Following the disastrous series against Pakistan, the challenge was laid out to Australia’s Sheffield Shield batsmen to score runs and push for selection for the upcoming Test series against India.
Of the top seven who played Pakistan, only captain Tim Paine, Usman Khawaja and Aaron Finch appear certain of playing in Adelaide.
Shaun Marsh struggled but after some good ODI and Shield form, he should hold onto his spot – for the time being.
His brother, Mitch, has had more than enough chances and needs at least two seasons of solid Shield cricket before being considered for Test selection.
Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head need to play more Shield cricket before playing Tests again.
Unfortunately, Matt Renshaw is in a form slump and shouldn’t play
Matt Renshaw. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
The players who should come into the Test side are the Shield’s three leading run scores – Alex Doolan, Marcus Harris and Matthew Wade.
Wade would also give the side a decent medium-pace option, which the selectors crave.
Doolan and Harris should open the batting, with Khawaja at three and Finch down to four. Marsh would bat at five, with Wade at six.
Paine, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood would make up the rest of the playing XI.
Chris Tremain should go as the reserve fast bowler, after picking up the player of the tournament award in the Shield, while Glenn Maxwell – who had an excellent Shield season last year (but hasn’t played red ball cricket since March, due to scheduling and bad management) – should be backup for the currently injured Khawaja.
My squad for the Adelaide Test
Alex Doolan
Marcus Harris
Usman Khawaja (vc)
Aaron Finch
Shaun Marsh
Matthew Wade
Tim Paine (c, wk)
Pat Cummins
Mitch Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood (vc)
12th Man: Chris Tremain
13th Man: Glenn Maxwell
Samlaurence26
Roar Rookie
Given the squad, Aus will be missing his bowling influence ;)
JamesH
Roar Guru
I agree, but that's not Marsh's fault. All he can do is go back to the Shield and score runs, which he did. Maxwell has been treated poorly by the selectors in the last 12 months.
Freddy from Boni
Guest
Renshaw will play 100+ tests. We know he is capable. IMO its time to pick and stick long-term with him. 1.Renshaw 2.Harris 3.Khawaja 4.S.Marsh 5.Finch (c) 6.Burns 7.Wade (I know it won't happen but I think his form warrants it) / Paine
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Agreed, he's not really a bowling option. I don't think one is needed. If required, he can bowl 2-3 overs every now and then but it shouldn't be part of planning.
Dodgy Dragons
Roar Rookie
I’d love to see the selectors pick this line up although I think I’m peeing into the wind. Renshaw (Harris) Finch Usman Burns Ferguson Maxwell Paine Bowlers. At least these blokes can build a test innings and won’t get out to cheap white ball cricket shots. Burns and Renshaw have done well in the past before being thrown on the scrap heap, whereas marsh bros get picked failure after failure, and I'd like to see maxwell get a decent shot on aust soil. Finch only just holds on at the moment, but goes as soon as Smith etc come back
Rob JM
Guest
If only the Dorf didn’t have the fragility of a Bruce Reid!
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
One More Time! If you're applying this Recent Form Matters philosophy to T1 selections then the first bloke dropped should be Starc. His last 10 fc innings returns are; 33.4/5/110/1 v South Africa Port Elizabeth 9 Mar 2018 3.0/0/15/0 v South Africa Port Elizabeth 9 Mar 2018 21.0/3/81/1 v South Africa Cape Town 22 Mar 2018 23.0/5/98/1 v South Africa Cape Town 22 Mar 2018 36.2/11/90/1 v Pakistan Dubai (DSC) 7 Oct 2018 6.0/ 1/18/0 v Pakistan Dubai (DSC) 7 Oct 2018 12.0/3/37/2 v Pakistan Abu Dhabi 16 Oct 2018 7.0/0/32/1 v Pakistan Abu Dhabi 16 Oct 2018 23/4/71/1 v Qld Manuka 16 Nov 2018 9/3/27/1 v Qld Manuka 16 Nov 2018 So that's 8 @ 58.6. And his returns with the bat in those matches total 81 @ 10.1. So, does that "recent form" justify selection?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I think he's captaining The Scorchers.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You really are struggling. If it doesn't work the first post, it's not worth trying again.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
To which comment do you refer? You seem to like this, 'King of Queens called “Silent Mite” ' stuff. You said it twice and it still makes no sense. Is it a cricket reference?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Your first two paragraphs make no sense. I wonder what you tried to say. Either way, you have obviously back tracked once you saw his numbers because you don't argue against them.
dan ced
Guest
I suppose his is a little too close to Doolan's situation if I remove my redback coloured glasses. I have just liked what I've seen from him in this calendar year, I'd rather Ferg but Cooper has some nice centuries on the board in first class and list A recently. (I secretly want #langerbias to bring klinger out of retirement though)
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
or maybe others didn't even get a game to show what they have got. Stoinis,Maxwell is example.
john goerge
Guest
Don, thank you for that comment. I agree. An episode of King of Queens called "Silent Mite" sums up the Aussie bating lineup perfectly. Pick Will Bosisto. He can be the wild card that the selectors toss into the mix season. Previous wild cards include Timothy Paine, Nicholas Maddinson and Robert Quiney.
john goerge
Guest
Don, thank you, An episode of King of Queens called "Silent Mite" sums up the Aussie bating lineup perfectly. Pick Will Bosisto. He can be the wild card that the selectors toss into the mix season. Previous wild cards include Timothy Paine, Nicholas Maddinson and Robert Quiney.
john goerge
Guest
I agree Ronan. so ronan who is your XI for the first test then? Please pick who you geninely think will be picked, not who you want. Or supply both XIs if you like.
john goerge
Guest
Don, your comments are vital but mitey off the mark. there is an episode of "king of queens" called "Silent Mite" which sums up the selection quantry to a tea. Id prefer Marsh over Wade. Wade is a hooligan and pretty much lets warner and his bogan-esque ways back in the team. Wade and Warner are not pedigree enough for test cricket. Save it for the lads from private schools. Not the scrappers. Not the park trundlers. Pick a XI who deserve it. Mitch does not.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He was dropped by SA and only got a game when Fergie got injured. He took his chance and scored big. Many Shield cricketers do that. You could mount and argument for Will Bosisto, Moses Henriques or Nick Larkin if you are going to make a case for Cooper or Doolan. They are just sound Shield players who from time to time stand up. Trent Copeland could get picked as a Test batsman...he's averaging 97 after 4 Shield games!
JamesH
Roar Guru
How about the other 'tun' he scored against the Poms? Or the 90-odd he scored that won us the first test in SA? I can't believe I'm defending Mitch Marsh but he is actually in decent form. He just had a poor couple of tests against Pakistan but he was batting too high.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I agree they haven't set the world on fire. If they just plod, I hope we slot in Tremain, or one of the others, to keep the heat on. I just hope they don't take the foot off just because they are the 'Big 3'. Keep 'em honest. They should be expected to burn not just do OK.