Former national selector Mark Waugh has questioned Glenn Maxwell’s omission for the Test series against Pakistan after Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne both made ducks on debut.
But Waugh concedes there are few batsmen banging down the door at domestic level ahead of a tough series against No.1-ranked India in the home summer.
The absence of suspended stars Steve Smith and David Warner was glaring as Australia slumped to a dismal collapse of 10-60 in the first Test in Dubai.
Aaron Finch scored 62 on debut but Head lasted just nine balls and Labuschagne two while batting at No.5 and No.6 respectively.
Pakistan declared their second innings at 6-181 shortly after lunch on day four, setting the tourists a mammoth target of 462 runs.
“It’s tough because we’ve lost our two best batsmen, haven’t we?,” Waugh said on Fox Sports.
“And three counting (Cameron) Bancroft, so there’s only a certain pool of players that are good enough to play Test cricket.
“It’s not the time to panic. I don’t think there’s many players there that would make a big difference.”
The surprise omission of Matthew Renshaw, lacking match fitness after multiple injuries, appeared to be justified when Finch and Usman Khawaja combined for a 142-run opening stand.
But Waugh, who played 128 Tests for Australia, was perplexed by Maxwell’s absence after the Victorian scored 707 runs at 50.50 in the last Sheffield Shield season.
Maxwell scored a gutsy century against India in Ranchi last year, becoming the only Australian batsman other than Smith or Warner to have made a ton in Asia over the past two years.
“The only player I would have picked is Glenn Maxwell,” Waugh said.
“I think he’s a guy with ability, can change the game, he’s a good player of spin, he can actually take the attack to the bowling side.
“Maybe you can bring back Matt Renshaw for the second Test … (but) that’s about the best we’ve got at the moment.”
Brian
Guest
Its my prediction of what the selectors will do not what they should do
Paul
Roar Guru
You've got places in your side for two guys who have scored less than 20 runs in 4 digs, but nothing for a guy who's guts it out for 2 innings on debut?
Brian
Guest
My bet for Brisbane is Khawaja Renshaw S Marsh Head Maxwell M Marsh Paine Cummins Starc Lyon Hazlewood
Ben
Roar Rookie
He is going there anyway for the t20 series so if we want to win the next game the selectors could add him to the squad. They should be listening to the Australian public and admit they stuffed up big time.
Paul
Roar Guru
Renshaw comes back and bats 3, Maxwell comes in and bats 6 for the First Test against India. I guess that means the Marsh brothers might have played their last Tests.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Is that our next series? But of a no brainer. Query what happens with the Marsh brothers.
Paul
Roar Guru
No idea what the point if this story is? Maxwell's not in the squad, end of story. Should he be in the team for the India series is a whole different issue.