The veterans keep dominating, young guns are pushing for ODI spots, and WA will meet either SA or Victoria in the final. These are some of the major talking points from the JLT Cup.
Nic Maddinson is a strong ODI prospect
Maddinson has scored more runs than any other batsman over the past three domestic one-day tournaments, with 1070 runs at an average of 56 and a blazing strike rate of 96. He topped the runscorers list this tournament, after the six qualifying rounds, with 398 runs at 66, after being the eighth and third highest runmaker in the previous two summers, respectively.
These numbers would normally demand consideration for the ODI side. The problem for Maddinson is that he’s played mostly as an opening batsman over those past three prolific seasons and Australia are flush with top order options.
David Warner and Steve Smith are entrenched in the top three, leaving Maddinson to vie for the other position with Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh – seriously tough competition.
Cameron Bancroft emerges as smokey for ODI keeping spot
The Australian selectors think highly enough of Cameron Banrcroft’s keeping that they handed him the gloves, ahead of Peter Handscomb, during Australia A’s 50-over series last year against South Africa A, India A and the Australian National Performance Squad.
Like Handscomb, Bancroft entered the domestic scene as a wicketkeeper only to find that another gloveman already had that position cemented. In Handscomb’s case that player was Matthew Wade, and for Bancroft it was Sam Whiteman who was ahead of him.
With Whiteman out injured, Bancroft kept for WA in this current tournament and was outstanding. Not only was his glovework neat, but the 24-year-old displayed newfound dynamism batting at first drop, with a scorching strike rate of 110 while averaging 47.
That was his third brilliant 50-over tournament on the trot – Bancroft has piled up 701 runs at 50 over the past three summers.
Peter Siddle takes 50-over bowling back to the 1980s
The former Test quick turned in arguably the most remarkable performance of the tournament by giving up just 3.35 runs per over across his six matches. Such a miserly economy rate has been virtually unheard of in the 50-over format for the past 20 years or so.
This has prompted calls for him to be in contention for the Ashes. But Siddle never had a problem keeping things tight in Test cricket, it was his serious lack of penetration over the past four years in Tests which hurt his claims.
Siddle remains a solid back-up should Australia suffer a raft of injuries to Test quicks. But he should be behind the likes of Jackson Bird, Chadd Sayers and Jason Behrendorff in the Test pecking order.
(AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Daniel Hughes continues his extraordinary run
After 14 List A matches, Hughes has the phenomenal career record of 782 runs at 65. Last year he was the third highest runscorer in the tournament and this summer he is second only to Maddinson so far. Like Maddinson, though, he has massive competition to squeeze into the ODI side because of Australia’s wealth of opening options.
With Australia in greater need of a reliable middle order batsman, Hughes and Maddinson may find themselves overlooked when the ODI selectors reach down to pluck a batsman from the domestic scene.
The veterans just won’t quit
George Bailey (35 years old), Shaun Marsh (34), Cameron White (34), Callum Ferguson (32) and Michael Klinger (37) all are good enough to be playing ODI cricket right now.
That group have been consistently commanding List A batsmen for years now but have been victims of the strong depth of Australia’s ODI batting stocks, as well as a tendency for the selectors to favour younger batsmen in the ODI line-up.
This tournament Marsh is averaging 95, Klinger 67, Bailey 62, Ferguson 53 and White 50. Yet there is a good chance that none of them will again play for Australia in limited overs cricket.
(AP Photo/Rob Griffith)
Labuschagne and Patterson are future ODI middle order options
A wonky middle order is the glaring weakness in Australia’s misfiring ODI team. While Australia’s top seven has tended to boast heavy hitting power, what it has lacked is another sturdy middle-order batsman to glue the line-up together.
The likes of Ferguson, Shaun Marsh, Bailey or White could fill that role, but you sense the selectors may have moved on from those players. As I argued recently, I think Peter Handscomb can fix this problem as well as the wicketkeeping issue.
But if the selectors don’t go with Handscomb, or they do and he fails, then youngsters Marnus Labuschagne and Kurtis Patterson are ready for a crack at ODIs.
Queensland number four Labuschagne won the player of the tournament last season as a 22-year-old and was equally impressive this time around, with 291 runs at 48. Patterson, meanwhile, shone again in the middle order for NSW and the 24-year-old has made just under 500 runs at 46 across the past two tournaments.
Crucially, both men have strong techniques and fine temperaments which is why they’ve also experienced decent success at first-class level for such young cricketers. This is the type of player Australia require in their middle order, rather than another hitter who relies on scoring boundaries.
dan ced
Guest
Klinger averaged 47 across his 3 T20I's, you'd think that would count for something in this era of snowflakey collapses. He was probably closest to getting in the Test team a handful of years ago and statswise that's his worst format. He averages almost 50 in 50 over cricket. I still think he has the "grind out the runs" mentality/success that all of our international teams need! I think Ferguson should've gotten another test, White stinks of flat track bully, makes AUS team, fails, then pummels domestic runs, rinse/repeat. Even Shaun Marsh for all his class and run scoring has tried and failed many times internationally, a leopard can't change it's spots. Give the Klingers/Fergusons a better shot.
Joe Bell
Roar Rookie
I watched that innings too. Amazing ball striking. Interestingly played and missed what must have been 25+ times... sometimes the luck runs with you. Carey played a very good knock too. Stocks rising for both of them
Don Freo
Guest
I'm ok with the old Lyon. Go the GOAT!.
Don Freo
Guest
I've watched Carey score big at the WACA twice in 2 seasons in Shield games against WA...at #7. He has all the shots. This is a case where his early Shield numbers as an opening batsman skew his average and question his batting. His run rate yesterday was excellent, giving the strike to Weatherald then accelerating. Cam White and the Marsh boys do the same.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I'm very curious to see how Lyon goes this summer. His bowling in Bangladesh was seen as a massive turning point. Prior to the India and Bangladesh tours his sub-continental record was considered poor. But it must still be said, that while Bangladesh have improved a lot and are tougher at home, it still is only Bangladesh. They aren't the strongest test team going around, and just thinking back a little bit Lyon didn't exactly have a great home summer last season. He would have been dropped for Adelaide if not for SOK's injury, and while he did improve over the poor offerings prior to that, he still wasn't bowling that well for the rest of the home tests. So it will be interesting to see if the confidence gained from the Bangladesh tour will make a difference in how he bowls. I've always thought Lyon's biggest issue is he struggles to consistently land the ball on the right line and length. When he's had nice footmarks to bowl at he rarely hits them. And he's too often bowled too full or too short and not regularly enough just kept landing the ball on the right length. Hopefully we'll see a new Lyon this summer. We'll see.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hey, effectively Nevill was the number 2 keeper for his state, who only got regular play because the #1 keeper (Haddin) was playing for Australia. Wicketkeeping is such a tough thing. There's only one keeper per team, and once you get the spot it's tough to get usurped in that role. Unless the current keeper starts doing pretty badly, it can be hard for someone else to get a chance, even if they might be better. Even Adam Gilchrist had to move interstate to be able to make a state team as a keeper, and he probably should have played for Australia a lot sooner, but like I said, if the incumbent isn't doing much wrong, it doesn't matter that other players might be better, they'll often not get a chance. So I wouldn't generally judge a keeper on the fact that they are only playing because someone else is injured or the like, because that's just how things work. If he takes the opportunity and both keeps cleanly and scores runs, then he should be seriously considered for Australia and not somehow dismissed because he's not even considered the best keeper for WA but only there because the "better" keeper is injured.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I don't know about Carey for the ODI keeping. He's been opening the batting for SA and for the most part his strike rate hasn't been that great. As you point out, the top order for Australia is pretty stacked, so what we'd want from a keeper is either a middle-order player who you are hoping Handscomb could be, or a lower order hitter. I'm not quite sure that Carey necessarily fits either of those roles that well. (Not entirely ruling him out, just from what I've seen I'm not convinced.
Baz
Guest
No siddle. Thanks but no thanks will lyon do we think he will do better at home ? this season.
Don Freo
Guest
Being behind Whiteman does not mean the selectors think Bancroft is not good enough to keep for the state. It just means Whiteman is the better keeper. Bancroft is very good with the gloves. Did you watch any of the JLT dismissals? Lots of class there.
Don Freo
Guest
That's why Marsh (s) and Bancroft are so impressive. Batting on the WACA this year instead of 20 metre boundaries.
Don Freo
Guest
The Hazlewood replacement would be Behrendorff. He can bowl all day as tight as. The Siddle type of bowling is done better by Joe Mennie and Simon Mackin than it is by Peter Siddle.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Very good knock by Carey today in a big game. After Handscomb he's my clear choice now for the ODI keeping spot, I don't see much point in going for older blokes like Nevill or Paine.
Dicky M
Guest
Bancroft only got the WA gloves because Whiteman is injured,although he's a better keeper than Hanscombe and has done well in this competition but I believe if your not deemed good enough to keep for your state in all formats then you shouldn't be up for a national role..Carey looks the goods though ..great keeper and batting is improving..
Adz Sportz
Roar Guru
Siddlle use to have genuine pace before he went vegan. Worst mistake he ever made!!
BurgyGreen
Guest
To replace Wade I'd be going with Cam Bancroft. Keeps a bit more than Handscomb and has consistently been in the runs in List A cricket. I'd just prefer Handscomb to be left to focus on his batting.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Weatherald is a very good prospect, hugely powerful batsman for a small guy. He's cracked 116 from 121 runs today in the elimination final against a strong Victorian attack. That's left him with 333 runs at 48 (strike rate 97) for the tournament.
Paul
Roar Guru
what's a jigger? Maxwell doesn't seem to fit under any of the following a machine or vehicle with a part that rocks or moves back and forth, e.g., a jigsaw. a person who dances a jig. a small fore-and-aft sail set at the stern of a ship. a small tackle consisting of a double and single block or two single blocks with a rope. a measure or small glass of spirits or wine. a metal golf club with a narrow face.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
I think you'll find Chris, that Labuschagne won man of the match twice in that tournament and made key runs chasing totals particularly in low scoring games. 73 not out chasing 200 on a pitch that is doing lots is just as if not more significant than making 120+ on a 350 pitch. You'll find in the 2016 tournament those were the kind of innings he played and that they were match defining knocks. Context is everything when it comes to choosing a player of the tournament award and influence on the outcomes of matches should be weighted higher than just statistics of runs scored or wickets taken.
Curious George
Guest
Maxwell – a dolt and a jigger
JamesH
Roar Guru
Fair point.