Stokes to emulate what Mcgrath, gillespie did - they barely took a wicket in 5 games. Starc will take wickets with his extra pace, Cummins may be handy over there with extra pace.
Rob
Guest
A very hard tour coming and the selections will be just as tough. The low turning decks will cause nightmares for some selections. 1) Warner 2) Renshaw/ S. Marsh tough tour for a young bloke 3) Bancroft 4) Smith 5) Handscombe/ S.Marsh Same as above. 6) Maxwell 7) Hartley. Best keeper has always been in my test side. 8) Faulkner 9) SOK 10) Starc 11) Hazelwood Subs: Head, Sayers, Lyon, Nevill I think Birds 130/ 135km back of length will get murdered. Wade hasn't shown enough improvement unfortunately and his performance standing up to the stumps is even more questionable. Hardest call from me is: Khawaja not even going He just misses the slowest of straight balls from even part time spinners ( Dumminy, Root, Welegedara). Sorry Ussie the bloke who thought you played for Pakistan had obviously never watched you bat. LOL Bancroft is suited to lower decks and can bat for long periods. Has some form on the sub-continent. Head/ Lyon or Maxwell/ SOK. Lyon is very accurate but predictable? that's a headache.
Dave Richardson
Roar Guru
Thought provoking article Michael. If lessons are to be learnt from the recent India/England series is that the seamers will have limited impact and the spinners are the key. On that basis Australia will need to pick the best 3 spinners in the country, Lyon, O'Keefe and A.N.Other for the squad. You could be right that is Swepson, it definitely isn't Maxwell but the need to possibly play 3 spinners in starting IX could get him the nod. The argument for Hartley or Nevill is also spot on. I'm not sure Wade will make it to Sydney
George
Guest
They have not. Just a lazy way to excuse struggles on the subcontinent. Regardless of the pitches, India are far too strong not to hammer any side Australia sends over there.
Lancey5times
Roar Rookie
I'm from Melbourne but at the time of writing this comment I am yet to receive the call for Boxing Day....
dan ced
Guest
Yeah I was pimping Zampa, due to his variation, but he still needs to work on his long form bowling in shield, could still come good.. but he's now out of my calculations. I assumed because CA told SA and VIC they "had" to play Zampa and Maxwell, that those two already had seats on the plane but now I'm not so sure.
dan ced
Guest
Would Starc be effective in India? Hazelwood seems to have had his measure in the past few tests but Starc seems to still get plenty of wickets. O'Keefe and Sayers should be locks imo.. I've decided after seeing how England performed that Zampa isn't quite ready, nor is Swepson. Travis Head would be great but having too many Left Handers could be detrimental vs Ashwin as mentioned.. Cameron White is in form, but I still think Klinger is one of the better batters in AUS, so he's in my team despite his recent form (which will be sorted before the tour). Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Smith, Handscomb, Klinger, Starc, Hazelwood, O'Keefe, Sayers (M.Marsh/Cartwright, Lyon, Head)
dan ced
Guest
They are in the mindset of proceeding with youth.. S. Marsh hopefully won't play another game for AUS, if he does they may as well bring Voges back too.. and add Klinger while they're at it.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Ahmed's average... Oh wait, he can't get a game...
jarijari
Guest
Great fan of Adam Zampa -- we need a good leggie -- but India would cruel him. He needs wickets at shield level before he steps up to the Test team, which he inevitably will.
jarijari
Guest
Good questions raised here. I like Travis Head and Hilton Cartwright ahead of the Marsh brothers, Maddinson and Maxwell. Certainly Jackson Bird on what he's show so far, and Chadd Sayers could be a workhorse. Steve O'Keefe a lock-in. Probably get bagged for this, but I'm still a Moises Henriques fan. Pete Nevill probably a better choice than Matthew Wade for India.
Stephen Vagg
Roar Guru
Selectors need to look at the lack of success other countries have had touring India. New Zealand and England stacked their teams full of all rounders - mostly part time spinners. Australia should seriously consider playing three quicks.
Brasstacks
Guest
"With India producing dust bowls from session 1 day 1 it is going to be impossible for us to win. Brendon, do elaborate which of the 8 tests that India have played at home this season have been dust bowls? I am not an expert, but I have watched enough cricket to know which pitch is a dust bowl, a green one or a fast and bouncy one. Does anyone here feel that any of the tests played in India this year have been dust bowls?
blanco
Guest
Any team to play in India without Shaun Marsh in it should not be taken serious. We only have three batters who look like they can excel in India and we are going to omit one? Jesus Christ!
Vishnu
Guest
Warner and Renshaw to open Send Renshaw by January to India and make him play n Indian wickets. Practice his sweeps and make him work out similar to Haydos n 2001. Patterson Bancroft and Handscomb need to be sent there by January and watched over by someone to see how they fare on those pitches. Bancroft played well in India and he should be at 3. Smith at 4 Handscomb at 5 Maxwell or Agar at 6 Neville at 7 O Keefe at 8 think Zampa can be given a go at 9 Starc Hazelwood
Brendon
Guest
No one we pick is going to win in India nor should we worry about that. With India producing dust bowls from session 1 day 1 it is going to be impossible for us to win. The most important thing about the India tour is that it doesn't harm our chances against England in 2017-18. If we want to win in Asia then we need to start focusing on developing players who can play in those conditions from a young age. Once a batsmen reaches first class level its hard for them to be able to develop the skills to play Indian spinners in Indian conditions if they dont already have them.
Bugs
Guest
Holland is probably our 3rd best spinner currently behind Lyon and SOK, but without an injury, will he get a game? I usually prefer to take the best on tour in case there is, but we're so unlikely to do well this series, I think taking a young Swepson is a better idea for the development factor. If he gets pitched into battle early due to injury, it'll only speed up said development Enjoyed the article, especially the bit about not taking Wade, period. Perfect selection in my opinion.
Rob JM
Guest
England are showing us that you need to bowl out India, so we need two attacking bowlers, Ie Starc and Swepson in the absence of Cummins.. SOK is a must pick as he is both tight and capable of taking wickets in those conditions. Seamers are ineffective, so swing bowlers are a must which means Sayers or if you want to strengthen the batting further M Marsh whole gets nice reverse swing. Pick Maxwell or Head based on to give you offspin option (preferably maxwell).