Glenn Maxwell’s Test performances this year warrant his selection for the Ashes, but Hilton Cartwright is the better short and long-term option for the Australian team.
The number six spot for the first Ashes Test is one of the trickiest decisions the Australian selectors have faced in recent years.
It would be harsh on Maxwell for him to be dumped after doing a fine job for Australia over four Tests in Asia, a place where so many other Australian batsmen have floundered.
His average of 37 across those four Tests is, in my opinion, equivalent to averaging 50-to-55 on far friendlier and more familiar home pitches. If Maxwell’s last four Tests had been in Australia and he had averaged in the 50s his position would not even be in question.
He will have reason to be greatly aggrieved if he is not selected to play against England. It is important not to undervalue Maxwell’s Test century in India in March, when he came to the crease with Australia in trouble at 4-140 on the first day.
The list of other Australian batsmen who have scored Test centuries in India over the past decade is a short one filled with elite cricketers – Steve Smith, Michael Clarke, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Simon Katich, Shane Watson and Marcus North.
Not only was Maxwell’s ton in India a rare achievement for an Australia batsman but it was also the first century scored by an Australian number six in more than three years. The number six position was a gaping hole for Australia during that period.
Maxwell was asked to fill that hole, in Asian conditions no less, and did his job. He wasn’t outstanding, but he was good. Denying him the opportunity to build on that in home conditions would be cruel. Yet I think that is the fate which awaits Maxwell, unless he can shine in the second round of the Sheffield Shield.
Flashy players such as Maxwell typically find it much harder to earn loyalty from fans and, more importantly, selectors. As a comparison, there are far fewer people calling for the axing of circumspect opener Matt Renshaw, despite the fact his batting average was 18, half that of Maxwell’s, during Australia’s last four Tests.
Both men deserve patience from the selectors.
However, as much as I think Maxwell deserves to play in the Ashes, I also believe Australia would be a better side with Cartwright at six instead.
The West Australian batsman’s first-class average of 50 suggests he is ready for Tests. Putting his stats aside, Cartwright just looks every millimetre the Test cricketer.
He is beautifully balanced at the crease. He plays the ball late, under his eyes and with soft hands. He is rarely caught on the crease, either getting well forward or well back. He is equally strong off the front or back foot, through the off or the leg side.
(AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
He has multiple gears to his batting, appearing comfortable whether playing cautiously due to conditions or match situation, or taking on the bowlers when required. He is also a world-class fieldsman and a reasonable medium pacer.
Crucially, Cartwright also seems to rise to a challenge. WA asked him to move up the order to number three in the second half of the last Shield season and he has dominated ever since, making 630 runs at 70 from six matches.
In the opening round of the current Shield season I thought Cartwright was the second most impressive batsman across the country, after Usman Khawaja.
On a WACA pitch which offered plenty of assistance for the quicks, Cartwright looked serene. Even Jackson Bird, who bowled so well and consistently troubled the remainder of the WA order, found it hard to disturb Cartwright.
It took an absolute peach of a delivery, and a suspect LBW call by the umpire, to dismiss him in the first dig, when he had appeared on track for a ton.
Cartwright’s strong foundation against fast bowling makes him well suited to playing both in the Ashes and in Australia’s following four-Test series in South Africa, with pace to be the biggest threat in both series.
Cartwright is also an accomplished player of spin – quick to read the length and possessed of nimble and assured footwork.
Whether all of these attributes translate to success at Test level is impossible to predict. There is no doubt, though, that Cartwright is the type of well-rounded batsman who tends to do well in Test cricket.
My gut tells me he already has one foot in Australia’s Ashes line-up. Only a stunning effort from Maxwell in the second round of the Shield will stop Cartwright from planting his other boot.
DaveJ
Guest
Well argued in favour of Cartwright. And Maxwell doesn’t add much with the ball, even if Cartwright is only a spare parts bowler himself. But North and Watson as “elite players” at Test level? Seriously?
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Um ... ok then.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Thanks Nudge!
Nudge
Guest
Get over it qwetzen
qwetzen
Guest
Agreed. JL was saying the other day that WA have played one game at the SCG in the last 5 years. That's not good enough CNSW. And their excuse for no games there now is "the turf is being relaid". This is suss to me. The last AFL game there was on 09Sep. Two months for a returfing? I don't think so.
qwetzen
Guest
"I’ve heard it said that the WACA has been the best batting pitch in the country over the last few seasons." Really? By who? That's the first time I've heard that line. And it should be easily quantifiable. It's the sort of rubbish that the NSW propaganda machine used to denigrate the achievements of WA fast bowlers with; "Well he's got a good average but that's because he plays half his games at the WACA!" they'd sneer. Yet strangely this Home Ground Advantage logic didn't stop a squadron of ordinary NSW spinners from getting BGs when the SCG was at its Bondi best. Holland, Taylor, Bennett & of course the most expensive regular bowler in the history of cricket, GRJ Matthews. Anyway, if the WACA is "the best batting pitch in the country" then The Dorff should be the first man picked for T1. Idle Dorff Shield Trivia: He's only bowled > 100 overs at two grounds and his stats at those grounds are; WACA - 66w @ 20.6 MCG - 17w @ 17.5
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Disagree. Smith came out ay (correctly) saying that the number 6s to batsman who has scored runs. Maxwell doers not fit this description.
Nudge
Guest
Game set match to Don TCL and qwetzen.
Don Freo
Guest
There you go! I never "intend" to be provocative. I just think that way.
13th Man
Guest
I will say this, if it's not Cartwright or Maxwell then I'll be astounded. If Daniel Hughes, Maddison or Henriques gets a game it stinks of NSW bias and Smith bringing his mates in.
Bob Sims
Guest
Over the years, Don, I have come to realise that you often talk in riddles, and, that you often intend to be provocative. We have crossed swords on occasions and disagreed many times, but I think this last comment of yours is spot on!
Don Freo
Guest
Oh I agree that Maxwell should play at #6 if they pick the side tomorrow. These Shield games will settle that. I just don't subscribe to the idea that someone should be left out because they are unproven. There is only one way to prove someone. If Cartwright sustains form and Maxi's or anyone else's form doesn't challenge, Pick Cartwright and let him prove himself. People have been using this same argument for Alex Carey. He is now 26yo and into his 5th season. In the event of no standout, pick Carey (although Nevill's batting last season almost makes him a standout). Me right now? I'd pick Maxi.
Rob JM
Guest
Don, I'm just saying that dropping maxwell isn't justified on test form at this point, so surplanting him with an unproven player seems high risk. If they were competing for a vacant position I think you would go purely on form, ie carwright.
Don Freo
Guest
Now that is a good use of a stat...and I'm a big Ussie fan.
qwetzen
Guest
I don't know what your definition of 'Asia' is but CI's version gives UK the following averages; Tests: 9 inn = 14.6 ODIs: 2 inn = 3.0 T20s: 3 inn = 22.7 And averring that someone can bat on "Asian spinning wickets" because they scored a century is as nonsensical as stating that they can bat on "Asian spinning wickets" because they top scored in a T20 in India. A fact is that Jason Gillespie scored more in one Test innings on an "Asian spinning wicket" than UK has in all his in all his 14 innings combined.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Smith isn't a selector. The captain will always be consulted regarding selections, because he's the one that needs to utilise the players on the field. So he needs to be on the same page as the selectors regarding who is picked and what is the purpose of picking them. But he doesn't get to dictate who plays, and he's wanting to have a team that can win, not a team full of people he likes who are no good.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Hurstville may not be the best location, but apparently they are relaying the turf at the SCG or something like that, so it's currently out of action. That means they can't play there, and NSW are going to have at least 2 home games in the first half of the season, so they have to be played somewhere in NSW, and it can't be the test venue.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's annoying to an extent, but I can see why they are doing it. NCN has had a lot of injuries and just come back from his latest. They are wanting to ease him in a bit. He managed to get away with not needing to bowl too much in the first shield match, but chances are the next one will require more, plus a flight across the country, so keeping him at home and playing a 2 day match and slowly easing him into more work is what they considered the best option. NCN wanted to play NSW. I don't agree with a lot of the cotton-wooling that goes one once players are recovered and playing, but slowly building up workloads rather than going from nothing to lots does have merit. There will be different schools of thought as to what is right and what is too slow. But I'm not privy to what's gone on behind the scenes in his rehab and build up to the season so I can't really comment on that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I think Cartwright probably is the front runner, but pure numbers can be deceiving. For instance, I've heard it said that the WACA has been the best batting pitch in the country over the last few seasons. Which could result in a player there having a better batting average largely by virtue of playing more matches in good batting conditions, rather than because they were actually better. (Note: I'm not saying this is the case, just giving an example of reasons why you need to go beyond just the stats to determine the better players). I've had responses like this when commenting on Ben Foakes for England. He's got a first class average of 41, significantly better than a number of the batsmen England have selected. But I've had a number of English comments suggesting that his home ground is probably the easiest batting pitch in the country, while some of these other batsmen with lesser averages play in much more bowler friendly conditions regularly. So I still think Cartwright may well be the right option, but it does require looking past just the overall average and things to determine that.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yes, they are currently a team where they have a lot of players who are on the fringe of selection rather than actually being in the first team. If that remains for the rest of the season I can see they could be hard to beat for the Shield title! NSW look good at full strength, like they are at the moment, but take the test players out and they look a lot weaker.