Australia has a serious shortage of openers at the moment.
This is an obvious statement being demonstrated by not one, not two, but three of our opening batsmen this Ashes series, with Australia’s highest opening partnership being a grand total of 13.
Stuart Broad has figured out how to exploit the Australian left-handers and has done so with gusto, having claimed an astonishing number of his wickets bowled and LBW.
I recently wrote that Australia must drop David Warner and I stand by that. Warner has always been rotten against the moving ball in England and he is showing it once again this series. The selectors must think very hard before selecting the team for the final Test at the Oval, with one eye being turned towards the future.
The coming home summer will place Australia against the dark-horse nation of New Zealand – currently ranked second in the world – and the cricketing powerhouse of Pakistan, ranked seventh. These matches will be played at the traditional five Test summer venues, with the only deck looking to add some spice being the Gabba as per usual.
Most the other pitches will be flat and easy for scoring, with minimal ball movement with the Kookaburra balls. This will lead to the selectors having to stick with Warner or Marcus Harris or Cameron Bancroft for a length of time when they know they need someone else.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
I am not opposed to Warner playing in Australia. He is phenomenal at home and can help us win a series in a session, but I would urge the selectors to not pencil in an opening partner before the results of the first few Sheffield Shield rounds. They will be pivotal to determine who shall be the other opener, but my gut feeling would suggest a Joe Burns or even Matthew Renshaw at a gamble.
Burns should be playing the next Test as an opener, but the selectors missed a chance to select him in the touring squad and play an opener with experience in tough conditions and one with a proven track record when we need him most. The lack of quality openers is a major issue, and we must address this issue immediately.
Although Australia’s bowlers have had a remarkable series with the ball, by far outplaying England, they have a habit of slipping back into old habits, such as bowling far too short in England, allowing the batsman a much easier time at the crease.
There have been stages when the Australians have bowled too short and lost momentum, but except for Day 4 at Headingley, they have managed to regain the upper hand. But that leaves some lingering questions like the non-selection of Peter Siddle for that match, but all the bowlers have been performing up to standard, bar James Pattinson.
There was much talk and fanfare leading up to the Ashes about the return of Pattinson, with many expecting his return to Test cricket from his long injury hiatus to resemble Pat Cummins’ comeback.
Unfortunately it hasn’t quite materialised as the fairytale fans were hoping for, with an anti-climactic series resulting in five wickets at 33. This is not the worst, with Siddle sitting on five wickets at 36, but Siddle has been incredibly unlucky with umpiring and poor fielding, looking more threatening over long periods than Pattinson.
That being said, Pattinson has never gone long without taking a bag of wickets, so I look forward to three of our great quicks – and hopefully four – playing the Gabba this summer.
Nathan Lyon has had a torrid Ashes series so far, with the old enemy having figured out how to nullify his spin and scores runs. This leads to Lyon bowling far too quickly. Lyon lacks the confidence to pitch the ball up and encourage the big flashy drive that has been so pivotal to getting him wickets.
(AP Photo/Jon Super)
Admittedly he has been on the end of some bad fielding and umpiring, but by bowling flat, fast and straight, he takes away that lovely flighted delivery that just drifts in and turns away from the left-hander, taking the outside edge. Lyon just needs to be encouraged to keep pitching it up and enticing the big shots that so often reap the rewards for him.
And what article would this be without mentioning Steve Smith and his new partner in crime Marnus Labuschagne. Smith has taken his batting to the next level by becoming the leading run-scorer for 2019 in only four innings, and a 200-odd day delay over everyone else.
What a true legend. He is the best since Bradman. His return after 15 months on the outer has exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic fans. He has scored 671 runs in only five innings, with most matches being rain-affected, and if Smith played at Lord’s in the second innings then at Headingley, he would have challenged Don Bradman for the most runs scored in a five-match series (974 in the 1930 Ashes).
Smith still has a good shot if the Aussies bat first and go for a huge total at the Oval. Labuschagne has been a terrific deputy, providing a strong example of how to play in English conditions. There was not much he could do about the Jofra Archer delivery that got him for 11 in Manchester, as it bounced sharply off a length.
Travis Head has been disappointing this series, as have Matthew Wade and Tim Paine. They all would have wanted better series. Paine is coming off a 50 but Head, and to a lesser extent Wade, need to pick up their game quickly. They are slowly sliding towards the axe, especially with quality batsmen like Kurtis Patterson waiting in the wings.
The only change I would make to the XI for the fifth Test is flying in Joe Burns for David Warner.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
Greenidge was gone one test later...
Cadfael
Roar Guru
No changes to the team unless injuries come into it. Reports that Cummins may be rested, it will be interesting who replaces him if it come to that. Pattinson, Siddle or Marsh.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
And Labuschagne.
Cranky of Croydon
Guest
Warner quick exits have meant he's been effectively an opener all series,
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Throw in benard tomic , we need a more mentally unstable one than kyriogs
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
I like it.. That's a good 6, throw Ussi as an option in the opening lefties
Lawrence
Guest
I'd play Siddle, will most likely be his last test and deserves a final test in English conditions.
Lawrence
Guest
Remember Gordon Greenidge in 1991 having a poor series against Australia. He made a series of very low scores and was under pressure to hold his spot, he was also in his late 30s. Viv backed him in and Greenidge peeled off 226 in 4th test. Hope Warner can make a big score at The Oval.
Bruce
Guest
Yep, Paine and khawaja to replace the Warner brothers.
Josh H
Roar Rookie
Yeah Nick'll be my 12th man, he'll love that
Pierro
Roar Rookie
wow Yawn of the Dead, we crossed emails at same time. see above. your summary is better . Note the not outs though. Im blown away by it. I think its even a bigger mistake not to have played him now. Steve Waugh had it right . Carey was a freak in the world cup. To think carey could have toned it down in the tests with less urgency which suits his techhique for me, clearly excels in english conditions and demonstrated it on all types of pitches under pressure against international heavyweights as well. Was a great prep alongside his county match where he did it yet again with double 50s. No fails in england all summer . Incredible
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Incidentally had a little look at the world cup. Hows this for a campaign on english pitches against world class bowling as a lead up by Carey . Faced all the best bowlers on the planet in 9 games on local pitches. Virtually no fails. SF England 45. second highest scorer behind Smith . No one else made runs. SA match. 85 . Warner top scored but no else made decent runs. NZ match 78 . Second highest scorer. no one else made decent runs England match 38 not out Bangladesh 11 Not out Sri Lanka Run out chasing runs down order with little time. India 55 not out WI 45 batted down order pushing the runs. Afg. DNB Elevated to number 5 in semi final given his form. Virtually no failure in 9 matches on english pitches. Im even shocked by how good that was looking back at it right before the ashes on english soil. Simply phenomenal.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
not "a few"... 45 62 55 7 0 81.81 7 caught 1 v West Indies Nottingham 6 Jun 2019 ODI # 4152 55* 50 35 5 1 157.14 7 not out 2 v India The Oval 9 Jun 2019 ODI # 4155 20 31 21 2 0 95.23 7 lbw 1 v Pakistan Taunton 12 Jun 2019 ODI # 4157 4 8 3 0 0 133.33 7 run out 1 v Sri Lanka The Oval 15 Jun 2019 ODI # 4159 11* 14 8 1 0 137.50 7 not out 1 v Bangladesh Nottingham 20 Jun 2019 ODI # 4166 38* 41 27 5 0 140.74 7 not out 1 v England Lord's 25 Jun 2019 ODI # 4173 71 113 72 11 0 98.61 7 caught 1 v New Zealand Lord's 29 Jun 2019 ODI # 4178 85 90 69 11 1 123.18 7 caught 2 v South Africa Manchester 6 Jul 2019 ODI # 4188 46 94 70 4 0 65.71 5 caught 1 v England Birmingham 11 Jul 2019 ODI # 4191
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I understand theres no evidence at test level but how much was there for head and wade in engand? Im not sure on their county form to be honest, did they have any? Batsman have to start somewhere and in this day and age its often one day players that come across and get a start without test experience. .Remind you, warner came from t20 and one dayers, Stokes I think was really a one day player first. Careys a unique situation. Its interesting to read your arguments/thoughts. I believe careys a special one in england but it doesn’t mean he will go well in australia. Even labuschagne despite bigger numbers in Australia was picked because they saw his county form and saw his internal aussie match form hold up where others failed. Careys a similar type for me and you can see how his technique and patience work in england and how dogged he is and he’s faced the county ball in England and 50s there were yet again. One thing ill say is there is more of flood of candidates in the middle order with big averages which worked against carey. However, We’ve never had a world cup in england right before the ashes though have we. A brilliant chance to get your eye in and be put in to the furnace of pressure. Sure the dukes ball is different but double 50s at county straight away means you can play the dukes ball all be it against lesser opposition. Remember labs played division 2. He had his detractors on that but its held up big time. Technique matters in england. The ability to leave a ball and not fish for it or play the australian square cut or cover drive too much when its moving around and hold your balance in line with off stump instead of over reaching is critical in england (head and wade are a little suspect at times on these levels) . ( think Waugh noticed carey would suit english pitches for the tests and sees the resolve and patience in him . Many can . We can’t prove it , we never will , so theres no real argument to validate as he won’t be played and arguably for the fifth test he shouldn’t be anyway now. Too late unless wed won the series outright. Sometimes though you have to leave the stats and go on what you see on pitches for a summer in england against world class opposition and bowling line ups let alone some county conversion with major runs. Careys a strange case, late to the game and shined in england arguably more than australia . It happens the pitches and conditions are completely different. Many players come to mind with or without big first class averages. Theres been others late to the game too, Ryan Harris late to the game. Sure he had more shield form and is a bowler but late to the game and was awesome in england too. Carey may have made the difference at headingly though for me withouts smith there . Wade and Head were hideous first innings both went for ducks there with poor technique despite their big averages. A few more runs on the flatter deck second innings. Enter carey for me, he’s got the technique to make 20 plus on a moving wicket with the dukes ball for me. He’s better in his action than wade and head if you analyze it like labuschagne , more compact and can leave balls with discipline, the red or white ball doesn’t matter for that. It is easy to hack in to batting post performance but we must admit it isn’t good on an average basis chris. In the 90s and early 2000s we talked about 30 to 35 average being a bit dicey at test level on tour. Now we are happy to pick an opener with an average of 9 or 12 and defend a middle order batsmen with an average on the tour of 23 let alone 27. For me we can do better. Labuschagne is a guy that has demonstrated that with little test experience in england let alone previously . Only called in because smith took one in the helmet. I wanted him selected test 1 on county form and all australian match but the doubters were all there too. “his first class and test average is not as good, blah blah blah”. Look what happened he saved us at lords really second innings as the sub. sometimes it pays to go on what we’ve seen in england all summer not on first class averages . Chris rogers also demonstrated this as well despite having impecable first class averages he was awesome in county, proof is in the pooling in england. Carey has played county and done very well all be it less of it. Whats great is we have retained the ashes . Im happy to select out of the squad for the next test , we have some potential selections off the back of these four tests that can do better than what we have at the top right now if you go on the data and the history of the decks. Once Australia leaves england I’m less likely to debate the merits of australian averages and shield form as, well, they suit australian pitches don’t they. Its not rocket science. Interesting debate none the less. Carey is no guarantee to play as well in Australia , neither is labuschagne . I may well have different points of view for tests down under. Im not in to pet favorites but I am in to following what I actually saw and what was demonstrated on english pitches all summer . Im in to getting results and backing in our best options on the form we see on the local pitches and conditions. To some extent the australian batsman that played in the middle order are short on english experience that holds up, carey was not, red or white ball, his local english experience was huge compared to head and wade this summer. labuschagne had more county experience and some more international experience but he’s an example of going against australian and first class averages compared to others with better aussie data and stats really. Its hard to argue against labuschagnes success off county form and an english summer. Good debating none the less, carey won’t play next test and not sure if it will translate late for him in australian conditions/pitches as well. We can both say averages under 27 are not really cutting it on tour though, its not great is it.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't be a contest if that happened. Australia would never be beaten
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Even better if you could have them in the same team!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Always good to get away from the stats and observe the realities of time and practicalities , different time era. Wonderful to have bradman , smith and taylor on the greener decks against the odds
Graham Hauritz
Guest
I would give Carey a go. He will almost inevitably end up in the Australian test team eventually so why not give him a run at number 6.
Graham Hauritz
Guest
Joe Burns made his fourth test century in his last match for Australia. He was then promptly dropped. He should have expected to be the incumbent opener but for some reason, the selectors have never given him an extended run in the test team. I am not sure there is any real point flying him out from Australia just for one test now that the Ashes have been retained but he would be straight in my team for the first test in Brisbane.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
I do not envy the selectors job of picking the team for the 5th test. All replacement options are just as bad as those that played in the 4th test. I will bore you with averages so far. Smith 134 (nothing else to be said), Labs 58, Head 27, Wade 25, Paine 22, Kwajaja 20, Harris 11, Bancroft 11, Warner 10. For England Stokes 56, Burns 40, Root 31, Denley, Bairstow, Butler and Roy all 25 or well under. Are the bowlers that good (probably), the pitches that bad, or is it the prolific number of T20 and ODI games that we have now. I think the last point makes more sense to me. I believe those games have affected the levels of concentration and grit needed to succeed at test level recently.