The first Test against Pakistan is barely two weeks away and there has been lots of talk about the importance of the three day match between Australia A and Pakistan, starting next Monday.
The match has been billed as a Test selection battle, according to the headline that appeared on the Cricket Australia website. The team chosen for this game contains many of the best Australian cricketers currently playing the game – but realistically, what chance do the bulk of these players have of forcing their way into the Test side for Brisbane on the 21st of November?
Here are my picks for those most likely to be selected for the first Test.
1. David Warner
2. Marnus Labuschagne
3. Steve Smith
4. Matthew Wade
5. Tim Paine
6. Pat Cummins
7. Josh Hazlewood
8. Nathan Lyon
(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
On paper this leaves an opening batting spot, a middle order spot and a third fast bowler spot up for grabs. In reality, there’s probably only the third fast bowler to be decided from a host of strong contenders.
Joe Burns has done enough to warrant selection for the first Test. He’s gotten starts in his five Shield innings, including 52 against a strong NSW attack and 76 in the clash with WA – again playing well against a quality attack.
He’s also made these runs on the Gabba, where there’s been plenty of encouragement for the fast bowlers. Equally importantly, he’s a right hander and selectors would be wary about taking an all left hand opening combination into the first Test given the struggles of Warner and Marcus Harris in England.
Harris hasn’t harmed his chances playing back in Australia with a century and a 60, but his poor showing in the Ashes – coupled with how he’s been dismissed in recent innings – haven’t helped him either.
In three of his past four innings he’s been caught in the slips twice and played a shot best described as a hoick and was out for lbw. Even the fourth dismissal – out hooking – showed poor judgment, given the field had been set for exactly that shot.
The other possible contenders have fallen by the wayside. Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft are batting poorly in four day cricket, Nic Maddinson has only been so-so away from Melbourne and Usman Khawaja just isn’t firing on all cylinders in red ball cricket.
The middle order spot – that some thought should be given to Will Pucovski – will be returned to Travis Head. That is, Head should be given back the batting spot that selectors said they only took from him in the last Ashes Test so they could provide bowling support for a tired Australian attack.
Head also reminded selectors of his class with an excellent hundred against an attack including Hazlewood, Lyon and Trent Copeland in the recently completed Sheffield Shield game against NSW.
Pucovski started off the season with a hundred and a 60, but his last three Shield innings of two, three and seven must have selectors asking whether he’s ready to step up.
(Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Clearly he can score runs when conditions suit, but he’s been out a couple of times playing the short ball very awkwardly which no doubt would be something the Pakistan quicks would target.
That leaves the third fast bowling spot and it will be interesting to see whether selectors go with someone who could play all five Tests this summer, or choose a quick suited to conditions in Brisbane. In any event, there are at least four or five in form bowlers who would do a job for Australia – if they were chosen to play in Brisbane.
The three day Australia A game will hopefully be more than just a centre wicket training run for Pakistan. It will be interesting to see how their team plays against some quality opposition. It may also be a selection trial for Pakistan, but for Australia – probably not.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Pretty sure there's a complete round of Shield cricket at the same time, so the rest of the players will still get a first class game in.
anon
Roar Pro
They're scared he might do well!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
This Aussie A game is a definitive square off for the two remaining batting places in the side and the bowling position although strange starc is not there for me.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Khawaja would need a very strong century thats for sure. This looks a real square off between harris and burns. If one of them does really well and the other doesn't they will get the birth or should do. Same should go for the middle order slot between Maddinson/Head/Carey if one of them scores big and the others don't they'd get my vote. Bowling should have starc there to compete against richardson/neser. Stoinis deserved a game too all the shield form although he's really the only out and out all rounder so doesn't have competition there right now off his shield form and if they really want an all round in the side.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Not sure why starc, marsh and stoinos arent starting given the selection questions that remain.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Chris exciting Australia A game against pakistan. Neser v Richardson, Harris v Burns, Maddinson/Head/Carey all squaring off. Exactly what is needed . Shame starc, marsh and stones arent playing there though. Prime opportunity to keep assessing the lot of them
anon
Roar Pro
Fair enough. Either way, it's ridiculous that Mitch Marsh is ever in the conversation for our best 11.
Gee
Roar Rookie
All those Victorian quicks with mid 20s bowling averages must be great then if they have to play on roads every second game, they should be the test attack. Neser no hope for a test call up either, he gets to play on a minefield every second game and doesn't average 20 so he is a bit of a dud.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Pattinson averages 26 with the bat and ball in tests, on those stats it's ridiculous that Starc is the favourite for the third pace slot.
Zenn
Roar Rookie
Australia A squad: Alex Carey (c), Marcus Harris, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Will Pucovski, Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson, Sean Abbott, Riley Meredith.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Good points re the (wasted) nature of Harris's dismissals. It was something that was certainly apparent during last summer's Tests; the thoughts were it was something he just needed to work on by adjusting his temperament/propensity for rash shots, but it seems to be persisting.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I suppose returning to your thought of the bounce lyon utilizes in australia he will be much more comfortable. you are right about finding those inherit weaknesses. McGrath was good at that although he was precision as was Warne with batsman . Cummins seems to be good with mixing it up and broadcast made warner his batting bunny in england and then some. On the flip side they may have worked lyon out in england although I’m not sure how much the pitches were giving spinners . Lords did little outside of the leg side rough for denly later in the game. Lyon hardly bowled in the first innings in the fifth test . A few late much turners in other matches but labuschange and the leg spin seemed a little more effective there as perhaps there was a lot of rough being generated on that side . Lyon was also a tad unlucky in a few tests early on in england with some dropped catches and near misses not to mention the DRS debacles several times which I won’t get in to again but it took the cake making history for DRS shambles in one series. If he truly had a finger abrasion I’m shocked they didn’t rest him in 5th. It was desperation to play him potentiallly in that final test and that fear of going in to a match without a spinner rising up which may not have been necessary if starc or pattinson was moving them about like marsh was instead. We definitely could have rested him at lords too given the conditions and shortened match and would have been way more effective maybe getting a shot at running through england with starc (archer got huge bounce and frightening pace there) and that was my theory going in to that lords match . The spinner was picked off course . No malleability or smarts in selection there. Brisbane definitely represents a chance to rest lyon but there seems to be fear around it . you are right though he can exploit bounce and I’m not sure pakistan will work him out on home soil as well with bounce. Im a huge fan of his but I can pick the best strategy for the win as well . Im sure they will stick to the traditional 3 seamer 1 spinner team in brisbane but I think Australias would trounce pakistan with four seamers and an all rounder there
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I do worry about the possibility that batsmen will look at that Ashes and take a tact of basically playing Lyon off the back foot as much as possible and he won't have an answer for that. A big part of playing international level cricket is the analysis that comes with it. People find a weakness of a batsman and exploit it, or a way to nullify a bowlers strengths and exploit it, then it's up to that player to work out how to overcome that. Some do, and go on to be great test players, others don't and their career fizzles. This is pretty late in a career for such a thing to come up for Lyon, but it will be interesting to see how he responds if other teams take that same approach to him.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
Mate, you ain’t getting your money back then. Khawaja is horribly out of form. Hasn’t had a fifty in three games.
James
Roar Rookie
My money is on Khawaja scoring a century in the Aus A v Pakistan game and getting the openers spot ahead of Burns, Harris and Maddinson. 1. Warner 2. Khawaja 3. Labuschagne 4. Smith 5. Head 6. Wade 7. Paine 8. Starc 9. Cummins 10. Lyon 11. Hazlewood
Pierro
Roar Rookie
spot on with the bounce and lyon does use bounce well. I agree its not wise to change the side much in general but nothing is set at 1, 2, 5 and probably one pace bowling spot. Thats off our last series of course . those positions were pretty abysmal , even 6 was just within reason with wade averaging 34. That should solidify this series again but those positions were a dogs dinner in england. Its a bit of a reboot right now despite everyone wanting to go straight back to the same side for the most part actually outside of one bowling change which would be deserved for richardson. Lyon has to have a good summer and hopefully will or else big concerns with him after UK
anon
Roar Pro
Shaun Marsh is 36. Averages 34 over a long sample size. Last summer was dropped after going through the leanest spell for an Aussie batsman in 120 years. Enough already. Move on. We've got a surplus of FC players that average 40. We don't need a 34 average player in the twilight of his career.
anon
Roar Pro
What are they scared of with Burns? Worst that can happen is you back him in for a entire summer and he averages 20. Then you can drop him. Harris does that every series. I don't know why they'd continually drop and send mixed messages to a guy that has generally performed at Test level.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes Chris, having already notched up a ton 3 weeks out from the First Test, were Head to not get selected where others around him are not doing any better, you would have to think there is something amiss with Test selection policy given he was/is the incumbent. I'd like to see Pucovski develop his game more - especially to the short ball as you say. I also would like to see more consistency. It's understandably easy to get dazzled by a double hundred (1st match of last season), but since then his performance are representative of a promising up and comer (2 tons in his last 20 innings), but not a Test-selection bolter. 8 single digits scores in those 20 knocks; that's too inconsistent for my liking and you would be wanting a lower ratio than that at Test level, which will be an even tougher environment. The point about Maddinson not scoring tons away from home is a valid one. It's tough Burns v Harris, but I'd be going Burns too before seeing the A game performances.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
You'd think Pakistan should play pace reasonably well since they always seem to be able to produce lots of quality fast bowlers. I think the main difference in Australia is the bounce. Lyon likes taking advantage of the extra pace and bounce on offer at places like the Gabba. It's different to spinners in slow, low conditions on the sub-continent. While there can be some horses for courses in selections, I think it's usually best to do it as little as possible, as players generally do better when they are playing consistently. So unless there are worries about fitness and wanting to protect players, like they are with Pattinson, then you don't really want to be constantly switching up your attack.