Australia’s great allrounder debate is set to be reignited next week, with Mitch Marsh having resumed bowling after his shoulder reconstruction.
National selectors named a 13-man squad for the first and second Ashes Tests and will be reluctant to change a winning side should Australia grab a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
But they will also be keen to give frontline pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins some form of respite during the remaining Tests.
“At the moment it’s OK (without an allrounder) but you certainly look at it,” coach Darren Lehmann said.
“They’re just handy when you have that long second innings … and if you get an injury during the game.
“Some of the allrounders aren’t knocking down the door like they should be.”
Glenn Maxwell, who was flown to Brisbane as cover only to be released for Sheffield Shield duty, smacked a career-best 278 for Victoria last week. Unfortunately for the Victorian, the selection panel is far more likely to prefer an allrounder who bowls medium-pace.
If so, Marsh and fellow West Australian Marcus Stoinis would be at the front of the queue.
Marsh played the early stages of the domestic season as a batsman then came off the long run during a recent Sheffield Shield match in Perth, where he also posted a ton.
“Just get through some overs really,” Lehmann said, when asked how much Marsh must bowl to be considered for Test selection.
“We rate him highly and his output with the bat’s been really impressive this summer.
“He’s an option with another few allrounders if we go down that path, but it’s good to see him back bowling.”
Maxwell could hardly have responded better after he was dropped from the Test XI.
“It was just ‘go away and get hundreds’ and he got 200! He did well, it was great,” Lehmann said.
England’s reluctance to take on Nathan Lyon, who is in career-best form, meant the offspinner bowled long spells in the Gabba.
If Lyon was hit out of the attack in any of the four remaining Tests it means the workloads of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins could significantly rise.
Don Freo
Guest
Because his performances are often excellent. Career averages will never reveal that. Form will. Context will. Do you want to explain an 18 average last season after an outstanding previous season? The answer is revealed in his sad move home to WA. Averages will never factor in bereavement.
Don Freo
Guest
Another judgement on the basis of a name only. At least if you are going that way you should try to engage humour. This is just bitter. I'll bet you were the little guy in primary school calling names but only when the big guys did it first.
Don Freo
Guest
How many tests do you think they have played in that time? 70 or 80? They have played 20.
Don Freo
Guest
About the same as the 3 I mentioned...and Mitch is not far from that despite only just starting his test journey.
bearfax
Guest
Spot on DaveJ.
DaveJ
Guest
April Fool’s Day seems to have come a bit early. The great teams with good bowling attacks haven’t needed an all rounder - eg Australia in 74-76, 1995-2005, West Indies in the eighties. They only come in handy when someone gets injured. No 6 has to be able to score runs, and the occasional century. Perhaps chime in with half a dozen overs at most. Cartwright or Maxwell are the next best options. Stoinis has a first class average of 34, simply not good enough.
Don Freo
Guest
Interesting cherry picking, Bushie. Mitch has also averaged 68 in his last 4 Shield innings. Everyone has a lower average if you take out their hundreds.
Don Freo
Guest
Wouldn't England like Joe Root or Alistair Cook to get those kinds of numbers in Australia this summer?
Don Freo
Guest
Or Shaun or Handscomb. A career average means nothing in any way in any circumstance. The point was made about form. If they maintain form, there is no spot. You read what you want to but you may as well not comment if all you want is to spew disdain.
George
Guest
Hard to get time at the crease for Tassie with that behemoth of willow wielders Wade in the top six.
George
Guest
I was agreeing with you until you underestimated Hadlee's batting: first class average of 31.7 and Test average of 27.
Don Freo
Guest
If he doesn't improve, you don't pick him. This conversation is all based on the excitement of his batting this year. He is beginning to do consistently what he has shown often enough he can do. He is 26yo now. The same age Handscomb was when he began to sustain it. Steve Smith too. Harden, Langer...
George
Guest
It's what the selectors have done since 2011.
George
Guest
Mitch replacing Khawaja (first-class and Test average: 44)? Hilarious. Only in the Marsh family/your backyard dreams.
Don Freo
Guest
That was in response to JohnB. James, you are making a lot of sense.
Don Freo
Guest
Why would you do all that? If Mitch earns selection, he would simply replace Shaun, Ussie or Handscomb if one of them loses form. You have made the stangest series of complications.
Don Freo
Guest
Do you really think anyone who follows cricket sees that as a cricket comment? You base cricket knowledge on a name?
Don Freo
Guest
That standard for an all rounder is not realistic. It would be great if we had it...as we probably did when Watson opened the batting but it has hardly ever happened anywhere. Imran, Kapil Dev and Botham with the ball and Sobers with the bat and they were the greatest ever. Imran and Kapil would never be picked on batting alone. Sobers might have been his country's 6th or 7th best bowler. Richard Hadlee's batting was not as good as Starc, Johnson or Cummins. Lehmann's comments are excellent.
Don Freo
Guest
Turner's shoulder won't allow him to bowl. The one who does have Test prospect about him is Tom Rogers. (Not for a while). They seem to bowl him late but he is a full on fast/medium who is taking 2 and 3 wickets / innings. It's his batting that impresses me. They have him coming in at #8 but he i s one of the few Tassie bats that hasn't crumbled under pressure. Certainly gone past Faulkner down there with the bat. Excellent stroke player with very fast hands. Seems to have that steel that will not roll over.
Don Freo
Guest
Some funny theories. Of course he should bat and bowl. It's what he does. It's what Australia wants him to do. You sound as if you would use Nat Fyfe or Paddy Dangerfield as a tagger or Tim Cahill as a goalkeeper.