We wouldn’t be having this conversation if every one of the current Australian Test team had the attitude and ability of Pat Cummins.
Even though the baggy greens lost the MCG third Test, Cummins posted his career-best bowling figures of 6-27 off 11, and highest career score of 63.
He was on the MCG for 313 of the 363 overs bowled in the five days, giving his all with every ball, so little wonder he was knackered when stumps were pulled.
Since Tim Paine took over as captain there have been six Tests with one win over India by 147, an honourable draw with Pakistan in Dubai, and four losses by 492, 373, 137, and 31 to South Africa, Pakistan and India.
There have been very rare Cummins-type dedication among those losses.
In fact, Aaron Finch, and the Marsh brothers could be dropped for the SCG Test, and wouldn’t be missed.
So adding Labuschagne to the squad isn’t nearly enough, but adding Joe Burns as well would have made more sense.
Then the batting order for the SCG could be Usman Khawaja, Marcus Harris, Burns, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Labuschagne, Paine, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Josh Hazlewood.
The biggest disappointments have been Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis for not living up to their all-round status at a time when Australia seriously needed one at six.
Mitchell in particular as he’s been given many chances, and blown them.
In 31 Tests he has a batting average of 25.39, and a bowling average of 42.91.
Switch those stats around, and he’d be perfect for the job, while Maxwell and Stoinis keep giving away their wickets cheaply, slamming the selection door shut.
So that’s opened the door for Labuschagne who is averaging only 28 with the Sheffield Shield bat, and 59 with the ball – hardly riveting.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Despite being expensive in the Shield, his leggies may yet be embraced on a turning SCG strip, time will tell.
But there’s are only three Tests to go before Steve Smith and David Warner see out their 12-month suspensions on March 29 – the SCG Test with India, and two more against Sri Lanka at the Gabba and Manuka in late January, early February.
Then some selection normality will return, and not before time.
Machiavelli
Guest
Just released, Langer's team for Sydney: 1. Adam Marsh (c. 1200-1259), English Franciscan, scholar and theologian 2. Adrian Marsh (born 1978), English cricketer 3. Albert L. Marsh (1877-1944), American metallurgist 4. Albert Marsh (Medal of Honor recipient) (d. 1895), U.S. Medal of Honor recipient 5. Anna Marsh (??-1834), who established the Vermont Asylum of the Insane 6. Anne Marsh-Caldwell (1791–1874), English novelist 7. Arthur Hardwick Marsh (1842-1909), English painter and watercolourist 8. Brad Marsh (born 1958), former Canadian professional ice hockey player 9. Carol Marsh (born 1929), British film actress 10. Charles Marsh (disambiguation), any of several people by that name 11. Clifton E. Marsh (born 1946), American author, sociologist and educator
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Correct. The fielders need to hold on to those catches.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
An allrounder is one who could be picked in a team solely because of his batting or bowling like a Botham or Kallis or Sobers. Watson was on his way o being an allrounder but injuries did him out. We don't have any allrounders.
liquorbox_
Roar Rookie
And as I said, we dont need an all rounder, we have enough bowlers of high quality, we need 6 batsmen. We need to score runs, our bowlers are up to the challenge.
anon
Roar Pro
Maxwell has played 7 Tests all away from home. You're talking as though he's been given the same opportunities to succeed as the Marsh brothers. Maxwell has s better first-class average than the Marsh brothers.
Larry1950
Guest
Sorry David, you forgot to mention the failed experiment of the 2 test career of Hilton Cartwright in addition to those mentioned. Never quite understood what that was all about, except maybe another WA boy getting pushed by Langer.
Mark Bendall
Guest
The Sandpaper man (Bancroft) has finished his suspension. He played for the scorchers last night.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
88 sleeps until Sandpaper Man, The Attack Dog & Sergeant Schultz (I know nothing) become available.
MrKistic
Roar Rookie
Your bias here belies the facts Mr Lord. In Maxwell’s last test series he scored a century batting at number 6. He was still averaging 40+ in the Shield games he could actually get to this year, including an unlucky run out. Not exactly throwing away his wicket. Unless of course you’re talking about a different form of the game where he’s come in late to make quick runs at a high strike rate so is getting out while having a crack?
pakistanstar
Roar Rookie
Amazing that India managed to take all 20 wickets in Melbourne without the help of a dedicated 5th bowler. 6 batsman with 1 being able to roll the arm over made our selectors look silly by picking a bits & pieces players who's clearly not up to it.
Mark
Guest
Correction - Maxwell has played 2 FC matches this summer - 57, 35, 34* and 0 - for an average of 42.
Mark
Guest
David, I don't think you are being fair to Stoinis and Maxwell when you say they (along with Marsh) have been the biggest disappointments. Stoinis has never played a test - not sure how you can be a disappointment when you have never been picked. Maxwell may have played some silly shots in his career, but he still has a good record for Australia in ODI and T20. He has only played 7 tests. In Ranchi in March 2017 he scored a dedicated and eventually match-saving test hundred (batting with Steve Smith) but since then he has only been picked for 3 tests, all outside Australia and none since October 2017. As has been mentioned in other comments here he was told by the selectors not to play county cricket in 2018 but to rest up for the A- team tour and the Pakistan tests. They then didn't select him for the A-team tour and picked Labuschagne for the test tour on the basis of 1 half-century. He has only been available for 1 first class match since, so has been unable to score the runs the selectors say they want him to score. but in 2017/18 he scored a massive 278 against NSW and still wasn't picked for the test team.
Ben
Roar Rookie
When was the last time he gave his wicket away? 2 of his dismissals this season were good balls and 1 was a run out. Please stick to facts. There is no justification for picking Labuschagne.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
I actually think this team needs one really good batsman added to it. The rest can then get a lift from that quality. Presumably the selectors are taking the view that Warner will slot back in as opener, with Harris as his partner. Finch is just there as a holding pattern. When Warner returns, Finch drops down the order to replace Mitch Marsh and Steve Smith comes back in at the expense of Shaun Marsh. That’s an immeasurably better team.
buttery
Roar Rookie
Sack Langer
keith hurst
Roar Pro
You have to feel sorry for the selectors as no one is putting their hands up for selection. But you don’t recycle duds, you carefully introduce younger players and persevere with them. This should be done for the Sri Lanka tests, not SCG. Renshaw must come back as the long term partner for Warner,
Josso
Guest
To quote an except from Geoff Lemon's article from today : "It’s worth recapping that Maxwell was told not to play county cricket in 2018 so he could rest for the Australia A tour, then told he would miss that tour because he was a lock for the UAE Tests, then told he wasn’t in the Test squad because Labuschagne had made a fifty on the A tour."
Steve
Guest
Our bowlers need all the help they can get.
jammel
Guest
Well said! I'm all in on Renshaw + Burns in the top six for the Ashes! Warner Renshaw Khawaja Smith Burns SMarsh PaineC+ Cummins Starc Lyon Hazlewood (note: six batsmen selected in this XI...) Main Reserves=Head, Bird, Tremain
David Lord
Expert
What is an all-rounder liquorbox? Try a batsman, and a bowler.