There appears to be five candidates for the remaining middle order Test slot in the opening Test against Pakistan.
One astute move may be to start Matthew Wade at number five and open the debate for who starts at number six in the side.
Wade has done enough in the opening Sheffield Shield matches and enough in England to secure his place, with the only concern around his future being spin, particularly next year when India tour. Wade appears to be fairly secure for the entire summer unless he has successive failures against Pakistan and New Zealand.
With Tim Paine secure in the side as captain this summer, it leaves an open place at number six due to Travis Head’s inconsistent and reckless form in England and only one good Shield innings in six starts this summer.
The other candidates for the position are Alex Carey, Nic Maddinson, Will Pucovski and Marcus Stoinis, who has the added plus of his consistent wicket-taking this summer.
The first three Shield matches are crucial to selection, per coach Justin Langer’s recent comments. Head was expected to make his mark after the England tour but has he done enough compared to others in the mix?
The other candidates have hit more runs than Head in the first three Shield matches, especially Carey. His form in England was a major concern.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Being groomed for the captaincy does not stand up as an excuse where form dips while other candidates consistently perform better. That’s not to say Head can’t rack up some runs in the Shield this summer and gain his place again. He is clearly very talented and still very young but competition is a good thing and it improves the Australian Test team.
Head hasn’t done enough in the Shield to get back into the side compared to Alex Carey, Nic Maddinson and Marcus Stoinis, who have been much more consistent. Will Pucovski has not been so good on harder pitches this summer.
Stoinis was the most consistent with the bat over the last three domestic games. He warrants consideration for the Gabba with his Shield form.
There were big innings from most candidates during that run-fest at the Junction Oval, which we can probably run a line through, but note Head failed there.
Carey has suffered some reckless dismissals, while Stoinis was more consistent than both of them, hitting more runs than all his rival candidates.
Pucovski is talented, but his only big score came on a road at the Junction Oval.
Maddinson is putting his hand up and may deserve a chance. He’s an interesting one as he opened the batting in Melbourne on the concrete deck before dropping down the order and continuing to score runs.
Stoinis has been good with the ball, too, which is something the other batsman cannot provide.
On form this season, Stonis, Maddinson and Carey look like stronger selections than Head. Carey was careless at the Gabba but he’s been brilliant in national colours in the limited-overs arena.
For the first Test at the Gabba, I’d be having a serious think about Stoinis, Maddinson and Carey ahead of Head.
Maddinson may deserve a start if they want a batsman who can be reordered to the opening slot in the series if the opening batsman continue to struggle.
anon
Roar Pro
We smashed 'em champ
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ha Ill probably give him one more go in SA but alas my article was right his form is still not holding off. Its not 1 swallow its 4 innings of 5 in shield as fails, a fail against pakistan in australia A, a fail at the gabba and an average of 23 in england bettered by siddle and equalled by pattinson. He was great last summer in aus but if he can’t do well at his home ground in the DN test against weaker opposition in pakistan he’s truly got to go for Perth. Lets say 8 swallows makes winter and spring thats for sure…
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Yes you were (and still are) "mate"! 1 swallow does not a summer make. Don't give up your day job.
Paul
Roar Guru
who do you replace him with Pierro? It might be a case of Shaun Marsh, last man standing! I'd be very reluctant to drop Head on the strength of being strangled down the legside. IMO he's a true number 5 bat,not a number 6, where he's expected to come in and blast away. IMO, he did well enough and certainly looked busy.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
So pedro was I off the mark with head in this article now? Doesn't appear so another poor knock. Article spot on mate.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
James my article was certainly warranted on head, another poor showing, personally think they missed a beat not playing neser at the gabba as a fourth quick who is an all rounder of sorts but the result shouldn't be effected hopefully although id prefer starc rested for adelaide DN where he goes really well.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Sadly was spot on about head, the whole article made sense. Personally think Neser could have been the extra seamer at home at gabba plus he makes runs . Like labs and burns he's played well at shield there all summer in three matches so far. Starc all the way for adelaide DN though. Head is a worry. Does bancroft deserve a game in the middle order? SA is heads home pitch so maybe one more try but if he doesn't perform there he's got to be dropped after the ashes too
Pierro
Roar Rookie
The team today is just really selected by process of elimination. Maddinson and pucowski (both withdrew mental illness) , Carey (probably not enough warm up games in long format and didnt do enough first innings) Head just on last summers form really . The one positive I can see for Head is he often isn’t getting beaten he’s just really been reckless and a bit brain dead on his approach (not the most intelligent cricketer Ive seen but same can be said for warner and to a lesser extent smith) . If anything he’s some distance of captain material for me head but has the talent, a bit like like a lesser talented smith perhaps if he can go on. As Marsh is getting on despite a better record this summer, it seems like its head by process of elimination really. Not ideal but he could come out and belt 50 plus at gabba. Heres hoping. Ill be surprised if he isn’t selected now. The top order openers are a bigger worry probably . I guess if there is continued failure in these up coming test matches they will have to go in any event after england. Harris looked a bit more competent than burns in the Australia A game but still losing his wickets and not making enough for some time
Pierro
Roar Rookie
We didn't learn anything from the Australia A game on batting outside of Bancroft being dogged and tough to get out in the middle order. That was interesting
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Still the Aussie A side was ordinary when selected outside of the bowlers for m who id expected to get through pakistan a bit quicker (that was more my concern out of this match). We saw some of these Australia A players fail pre series against good opposition in england and also during the ashes so not much has changed there. Bancroft is the only find out of the match on some form really. Although I though neser bowled very well yesterday . The pakistan bowling line up was good with the pink ball, now back to red ball and gabba its a little different for sure. Smith , labs and to an extent wade has been a level above others in last six months and shield outside of marsh and maddinson for me in shield. warner of course is at home so just hoping he steps up after so many chances he has to. I think cummins and hazel wood are a different class too although jhye and neser are in very good form so that was a tad concerning (probably the biggest concern). Pucowski now takes a mental health break too? Im all for it but its a lot of mental health brakes going on lately.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
That khan kid ran through Australia A he's got dangerous pace, will be interesting to see if he can get the bounce right at gabba and line and length at that pace though or else smith and warner could flick him for runs off his pace
Paul
Roar Guru
absolutely nailed it Pierro.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, it seems likely only Naseem Shah had something to prove - and he does so by doing Harris with a brutal rising ball. This Pakistani attack is quite a handful: - Shaheen Afridi (19yo taking the cricketing world by the throat; WC exploits were outstanding) - Mohammad Abbas (who isn't even playing, but their best quick and a destroyer of Australia 12 months ago) - Naseem Shah (16yo who seems totally focussed) - Imran Khan (the 32yo "fill-in" bowler who just destroyed the A side 1st innings) - Yasir Shah (a quality spinner who took six-for in an innings v Aus 12 months ago - and who just had Khawaja dropped) And one of those 5 has to miss out for the First Test...
JamesH
Roar Guru
...and now Burns is gone for not many. It's like none of them want to be picked! Head's shot wasn't silly though. It was exactly the right shot to that delivery. He just mishit it. That's not really a defence of him because not hitting shots you should hit isn't exactly a sign of good form! Just an observation.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Also, what weight do you pace on batting performances at this point? Pakistan has had their hit-out; are they actually that switched on in this final session? Probably only the 16yo Naseem Shah is still toiling away with something to prove.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Hohns and Langer are definitely discussing right now, even if announcement doesn't come till tomorrow (after making the phone calls to those that need to be advised). Decision will have been made, irrespective of what Harris does from now. Yeah, no major changes or surprises I'd be guessing.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Harris has a chance to claim it in the next hour after dinner . I don't think they announce team until tmw also will be one extra in team potentially leaving one spot potentially open ? Id say Head and probably starc too . I don't necessarily agree with those selections but Ill be surprised if they chance much
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I reckon Starc will be in. I think Head also. The opener spot; I'm not so sure but expect it'll be Burns or Harris.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Pakistan did a number on us batting again thats for sure. I suspect they just will make little change the selectors. The bowling slot is interesting. Im leaning to neser on starcs recent gabba numbers this year in test and shield but starc is finding form. He’s a lock for the SA oval DN match with pink ball. They may just stick with him but he’s been poor at gabba this year . Interestingly against Sri Lanka in january at gabba, Richardson was way better than Starc with both wickets and economy
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Its a mess for opening slots as is 5th wicket as it stands.