With a jam-packed five-game UAE tour starting tonight, the purported ‘locks’ in Australia’s World Cup squad will be loosened should they fail to deliver.
A brief glance at Australia’s fickle selection shifts in recent times confirm that no underperforming player is safe for long. And that’s why in just ten days from now, at the conclusions of the series, things may look decidedly different.
Still basking in the glow of a come-from-behind series win in India – Australia’s first 50-over trophy in over two years – cricket fans and experts have been piecing together their 15-man squads for the World Cup. The injection of interest on these shores is strikingly evident.
Just nine months ago the side was in tatters, on the receiving end of a 5-0 English drubbing, including a world record 481/8 at the Aussie cricket graveyard that is Trent Bridge.
Yet slowly, despite home losses this summer to South Africa and India (both 2-1), a confidence returned to Justin Langer’s side. That confidence grew, culminating in the stunning win on Indian soil that will be remembered for years to come. In short time, Australia has swung from almost certain group-stage failures to tournament dark horses.
But just as the five-Game India series elevated some players to ‘lock’ status for the World Cup (namely Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb and Adam Zampa), so too could the next fortnight spell curtains for others.
India’s Vijay Shankar. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Five games, in the current climate of Australian cricket selection, is an eternity.
Consider this: Shaun Marsh was Australia’s most in-form ODI player of the last 12 months before the recent India series. Comfortably Australia’s leading runscorer in the previous three series against India, South Africa and England, he had peeled off four tons in his his last nine games.
After touching down late in India due to his wife giving birth to their second child, he missed the first ODI. He returned for the second ODI, scoring 16, before being dismissed cheaply for 7 and 6 respectively in the games that followed.
But that was enough for selectors, who admittedly were juggling an unusually high-achieving top order. After just three lacklustre performances, Marsh was dropped. Within three games he went from nailed-on number four to fringe squad member.
The irony of Marsh’s contrastingly generous run at things at Test level isn’t lost. But to drop him after three low scores suggests that selectors won’t be looking at large sample sizes before the World Cup. It’s all about the here and now.
In a similar vein, Travis Head was cast swiftly aside earlier this summer after a brief lean run. Going into the first game of the South Africa series, Head had scored a half-century in each of his previous three ODI innings. Three failures later, however, and he was dropped, not to be included in future squads.
This is not to say he or Marsh have been harshly done by. In fact, Marsh’s axing in the fifth ODI was due to undroppable performances from teammates around him.
Rather, it’s to say that by the end of the five-game tour in the UAE, it’s wholly likely players considered safe might find themselves on the outer for World Cup selection.
Players like Zampa know the precarious nature of Australian selection. As such, he isn’t counting any chickens. “Throughout my short career I’ve found that things can change really quickly,” he said when asked if he was thinking about the World Cup.
“I know what it’s like to be in and out of the team, and be dropped from the squad full stop so I’m just trying to make the most of my position at the moment.”
Australia’s Adam Zampa in action. (AAP Image/SNPA, John Cowpland)
Marsh, on the other hand, gave selectors a little reminder of what he brings.
“It’s my 19th year (of professional cricket), so I’ve got a lot of experience. I’d like to think that would count.”
Langer has confirmed Marsh will be given a chance to prove himself in the UAE. But if he or the players around him show signs of a slump, they’ll soon find themselves joining the ultra-competitive scramble for spots.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
That's the beauty of being able to write articles which are pure opinion, Wes, apparently you can have a bob each way, play devils advocate or just simply confuse the hell out readers. Our author's response I assume would be if people are still talking about it, job done.
Wes P
Roar Rookie
i2i, the same guy is plumping for Stoinis to be given the flick as at 14/4.19! Little bit ac/DC doncha think?
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Thanks David for a clear analysis of the fickleness of recent selection. I was starting to think I was in an alternative universe after Marsh was seemingly dropped after a couple of failures and half the pundits seemed to have assumed it was now logical to discard him after one innings from Turner, who has done very little else in any form of cricket. Hearing Alan Border and Brendon Julian say last night that he was a must pick for England on the basis of his last 12 months also helped restore sanity. It’s odd that Smith is considered an automatic World Cup selection yet his career ODI and List A record is almost identical to Marsh’s, while his last 12 months in ODIs prior to the suspension was quite poor. You wouldn’t pick Smith on the back of his T20 career (way inferior to Marsh’s) yet there is an assumption that his fantastic Test record makes him a lock for the World Cup. Meanwhile, every other man and his dog - Lynn, Short, Turner, Stoinis - is picked for ODIs and even Tests (FFS!) on the back of BBL form (or no recent form in the case of Turner). Strange logic.
Paul
Roar Guru
It's interesting see how well Neser's NOT going in the second innings now the pitch has settled down, compared to his first innings. Still bowling okay but leaving question marks about what he can do when conditions are not really in his favour. In Test cricket, I think batting as a additional weapon for a bowler is only an issue when two guys are neck and neck, with little between their bowling. In this case, I think Pattinson's clearly a front runner for an Ashes squad berth, so his batting ability is less of an issue. In his case, fitness and the ability to last out a tour is the big concern.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Pretty sure the Australia A tour is more at a similar time as the World Cup, running prior to the Ashes, rather than coinciding with it. So it will be a last chance for a bunch of players to push for a spot in the full Ashes squad, rather than providing back up during the Ashes themselves.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Australia A will be over there also, the official squad will have a lot of back up.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The two go hand-in-hand. 1) no playing across the line 2) will bring runs
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Considerable depth .....of mediocrity
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
The WACA pitch was a green seamer and QLD were pretty keen to bowl first. Deliveries going sideways off the pitch , Aaron Hardie with 4/29 in QLD's first dig, Paris and Kelly two apiece, Paris particularly with late swing. Neser's batting on the other hand is better than Pattinson against the Duke.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hello jameswm. That is the 64 thousand dollar question.
peter chrisp
Guest
CFS a big thanks 4 info will listen after AFL
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hello David Schout. That is a pretty good run in any form of the game.
Cigar Field Sobers
Roar Rookie
Friday night, NSW/Vic/Tas 10pm, Qld 9pm, SA 9:30pm, WA 7pm.
peter chrisp
Guest
David do you know what tie it starts Aussie time?
David Schout
Expert
Ah, gotcha. Yep, that's not clear - should have stipulated in the nine innings *before* landing in India. For reference, his scores before going to India read: 131, 24, 101, 8, 22, 106, 54, 131, 39.
Paul
Roar Guru
I hope you're wrong about Finch's low scores costing us games Dwanye, but suspect you're right. Hopefully if he DOES cost us a game, it won't be one that prevents us making the finals or even winning the lot.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was looking at his situation as I think the selectors would, James. Captain of the side who has to integrate Smith & Warner back in, all the while trying to deal with the media who'll be at the Aussies from the minute they step off the plane in England. On top of that, I think they think he's only an innings or two from being back his best. That 90 odd he got in India hurt rather than helped this decision, because it gave hope to the "keep Finch" camp. All he has to do is keep scoring a few 20's & 30's against a second string Pakistani side and he's a cert to play, even though I agree with you, he's likely to prove to be a liability with the bat over in England.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Paul how long does the jury take to make a decision on Finch? He's been out form for what - 6 months - in every format.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Even more confused then David, because you stated that "he had peeled off four tons in his his last nine games." Weren't three of his last nine games in India as he missed the first because he arrived late for the series? I get you about journalists not needing corroboration though, especially when articles are actually just opinion, not reporting. Makes it easy when the body never gives their decision process publicly, you can speculate to your heart's content.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Backup in the squad Chris. If Paine got injured, you'd fly over a specialist - ie Carey. Wade/Handscomb would be backup if the keeper was injured within 26 hours of the start of the test.