With the announcement of the Australian squad for the Champions Trophy, there will be plenty of debate on the makeup and mistakes of the 15 men.
I want to delve into the controversial or interesting choices that the selection panel went for. Did they deserve their place? After all, these are supposedly our best 15 one-day players in the country.
Just quickly, here’s a snapshot of Australia’s group games.
June 2 – versus New Zealand at Edgbaston.
June 5 – versus Bangladesh at the Oval.
June 10 – versus England at Edgbaston.
Aaron Finch
Maybe the most controversial decision of the lot was to keep Aaron Finch in the side after his lean run of form in the most recent summer.
Finchy hasn’t made a century in ODIs since January 20, 2016, against India in Canberra. Since that day, he’s put together 501 runs in 21 innings at an average of 23.86. Certainly not outstanding, but not as terrible as many have led on. That time has included five 50s, with a highest being 72.
Perhaps the selectors were enticed by Finch’s record on English soil, which reads 209 runs at an average of 52.25. Pretty good. And we can’t forget his stunning Twenty20 record there either.
Finch will only play if he’s opening the batting with David Warner, but his preparation will be batting at number four or five for the Gujarat Lions in the IPL. It’s no fault of his own, because the Lions have Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum at the top. But it’s not a great lead-in for what shapes as a do or die series for Finch.
Should he have been picked? Yes, if only for the fact he top-scored in Australia’s most recent ODI.
Moises Henriques
Admittedly, I’ve never been a big Henriques fan, and I’ve been there to speak up whenever he’s failed at taking the step-up to international level.
However, since returning from the disastrous tour of Sri Lanka, his form has been nothing short of exceptional. Un-ignorable, even. Yeah, I make up words as well.
775 runs at 64.6 in the Sheffield Shield (fifth overall), 414 runs at 69 in the Matador Cup (second overall) and 263 runs at 29.2 in the BBL (ninth overall).
He’s doing pretty well in the IPL at the Sunrisers, too.
Whether you’re a much malinged player or not, those numbers deserve selection. Forget the bowling Moey, you’re a gun bat!
Should he have been picked? Yes, did you not read those stats?
Chris Lynn
Lynn is a much more interesting case.
We know that he can be sensational, and unstoppable. Some of his Twenty20 scores since December are: 85* against the Sydney Thunder, 84* against the Hobart Hurricanes, 98* against the Perth Scorchers and 93* against the Gujarat Lions in the IPL.
But he’s had shoulder troubles. Big shoulder troubles. He’s missed the last two Matador Cups and only played one Shield game last summer.
It ruined his debut international summer, limiting him to just one ODI, and has now ruined his IPL, which started so brightly.
Should he have been picked? Despite his power and ability to swing a match, we already have plenty in the squad who can do that. Usman Khawaja or George Bailey would be safer picks.
John Hastings
Many were crying foul over this selection, but I absolutely love it.
In 2016, only Adam Zampa took more wickets than John Hastings in all ODIs. But Hastings’ average, economy and strike rates were all superior to Zampa’s.
He didn’t play any Matador Cup, because he was with the Aussies, leading a very inexperienced attack in South Africa.
Then, he was dropped for the Australian summer and almost immediately afterwards, had to have surgery on his knee. He missed the entire BBL and almost all of the Sheffield Shield.
But he’s back in action, and refreshingly, not in the IPL. He’s resumed his cricket with Worcestershire in the County Championship, where he’s taking the new ball and getting acclimatised to the English conditions.
Should he have been picked? Yep. He’s back to full fitness, and if the extreme pace trio don’t work, Hastings is a reliable back-up.
So, what do you think? Should these guys have been picked?
Rtp
Guest
Lynn's a terrible selection. He can't hit singles and twos which makes him fine for T20s and first class but useless for ODIs where you need to have the ability to accumulate risk free runs for around twenty overs. A team can have maybe one out and out striker in the top seven but mostly you need batsmen who can do both. We saw that in Australia. When the team was 3 down for not many Lynn's strategy was the same - hit out. Even Maxwell knows that accumulation is a critical part of ODIs.
Targa
Guest
I know that Australia's strength is pace bowling in ODIs but I think another spinner is useful, especially with 2 group games at Edgbaston. That is Jeetan Patel's home group in county cricket and he is expected to be named in the NZ squad because of the success he's had bowling offspinners there. Mitchell Santner is a definite and Ish Sodhi might make the 15 as well with Kane Williamson to bowl some spin as well.
Targa
Guest
Why is it an insignificant tournament? It is the second biggest odi tournament behind the WC and Australia is in a difficult pool with NZ (no 3 in the world), England (no 5 in the world and at home) and the up and coming Bangladesh. Meanwhile the other pool is very weak with 2 good sides (SA and India who are no 1 & 4 respectively) and two poor sides - SL and Pak
Josh
Guest
Lol the champions trophy squad is not picked solely to entertain your short attention span matey
Simoc
Guest
I thought Henriques has been hopeless in IPL. Can't see him getting another gig there. But he probably won't get a game anyway.
Chinners
Guest
If Lynn is fit he walks into the side no questions asked. He's the type of sportsman who puts bums on seats. He sells out the gabba singlehandedly. So for me he's a no brainer to be selected for any upcoming series if there's any chance he'll be fit. I'm sorry but without him I wouldn't even bother watching 50 over games....boring
qwetzen
Guest
JamesH said: "Pattinson is also an injury risk..." Sheesh. It's a bit harsh to stick that label on Pattinson but not Cummins & Starc.
Ron
Guest
Finch did nothing after being dropped, at least pick Khawaja in the squad
Ron
Guest
Khawaja should have been selected, he averages 50 as opener
BrainsTrust
Guest
The big question is not who they should have picked but why have they risked Starc for an insignificant tournament. They are doing no favours to Lynn by picking him, 50 overs is a long time to avoid diving in the field. Are Australia under pressure to pick their big names, they showed the financial importance of South Africa and New Zealand with resting players for those one day games.
Ashan D
Roar Pro
But he's in the selector's bad boy list. Not sure if the bear would ever play again for Aus. Shame.
Josh
Guest
No Cameron White after continuously destroying and outscoring everyone in the Matador Cup is weird, he's almost exactly what we need
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Selections of Aaron Finch in place of Usman Khawaja and John Hastings in place of James Faulkner are surprising.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Good calls, but I don't think there is anything controversial about picking Hastings or Henriques. Hastings has been a consistent performer who can be relied upon to bowl at any point in the innings. Exactly what you want in a backup paceman. Absolutely 100% deserves to be there. Henriques has forced his way in based on form, which should be encouraged. Yes, he still has that question mark over his ability to go to the next level, but he couldn't have done any more to get picked. He was also one of the few guys to impress against Sri Lanka in the T20s (just don't let him bowl at the death). IMO, the most controversial picks are Lynn and Pattinson. Lynn has a lot to offer but just hasn't played any cricket outside of T20s and is injured yet again. Seems like a massive risk to me. Pattinson is also an injury risk, but even if he wasn't his white ball record (both internationally and domestically) just doesn't warrant selection. When he was fit and firing in the test team his form in ODIs was still mediocre. He doesn't add anything that Starc and Cummins can't do better, except being a slightly better bat. Lynn and Pattinson out, Khawaja and Faulkner in. My starting lineup would be: Warner Khawaja Smith Head Henriques (just edges out Stoinis for mine) Maxwell Wade Faulkner/Zampa (depending on the conditions) Cummins Starc Hazlewood I'd have been tempted to bring White or Bailey as cover for the batting but Finch has shown signs of improved form in the last few months.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I think Lynn is one of those selections that can go either way. He could injure his shoulder again in the first match or he could set the tournament alight. I understand that Khawaja or Bailey are probably more deserving, but Lynn could single handed win games off his bat. Warner was selected years ago in other forms based on his t20 record and I think they are figuring because the upside could be so great, Lynn is worth the risk too.