Adam Zampa and John Hastings were the two highest wicket takers worldwide in ODIs last year yet neither of them can squeeze into Australia’s current XI.
Usman Khawaja also can’t get a game despite averaging 40 with the bat from his 11 ODIs last year. Shaun Marsh has averaged 45 with the blade from his past 15 ODIs but he’s also watching on from the sidelines.
And that’s even with the space created by Australia having just dropped veteran batsmen George Bailey and Aaron Finch.
In the lead up to the Champions Trophy tournament, Australia are in the fortunate position of having too many quality ODI players to fit into one XI.
Khawaja, Marsh, Hastings and Zampa all are world-class 50-over cricketers yet there’s no room for them. This embarrassment of one-day riches is why Australia are strong favourites to win the Champions Trophy in England in June.
There’s also the danger, though, that Australia could be distracted by having too many options. They only have seven more ODIs scheduled between now and the start of the Champions Trophy, which means they need to settle very soon on their best XI for that tournament.
Dropping batting mainstays Bailey and Finch was the correct move. Now Australia must decide upon the appropriate balance of their line-up and resist the temptation to chop and change which comes with having so many fine players to choose from.
In the opening ODI of their five-match series against Pakistan, Australia decided to open with Travis Head, in place of Finch, and put Chris Lynn in Bailey’s old number four spot. That meant Australia had three all-rounders in their top six – Head, Maxwell and Mitch Marsh.
From the moment this side was announced it looked unbalanced. That was then emphasised as Australia slipped to 5-78 batting first. Australia needed another specialist batsman in the side and one who was more of a traditional strokemaker rather than a blaster.
Khawaja undoubtedly shapes as a better option at the top of the order than Head. The elegant left hander has the ability to anchor an ODI innings without getting bogged down. Khawaja is supreme against the new ball, rotates the strike nicely and can reach the boundary when necessary.
Head simply is not in his class as a batsman. The 23-year-old South Australian should not be competing with Khawaja. Head’s only possible role in the side at present should be as a spin bowling all-rounder batting in the middle order. That’s the spot which he filled while Bailey and Finch were in the side, and which was long held by Glenn Maxwell.
At their respective peaks as 50-over cricketers, Head and Maxwell are streets apart. Maxwell is comfortably a better bowler, is arguably the world’s best fieldsman and is far and away the more dynamic batsman. What sets Maxwell apart is the ease with which he scores at a scorching pace.
There is not another Australian batsman in ODI history who comes even close to matching Maxwell’s astonishing strike rate of 125. The next closest, among Australian players to have faced at least 500 ODI deliveries, are James Faulkner (SR 107) and Adam Gilchrist (97).
Not only does Maxwell’s lightning batting pace help propel Australia to larger totals but it also makes life easier for his batting partners. Australian keeper Matthew Wade confirmed this after he and Maxwell’s crucial 82-run stand against Pakistan which rescued the home team from 5-78.
“Batting with Maxi is always great, you don’t have to do too much,” Wade said. “You can just try to keep it in the gap and get down the other end and watch the show go….Whenever you bat with Max, the scoreboard is always ticking so it makes it a lot easier on me, I can just get down the other end.”
During their partnership Wade was struggling to score fluently, making just 28 from 43 balls, at a dawdling strike rate of just 65. But he was able to take his time, get his eye in and then press on to a match-winning ton because Maxwell took the pressure off him by making 51 from 45 balls during their stand.
This valuable aspect of Maxwell’s batting too often is overlooked in analysis of his ODI efforts. When Maxwell is at the crease opposition bowlers tend to be on edge, much in the same way that David Warner intimidates Test bowlers and eases the pressure on opening partner Matt Renshaw.
Head, at this stage, does not have this same commanding presence or match-turning ability. With the Champions Trophy to be played in England, where ODI decks have been hard and true in recent years, there is no room for two spin bowling all-rounders in Australia’s top six.
One of them must go. While Head’s recent form has been solid he hasn’t made himself undroppable, averaging 30 with the bat and 55 with the ball from his 16 ODIs.
“Hang on Ronan, Maxwell’s ODI form hasn’t been any better”, I sense you saying. That’s correct.
But he’s also the type of player who can catch fire very quickly and if he does, Australia will have one hand on the Champions Trophy. Maxwell at his best is one of the most valuable ODI players on the planet, only a shade behind the likes of Mitchell Starc, Virat Kohli, and AB de Villiers.
Australia should back him in for the Champions Trophy, and bring Khawaja in to open with Warner. Too much tinkering with their XI, due to the beguiling array of options they possess, could derail Australia’s Champions Trophy push.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
So much bollocks.....
BurgyGreen
Guest
Agree, Ronan, I don't get the love for Travis Head. He's really quite an ordinary player at the moment. Calling him an allrounder is ludicrous. His bowling is nowhere near international standard. Have no idea why he's being bowled ahead of Maxwell. As for his batting, it really hasn't been that good. When we have such quality players on the bench there really isn't room for a top-5 batsman averaging 30 without a fantastic strike rate or decent bowling to make up for it.
Nudge
Guest
Well we certainly have to get some stability in the no 4 position and Mitch Marsh and Lynn are not the answer. Head maybe, and Handscomb potentially down the track. For now though I'd be batting Wade at 4. A good street fighter when things are tough, and knows how to pace an innings. Warner Khawaja Smith Wade Head/Lynn Maxwell Mitch Marsh Leave your biggest hitters as late in the innings as possible, and play your most reliable players (khawaja, Smith and Wade) in the first 10 to 30 overs.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Crucial point to consider here is that the Champions Trophy is being played in England, where the ODI pitches these days are really similar to Australian pitches - hard and true. On such pitches a pace bowling all-rounder is much better suited than a spin bowling all-rounder, particularly a very ordinary off spinner like Head who has taken a grand total of 10 wickets at an average of 61 from his 49 List A matches. Not to mention that Mitch Marsh was Man of the Series last time Australia played an ODI series in England - he averaged 45 with the bat and 24 with the ball in that 5-match series.
Dom
Guest
Good points. Still, while Marsh is a better bowler than Head (who is improving in that area) Head is a better and more versatile batsman - Marsh's ODI average is boosted by not outs in 9 out of 43 innings while Head - who bats higher in the order - hasn't had any NOs yet. I think his average will only improve. It might just be current form swaying me but I'd definitely rate Head higher right now, as a batsman at least. As they're both top-6 players, batting remains their main job. Marsh is good value for some sustained slogging once in a while but not much else at this stage.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I am baffled by the idea of selecting Head over Mitch Marsh, who was picked in the ICC's World XI for 2016 just weeks ago. ODI averages: Marsh ..... 36 with bat, 35 with ball Head ....... 30 with bat, 55 with ball. ODI Man of the Match awards: Marsh ..... 6 Head ....... 0
jameswm
Roar Guru
"I think we need someone pretty reliable at 4 with a smart cricket brain to judge the flow of the match" Smith best fits this. Can we clone him to bat at 3 AND 4? Do we need this as much with Smith at 3 and Khawaja opening. They are both pretty useful performing that sort of role. I do think there is a chance Lynn could develop into that as well as perfoming his bombing role. Head could potentially too. Khawaja must open if you ask me. Dom, Lynn can do a lot more than bomb sixes, hence his FC average in the mid-40s.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah I think only 2 of Maxwell-MMarsh-Head can play - depending on form, conditions, balance etc.
qwetzen
Guest
"Why even bring up the prospect of dropping the captain and vice-captain Qwetzen?" To highlight the use, or misuse if you prefer, of stats that's been prevalent 'round these parts recently. Also; "Also, Smith and Warner are two of the world’s best batsmen, I have total faith in their ability and experience to deliver when it counts." Well if you have "total faith" then Richard Dawkins & I agree that logic and facts are totally irrelevant. Although Richard did ask why Smith & Warner's averages from the first two, ie 'live', Tests of the recent SL & RSA series were so low @ 33. And why their ODI stats in England are so poor. And why Warner's batting average away from Oz is a lowly 37. Is it because all these games didn't "count"?
Dom
Guest
Lynn could arguably be in a floating position and just be the next man in after, say, 30 overs - so he wouldn't come in during a collapse like he did the other night, but could be promoted to 3 if the openers get off to a cracking start. Let's be honest, his primary job is hitting sixes and that's not always the top priority for a number 4 in ODIs.
Felix
Guest
Can't argue with much of that Ronan, I think Khawaja is a must in the ODI side. Finch was horribly out of touch when he was dropped, which was certainly the right call. I hope for his sake that Lynn seizes the opportunity, but if he fails I think that opens up the spot selectors need.
Dom
Guest
Agreed. I'd take Head over Mitch Marsh with the bat any day, and he and Maxwell could split 10 overs between them depending on who's being more economical on the day. Mitch Marsh's power hitting won't be missed much in a team featuring Lynn, Warner, Maxwell, etc. It's not like having two off-spinners means the attack "lacks variety" when the alternative is yet another right arm quick anyway.
Nudge
Guest
So the general thought is that Maxwell Marsh and Head are in a battle for 2 positions at 5 and 6 which I kind of agree. Who bats 4 though? I think we need someone pretty reliable at 4 with a smart cricket brain to judge the flow of the match. Australia have had Bailey and Clarke do this role brilliantly in the last 15 years. I'm not sure Lynn is the right man for the job. What are the options? Head, Handscomb could do that role really well or even Wade could be suited, then you have 5,6, and 7 between Head Maxwell, Mitch Marsh and Lynn
Rob
Guest
I agree. Marsh and Faulkner are playing for the same position at 8. Khawaja has to open with Warner IMO.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Good point. Marsh can look ugly when he starts too. He sometimes then gets going. Playing those 4 quicks gives us Faulkner at 8 too - so a lot of depth when needed. And it's not like Starc and Cummins can't hold a bat.
James Jackson
Guest
Travis Head Has a huge career ahead of him, and right now he's being given the chance to show what he can do. Khawaja is a better choice as opener and gives more balance to the top order, but the prospect of Head developing quickly while playing in the national side is a good move too. Khawaja should play, and Head will need to go up against Marsh and Maxwell in the middle order. Right now he's hardly putting a foot wrong - he looks calm under pressure, is a natural leader, and is improving both disciplines rapidly - and looks like he will be a very special player.
James Jackson
Guest
Why even bring up the prospect of dropping the captain and vice-captain Qwetzen? It's not going to happen. Also, Smith and Warner are two of the world's best batsmen, I have total faith in their ability and experience to deliver when it counts. That's the kind of players these two have become over the past 2-3 years.
John
Guest
If Australia is going to play 4 fast men (Srarc Hazlewood Faulkner and Cummins) then I would play Head at 5 and Maxwell at 6 and leave Mitch Marsh out of the team. Khawaja to open with Warner.
qwetzen
Guest
Another option, one based on a criteria that's been beaten to death in the Name Your Indian Tour Team competition/brawl; Drop Smith & Warner for the CT. In 11 ODIs in England Smith averages a miserable 27.9 at 81.7. And neighboring Sri Ireland is even more of a no-play zone for Smith; 21 @ 55. Warner's 7 ODIs in Pomgolia are just as bad; 28.2 @ 78.5. And he's never scored a run in Sri Scotland. So it's Bring Back Finchy (7inn, 41.8 @ 91.3) and Maxi, whose key stats are approximate to the combined figures of the over-rated & under-performing NSW Untouchables; 7inn, 45.4 @ 133. And then Ronan, you of the "Dropping batting mainstays Bailey and Finch was the correct move.", there's the 'unlucky' Bails. If we're talking horses for courses then Baileys' 'In England' stats mean he's one of the first picked (and as captain) for the CT; 16inn, 50.3 @ 82. So there you go, plenty of spots available for Bitson Pieces Academy graduates.