Hilton Cartwright made his ODI on debut on Sunday, but never looked comfortable and was dismissed for one.
While a first-class batting average over 50 is outstanding, Cartwright’s List A record isn’t good.
In last season’s Matador Cup, he only managed 101 run from his six gamesm, with a batting average of 16.83 – hardly numbers that demand selection.
Tim Paine and Cameron White have been dominating domestic one day cricket for years and don’t get picked, while Peter Handscomb has recently finished a productive county stint with Yorkshire and only got picked as injury cover.
Yet Cartwright’s selection is by no means the worst decision the Australian selectors have made in recent times.
The most obvious selection blunder of recent times was Mitch Marsh in the Test squad for the tour of India. Dropped from the side for not scoring enough runs, Marsh managed scores of 0 and 16 in his only Sheffield Shield game since being dropped.
This was good enough for the selectors, who put Marsh straight back into the Test side, and he averaged 12 in two outings before injury ruled him out of the rest of the series.
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Adam Zampa was the leading ODI wicket taker in 2016, with 30, before being dropped during the home summer and playing just three of Australia’s eight home ODIs in 2016-17.
Matthew Wade was brought back into the Test side to strengthen an inexperienced batting line, but in his 12 first-class matches prior, he scored 302 run at an average of 23.23, with just one half century.
Wade’s Test numbers since being recalled are no better, averaging 20.23 with one half century from ten matches. He must be dropped for the Ashes.
Steven O’Keefe was was Australia’s joint leading wickettaker in India, with 19, and was then dropped for the Bangladesh tour due to ‘poor form’. O’Keefe was then added to the Test squad midway through the Bangladesh sereis, where his bowling wasn’t as good as in India – but is that really a surprise, seeing as he didn’t have any preparation?
For Australia to be successful, selectors must pick the best players available, which means picking players who are performing at domestic level.
Ross
Guest
I agrrr with Stephen, how is khawaja not there after being rested from the NZ series. Absurd and good on ed Cowan for raising this
Stuckbetweenindopak
Roar Rookie
Clearly cartwhite looks way ahead of usman khawaja in terms of technique and aggression, hats off to selectors
Don Freo
Guest
Then a season of cricket happened. I don't know if you are aware of Cartwright's performance. With that performance and his aggressive nature, Cartwright's selection was a no brainer. White is finished.
Pahul Gill
Roar Rookie
I slightly disagree, this would be my Australia XI if all players are fit 1: Finch 2: Warner 3: Smith (c) 4: Head 5: Maxwell 6: Wade (wk) 7: Faulkner/Stoinis 8: Cummins 9: Starc 10: Pattinson/Hazlewood 11: Zampa Reasoning -Warner & Smith are the first name on the sheet -Finch has proved himself to be a successful opener & has great chemistry with Warner -Chris Lynn would be an automatic #4 but he is as fragile as glass. I seriously doubt he even has a future in the game, apart from being a T20 specialist, therefore Travis Head must be given a longer run -Maxwell's crazy ability to hit sixes at will, makes him a 'MUST' for limited overs Cricket. He can be the difference between 300 or 350, we can all sense that 'big innings' is just around the corner -Wade is an unfortunate choice as Australia has not groomed anybody apart from him to keep in limited overs Cricket, therefore we have no choice but to pick him. As for Handscomb, its a BIG NO, because even if ur a bit slow behind the stumps or unable to reach the delivery on time, u can cost the team more than 20 runs & a wicket a game -Faulkner/Stoinis are both good limited overs all-rounders. They can hit hard & bowl a good deal of variations, they're priceless to the limited overs team -Starc & Cummins have express pace & swing. Even on an average day, they can be brutal, its just what Australia need to showcase their dominance in World Cricket -Pattinson/Hazlewood, it depends if u want the swing of Hazlewood (English, Kiwi & South African Conditions) or the pace of Pattinson (Rest of the World), both are good choices but it entirely depends on the conditions -Zampa, a very useful leggie, he is a wicket-taker but most importantly, he can keep an end quiet which can allow the seamers to attack from the other end. A spinner should be mandatory in any limited overs side, they can be very useful especially in 'slow' conditions
Stephen
Guest
The greatest selection mistake for me is not having Khawaja there specially given Finch is injured. Khawaja was last taken out of the NZ one day series in Feb with the excuse by Trevor Hohns that khawaja was focusing on the India series which he didn't play. Then after that Khawaja was denied even a spot on the champions trophy and for some reason is on the outer even though he is one of the best domestic one day batsman in Australia, an average of above 50 in domestic cricket shows that. A warner, khawaja, smith top 3 would be something. And i respect Cartwright as a allrounder, but how can he possibly open and Khawaja be sitting back home. Ed Cowan made his points on this and i agree with him
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
I've criticised the selectors for their decisions for both the ODI team and the test team. The point I made with Cameron White is that he should have been picked in the ODI team ahead of Hilton Cartwrigh. Whites form in the one day cup has been outstanding, he was player of the tournament in 2013 and 2014 while last season was the leading run scorer, the same point goes for Tim Paine he's averaged over 40 in each of the past 4 one day cups. Both Paine and White would be better options in the ODI team than Cartwright of averaged just 16 in last years one day cup.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
When they announced the squad for the Bangladesh tour the selectors said O'Keefe had been dropped because of his from not for disciplinary reason. http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/steve-okeefe-questions-trevor-hohns-why-he-was-dropped-for-bangladesh-tour-20170617-gwt36p.html
Stumpy
Guest
Yeah and look how he ended, undone for a duck by a spinner.... rubbish #onlyasgoodasyourlastinnings
Don Freo
Guest
Cameron White? Now that WOULD be a selection blunder. Your article mixes and matches ODI and Test to suit your argument. If it's Test, why would White ever play? If it's not Tests, why cite Mitch Marsh? He's been out for many Tests now and still you complain. Follow modern cricket? Tim Paine? He has done nothing special. He's good but way behind Carey, Nevill and Whiteman. He's even behind Inglis and Neilsen.
Craig
Guest
O'Keefe was dropped for disciplinary reasons wasn't he?
Ouch
Guest
Sometimes i think the selectors of both our cricket and rugby team are on crack.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
"Bradman got a duck in his first Test innings and the selectors dropped him! Luckily they soon brought him back." You make a fair point but a small correction here - Bradman's scores in his first Test were 18 and 1 after which he was dropped from the playing XI in the following Test.
jonty smith
Roar Guru
Makes more sense now. Thanks
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Paine has Tasmanian contract, but will miss most of the the tournament because he'll be with the Australian T20 team in India, so they haven't named him in the initial squad. He might play the last couple of games depending on scheduling.
jonty smith
Roar Guru
There needs to certainly be more continuity in selection. Just read the Tassie JLT squads and while you're correctly writing about Paine's dominance, he isn't even being offered a One day contract by the tigers. Gee I hope he gets picked up by another state
jonty smith
Roar Guru
There needs to certainly be more continuity in selection. Just read the Tassie JLT squads and while you're correctly writing about Paine's dominance, he isn't even being offered a One day contract by the tigers. Gee I hope he gets picked up by another state
matth
Guest
Oh we are no doubt going to lose this series. India are very strong and even stronger at home. Changes to selections aren't going to alter that basic fact. But we need to be better with our selections to give ourselves the best chance.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Whatever changes they made Australians are going to loose the Series hands-down. They should had won the first match but they faltered.
AGordon
Guest
I think you need to be careful about making judgements after one innings. Bradman got a duck in his first Test innings and the selectors dropped him! Luckily they soon brought him back. Cartwright and the rest of the Australian side was more or less thrown to the wolves in the first ODI. The bowling was not up to task and they should have been chasing maybe 230 if the bowling had been better. They were then tasked with trying to get a ridiculous target, should have gone into T20 mode but did not, and were beaten comprehensively. I suspect if Australia had batted first, they might have achieved a similar results. How many runs Cartwright would have made??? It would be nice to know the mindset of the Australian selectors. Are they using this tour to try out new players? If so, play Cartwright in all 5 games, give Maxwell a bowl, move Wade up the order to try and get some runs, etc. This side is not good enough to beat India in India, so try out different options and see how things pan out.
blanco
Guest
I would pick Handscomb in the odi team and give him the gloves. Wade is a liability in the odi team. The number seven spot should be reserved to a batting all rounder who is handy with the ball. The opening partner to Warner is also an issue. Is Finch the answer? Lynn cant stay fit so I would consider him. Another decision to make is that number four spot I hope they give Travis Head a long run at it. Australia full strength odi team should look like 1. Usman Khawaja 2. Warner 3. S. Smith 4. T. Head* 5. P. Handscomb ( keeper) 6. M. Marsh* 7. Maxwell* 8. Starc 9. Cummins 10. Hazlewood 11. Zampa * fifth bowling options. Ofcourse based on match situation Handscomb , Mitch Marsh and Maxwell could shift around in the order.