Trevor Hohns, the Australian chairman of selectors, has been sweltering sitting in the empty Dubai stands watching the two batsmen he has so often ignored leading the fight against Pakistan in the first Test.
Usman Khawaja has been the perennial whipping boy once Tests on the sub-continent arrive, while Aaron Finch played 619 career games before he earned his first baggy green.
Both are 31, and have opened the batting in Dubai with stands of 142 and 72 for a combined 214.
But once they were parted, 13 wickets have fallen for 124 with Australia needing an impossible 326 more to win, or bat out the final day for an honourable draw.
Khawaja has been the pilot, for which he’s qualified, with 85 and an unbeaten 53, while Finch has contributed 62 and 49 on a track that has given up plenty of turn requiring boundless patience.
Usman Khawaja. (AAP Image/David Moir)
Not so for the rest.
The Marsh brothers, Shaun and Mitchell as senior members of the side, have only managed 19 between them in four visits to the crease, while two other debutants Travis Head and Manus Labuschagne both started with ducks. Head is unbeaten on 34 the second time ’round.
To round off the top seven, skipper Tim Paine managed only seven in his one dig.
It’s been like watching the Wallabies in their first half against the Pumas in Salta last weekend.
Embarrassing.
But there won’t be a comeback like the Wallabies, the remaining batsmen will do themselves proud if they can hang on for the draw.
The pre-Test words of new baggy green coach Justin Langer must be ringing in their ears.
“Set yourselves for long innings, be patient,” was Langer’s advice.
If only.
And what must be ringing in Langer and Hohns’ ears were the words of former Test selector Mark Waugh, saying he would have picked Glenn Maxwell.
Why no love for the ‘Big Show’? (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Somehow, he was left behind.
All seven Tests Maxwell has played have been on the sub-continent. His only Test ton was at Ranchi last year.
While he’s averaging a mere 26, he plays spin well, he’s a world-class fieldsman, and even his very friendly offies would turn on this Dubai track.
It’s staggering how much carnage has been caused with the suspension of Steve Smith, and David Warner, and to a lesser extent Cameron Bancroft.
And that will remain the case until March next year for Smith and Warner.
So it will be left to Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch to lead the way in the interim, but they can’t steady the ship on their own.
There is one bonus, they won’t have to get a phone call from Trevor Hohns telling them they haven’t made the side.
We must be grateful for small pickings these days.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Good call.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
It's a 'delicious' scenario approaching - a big test. I'll lower my expectations however!! By the way David Lord - the 2nd inngs opening stand was 87 and not 72.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
I thought the selectors were now after '30s' to avoid batting collapses. Ironically enough - Maxy in India and Bangladesh only failed to find double figures twice (104 & 2, 8 & 45, 23 & 14, 38 & 25* for 264 from 7 outs at almost 38). S.Marsh wasn't in Bangladesh but his 4 tests in India saw him out for single digits in 5 of 8 hits (16 & 0, 66 & 9, 2 & 53, 4 & 1 for 151 from 8 at 19). So even on the '30 is the new 50' principle - Maxwell's last clutch of tests is pretty close on the mark??
Big Daddy
Guest
If I was Finch I would retire straight away while his average is above fifty. These new guys were only ever going to be fill ins but the Marsh's have been so called senior players for a long time with too much inconsistency. But while Langer is there they will survive.
Ouch
Roar Rookie
Glenn Maxwell must have signed to play for Randwick.
Paul
Roar Guru
David, Hohns must be having ulcers as the head National selector. Maxwell's not there because the selectors want him to get more runs, fair enough (?), but the guys he and the other selectors think are locks to bat long and score plenty of runs fail miserably in 4 innings. I'd love to see the team persist with Labuschagne for the next Test and obviously Renshaw has to come back into the side, assuming he's fit. If he isn't maybe that's the excuse the selectors need to send him home and bring in the Big Show.
Don
Roar Rookie
Are we in Bizarro World? David advocating for Glenn Maxwell’s selection after 4 years of columns on The Roar bagging him? And the reason why Aaron Finch hasn’t been selected in the Test side earlier is because we have always had better players than him available.
Stevevo
Roar Rookie
I love the big shows work. who doesn`t. having said that, he could be so much more than he is. I don`t think he has been managed very well. He needs to knuckle down and get a few hundreds and he`ll be back. 70`s and 80`s will do for most selectors, but Mr Hohns will want tons. He`s a little old school. Come on Maxy, let them have it mate, we are all behind you.
Kopa shamsu
Guest
No they did not. Surely it is encouraging but more need to be seen from both specially from khawaja. He was lucky to get 80 , an answer can be demanded why he was half way down the track where he could be easily stumped, without that he played a couple of ugly shot from mars which is not expected of a senior batsman after having so much experience in sub continent. Finch was also little shaky in first innings but then it is his debut. Their second innings were comparatively impressive only to almost ruin it by khawaja at the end of the day. All in all we should wait till series is complete to rank this two. As far as debutants duo, they were against all odds from entire universe when they came out to bat. Head has played some beautiful confident shot so far in second innings. Marnus has 1 innings still,and let's not forget his bowling efforts. This two will also be in my "let's see a little more" category. And then comes the brothers of destruction. The big brother undertaker really "undertaken" entire team from all important number 3 positions. And vice kapitan Kane contributed a century through impressive catching with ground Took 3 wickets with bat!! 12/2 at 8 over in first innings Scored valuable 38 runs with ball in first innings. Only Ronan can tell us why vice kapitan did not score anything in second innings with ball (citing his superior shield record which Ronan loves to do every time)which otherwise could have been game changer we can safely assume!!!