Faced with a choice between Travis Head and Will Pucovski for today’s Test squad announcement, Australian selectors should allow the preferred player something seldom afforded in modern cricket: time.
It’s clear the cricketing hierarchy see both Head and Pucovski, aged 25 and 21 respectively, as long-term prospects in the Test XI. One has already been afforded the vice-captaincy, while the other had one hand on a baggy green before his 21st birthday.
An extended chance in the Test side would only benefit both the selected player and team. While a five-test guarantee could be framed as dangerous policy lending itself to complacency, it’s more likely to ease the tensions both players face.
For Head, dropped before the last Test Australia played, the assurance that his next innings won’t be his last may free him up to rediscover the promise of last summer. For Pucovski, acutely aware of the next-big-thing tag he already sports, it would similarly ease the burden.
The reason selectors can grant an extended run in the side for their selected young pick is that, for one summer in a five-year stretch, Australia does not face a bluechip opponent on home soil.
For the previous two summers, England and India have toured their shores – without doubt the biggest two series for Australian cricket. For the next two summers, they’ll do so again. But with two shorter series this year against Pakistan and New Zealand, the pressure is comparatively off.
Now, if ever, is time to pick and stick.
This is not to dismiss the threat posed by Pakistan and New Zealand, both possessing players who at their peak could upset a summer Australia enter as warm favourites. But the home side’s bowling line-up, plus the return of Steve Smith and David Warner on familiar pitches, should be too strong.
Therefore, the promise of five Tests to either Head or Pucovski should be afforded, for the long-term development of the player and in turn, the benefit of the side.
(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)
If selectors see the pair as a one-or-the-other option, omitting either for the entire summer does present questions. Head would be extremely unlucky to sit out the next few months in whites given his admirable efforts on debut against India last year, plus some handy Ashes contributions.
Conversely, further delaying Pucovski’s debut beyond this summer could see him picked in Australia’s more difficult next three series: Bangladesh (away), India (home) and South Africa (away).
Whatever the case, it’s clear either player can’t rest on the promise of what is to come.
“There’s so many opportunities for these young batsmen which weren’t the case 20 years ago,” Simon Katich said on SEN radio this week.
“There’s a huge amount of players that would’ve loved the opportunities some of these guys have had, but not grabbed yet.”
For Head and a number of other young players including Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, these comments ring true. Again the South Australian went out in streaky fashion against Pakistan on Tuesday night, familiarly behind square on the offside. His scoring ability has never been questioned, but his temperament and hard hands have.
Head’s weakness is Pucovski’s strength, praised for his ability to remain at the crease for long periods. But his last five innings read 2, 0, 3, 7 and 5 – an ill-timed run of results. Nevertheless, both Mark Taylor and Dean Jones believe Pucovski should be picked ahead of his older compatriot.
At 21, some will decry the need to rush. Others say he’s ripe for picking. Unfortunately, what’s clear is that neither jump off the page to fill the number five (or six) spot as it stands.
Both ooze talent, but questions remain. An extended run in the side will benefit both the individual and the Australian XI going forward and should be afforded to the player picked today.
Editor’s note: Since publishing this article, news has broken that Will Pucovski has withdrawn from Test selection to have a mental wellbeing break.
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
During the days of WSC when Bob Simpson returned to help us in our hour of need, he batted in the middle order. At age 42, a wonderful home series against India where he scored 2 hundreds and 2 half centuries was followed by a tougher away series in the Caribbean. That West Indies side was full strength for the first 3 tests, after which the WSC contracted players were ineligible to play. The footage of Simpson, long before helmets, facing Wes Hall should be mandatory viewing for all batsmen wanting to learn how to safely play hostile fast bowling. An absolute legend!
John Erichsen
Roar Guru
Matthew Hayden's career benefitted greatly from the selectors telling him he had the first three tests of the 2000/01 home series against West Indies. No big scores (thanks to a couple of runouts with Slater) but enough runs to finally believe that he belonged at test level. Hayden had been averaging 50 in shield and county cricket for years, had already scored a test hundred in Adelaide, yet never felt he belonged until this series. What chance does a young batsman averaging 40 in domestic cricket have of believing they belong without selectors backing them for at least a few tests?
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Head's been dropped?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Chappelli averaged 50 as captain. Good point re him, Langer and Hayden. Head has a cool kopf and a steady tongue. He gas a good technique with a flaw or two. Rest assured he is working on improving his game.
Paul
Roar Guru
I was thinking back to the WSC days Bob and even then, when we had Simmo opening the batting, we still had blokes coming through, who should heaps of promise. Right now, it seems like anyone who makes a decent score, follows it up with a bunch of failures.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
I'll probably get roasted for this but the thing that irks me is that it all seems so shadowy and murky with no clear explanation of whats really going on. If they want mental health brought out into the open and treated as the legitimate condition it is this seems a funny way of going about it. .. If a player gets injured there is normally full disclosure about the nature of the injury. The same if someone is unlucky enough to contract a disease, like cancer, or Taylor from England with his heart problem. Everyone understands when it gets spelled out plainly. Why should mental health issues get treated differently. They're bona-fide problems. Why keep it in the shadows? I just don't get it.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Good point Dave. A Shield average of 38 would have well and truly seen you among the 2nd or 3rd tier in previous generations. Still, his test average is respectable and he has played some nice innings along the way. He'll never be a Ricky Ponting, there's a talent gulf there he can't cross, but I think he's done a decent job and deserves his chance against Pakistan. In England they said he wasn't dropped, it was more a tactic to ease the workload on the bowlers, so if that's true he will probably play in Brisbane. Rightly so imo and good luck to him.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
"but only because we have such poor Test batting stocks" It's the worst I've seen it Paul, and I remember the 80's after Lillee, Marsh and Chappel all retired around the same time !! That was bad but this is worse. There's just no-one in shield cricket knocking the door down from 1 to 6. .. Bowling stocks are healthy though. Good thing they can all bat a bit too. Got a feeling we're gunna need their runs.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
No such problems in the shorter formats. He's killing it in those. I agree that he looks to be changing his game for test cricket, trying to be something he's not for some reason, but the big problem in England was Stuart Bloody Broad. He bowled beautifully to all our lefties. Pakistan look to have some skilful bowlers too, as they nearly always do, so I'm hoping none of them do a Broad on us.
Waxhead
Roar Rookie
@David hehehe So it's Head or Pucovski huh - you certainly picked that one :) So they dropped Head while Puco toddled back to the psych clinic. Go any more tips for us? How about the 237th return of M Marsh? He was looking great in the nets in England so a pommie told me :)
Marty
Roar Rookie
You mean the ‘tired old XI‘ that just achieved something that no Australian team has done in 18 years? That would seem to indicate they’re going alright at the moment, not sure big changes are required.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
They also made carey captain of the aussie A team does that make him a future captain too. Absurd thinking" But Pierro, Head IS a regular captain already and has been so for many years. So exactly how is it absurd thinking? Head IS regularly in the Test team. He's been in every Test team for the last four series, other than the fifth Test in England and he's back in the team again. How is that not regularly being in the Test team? And he's officially the VC. Bancroft and Neser are in the squad, not the starting XI necessarily. I think most of us had those players in an extended squad.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I think his personality is more on the nose with the public than anything else! Not sure that Handscomb can complain about his treatment by selector to date (re tests, at least).
Pierro
Roar Rookie
they can have their view but he averaged 23 in england. not good enough yet jeff. 5 fails in 6 innings since coming home. Facts are facts so far. I see bancroft has got in the squad per my thoughts and they followed my thoughts with neser, does that make me or them right . Who knows . you can’t captain if your not regularly in the test team and performing well to begin with. Paine is an anomaly due to circumstances. They also made carey captain of the aussie A team does that make him a future captain too. Absurd thinking . Head needs to get his own game together before captain team although mean seem to like guys that don’t bat well and make poor decisions on captain of late . Thank god for smith and cummins being there
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Wade dropped due to age? He is only 31, Warner is 33.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
Selectors will have big headaches if Warner doesn't fire. Since returning, he has been a shell of himself in the longer form. His strike rate is way down, he seems like he wants to dig in, but that isnt his game. I am quite happy to move him on if he does nothing. The 'credits in the bank' argument means little if Australia lose.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Wade's received personality is a bit on the nose, more so than his age. If you're unpopular (just ask Glenn Maxwell, Handscomb and Finch) then as soon as your performances stumble you're on shaky ground.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I think selections need to be earnt, not just picked on potential. Otherwise it's unfair on people who are mounting a strong case via performances but not being selected. Nothing wrong with being required to perform to be selected and continue to perform to hold your spot. Maybe we should just select 10 players for the first test! :cricket:
Paul
Roar Guru
David, the selectors are in a real bind at the moment and this has been brought about by a dearth of Test quality batsmen across the country. Our opening batsman choices are severely limited to a bloke coming off the worst Ashes series any Test opener has produced, coupled with one of 2 or 3 choices, none of whom have shown any sort of form consistency in the Ashes and/or Shield games. We're banking on a number 3 who had a wonderful Ashes, but is still in the early stages of his career, a guy at number 5 (Head), who's form has been less patchy than any of his rivals, (but still pretty average) and a guy at 6, who seems to be a boom or bust bat, based on how he went last Ashes. The ONLY guy good enough to be there on merit and weight of runs over a long period is Smith, but what if he has a form slump? Any contenders have simply batted their way out of contention. I suspect you may be right, selectors may have to show patience, but only because we have such poor Test batting stocks, if the guys selected for the first two Tests fail.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Patience is definitely needed, though more in the sense of giving a slightly longer leash to younger players. I’m not sure giving anyone a carte blanche for five Tests is too long though - part of the deal of becoming a Test cricketer is having to fight for a place. A number of players regarded as great or very good started off with a few rocky years, including the experience of being dropped from the Test tea - Ponting, Ian Chappell, Langer, Hayden. Of the latter four, only Ponting (43.5) had a better Test average than Head’s (42) at the same age. Ian Chappell, another South Australian captain, only averaged after 36 when he took over the Australian captaincy at age 27. The difference between Head and these guys, however is that he has a much less impressive first class record, like most of the guys currently in contention for Test selection who average only mid-30s to low 40s (his is 38). Whereas the guys mentioned above stamped their authority on the Shield from early on - Chappell averaged nearly 49 in first class when he became Test captain.