We all remember it well – Shaun Marsh, battling a back injury at the time, making a superb unbeaten 99 to propel the Perth Scorchers to a BBL win and four days later playing in the Boxing Day Test.
We remember like it happened yesterday, but in fact it came in just the seventh game of the inaugural season of the revamped Big Bash League. The innings that gave way to the notion that, while the domestic cricket calendar is an imperfect beast, ‘a good knock is a good knock’ irrespective of format actually happened back in the summer of 2011-12.
Obviously it wasn’t Marsh’s fault he was picked. He just went out, played a memorable BBL knock and won a recall to the Test team that featured Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey below him in the order. It put him face to face with an Indian batting order including Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni.
And yes, for the completeness of this picture, Marsh failed in Melbourne. And again in Sydney. And Perth. And Adelaide. Like, 17-runs-in-six-innings failed. He held his place for the tour of South Africa that followed and promptly made 148 and 44 at Centurion to secure the next stint of his career.
But regardless of the outcome, Marsh’s Big Bash 99* set a precedent that remains today. And it doesn’t really matter what you think of the meaningfulness of that precedent; the precedent exists, and it’s been used before just as it will be again.
So with the schedule still the imperfect beast it is and with the Australian batting order in the state that it is, it’s worth suspending personal beliefs to examine the question:
Who is most likely to win the Shaun Marsh-style of Test recall from the BBL this summer?
Here’s some possibilities.
Matt Renshaw
It’s not going to happen as long as he can’t break into the Brisbane Heat order comprising young dashers Max Bryant and Sam Heazlett and a middle order of Chris Lynn, Brendon McCullum, and Joe Burns, as far as I can see.
In truth, much of the drive behind a Renshaw recall is coming from promising signs in his first stint and a pretty solid grade cricket season in Brisbane, including a Queensland Premier cricket record score of 345 for Toombul back in early December.
Because his Shield record of 199 runs at just under 20 certainly isn’t helping his cause.
(AAP Image/David Moir)
Joe Burns
Burns is a popular pick for a return to the Australian order, and plenty of armchair and actual experts had him coming into the side for the Sydney Test starting Thursday.
But he’s had as a tough a time in the BBL for the Heat as the Heat have themselves this summer.
Scores of 20 (from 14 balls), four (6), and four (9) aren’t exactly screaming ‘pick me’, but in a relatively inexperienced Heat squad Burns is going to remain a crucial cog for the rest of the competition. And with a one-day call-up unlikely, Burns is going to have a few opportunities between now and the Brisbane Test in late January to enhance his already strong case.
Glenn Maxwell
Another popular choice, and I don’t mind admitting to being part of the crowd that firmly believes Melbourne Stars skipper Maxwell could just as easily perform that same role Marnus Labuschagne has been added to the Test squad to play.
Maxwell so far has a four-ball duck in the Stars’ rain-affected first game loss, 47 (34 balls), eight (11), and 33 (22) last night. Like Burns, it’s not knocking-down-the-door brilliant, but Maxwell similarly has a decent first-class record this season, which will help.
And any runs that Maxwell makes during his likely involvement in the one-dayers against India can only help too. Maxwell has a distinct advantage over pretty much anyone else in the Test selection frame this summer in that he should get a chance to add to his case against an international attack.
He still seems the obvious choice in this field.
(AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi)
Marcus Stoinis
I’m going to admit up front that I’m not a Stoinis fan. His bowling is more than useful in limited overs, to be fair, but his batting is far too loose to solve any of the abundant technical deficiencies in the Australian top order. If I’m to remain honest, I don’t see that Stoinis is any further advanced as a cricketer as Mitch Marsh.
But his unbeaten 78 for the Stars to win the Melbourne derby last night was exactly the sort of innings that is going to get noticed by national selector desperate for something, anything, to turn around the fortunes.
A couple of Shield 80s for Western Australia will help and, like Maxwell, he’ll get opportunities during the one-dayers too.
It’s a hard pass from me, but nothing surprises me about selection any more. Stoinis is going to be in the frame.
Some smokies
Matthew Wade has backed up an impressive Shield season with two more BBL 50s at the top of the Hobart order. As a Test batsman Wade averaged about eight runs fewer then Tim Paine does, but he’s probably the form batsman in Australia right now.
Cameron Bancroft is available again, and the clear failure of Aaron Finch as an opener means that anyone capable of facing the new ball is going to be looked at. He hasn’t started well with a three-ball duck, but he’ll get two more BBL chances this week alone.
And to finish, I wonder what former Test No.3 Alex Doolan needs to do to get noticed? ‘Runs’ is the obvious answer, and his 41* against Perth on Sunday is his only BBL score of note this summer. He sits quietly among the top Shield run-scorers and has been opening for Tasmania this season.
I’m sure someone will emerge from the BBL with a baggy green before the season is done, it’s just a matter of who can pull off the Shaun Marsh innings.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
"Even the Indians find our Sheffield Shield hiatus in December-January quite odd. Now, when you see how the Indians treat many of their own, like the poor, & including in some communities their women, we don’t need to be lectured by them on anything!" Your words, not mine. And my lack of "anything constructive to say" is exasperation because I'm responding to the continuation of your ad hominem attacks on anyone who questions aspects of Cricket Australia (in this case the Indians). This is after, in reaction to criticism of selectors, you tried to appropriate the spirit of the ANZACS and question the direction of society because people objected to certain players being chosen over others.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Sounds about right.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Problem is Renshaw is averaging 19 this Shield season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
At least Stoinis getting a "BBL call up" will be on the back of very good Shield form for this season.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Exactly. Selectors just have rigid beliefs in certain players despite them not showing enough. As for Marsh, well I guess another issue is that he's now had another 13 innings. No 50s and his average is only going down.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Why don't we have any other choice. 6 Shield matches per team were played up to 10/12. Is 3 week old form no good?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Comments like this ignore that test cricket is played throughout the year. Not just our domestic summer. We've played tests January through to March so BBL in Jan/Feb would still be at the same time as them. Why is it ok if we are playing tests away from home? Out of site, out of mind? Shield was played until 10 December. That was a little over 3 weeks ago now during the last test. That's not the issue. The issue is disregarding the form from those 6 matches already played. Plain and simple. People want to point to some conspiracy, or some structural flaw to try and sound smart. Fact is selectors are just being dumb. There's a number of batsmen that are averaging 45+ this season, and 39+ for their career. They just refuse to pick them. That's the issue. In fact, on All-Rounders, Stoinis is batting and bowling well this season. 45 with the bat and 25 with the ball. Why isn't he being seriously considered at the moment?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What players has it? You can't count Marsh because his career has shown the selectors will look for any reason to launch him into test selection frame.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Is a 2nd XI comp really any preparation when all the best players are playing BBL?
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
None of those. It was purely grabbing any logic they could to justify returning Marsh, something they always want to do.
mrrexdog
Roar Guru
Marsh’s abysmal series against India was in 2011/12 he was dropped for the next series. He was recalled to play South Africa in 2014 and made a century, but was dropped 2 games later when Watson returned from injury.
George
Guest
But outweighed I'd say by the freedom afforded to Ponting by playing in such a strong team. Lara in particular excelled in an increasingly lacklustre side.
George
Guest
Khawaja got 'punted' because they didn't have the balls to drop a clearly past it Punter.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I think you’ll find Border spent far more time at 5 and 6 than 4. Some greats also batted 3; Ponting, Headley, Bradman, Dravid, Amla. Some others spent long stints of their career their like Khan. It’s a tough gig batting first drop, you have to be both opening and stroke maker. I personally think it’s one of the reasons Ponting is more impressive as a batsman compared to Tendulkar, Kallis, Sangakkara and Lara.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
But these selectors stick rigidly to their beliefs that M Marsh will succeed one day and reinstate Handscomb despite his obvious technical flaws. Though I guess they persevered in the past with Steve Waugh when he took 41 innings to get his first ton. After 41 innings Steve had an average of 30.5 but after the tour of England in 1998/99 his average had increased to nearly 40 and the rest is history. By the end of his career S Waugh had an average of 51. I don't recall supporters being too upset with S Waugh's continued selection at the time because we could see some potential there. We don't appear to be as forgiving with M Marsh. When we compare the two S Waugh had 10 50s in his first 40 innings (and an average of 30.5). In his first 40 innings M Marsh had 2 100s and 3 50s and an average of 31.1. Not a lot of difference there in terms of averages.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Jeez there have been some very good number 4s in the past though - Greg Chappell, Viv Richards, Allan Border, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Jacques Kalis, Graeme Pollock, Martin Crowe - and currently Virat Kohli and .... Shaun Marsh. Its incredible how low our batting stocks are at present and how little it appears you have to do to get into the team (unless you are ignored like Burns and Maxwell). Blokes like Jamie Siddens, Stuart Law and Brad Hodge must have cursed their luck that they played in an era when the top 6 were so strong
Brett McKay
Expert
Paul, I've heard in recent days the idea of Australia A touring and/or playing at this time, which is a great idea, but so is Adam Gilchrist's idea last night, that maybe this is the time the Futures League is played, so that there is still some four day cricket on offer..
Brett McKay
Expert
Yeah, points taken Bushy. Also, for the record, it's my eyesight that's failed me, not memory!! :lol:
The Bush
Roar Guru
Brett, I'm not sure there will be anyone promoted into the side. If they were keen to make changes beyond Marnus for Mitch, why not just make it now? What's really interesting is what happens when Marnus fails and they need to pick the side for Brisbane? Does Mitch get recalled? He's my smokey to make a return to the side! Assuming Finch fails again, I think the calls will be too loud to be ignored. It has to be Burns, and I think he fits the bill, because they can drop him for Warner in a few months time and it doesn't really matter (to the selectors) - they've done it before, they'll do it again.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Four is not necessarily where your best batsman bats. A lot of the commentators seem to think the best batsman should bat at first drop, but really I don't think it matters - Border, Waugh and Clarke spent most of their careers at 5, whilst being the best batsmen in their teams. Those statistics about S Marsh show that he really is a very limited (test) cricketer and that, like most players his age, he's getting worse.