Yesterday, England produced their second-best bowling display of this Ashes, but were blunted by an extraordinary ton from David Warner and a pair of wonderfully patient knocks by Steve Smith and Shaun Marsh.
After Warner threatened to single-handedly bat England out of the Test, the tourists rebounded valiantly in the second session to take 3-38 in the space of 23 overs and leave Australia vulnerable at 3-160 on a sleepy MCG pitch.
But by stumps, the momentum had swung in Australia’s favour thanks to the efforts of Smith (65*) and Marsh (31*), in an unbroken stand of 84.
That pair went at just 2.6 runs per over during their partnership, yet scored slowly for different reasons than Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja had earlier.
Bancroft and Khawaja produced torturous innings, reflective of their glaring lack of form. Neither player looks safe in the side, especially with Glenn Maxwell pushing his case so strongly for a recall.
AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi
The selectors could bring Maxwell into the side and then push Marsh up to open in place of Bancroft, or Smith up to number three to fill Khawaja’s spot.
Neither move is likely to take place before the end of this series, as Bancroft and Khawaja will surely be provided further opportunities. But if they continue to bat as they have in their past few innings, the selectors will need to consider changes ahead of the upcoming four-Test series against South Africa, who have a supreme bowling attack.
Aside from his fluent 82* in his second Test innings, Bancroft has scores of 5, 10, 4, 25 and 26. At this point, his main issue appears not to be technical but rather mental. Since that half century, in which Bancroft played with authority, the 25-year-old has looked increasingly bereft of confidence.
Yesterday he managed to hang tough for some 34 overs, doing a good job of protecting those further down the order. In that time though, he barely found the middle of the bat from 95 balls faced, even when gifted a rank half-volley or wide delivery.
The Australian selectors are an impatient bunch so he will need to display great improvement over the next Test-and-half to avoid being dumped for the tour of South Africa.
Khawaja likely has greater leeway due to his generous success in the past against pace-heavy attacks, including the Proteas, against whom he averages almost 50 from four Tests.
Even still, Khawaja has averaged just 21 from his past five Tests and has been scratchy even during his two half-centuries in this Ashes. Yesterday he crawled to five from 47 balls as England stacked the offside and bowled a disciplined line and length. The left-hander flirted with a sequence of deliveries outside off stump before eventually nicking behind off Stuart Broad for 17.
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Like Bancroft, Khawaja appears short of confidence. In this series he has been a weak imitation of the man who dominated the past two Australian summers. His mindset won’t have been helped by being dropped twice this year – first for the Tests in India and then the series in Bangladesh.
There’s no doubt Australia look a far better side when Khawaja is commanding the first drop position. They’ll be desperate for him to regain touch in time for the massive challenge of tackling South Africa.
There are no such concerns about the form of Marsh, who has had an outstanding series. The 34-year-old has stepped up for Australia when they’ve needed him most in this Ashes. In the first innings at Brisbane, Australia were in peril at 4-76 when Marsh helped steady the innings, batting for almost three hours in making 51.
At Adelaide, Marsh cracked 126* to shepherd Australia from 5-209 to a match-winning first innings total of 8-442 declared. Yesterday, he again came to the fore at a critical juncture.
Now, there’s only so much praise you can afford a knock of 31*, but Marsh looked in control from the get go on a slow pitch which was by no means easy for batting.
Even against the part-time spin of Dawid Malan, who went for just 20 runs from seven hours, Marsh and Smith shackled their egos. Their patent aim was to survive to the second new ball so they could protect Australia’s middle-to-lower order.
They did this job brilliantly. While England remained patient, and bowled well to day’s end, they never looked like breaking the Marsh-Smith union. At 3-244, Australia are now in a strong position to build a first innings total of 400-plus.
Even 350 would be a solid total, while anything over 400 would be very good on a pitch which is not nearly as amenable to batting as the MCG surface of recent Boxing Day Tests.
Graeme
Guest
That's the spirit Ben, hoping for a blokes downfall especially after doing well.
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Renshaw would be a better choice in place of Bancroft I presume, particularly for South African tour. Though I think Khawaja will keep his place even for SA tour. But Maxwell will be neglected again for the same tour.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Ronan, your words look prescient now after scores of 27 cor CB and 11 for UK. I hope they persevere with both for the Sydney Test and SA tour . That made me think who could be in the SA tour squad. Let's assume the current XI plus Starc tour and the squad will be 16 players I would like to see both CB and UK selected for SA tour along with Maxwell and Burns. These eight batsmen ensure cover from one to six. The other possible batsmen is Ferguson who brings form and considerable experience to the squad. Keeping Bancroft in the squad/team for SA may remove the need for another wk. If a 2nd wk is needed, Nevill makes a case with the most 2017-18 Shield dismissals (19) and has scored 221 at 31.57. An argument could also be made for Carey to allow him to experience the Test environment. I've added Maxwell and Burns to the current XI plus Starc so two positions remain for bowlers. The selectors need to consider variety and versatility for the 2 bowlers. Sayers is often mentioned but he is another right hand fast medium behind Hazelhurst, Cummins and Bird (currently). Arguably Sayers offers little variety to the attack. MMarsh bowls right hand medium pace. Tremain is also worthy of consideration but is also a right hand fast medium and not really a game changer. Rainbird has 2017-18 SS figures of 18 wickets for 24.61 and is a left armer....coverage for Starc? With Lyon in the team, the other spinner needs to bowl leg-spin or left arm off spin to move the ball away from a right handed bat. Our options seem limited here. Forget Steve Smith's leggies. Steve O'Keefe is somewhat back to the future but he offers considerable Shield experience and success. Overall, O'Keefe has 35 wickets from 9 Tests at average of 29.4. In 2017, he has 25 wickets from 6 Tests at average of 26.92. My,admittedly left field, extra 2 bowlers are Rainbird and O'Keefe. My early picks for SA are then the current XI plus Starc. The four additions are Maxwell, Burns, O'Keefe and Rainbird.
Dogs Boddy
Roar Rookie
I'm getting a bit sick of reading stories aimed purely at bringing Maxwell into the side. If the new standard is 3-4 quiet tests we won't have a full time lineup for years to come. Stop, please just stop.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Some pundits were concerned about Smith's form loss prior to the Ashes because he only averaged 29 in Bangladesh, had a couple of failures in the Indian ODI's and scored 3 and 9 in his first Shield game of the summer.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
The benchmark for success at 10 seems a little low to me. Less than 20 is a failure as a batsman, more than 20 and less than 35 is a waste of a start. Agree totally about Joe Burns
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
I am not saying Khawaja or Bancroft should be dropped. I am however, agreeing with the author of this article that neither player are safe for South Africa, if recent selection habits are continued. I am happy to reaffirm my opinion that an average of 30 this summer on home test wickets, with little grass and less sideways movement, against an English bowling attack that for much of the series seemed disinterested, should not be seen as a success. Other players have been dropped for that or better in recent times. Joe Burns scored 165 and 70 three tests prior to being dropped and two of those tests weren't on familiar home pitches. Maxwell again, three tests after a century, didn't get a chance to play his first test on home soil. Whether they are right right or wrong, all I am saying is the selection panel have prior and recent form regarding "safe selection criteria".
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Hayden's first few series weren't convincing, although he did have his hand broken by Allan Donald In South Africa, get dropped after averaging 35 against the West Indies, scoring 125 in Adelaide and a fighting 47 in the second innings on a horrid WACA pitch. Extras were our second top scorer in that innings, by the way. Still, Hayden kept making tons of runs in shield and county cricket and selectors recalled him a couple of years later and backed him for a few tests. Hayden didn't average 40 in test cricket until his 16th test match, when he scored his 3rd test hundred. Langer took 30 tests to reach an average of 40. He had scored his 6th test century to reach an average of 40. Coincidentally, both players centuries were their first double century. In the past decade, selectors have given very few batsmen 16 or 30 tests to find themselves. I guess that's the difference when you aren't winning most of the time.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
He was dropped for a fifth bowling option on what was expected to be a flat WACA pitch. However, without Shield matches being played while the BBL is on, he could well be recalled without doing much at all. BBL form should have no bearing on test selections.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
That innings in Tassie is the reason I would persist with Khawaja even if he isn't at his best. The point Ronan made, which i agree with is simply this- Averaging 30 in this series with a couple of 50's might not be enough for our selection panel and both Khawaja and Bancroft will need more runs if they want to feel safe regarding the South African tour.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
At the start of the series he was more side-on than he was in this innings. Probably just a unhelpful habit which should be easily addressed. I must admit it surprised me because it looked most unBancroft-like. He will need it to be quickly corrected to make some runs given how ruthless our selectors have shown themselves to be recently.
Stephen
Guest
Well said Dingo, i didn't realise khawaja is yet to be dismissed for less then 10 this summer, he also has 2 half centuries in the last 2 games, i am not even sure why we are talking about him lol
Stephen
Guest
Hard to drop a batsman where his last 2 games has got him 2 half centuries lol, khawaja will come good
Stephen
Guest
Khawaja averages 45 in test cricket, was our best batsman last summer, has 2 half centuries in the last 2 games and top scored under lights in adelaide, he is our best number 3 by a mile
Stephen
Guest
lol nice one
Stephen
Guest
Khawja was our best batssman last summer and he has 2 half centuries in his last 2 games, any talk on him is actually funny to say the least. Also not to mention we are 3-0 up but i guess we need to sell papers someway
Stephen
Guest
Yeah i agree with you sheek that khawaja has 2 half centuries in the last 2 games, any such discussion is to be fair not called for but its interesting to talk about it lol. We are also 3-0 up so once again none of this is required
Stephen
Guest
What happened mate was that around the time bancroft got out the pitch had slowed down alot and all batsman after that struggled, only the first hour or two was easier to bat on as the ball was coming on. Khawaja fought and got out and others also fought and got out, we didn't get a good total in the end and it was because the pitch has slowed down alot
Stephen
Guest
Look i am a big khawaja fan and a fan of our team and we need to stop attacking the marsh brothers and any other players in the team as we are one team
Stephen
Guest
Don't worry mate, in south africa khawaja will be our biggest weapon as there is no better player of pace on tough tracks then khawaja