For the first time in a long time, Australia’s Test XI picks itself as they head into the day-night match against Pakistan in Adelaide on Friday.
Australia have no need to make any changes after their commanding performance in the first Test where their batting line-up dominated, even without input from Steve Smith – and their pace attack was impressive.
The only concern for Australia on the bowling front is the ordinary form of off-spinner Nathan Lyon. The veteran was below his best in the first Test as he took 2-114, and in his past ten Tests has averaged 41 with the ball.
Lyon also had minimal influence in his three Sheffield Shield games for NSW this summer, taking seven wickets at 36.
Although Australia’s quicks are in fine form and are powering the attack, the home side will need Lyon to have a greater impact in the upcoming series against a strong New Zealand side. The world’s second-ranked Test team, New Zealand yesterday destroyed England by an innings and 65 runs in the first Test in Mount Maunganui.
Lyon has a fantastic Test record against the Kiwis, with 30 wickets at 23. His spot is under zero threat at present due to the lack of any other proven Test spinners, aside from Steve O’Keefe whose international career seems to have been stalled by off-field indiscretions.
Lyon’s long-time bowling colleague Mitchell Starc entered this Test series under scrutiny after patchy performances for Australia, which saw him omitted for four of the five Ashes Tests. Australia’s chief selector Trevor Hohns added further pressure when, prior to the first Test, he flagged the possibility of Queensland swing bowler Michael Neser playing at Adelaide.
As much as Neser has earned a crack at Test cricket, Starc deserves to keep his spot. Grabbing 7-125 at Brisbane, the left armer proved valuable on a very good batting strip. With fellow quicks Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins bowling dry, Starc’s ultra-attacking method added nice variety to the home attack.
What’s more is the second Test will be played under lights and Starc has an outstanding record with the pink ball. In five day-night Tests, he has taken 26 wickets at 23. And his Test record under lights at Adelaide is even better – 17 wickets at 19.
(AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
Based on form, then, there is no need for Australia to tinker with their attack for the second Test. The only reason they may consider a change is due to concerns about workload, as Australia have a packed Test schedule this summer. They have only eight days off between the Adelaide Test and the first Test against NZ, which starts on December 12 in Perth.
Australia consistently have tried to juggle their fast bowling assets during such condensed periods of Test cricket. It is possible that, with a 1-0 lead in the bank, they may consider resting one of Starc, Hazlewood or Cummins at Adelaide to keep them fresh for the blockbuster series against NZ.
Their batting selections, meanwhile, are straightforward. Veteran opener David Warner allayed concerns about his form with 154 in his only knock at Brisbane. His opening partner Joe Burns solidified his position by making 97 in a giant opening stand with Warner.
At three and four Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith are automatic picks, while number five Matt Wade looked in nice touch as he made 60 in the first Test. Behind him at six, Travis Head was also cruising before he was a tad unlucky to get out caught down the legside from a rank delivery for 24.
That top six is one which looks capable of carrying Australia through this whole summer and perhaps even beyond. Burns, Wade and Head should be given the remainder of this summer to try to cement their spots.
After the dizzying selection revolving door of the past 18 months, Australia finally are in a position to build some stability.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
No mate, it's exactly how it should work. By your reckoning we ignore form and choose a player who's had moderate success at a particular venue. So regardless of Starc being in form, with a revised action to improve his accuracy, he will never get the chance to play a Test at a venue which he previously had a problem at! That's ridiculous! By that reckoning then regardless of his current form he needs to be sidelined for Melbourne and pay a penalty for not taking some mythical amount of wickets to some predetermined agenda from 12 months ago or longer. Then the best option in your opinion, Pattinson should come in, except maybe he's injured or suspended, so we keep going down the list to guys who've never played a Test there, but at least they don't have a negative history to distort a selectors perception of performance AT THAT GROUND! But don't play the guy who - I repeat - is in form, has revised his action and has a strike rate (including at 'unfavourable' grounds) which is 2nd best all time for Australian bowlers. I'm sorry mate, everyone is entitled to an opinion, but I agree with 200+ Test veterans Ponting and McGrath; rotation is flawed and a form killer and Australia would've had a better chance at Ashes victory with Starc in the last Test.
Martyn50
Roar Rookie
Who?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
But thats not quite how it works injury. Starc has had two good DN test matches in adelaide in 4 years and overall great numbers there , and then he's not done so well at other grounds several times such as SCG and MC. if you've got a guy like pattinson who has a huge wicket taking rate at MCG you have to take the best candidate to get the best result and the other bowlers in the squad are not on shaky form like some of the batsman. I think someone like starc can also be told we can rotate and preserve your fitness and prevent your back from stress fractures or in starcs case his problematic ankle injuries . Conversely you can justify pattinson is the right man for the job. Why not use all your strengths. Its a team sport so if your told this is the rotation that makes sense due to the depth in the australian bowling right now. Richardson was selected alongside starc 11 months ago whilst hazel wood was injured. Pattinson used effectively in the first test win at edbaston. there is plenty of justification for these bowlers to be rotated
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Great selecting then. I'd be interested to know in your sporting career how you handle being told you won't be playing most of a season because 4 years ago you weren't so good with a particular ball at a particular ground. If you're happy about that, then I understand your comments more. Nearly every player in the would wants to play and most selectors decide form can overcome a past below par result.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Bancroft 49 against Pakistan for Aus A whereas head failed . Thing is Bancroft dropped down the order in that match and it worked against pakistan so proof is in the pudding there. He’s had poor form opening though. Moreover, this is based on Head not finding form at Adelaide. If he does he most certainly stays in for Perth. This is not a head coup, its just that he needs to find form after england and and a pretty poor pre season and first test. He did well in shield at adelaide so there is some room for optimism over this adelaide test. Im just saying he needs to perform now as he won’t get opposition any weaker and is at his home ground. There are no excuses now. Moreover Head scored 23 av in uk and 23 at gabba. Theres been no 30s by way of an average since before June.
Richo
Guest
I'll take heads 30s over Bancroft scraping his way to 10 any day of the week
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Not really, I didn't select him for first test at Edbaston where Australia won so that would be a rotation out and a successful result but wanted him rotated back in after that. One can simply analyse the better grounds for starc to play and some grounds where other bowlers are better (pattinson MCG for example preferred to starc there) . All moot anyway until next test I've picked the same side for Adelaide as its extremely strong on historical performances as well as current form. The big watches this lyon (bowls well at the Adelaide DN) and head (home ground) at adelaide and to see if Burns can back it up away from his home pitch but we should do well at Adelaide. Id like to see them all bowl well at Adelaide.
anon
Roar Pro
In FC cricket
anon
Roar Pro
There's not a whole lot of difference then.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
Then your last sentence is arguing against rotation, as Starc was in the Test team who beat Sri Lanka and he took ten.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
Oh and by the way. SMarsh away test average 29.31. Maxwell 26.07. Who has the higher away average again?
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
You should get your facts right for a start. "Averages over 40 in test cricket". Oh cricinfo and howstat must be wrong then. I think I will believe them rather than you. They say he averages 26.07 with the bat in test cricket. His bowling average is over 42 which is not up to test standard as well. That is why he played only 7 tests.
matth
Roar Guru
Can you not accept that Paine is no longer a wicket keeper. He was never a good one either.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Thats a fair comment actually there would be less pressure on him if the top 6 did their job abroad. I agree with your comments 100 percent on all batsman. Im not sure wicketkeepers can't captain though your probably right in that they don't make the best captains given their task and that is where we see eye to eye on his decision making and tactics during the ashes. They were not up to scratch in most tests and certainly cost Australia in terms of a favorable result in the ashes which were there for the taking with a 3 1 win at worse
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It's my position on him. If the top 6 were firing at least half the time Paine's batting would not be discussed. And on the Windies Marsh faced faster bowlers than anything our top 6 did in the recent Ashes with Joffra coming a bit close here n there. If Warner, Bancroft/Harris & Khawaja had a half-decent output, and if Head capitalised and if Wade was more circumspect it would been a non-issue. ----- Its the compromise of being a captain-wicketkeeper that I'm unyeilding on. The "Cunis Syndrome". Both disciplines compromised the other.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think your being kind on his batting Rowdy its behind Haddin on averages and marsh had to play against the windies in the 80s and they had crappier bats and sports science and were unfit compared to todays standards. Paine was a great keeper though savaged by injuries no doubt about it
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Even my weird brain can't handle this.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ill take that Paines a good bloke and was the right man to step until the Ashes
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Pattinsons record at MCG is best, has a great average there if you look it up , Starcs is better at adelaide and optus but not as good at MCG and poor at SCG
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Both for me captaincy was poor to mediocre, batting was poor too from he same culprits and selectors were off the mark too