One of the toughest decisions ahead of the challenging tour of India concerns the pivotal position of number six in the batting order.
Throughout this summer, and since the retirement of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath for that matter, Australia have been searching for a solution to who can bat at six and provide meaningful overs as the fifth bowling option.
Shane Watson was a capable all-rounder, but he did not necessarily fill the prototype of an all-rounder who bats at six. The majority of his Test innings were played as an opening batsman, averaging 40.98 in that position. Watson played more of the role that Jacques Kallis played for South Africa, which was as a batsman who bowled.
Coming into the first Test in Perth, Mitch Marsh was the preferred option for this spot in the middle order, but was under increasing pressure to improve his batting despite the value he was beginning to show as a bowler. After another less-than-impressive performance with the bat in Perth, Marsh was dropped as selectors opted for a genuine batsman at number six, in South Australian Callum Ferguson.
Unfortunately, Ferguson was a casualty of the Hobart disaster, where Australia lost to South Africa by an innings and had been torn apart by the Proteas bowling attack. It was then that selectors decided to take a chance on youth, with New South Wales top-order batsman Nic Maddinson making his debut at six in Adelaide, joining fellow debutants Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb.
However, after another two Tests, Maddinson suffered the same fate as his predecessors this summer and was replaced by Western Australian batting all-rounder Hilton Cartwright.
Cartwright made a good fist of his sole match in the Test arena, with a fighting 37 in the first innings. Yet with the ball he did not provide the relief to Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood that was hoped, sending down just four overs in the match.
Hence the conundrum that is selecting a number six for Australia: are you a proven batsman who adds depth to the middle order, someone who bats but also bowls a bit, or a genuine all-rounder who can contribute as much with the bat as the ball?
Other scenarios are to pick a keeper who can bat at six and then a bowling all-rounder, which would put the likes of Ashton Agar, James Faulkner and even Mitchell Marsh back in the frame.
Or they could go with an established batsman at six – a tactic that was so successful under the leadership of Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor. This may mean Cartwright keeps his spot or the selectors opt for someone like Chris Lynn, who could be that dynamic number six to complement the exploits of David Warner at the top of the order.
Darren Lehmann has already spoken of the potential of Lynn as a batsman beyond the T20 format, and it could be that with a successful one-day international series against Pakistan, Lynn may be given the opportunity to show why he averages 44.39 at first-class level.
Another batsman in that mould is Glenn Maxwell, whose off-spin makes him more of an all-round option, while he is also an exceptional fieldsman. Predominantly known for his batting extravagance in the shorter forms of the game, Maxwell’s first-class record reveals a batsman with the aptitude to build big scores, with five first-class centuries and an average just under 40.
Despite his underwhelming start to the Sheffield Shield season, Maxwell’s past performances across all formats suggest he may be well suited to this role, especially in India.
Alternatively, selectors could take someone like Moises Henriques, who has shown his worth in Indian conditions before, scoring 68 and 81* on debut in Chennai.
Then there is 23-year-old Travis Head, who – if he can translate his recent form in one-day internationals to Test matches – may be a very handy long-term option at number six, with the added bonus that he bowls part-time off-spin.
In India, where teams can be out in the field for long periods, such is the grinding nature of the cricket the conditions demand, this decision will be crucial to the fortunes of the Australian team during the four-Test series.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
You are aware that it was a ODI today?
John
Guest
Why do the Australians keep picking Mitch Marsh. He never scores runs when he comes in and Australia is in trouble and we need him just look at today out for 4 runs. His average is not very good but look at it if he comes in and we are under 100 it will be a lot worse and if under 50 when he comes in he probably won't make 10 Not sure how to search and find the figures to support this maybe some one smarter that me can come up with the exact figures. He has had too many chances all ready get rid of him.
Adrian
Guest
I bet if Faulkner was the all-rounder he'd be bowling all day long.
Adrian
Guest
Maxwell has a great test bowling record in India. I believe he has the best test bowling record of an Australian spinner of any variety in the past 30 years, better than Warne's even.
Adrian
Guest
James Faulkner would disagree with you. Faulkner, unlike one Mitchell Marsh and especially unlike Ashton Agar, is actually a genuine all-rounder.
Adrian
Guest
I would say yes, but only if Lynn shows his form is not limited to T20s and does well in the ODIs too.
Dom
Guest
Which unfortunately for him is not a tick in his favour in terms of his Test prospects - ie. surely playing less four-day cricket only hurts his chances of earning a Test call-up. It's been noted that if anything his batting technique has become even less red-ball friendly in recent years, as he shapes up to hit the ball inside-out for the sake of finding boundaries in limited overs games.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I would pick the same top 6 as was against Pakistan in the last test. We don't have any allrounders! We need to go with 6 batsmen, a keeper and four bowlers. Anything else weakens the team. If extra bowling is needed, Smith, Cartwright and Warner can all push through a few overs.
Perry Bridge
Guest
No way would you waste Handscomb at #7. His reliability so far and stickability has helped establish match defining partnerships for the 4th wicket. This was an area that was if not broken, then, was at least severely cracked previously. Push Handscomb down and what do we get at #5/#6 in his place?
Perry Bridge
Guest
#BurgyGreen And a 40+ avg in the shield shouldn't be compared to tests - as shield pitches are designed to deteriorate over 4 days, test pitches over 5 days. Good players moving up can find some test pitches more benign than what they are used to.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
The other thing that needs to be considered regarding Maxwell's first-class record is that he's been denied regular red ball cricket for years now because of his international duties in white ball cricket. Where other guys have had the chance to string together whole Shield seasons of 10-11 games and really build momentum, Maxwell has been limited to only 4 matches per Shield season over the past 5 summers since he made his ODI debut.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Maxwell. Absolute gun batsman. We can't afford to waste him on the bench any longer.
BurgyGreen
Guest
Averaging 40 with the bat in Shield cricket is actually really good at the moment. There really are very few in the comp at the moment over a decent sample size.
Harvey
Guest
I think the actual problem is that Smith doesn't use his all-rounders. Cartright bowled only 4 overs in his test. Marsh was also way underbowled. They would be better having a proper batsman there since the all-rounder will barely get a bowl anyway.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Who suggested leaving out Starc or Hazlewood? If Marsh is to squeeze in at no.8, it'd be at the expense of Lyon, with Maxwell or Turner batting at 6.
Barto
Guest
Well he was a Test match specialist bowler at one point. Either he can bowl well but not giving himself the opportunity, or he bowls pies and the selectors all those years ago were stupid. We barely get to see him so we don't really know. Certainly would solve all the problems if he could.
Dan
Guest
The answer seems pretty simple to me play S.Marsh at 6 and Steve Smith actually bowl 10-15 overs as the "allrounder"
Barto
Guest
We can't pick Lynn for tests, he hasn't properly recovered from his injury problems. He needs to at least play some red ball cricket first. His last FC game was nearly a year ago. I think Maxwell for India would be a good choice. His bowling is actually decent, and was good against India last time with the ball. However, Lehnman doesn't seem to want him in the team. The logical choice remaining is either Cartwright or Head, if they want an allrounder. Head will offer them more in India with the ball, so would probably fit the bill. He also had a century in his last FC game as well. If they pick two spinners, the need for a third spinner diminishes, so Cartwright probably finds himself last man standing.
John
Guest
When will people just accept there isn't a top quality all rounder out there in Australian Cricket. Even when Cartwright was selected all the media and even on the roar kept referring to him as an all rounder. He isn't an all rounder but a batsman who can bowl a bit. The selectors need to stop chopping and changing with the no 6 spot in the team and give someone an extended go. If they want a batter who can bowl a bit then maybe Turner or Head at 6 as the spinning conditions will be better suited than a seam bowler. Whoever the selectors pick must actually stick with them for more than a couple of tests as it's becoming a joke.
Dom
Guest
I wouldn't pick Cartwright (I'd just have S.Marsh at 6, with two spinners doing a lot of work and a few overs from Smith and/or Warner to give the quicks a rest) but I'd still have him in the squad ahead of M.Marsh. No way we leave out Starc or Hazlewood just to squeeze Marsh into the side, and no point dropping a top-6 player for him either.