When selectors dropped Shaun Marsh, his brother Mitchell and Peter Handscomb after the Indian Test series, and replaced them with the tried-and-tested Joe Burns and Matt Renshaw – plus the exciting 20-year-old Will Pucovski for the Sri Lanka series – life was simple.
Pucovski was all set to make his Test debut on the back of his 243 off 311 with 30 fours for the Vics against the West in Perth.
Cut and dried.
The team that would take the field today at the Gabba against Sri Lanka would be Marcus Harris, Burns, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Pucovski, Tim Paine (c), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson and Nathan Lyon.
But two telling changes swept through the squad.
NSW leftie Kurtis Patterson cracked 157* and 102* for a Cricket Australia XI against Sri Lanka in Hobart. He was immediately added to the Australian squad – and deservedly so.
From nowhere, Head and Cummins were then named the new vice-captains to replace the dropped Mitchell Marsh and the injured Josh Hazlewood.
Suddenly the cut and dried scene changed dramatically.
Patterson wouldn’t have been added to the squad if he wasn’t going to play at the Gabba, and Head couldn’t be stood down when he had just been appointed a vice-captain.
Now there was no room for Pucovski.
So the team that will take the field today will be Harris, Burns, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head, Patterson (on debut), Paine (c), Cummins, Starc, Richardson (on debut) and Lyon.
How Peter Siddle managed to get a squad berth remains a mystery, but his non-selection was just as cut and dried after his 2-162 off 25 overs in three ODIs against India. It was a performance that saw him carted for 25 fours and two sixes, compared with Richardson’s 6-112 off 30 with just six boundaries in a virtual head-to-head.
The average was 81 to 18.67 – but Siddle still managed the drink waiter’s job, which Pucovski missed out on as well.
He plummeted from the penthouse to the basement in a matter of days.
Will Pucovski. (Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
But if the selectors had any sense of the occasion, they still could have awarded Patterson, Pucovski and Richardson their Test debuts.
In fact, the recent performances of all three demanded just that.
In a summer when centuries have been as scarce as hen’s teeth, Patterson’s 157* and 102* double was a given, Pucovski’s 243 was also a given – as was Richardson’s 6-112.
If there had to be a scapegoat, it was Joe Burns who hasn’t cracked a century this summer, even though he went close with 96.
That would have been really tough on Burns, but it was even tougher on Pucovski.
Promote Khawaja to open with Harris, and move the current order up one, leaving space for Pucovski.
Today’s team should read Harris, Khawaja, Labuschagne, Head, Patterson, Pucovski, Paine, Cummins, Starc, Richardson and Lyon.
Maybe for the second Test at Manuka?
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
"Clarke was a great captain though big heads like Watson, Katich, Johnson didn’t appreciate someone with a bigger ego than them." Do you spot the problem in this statement? It's a pretty big one, so it should be easy...
Tanmoy Kar
Guest
Yes, as Khawaja is a sitting-duck against spinners in any wickets, he should open and score some runs while pacers are on.
Simoc
Guest
Absolute rubbish CtD. Clarke was a great captain though big heads like Watson, Katich, Johnson didn't appreciate someone with a bigger ego than them. Paine is still learning but is better than Smith because Smith had no control over Warner. Paine hasn't got Warner in the team. I don't blame Warner, I blame Smith.
Ducky
Roar Rookie
I wholeheartedly agree with this comment a young batsman who needs to be handled very carefully to achieve a long career rather than thrown in in the basis of a few great innings in domestic cricket and burnt out.
Rob Murphy
Guest
It will be OK. The future test captain is now in the mix. He debuts today. Patterson has all the credentials to be the future skipper. From NSW, and a batsman. Keep the tradition alive. Onwards and upwards!
Ronald Graham
Guest
Sour grapes
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Yeah - Frankie has come from looking out of place on a BBL field to a good to very good FC cricketer at least. Right now in Brissie - Richardson is winning the 'bowl off' against Starc. Time to move on (at least for now). Send Starc back to the shield to rediscover his mojo.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Paine's first class stats are ordinary, but in tests he has the second highest average for an Australian keeper in history, behind only Gillchrist. Ahead of Haddin, Wade, Healy, Marsh, Nevill, etc.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Clarke had a huge amount of talent as a batsman, and pretty good tactical nous - no doubt about it. But you can't tell me he had unanimous support of his team-mates, and didn't always retain his cool either on or off the field.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Well, I did say it was early days...:) A few observations/opinions... He seems to have the support of the team. He appears to be willing to be proactive rather than reactive. Doesn't lose his cool - there were some very trying circumstances in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests and Paine retained his composure. Is a good public face of the Australian team in interviews and press conferences. Again, just my thoughts...
Matt H
Roar Guru
Burns has been rewarded for being the top two scorers in the Shield over the past three seasons. And for having scored 3 centuries in his first 13 tests. And for top scoring in his most recent test innings. And for averaging 47 in this year's shield. But they were terrible shots. Labuschagne is a mystery, but my take is now that he has been selected (incorrectly in my view) he needs to be persevered with because he's actually done ok in his first three tests.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Well Sayers certainly won't but the other two would not look out of place. Mennie had a really good county season from memory. Add Worrall to the list of underrated pacemen.
Matt H
Roar Guru
Probably true and in that case he will have done his job. The one factor that hasn't been mentioned as much is that he is an excellent keeper. and that is actually his main job.
David Lord
Expert
Easy, in my book Travis Head's at The Gabba because he'd just been appointed vice-captain. The selectors could hardly put (vc) against his name, then flick him before he played one Test in his new role.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Somewhat harsh on Siddle. I can only assume that the intent is that he'll be in the squad in England - and on present form I'd suggest that perhaps Hazlewood/Richardson, Cummins, Siddle and Lyon in English conditions.....assuming that Sayers, Mennie, Tremain won't be making the trip.
James P
Guest
Perhaps the metric where Paine has the second highest test average of all Australian wicket keepers.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Totally agree David. But its good to see Burns get the opportunity he deserved earlier. What happens if Labuschange, Burns, Kawaja or Head fail badly in both innings of this first test? Do they make way for Pucovski in the second test? I hope so - because despite the argument to 'stick with' blokes, it's still incumbent upon them to perform when given their chance. Competition for spots is healthy and current performance must be the critical deciding, transparent factor when assessing a side that isn't established.
mickey of mo$man
Guest
siddle is crap.
Easyfromthestands
Guest
Musings from an Armchair Critic. 1. How come know one has questioned Head? 169 shield runs @34 & Test ave of 33. 2. If Finch bats 5 for Vic & opens in Tests, how come 6 is to low for the highest run getter in Shield? 3. "IF" a batting allrounder was required, Neser anyone? 312 @ 52 & 13 wickets @ 32. WC Smokey? 4. Labuschagne, WHY?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
We could do with S Waugh at the moment. Paine is doing a tough gig, give him a chance to bed it down. But Waugh had the focus of an eagle. And knew how to marshall an attack and field.