Cameron Bancroft is the form Australian batsman, with the most Sheffield Shield runs and the best average this season.
He will be 25 on Sunday and with his 442 runs at 110.50, with a top score of 228*, he’s a no-brainer to make his Test debut in the Ashes series – there’s no higher honour and no more deserved selection.
But the same performance stats can’t be trotted out for Tim Paine nor Shaun Marsh.
Both are strange decisions, but in keeping when the national selection panel is chaired by Trevor Hohns.
Remember how Hohns, in his first stint as selection chairman, was hell-bent on flicking Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh when they were baggy green captains? ‘Hatchet’ Hohns was his nickname at the time.
The Paine-Marsh selections are Hohns’ alter ego – sacking replaced by resurrection.
Tasmanian selectors thought so much of Paine they installed Matt Wade as the state’s Shield keeper when the latter transferred back to his home state after a stint with the Vics.
However, Paine was a quality keeper-batsman when he Test debuted, against Pakistan at Lord’s in July 2010 – seven years ago.
And who else was on debut in that Test? Current captain Steve Smith.
Paine, batting seven, scored seven and 47. Smith, batting eight, managed one and 12 – Australia won by 150 runs.
But Paine’s Test career lasted just three months, and four caps – a badly broken index finger, which has plagued Paine ever since, cut short a promising career.
Tim Paine has been recalled. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
But this selection is seven years later with 71* and a 50 to his credit this season, but blow all keeping. And keeping’s the priority for the Gabba.
Peter Nevill must be wondering what Hohns has against him.
Nevill was dumped after the South Africa fiasco in Hobart last November, with Wade stepping into the breach.
Nevill should never have been sacked, Wade should never been promoted – both facts have been conclusively proved – but Nevill’s the bunny again. Sometimes there’s no justice.
There’s also no argument Nevill is the better gloveman of the two right now, and if the bat needs to be mentioned, Paine’s averaged 18 in recent times, Nevill 58.
As for Shaun Marsh, there’s no point in him buying a lotto ticket – he’s used up all his ring, thanks to Hohns.
He’s 34, and Glenn Maxwell was the incumbent.
I’m no fan of Maxwell, but the Victorian deserved first crack out of himself and Marsh.
AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
However, both Marsh and Maxwell are unreliable, while 25-year-old Jake Lehmann is reliable and has scored the second-highest amount of runs this Shield season.
His 249 at 49.80 – including 103 and 93 against Victoria at the MCG earlier this month – should have made him as clear a choice as Bancroft.
To further add to Hohns’ questionable selections, paceman Chadd Sayers has been added to the squad just in case he’s needed for the second Test in Adelaide, Sayers’ home ground.
Is Hohns expecting Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, or Josh Hazlewood to break down?
Australia had better win the first Test or Hohns will need somewhere to hide.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#David Lord On the Renshaw selection - I would agree were it not that in his 3 Sheffield Shield matches thus far he appears to be horribly out of form - sure he's not getting out for ducks - but it's actually worse than that, he's surviving a bit and just as he should be gaining fluency he's getting bogged down, getting out. I had been advocating a couple of weeks back for his retention - on that basis alone - that his last home knock was that 184 - however - since then it's become clear that it would most likely be unfair on the young fellow at present - and with Bancroft putting up a fair argument (from his last Gloucestershire game v Kent back in Sept to now) - he's in form that fully warrants reward. Given the selectors have opted for Paine to keep - granted his history of quality and his T20 role at times - he has slightly more credentials dating back further than does Bancroft - however, it does mean it may not be that great a stretch to see Bancroft selected for that role. However - I still believe that Maxwell deserved retention more so than some other members of the top 6 - and certainly Renshaw so at least both have gone. I'm at least glad that Maxwell isn't going to be a Roger Harper style 12th man - he needs now to play more red ball cricket - it's odd that in 6 hits in the Shield he has reached or passed 20 on 4 out of 6 for 2 60s and a 45not out. That's respectable going. Marsh we see has passed 20 on 3 of 6 hits, for 3 50s with a top of 91 (vs test strength NSW - and this hit alone I suggest was the key). However the selectorial justification quoted the JLT ODs. Ridiculous. It is just odd how much weight seems to have been placed on the white ball domestic form of S.Marsh achieved before the Aust Internationals returned. Cam White will look on wondering why his white ball form didn't earn a test recall in previous seasons!!
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
In every country selectors used to surprise the cricket followers with one or two out-of-box selection! Probably selectors here have given preference to experienced players in the important Ashes Series.
Roshan
Guest
Cameron Brancroft as a wicketkeeper is a tough ask. He cannot be selected as wicketkeeper batsman. Let him groom and work in his batting. Paine a fair selection as no one is knocking the door. Jake lehman maxi cartright will get chance but not at ashes were experience is invaluable. They should be groomed
David Lord
Expert
Perry you seem to agree with me that a horses for courses selection format is hard to beat. Take the dropped Matt Renshaw, He's averaging 63 in his four Tests in Australia,with his last dig at the SCG in January against Pakistan a career high 184. In his six Tests overseas since he's average 25.67. So how can the selectors sack an opening batsman averaging 63? Renshaw deserved a Gabba start at least, while Cameron Bancroft, who had to be recognised could have batted six, and kept wickets, with Jake Lehmann debuting at seven. That's a fairer and better balanced X1, especially as Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh have done nothing special to be included.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Reliability is an interesting notion. In Australian test match conditions in recent years - Khawaja is reliable and a no brainer selection. Our pitches are too good. So - S.Marsh might come out and fully vindicate the selectors. And I'm not saying that Maxwell would definitely succeed. The reality is that batting in Australia for Australian batsmen is vastly preferable than batting in India (v India) or Bangladesh as we've recently seen. And in that scenario - Maxwell and Marsh both had 8 hits and Maxwell produced a 100 more runs for 7 outs (259 @ 37) compared to Marsh (151 @ 18.83).
Rob JM
Guest
Yes but Lehmann and Maxwell didn't score any runs against NSW, the only runs that count. Sure Vic hasn't played NSW yet, but that's Maxwells fault for playing in the wrong state side.
nickbrisbane
Guest
I bet Chris Hartley wishes he was still around.
DaveJ
Guest
“ Paine’s averaged 18 in recent times, Nevill 58.“ What on earth does that mean? If it means over the last season or two then I agree- you can’t go off the last 2 or 3 innings to predict future performance. Nevill did go back to the Shield last year and scored runs as asked. And he’s a good keeper. Paine’s first class average is only 29, Nevill’s is nearly 40, which is about the same as Bancroft, Maxwell and Marsh. One reason Bancroft deserves a chance isn’t his average- which really doesn’t suggest great success at this stage- but capacity to score really big innings, eg two double hundreds in Shield and a 150 against India A in India. Agree re Maxwell - esp as Marsh was dropped for series vs Bangladesh. Seems very fickle. I suspect they think Marsh is more capable of a big hundred than Maxwell. But over the course of a series several big fifties can be as useful as a couple of big hundreds and lots of noughts; it depends on context. Still, I wouldn’t just assume Marsh has his best behind him at 34.