Many pundits have selected Marcus Stoinis in the Auusie line-up to meet Afghanistan at Bristol in a day-nighter to kick off the defending champions’ World Cup defence.
That translates to either Usman Khawaja or Shaun Marsh carrying the drinks.
On what grounds?
They explain Australia has only four recognised bowlers – Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Jason Behrendorff or Nathan Coulter-Nile, and leggie Adam Zampa – making Stoinis the fifth for ten overs apiece.
Afghanistan would welcome that with open arms, as Stoinis has claimed just 3-137, average 45.67, in the four games he’s played in the lead-up, with a combination of full tosses and half-track rubbish.
Stoinis’ batting is just as bad, scoring 75 in four visits to average 19.75.
But both Khawaja and Marsh have been among the runs – Khawaja 208 at 41.60, Marsh 194 at 38.80.
Usman Khawaja’s ready for a World Cup tilt. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
End of discussion: Stoinis to carry the drinks, at best.
The more intriguing and realistic selections will be the opening batting partners, and where the one who misses out of David Warner, Aaron Finch and Khawaja bats – the rest of the order virtually looks after itself.
The selectors have made it difficult for themselves by shuffling the batting order over the six preparation games, like a pack of cards.
Only Finch and wicketkeeper Alex Carey have been in the same slot – one and seven.
In between Warner has batted three or opener; Khawaja at opener, first drop and five; Steve Smith and Marsh have both batted at three, four and five; while Glenn Maxwell has played both four and six.
Finch fell on Monday night leg-before for 11, returning to the bad old days when his head was outside the line, and he plain missed a straight delivery.
If push came to shove, there would be a strong argument to have Warner, one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in any format, to open with Khawaja.
In spite of the obvious, the selectors look like retaining the Finch-Khawaja pairing, which was so successful while Warner was serving his 12-month suspension.
But Warner is back, so make the most of his return, and open him with captain Finch, who has no intention of batting anywhere else.
That leaves Khawaja at three, Smith four, Marsh five, Maxwell six, and Carey seven.
The batting is strong, but there are only four places left for the attack, meaning Maxwell, or a combination of Maxwell, Finch and Smith to bowl ten overs between them.
Either way, it’s far better than Stoinis bowling and weakening the batting.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
You comment that Finch has bowling options of Maxwell, Smith and Finch so why do we need to weaken the side with Stoinis?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
So forget about form and pick players on what they are expected to do. Riiight! We have Maxwell to pick up the other ten overs plus Smith so no need for Stoinis.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Fair comment. If Stoinis in for Berehndorf, he has to bat at 7 after the 6 batsmen even then I would probably play Caret in front of him.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Would agree he’s not looking much worse than those two, but he’s having more trouble getting going and is less decisive when trying to accelerate than last year.
Peter Warrington
Guest
he cracked 91 off 102 and then 61 off 68 in the UAE 55* off 59 the other day in the UK he is doing as well as the others in his cohort (Warner, Khawaja, Finch)
Peter Warrington
Guest
i would weaken the bowling by replacing Behrendorrf with Stoinis not only does this add more runs, it also liberates 1-5 to try and go at 100+, not 90 with Maxwell and Carey to come after that - or Maxy to be inserted if we are flying and/or going a bit slow it seems it is not going to be a bowler's tournament.... we have many excellent batsman.... so give them the confidence to go hard from ball 1, aim for 350 minimum. and the Starc and Cummins to have them 3-down, Zampa and Maxwell are tight enough that Stoinis can be accommodated. we are England, with better batting, and now rose bowling. probably better bowling, because we have Cummins it's not philosophy or ideology, just risk weighted maths for mine.
Joshua Wright
Guest
Stoinis is too concerned about his batting average and not his actual role (to score quickly). I think Stoinis should be dropped. Also his running between the wickets is not good. And his bowling is usually expensive.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Terry, IMO that's exactly right, Stoinis is not close to good enough to hold his place as either batsman or bowler. The gap he needs to fill is for a big hitting lower order bat who can go for less than 6 an over across 11 games, a la Ben Stokes, Hardik Pandya, etc. As it stands, we are horribly exposed in our 5th bowler options and have a guy who takes a relative age to get going with the bat. The real shame is James Faulkner being injured and out of form. He'd have been perfect in this role.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
Sorry Paul but "if he has to improve" ??? That implies that Stoinis should not be in the squad, let alone the match day team.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Rusty was probably the wrong word. Marsh has lost some of the fluency and confidence and hitting he showed for 12 months or more.
Flexis
Roar Rookie
For what it’s worth I’d much rather see him come in after Maxwell, and potentially even Carey. I’m a fan of his inclusion, much less batting. And yes I realise how silly that sounds.
The Bush
Roar Guru
It's just crazy that we're saying things about the guy who'll be batting at number five for us like "his batting isn't something we should be reliant on. But I hope that his work in the field and knack for breaking an important partnership is enough to offset that". To me that's crazy. If you want a guy to break partnerships and be good in the field, pick a bowler, most of them would be as good as Stoinis in the field (who's never seemed overly special when getting around the field, though is a perfectly acceptable fieldsman). It's not even like he's batting at 7 or something, he's currently batting at 5...
Flexis
Roar Rookie
In the context that “making something happen” isn’t a term someone would usually use to describe batting. I agree with you that his batting isn’t something we should be reliant on. But I hope that his work in the field and knack for breaking an important partnership is enough to offset that.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Out of interest Flexis why was it safe to assume that Clark meant in the field? The only other person he referenced was Marsh, a batsman, and then spoke about Marsh's batting, so presumably he was talking about Stoinis' batting? As I said in my comment, I'm not blaming Stoinis for those losses, but if you're primarily picked as a batsman and you haven't scored a half century in a winning cause after 33 ODIs, then it's hard really hard to mount an argument that you're contributing to wins (with the bat).
Flexis
Roar Rookie
Thought it was safe to assume Clark meant in the field rather than at the crease. That is a damning stat. But without looking into the specifics I’d guess that translates more to what situation he’s walking to the crease in.
Ben
Guest
"Marsh is simply too slow a starter", what about that sentence is wrong Ronan? It's a fact, Marsh starts slowly. Marsh is striking @83 this year as well, so could be reverting back to his career S/R. Granted Stoinis' form has been poor in the series in England last year and Pakistan this year, but I'd back a guy that has a career S/R of 93, taking into account whose career is only in it's infancy so he should keep improving, over someone that strikes at @81. Marsh only is ever better than a run a ball when he makes big hundreds. And I doubt he will be doing that at No. 4/5. Also throwing 'gotcha' stats at me doesn't mean much without context.
Ben
Guest
They also made 421 off New Zealand yesterday who have a respectable attack. Admittedly off a flat wicket. All it really shows Ronan is that the West Indies are prone to collapses more often then the big teams, obviously not being as stable as the big 3/4 teams.
Peter warrington
Guest
agree i think Darcy Short would have been a better 6 and his spin more handy. i think i think that.
Peter Warrington
Guest
should the Stars have been told to bat him lower down in the BBL? he looked pretty good opening tho
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Marsh is simply far too slow a starter, with a career strike rate of 81." ODI strike rates over the past 12 months: Marsh - 92 Stoinis - 82 Batting averages: Marsh - 53 Stoinis - 25