Yesterday’s announcement of the ODI and T20 teams to tour England and Zimbabwe raised some interesting talking points, with continuity in the aftermath of the ball-tampering scandal at the forefront of discussions.
Here are five points worth considering.
1. The ODI captaincy is in a holding pattern
Tim Paine has followed his Test captaincy selection with the top job in ODI team, though Trevor Hohns has suggested he may not be the long-term skipper in this form of the game.
No doubt the selectors have looked for a stable start to this new era, and given the reins to Paine to continue his vision of leadership and culture that began in the final Test of the South African tour. It will also give him and new coach Justin Langer the chance to bond in their positions together.
But with Aaron Finch missing out on the job, does this suggest the selectors aren’t sure he is the man to take this team to the World Cup?
2. The best-performing specialist spinner must be selected
Adam Zampa has not quite managed to do enough to hold his spot, and Ashton Agar is still a better bat and fielder than a bowler. You don’t select ‘part time’ pace bowlers in your ODI team, and it is unlikely that Travis Head or Glenn Maxwell will trouble many top flight batsmen with their versions of spin.
Specialist spinners are doing the job for other countries around the world, and Nathan Lyon has shown over the past two seasons that he is Australia’s best.
His team now needs him to do what he has been doing in the Test arena: take charge by bowling aggressively for wickets to halt the charge of the middle overs.
Nathan Lyon has a chance to stake a claim for regular ODI selection. (AFP / Jekesai Nijikizana)
3. D’Arcy Short’s rise is complete
Before last season, Short had played only five domestic one day matches over six seasons. Now, he has been fast-tracked to probably replace David Warner at the top of the order.
It will not be an easy task on the seaming English wickets, and he has been undone by spin in the IPL, although aiding his selection is his left-arm slow bowling, which has netted 16 first-class wickets and 12 one-day domestic wickets at a reasonable average.
Despite the point above about specialist spinners being required over part-timers, having more players in the team who can contribute when necessary is always a good thing.
4. Is Nic Maddinson’s selection a sign of the changing world of cricket?
Maddinson has lost his state contract, but while his BBL figures were reasonable – with 291 runs at 32.33 in ten games during BBL07, at a strike rate of 145.50 – are we going to have more players chosen in the national T20 set-up who only have Big Bash contracts?
It’s feasible to ask, as fellow non-contracted player Chris Lynn failed to be chosen in either squad, despite having been in both teams in January, only to fall victim to injury on both occasions.
Lynn has been playing IPL and proven his fitness, but now appears on the outer again. It is a selection process that is difficult to follow at times.
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5. Alex Carey’s selection cements his own rise into national colours
While picked as a specialist batsman in the ODI squad, and as keeper and vice-captain in the T20 squad, he has been impressive in his short stint so far, and looks to have been anointed as the next keeper following Tim Paine.
That his leadership skills have been recognised so early also suggests that perhaps future leaders are being sought from outside of the tightknit squad of recent years – from which a change in culture is thought to be required.
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