No point in Marcus Stoinis buying a lotto ticket, he used up all his luck by being selected in Australia’s World Cup squad.
The all-rounder certainly won’t be in the top side after averaging just 30.25 with the ODI bat in 2019, and 52.62 with the ball.
Yet he’s in the 15-man squad, and Peter Handscomb missed out twice.
It was a toss-up between Handscomb, averaging 43.54, and Alex Carey 28.75 for the wicketkeeper’s job, but Carey won that nod too.
How on Earth could the selectors dump Handscomb?
And how could they pick paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile over Josh Hazlewood for the Cup, yet pick the latter in the Australia A squad?
It doesn’t make any sense.
Despite those two glaring omissions, the squad is well-placed to defend the crown they won so handsomely four years ago.
The return of Steve Smith and David Warner from their 12-month suspensions is a double bonus.
David Warner of Australia celebrates with Steve Smith after scoring a century during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and New Zealand at Manuka Oval on December 6, 2016 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
The next question is who will open with skipper Aaron Finch, who has already locked himself in as one of them – Warner or Usman Khawaja?
Sure Khawaja has been successful with Finch, with opening stands of 209, 193, and 134, but a run a ball won’t cut the mustard.
This is where cold, hard stats provide the definitive answer – Warner.
His strike rate is best of the three, so he’s the opener, Khawaja bats three, Smith four, and Glenn Maxwell five – no longer must one of the world’s most explosive batsmen languish at seven.
The sixth spot in the order will be for Shaun Marsh, followed by Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jhye Richardson and Adam Zampa.
Apart from Carey, that’s impressive.
But the selectors didn’t have a good day overall, dumping Mitchell Marsh from the top 20 Cricket Australia contracts, yet picked him in both the Australia A one-day and four-day squads that will play in England during the World Cup, leading into the Ashes.
Go figure.
Others dumped from the top money include Kurtis Patterson, averaging 144 in Tests and 40.22 in the Sheffield Shield, Joe Burns, and Marnus Labuschagne.
Smith and Warner are back in business, while Marcus Harris, Zampa and the return of James Pattinson from long-term injury have been promoted.
So too is Coulter-Nile, who like Stoinis needn’t bother buying a lotto ticket.
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
I'll wager he's a Paki. Thin-skinned :)
Tonka Goldman
Roar Rookie
Actually, Coulter-Nile's ODI stats are almost identical to Cummins'. I agree with the selections except for leaving in both Marsh and Khawaja. In June there are going to be some monster totals and poor strike rates will not measure up to the task. So I'm tipping Marsh will hurt his back between now and the World Cup and Darcy Short will be his replacement. Lyon is probably excess baggage too (to stop them doctoring wickets for Mo and Adil Rashid?). Darcy Short at 7 would be ideal. I'll have Warner opening with Finch. Smith at 3. Maxwell and Stoinis to make up the 5th bowler, then Carey and Darcy Short. NCN is a better bowler, fielder and batsman than Zampa. Cummins, NCN, Starc and J Richardson.
Jagger
Guest
Are you the same DungerBob from Cricket Manager a few years ago?
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't think they will play him unless he's fully fit, and that's something they will no doubt gauge closer to the time. I'm sure they'd like him (or even expect him) to have a some match practice prior to the Ashes, as opposed to coming in cold, provided that he's not at risk of breaking down again.
David Lord
Expert
Point is JamesH, why pick, or play, Hazlewood at all until he is fully fit. Far better to have him in rehab with a hope to be 100 per cent for the Ashes.
JamesH
Roar Guru
He didn't say he's fit enough to play for Australia A. He said he's 'yet to prove he's fully fit'. Adding him to the A squad doesn't mean he's ready and raring to go. He might only play one or two matches to build fitness for the Ashes. I'm not sure why you're overcomplicating this. There are question marks over the fitness of three pacemen they were considering for the squad. They obviously didn't want to risk having three such question marks in the squad itself (ironically, NCN and Behrendorff are two of our fittest quicks right now). Throw in the fact that Hazlewood has played only 3 matches in over 12 months (9 in two years) and it's understandable why they didn't take the risk. Conversely there's no risk in adding him to an A squad that can be chopped and changed at any time.
David Lord
Expert
JamesH, which proves yet again Trevor Hohns is impossible to understand. If Josh Hazlewood is "fit" enough to play for Australia A, he's "fit" enough to be in the World Cup squad as a far superior bowler to both Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Jason Berhendorff.
JamesH
Roar Guru
This is your ol' mate Hohns' explanation (for what it's worth): “Josh was certainly an interesting one for us – of course his complete lack of match play over a period of time now obviously weighed against him … he’s yet to prove he’s fully fit. Whilst we thoroughly expect he will be in due course … the fact that he’d played probably only three one-day games for us over the last 12 months also weighed against him.”
JamesH
Roar Guru
The same reason they picked Starc and Richardson in the WC squad - because at this point they are anticipating he will be fit enough to play. All three are still returning from injury, though, so there is a degree of risk/uncertainty. Hence the 'cloud'.
David Lord
Expert
JamesH, if Hazlewood's under an injury cloud, why was he selected in the Australia A one-day, and four-day, squads on duty at the same time in England as the World Cup?
Bretto
Roar Rookie
Possibly best Roar comment for 2019 so far. David Lord - old man yelling at cloud...
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
you were probably there for the dons innings, maybe you should call it a day.
Tazewep
Roar Rookie
Stoinis - I dont think Stoinis is in the best XI and NCN is the best batter of the remaining bowlers. If you replace Stoinis with a batsman you need Maxwell to bowl 10 overs so I think you need to replace him in the XI with a bowler. I agree its not ideal but that is the squad they picked. Alternatively, could Smith and Maxwell share the overs and play an extra batsman? Is Smith's elbow up to it?
JamesH
Roar Guru
The selectors had already made it clear that it was never between Carey and Handscomb for the keeper's spot, David. Handscomb (although I believe he would be capable of doing the job) hasn't kept in a single ODI to date. Carey was the only option they ever gave themselves. I'm also not sure why you're querying Coulter-Nile's selection when he is clearly above Behrendorff in the pecking order. His bowling stats are superior and he's a better batter and fielder. In terms of Hazlewood missing out, well, they already have two bowlers under injury clouds. They probably didn't want to risk a third. Really, the issue is Handscomb missing out to accommodate an extra paceman that they didn't need.
David Lord
Expert
Tazewep, NCN is as lucky as Stoinis to be in the Cup squad, but you have him playing, replacing who?
David Lord
Expert
But not as stupid as your original post redbackfan.
JamesH
Roar Guru
cricinfo
Tazewep
Roar Rookie
What is the chance of NCN playing as the bowling all rounder and sharing the 10 overs with Maxwell? His bowling stats (Average, economy and S/R) are far superior to Stoinis and his T20 batting is comparable (similar average, better S/R). Stoinis ODI batting stats stronger, but most recently he has been poor. NCN genuine wicket taker and if he leaks too many runs, Maxwell can bowl more overs. Also a good late order hitter who goes from the first ball. Not convinced by Stoinis at the moment and can't really see why NCN picked if it isn't to bat at 6 as he isn't really in the same bowling class as Cummins, Starc or Richardson.
redbackfan
Roar Rookie
that makes as much sense as your article
David Lord
Expert
dungerBob, I worked them out for myself.