With Australia’s Test side due to be announced this Friday, we want to know who you think should be picked in the side to face England on November 23.
There’s been no shortage of speculation around the make-up of the Test team heading into the Ashes. While the bowling attack will almost certainly comprise Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon, the batting order is far from settled.
Skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain David Warner are both certainties to be picked, and both Usman Khawaja and Peter Handscomb are extremely likely to be included in the line-up.
» Pick your Australian Ashes XI
However, there have been serious concerns over Matthew Renshaw’s recent form, meaning the selectors could look to bring a new opener into the side to partner Warner at the top of the order.
The race for the number six spot is wide open. Incumbent Glenn Maxwell had a decent second-round outing in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria, but the uncapped Jake Lehmann was even more impressive with scores of 103 and 93 against the Bushrangers. Neither has impressed in the current round of state cricket though.
Hilton Cartwright has also been touted as another potential candidate for the position, as has fellow all-rounder Marcus Stoinis, although both have failed to put together a big score this Shield season.
Then there’s the wicketkeeper’s spot. Selectors are under pressure from Australian fans to drop Matthew Wade after a string of poor performances with the bat, but none of his rivals for the gloves have demanded selection. Peter Nevill and Alex Carey have both kept tidily during the opening rounds of Sheild cricket, but neither has put a big score on the board.
One player who has soared into contention is West Australian Cameron Bancroft. Bancroft, who has only taken the gloves for the Warriors due to an injury to regular keeper Sam Whiteman, made impressive scores of 76 not out and 86 opening the batting against New South Wales’ Test attack to catapult himself into the selection conversation, before following it up with an unbeaten double-century against South Australia.
He’s now in the running to take the gloves for the opening Ashes Test, and is another option at number six. He may even be selected in place of Renshaw at the top of the order.
So, who would you like to see line up in the first Test? Let us know by picking your Australian Ashes team with the selector below, including nominating your captain and wicketkeeper, and be sure to share your team in the comments and on Facebook.
John
Guest
my team is Warner, Wade, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Stoinis, M.Marsh, Cummins, Starc, Pattinson, Lyon. all the tail can bat coz starc, pattinson and cummins can make scores and Lyon can bat for a fair period as night watchman! starc and pattinson can smash some runs and Cummins will hit that ball!
Mrfunny
Roar Rookie
Finally lehamann jake gets a game
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Really? Finally dropping the "must pick an all-rounder even though the country hasn't had one since Keith Miller" theory?
danno
Guest
Rumour is Paine, Bancroft, S Marsh in.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
It's that sort of thinking that meant 3 years ago (when Haddin retired) the best wicket keeper in the country (Chris Hartley) wasn't picked for Australia because he was 32. We would have had 3 + years of very safe gloves and a solid middle order bat and he probably wouldn't have retired and would still be playing in this Ashes series at 35. Pick the best regardless of age.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Warner Bancroft Khawaja Smith Handscomb Maxwell Nevill Starc Cummins Hazelwood Lyon If you're bringing Bancroft in for the runs, he has to bat somewhere where he can score those runs. At 6 or 7 there's too much chance than if his form transfers to international level, he will be left without batting partners. Frankly, opening there is every chance of that. He can't open and keep (Yeah, he as done in the Shield, debuting a step up is just a bit rich - even Andy Flower often dropped down the order when keeping). I'm no fan of Maxwell, or playing an all-rounder just for the sake of playing an all-rounder, but he did the job in India and was OK in Bangladesh. He's no certainty to stay in the side, but Cartwright doesn't convince me either so there he is. Not many actual batsmen have managed more than one good innings in as many as six attempts. I'd like to see Burns at 6 eventually, but on form that's an option Nevill, because he's the better performer with the gloves. And glovework should be the prime consideration. Even with batting, Carey hasn't been great. What a time for Whiteman to be injured. Handscomb also needs a performance, otherwise if somebody steps up in the Shield he might be on notice. He's shown enough ability, but post-Sydney there are a lot failures to go with two good scores. He is every chance of doing alright back home though, the sub-continent is tough for anyone who has barely played there in any format.
Lance Skelton
Roar Pro
Think we need to mix it up and change the order. Lyon. (He can hold down an end). Starc (He can throw the bat) Maxwell. (Captain, why not?) Handscomb (handy batter) Smith (Mr Reliable ca bat through the innings) Bancroft (not too shabby with the gloves) Cummins (pretty nippy with the bal1) Warner (bit unreliable these days) Bird (he's OK) Khawaja. (great Shield player, not so good at Test level). Renshaw. (he's gone off the boil, maybe he could bowl).
Red Kev
Roar Guru
The only thing I know for sure is that despite all the names being up above in that selection box, a lot of the commenters cannot spell. FFS - there is no 'e' on the end of Nevill, and it is 'le' Hazlewood not 'el' Warner (vc) Renshaw Khawaja Smith (c) Handscomb Maxwell Bancroft (wk) Starc Cummins Lyon Hazlewood Bird (12th man)
dan ced
Guest
Since Phil Nevill doesn't exist. Put Alex Carey in his place!
dan ced
Guest
I feel they may still peg maxi as an allrounder, and a seaming allrounder (if insisting on an allrounder) would be better bet for the Gabba.
Ben
Roar Rookie
That's your opinion. He is a better bowler than Cartrwight. Cartwright 2 overs for 20. Maxwell 14 overs for 52 with 11 of the runs in his last over when they were going to declare.
Paul Brock
Guest
I personally don't see what the argument is for Maxwell. He's not the 6th best batsman in Australia and he rarely bowls.
Chin Music
Guest
What I think: Warner, Bancroft, Khawaja, Smith, Handscomb, Stoinis/Cartwright, Nevil,l Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon What I would like: Warner, Renshaw, Khawaja, Smith, Handscomb, Bancroft, Maxwell, Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon
Rellum
Roar Guru
Matty Renshaw has the support of the inner sanctum now according to cricket.com so he should be a lock.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yes or even Paine's 70. The problem is most people only pay attention to the Shield ( mostly the score cards) in how certain players are putting their hands up for selection. Good performances that help win games get little or no attention because it has nothing to do with the national team.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Not on current form it's not.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I'd say the long term option is more likely Whiteman. Or it could even be Bancroft... Let's give Bancroft a go in the short term, but probably not opening at the same time.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
Renshaw is in a slump and playing him won't benefit anyone but England. Bancroft to open with Warner, or left field- SOS to open with Warner with Bancroft in at 6/7 as WK. Unsure between Maxi & Cartwright, flip a coin...
Bucks
Guest
Warner Renshaw Khawaja Smith (c) Handscomb Cartwright Bancroft (wk) Cummins Starc Hazlewood Lyon 12 - Bird
Guru murthy
Guest
David Warner Cameron Bancroft Usman Khawaja Steve smith Peter Handscomb Glenn Maxwell Tim Paine Pat Cummins Mitchell Starc Josh Hazlewood Nathan Lyon