Usman Khawaja should be given a chance to revive his flagging Test career by taking Marcus Harris’ opening spot.
Marnus Labuschagne should likewise be promoted, to number three, for the fourth Ashes Test.
Khawaja, David Warner, Matt Wade and Harris all have been disappointing in this series, averaging 20, 13, 25 and 13 respectively.
None of them has done enough to demand selection, but Australia’s options are limited, with no other specialist batsman in the squad.
Warner has had five failures from his six innings and many are calling, with justification, for him to be axed. What saves the left-hander is partly his sensational Test record, partly the lack of stiff competition for spots, and partly a gut feel that his crucial 61 and excellent catching at Leeds could spark him back into touch.
Choosing between Harris and Khawaja to be Warner’s opening partner is a tough choice. The decision is influenced by the fact Australia need Labuschagne at first drop to bolster their top order. He and Smith are Australia’s best three-four combination right now, which means Khawaja either needs to open or be dropped.
Harris has had only two innings in this series, so omitting him would be brutal, but when an Ashes series is on the line, harsh calls must be made.
Khawaja has underperformed, but has made three good starts from six innings but – he just failed to capitalise. He has an amazing record as an opener – 488 runs at 98 – and that is enough to convince me he should replace Harris.
Usman Khawaja (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)
Wade would be lucky to keep his spot, having failed in four of his six innings in this series, but is saved by the fact Australia need to have their two most in-form batsmen, Labuschagne and Smith, at three and four. With neither Khawaja nor Harris being suited to batting at number six, the knock-on effect is that Wade keeps his place.
Behind Wade, Tim Paine is in dire form with the blade, averaging just 13 in this Ashes and only 15 from six Tests this year.
The Tasmanian is under enormous scrutiny. He’s been pilloried over the past 48 hours for his on-field tactics as Ben Stokes blasted England to a phenomenal one-wicket win at Leeds.
Some of that criticism has been justified. A lot of it, though, has been exaggerated as fans have sought an outlet for their anger. Paine remains the best man to lead Australia in this series.
Another player who has copped too much stick is James Pattinson. Reading some of the comments online about the Victorian quick, you would have thought he took 3-156 at Leeds and went at four runs an over. In actuality, he took 3-56 at a miserly economy rate of just 1.87 runs per over.
Better known for his aggression, Pattinson has been the tourists’ most frugal bowler, going at only 2.56 runs per over. From either side, only Jofra Archer (2.34) has been more economical.
Pattinson bowled much better than his figures suggested in the first Test. But he was superior, and quicker, at Leeds.
His spell to start the last day was his best of the series. Pattinson repeatedly troubled Joe Root and Stokes as his combined accuracy with startling pace, pushing the speed gun up to 148kmh and bowling consistently in the 142-145kmh bracket.
James Pattinson of Australia celebrates. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Paine erred in prematurely ending Pattinson’s spell after four overs in order to take the new ball. Pattinson and Nathan Lyon were all over England with the weathered ball, they should have carried on longer.
Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Lyon pick themselves. The last spot is between Pattinson, Siddle and Mitchell Starc.
The Aussies have been well served by patient, precise bowling in this series, so they should keep faith in that approach. That means Starc would not be in my side.
Pattinson and Siddle both have generous experience in English conditions and have been miserly. Either would be good selections.
In the end, though, I’m won over by Pattinson’s greater pace and his superior batting.
Australia need not panic and make wholesale changes after the agony of Leeds. One alteration to their XI is all that’s required – Smith in, Harris out.
While Australia have a tour match before the fourth Test, I would put little stock in performances in that game against a weak opponent.
Their foes, Derbyshire, are essentially the 16th-ranked team in county cricket, sitting eighth on the table in Division Two, and will likely be without a host of key players, as has been the case in Australia’s recent tour matches.
My Australian XI for the fourth Test
1. David Warner
2. Usman Khawaja
3. Marnus Labuschagne
4. Steve Smith
5. Travis Head
6. Matt Wade
7. Tim Paine (c) (wk)
8. James Pattinson
9. Pat Cummins
10. Nathan Lyon
11. Josh Hazlewood
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
yeah whatever Ronan with the batting line up. Whatever way you spin its a poor Aussie batting 7 with only Smith and Labu with any good form in english conditions at any time in past. T Head might be worth a few runs this Test but the rest are all australian condition specialists. I agree Pattinson did fine and should be retained. Paine yes only cos there's no viable alternative for captain. I'm hoping the series will be keep alive with an england win actually. I want the series and ashes decided on the 5th day of the 5th Test :)
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
And in completely unrelated news... Micheal Neser took 3 wickets in the Oz v Derbyshire game. The noteworthy trivia being that all three were caught by three different international keepers. Cricket trivia buffs believe that this hasn't happened since the last time it happened. Or possibly not at all. Also in this game, Starc didn't do his recall chances any good by yet again failing as an opening bowler. Although with his three (bottom half) wickets all being taken in the one over there will doubtless be cries of; "See how destructive he can be!" from the postcode 2000s tribe.
HoundDog
Roar Rookie
Completely agree with your team. Also counting against Harris is the dropped catch and missed run out opportunity late in the game. Would be great to have the luxury of selecting Starc as a "clean-up the tail" bowler, however until we can unearth a quality all-rounder, we don't have that option.
Rakin
Roar Rookie
Totally Agree. I really don't understand why Khawaja gets so much flak. A couple of years back when he was heavily criticized for his inability to play in Asian conditions ( against spin), he was dropped after a few innings. When he came back to play in the UAE in 2018 ( as an opener) he scored one of the greatest test knocks batting for 9 hours. This also applies to his ODI career, before India this year, I personally believed he did not deserve a spot in the team, but yet as an opener, he became the highest run-scorer for ODI until he was dropped down the order for the world cup and now sits at 4th highest run-scorer. The trend is clear that he is a strong opener and should have been opening the batting since 2016. Disappointing as Australia has not had a solid opener for some time now ( excluding warner). Renshaw, Burns, Harris, Finch, etc. Sorry for the rant just my opion please let me know what you think.
Kurt S
Roar Pro
Cummins was shagged, as were all the bowlers after being out on the middle for 2 days. Apparently it was pretty hot on the ground there during the last few days.
Jeremy
Guest
I would make a small alteration. Harris and Khawaja open. Warner down the order at 5. Head at 6. Drop Wade. Let Warner find form against an old ball on an aged track, against tired bowlers and spinners, and if we do lose early wickets, Warner is comfortable coming in against the new ball.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I remember a couple of times Ponting was out injured for a test or two and a player came in to replace him, did reasonably well, then got dropped as soon as Ponting was available. It happens. And it shouldn't have a negative effect on the batsman. What is negative for a batsman is quickly dropping them because of some perceived technical issue after just a couple of dismissals in a certain way, not giving them any chance to work through such things. It puts doubts in their head. Being the unlucky one dropped when a player returns from injury shouldn't cause any such doubts.
Big AL
Roar Rookie
Good call Chris. I remember when Damian Martyn was in an out of the test side as injury replacements. As soon as the injured player was ready he would go straight out. Had a pretty good record too if my memory serves me correct. Eventually he got the chance and had a pretty good career. Exposure to the top level is good for these guys even if it is only 1 or 2 matches here and there.
Tom
Guest
Patterson has averaged 20 in red ball cricket since the SL test...
JW
Guest
Agree, harris was given a chance through the injury to Steve Smith. If Smith was fit for the Leeds test, I'm sure Labusch would've kept his spot and Khawaja moved up to open in place of Bancroft. This is simply Smith coming back in after injury, so it's hardly going to destroy Harris if he is last in, first out. I'd be going for our most experienced batting lineup and giving Khawaja a chance as opener . Harris looked ok while he was in but did only end up with an average of 13 across the 2 digs and had a bit of go before this test also and averaged in the 20s, so we do know what we will likely get.
RAGAV
Roar Rookie
Lot of experts and pundits wrote Steve Smith off when he made his Test debut. The following comments were made in lot of quarters. 1. He is a bits and pieces player. 2. Nobody knows whether he is a batsman or a leggie. 3. He has got some talent but nobody knew what to do with it. (after Ashes 2010-11) 4. He is a short form player. (after being consistent in IPL for few seasons) 5. He is an lbw candidate, got no technique for test cricket. Now look at the trajectory of Steve Smith’s career. Not even in the wildest dreams, could anyone have predicted his rise and rise in Test cricket to become the current greatest batsman. It does not matter how you score runs as long as you score them in buckets. Same way, it does not matter how you get your wickets as long you get them cheaply. Pat Cummins’ record in Tests is brilliant. He has a record comparable to Glenn McGrath, Dennis Lilllie and the likes with his performance so far. He has reached the No.1 spot of Test rankings. He has reached the highest rating points ever for a fast bowler in Test history. He has bowled well in all conditions in his short Test career. He was the man of the match in his debut test saving lot of careers in SA (after that horrendous 49 all out in the 1st Test when he did not play).
Crispy Duck
Roar Rookie
would have loved to see some swinging yorkers in that last half hour.
Crispy Duck
Roar Rookie
Thanks for the write up, Ronan. Well thought out and fully agree with the recommendations, but wow thats just an awful top six.
DTM
Guest
Well said. Unfortunately, I was travelling on the last day of the test so only following it via the phone. Cummins is a great player but consistently bowls short. Batsmen know this and are ready for him. It will just take a minor adjustment on his part and he's good enough to do it. We knew before the start of the series that the batsmen on both sides will struggle and so we need to bolster our batting. Smith's inclusion should mean either Wade or Head make way. Paine would be dropped if he wasn't captain. Unfortunately, we have no other options.
BarmyFarmer
Roar Rookie
Still going to be 2 down for not many. Next two matches will be decided based on who scores more runs Root and Stokes or Smith and Labs.
Rob
Guest
With Smith coming back into the team i believe they should be very mindful of the balance. Labuschange is probably not as good an option at 3 as Khawaja. Marnus is a better fit at 5 or 6 and he has probably done enough over the last 3 innings to get a start. The most logical choice would be for Wade to go. Personally I think Head has been a little lucky and certainly has more weakness in his technique than Wade. The selection that i think needs to be looked at is giving Cummins a rest and bringing in Starc. Like Head I believe Cummin's average and results thus far are misleading. Cummin's relies far too heavily on short pitch bowling. In fact he has only taken 15% of his career wickets bowled or LBW is extraordinary. Siddle 32%, Hazlewood 30%, Pattinson 38%, Starc 41% are regularly attacking opponents stumps in comparison. Some of the truely fast good short ball bowlers still got well over 30% of their wickets bowled or LBW. M.Holding took 48% of his wicket hitting the stumps but had a fearsome bumper. Pat Cummin's is probably very luck players seem intent on throwing their wickets away attempting to hit his short pitch cross seem bowling. What happened on day 4 showed just how ineffective he can be when batsmen leave him alone. Stokes has struggled against right arm off spin, left arm bowlers and 150km pace bowlers that attack his stumps. Stokes has zero fear of short pitch bowling and unfortunately that's what Australia were serving up.
deano
Roar Rookie
so...is nobody gonna mention the war? i mean...paine being dropped/jumping on his sword.
FunBus
Roar Rookie
Thank heavens the Aussies are immune from 'getting cocky.'
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Apparently it has been stated that Carey is not joining the ashes squad and will rejoin Sussex after the game. It is believed that Wade and Bancroft (both back up keepers) have been told to concentrate on their batting.
Mashrur
Roar Rookie
No mate. It is indeed the time to see Mitch Starc back in action. Everyone complains that he leaks runs. But if he leaks runs then he also gets those crucial wickets. Ben stokes hit Hazlewood for 19 runs in an over, if starc was there, yes he would have also conceded 19 but he would have also managed to take his wicket somehow. And if not stokes, he would have at least knocked leach’s stumps over for sure. This Australian attack has become one dimensional with all of the bowlers only bowling tight lengths, yes they did bowl them out for 67 but again we saw what happened in the end there was no one there to bowl in one day mode to stop ben stokes, there wasn’t an effort ball, no approach from the quicks.