In Australia’s last five Tests at the SCG their spinners have averaged nearly 40 with the ball. So why are Australia already talking about playing two spinners in Sydney against New Zealand?
The myth of the spin-friendly SCG continues to influence Australia’s strategies, with chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns and captain Tim Paine both flagging the possibility of fielding a two-pronged spin attack against the Kiwis.
Yet in those past five Tests at the SCG not once have Australia’s frontline spin options averaged less than 30, even against a woeful West Indies batting line-up four years ago.
These are the combined returns of Australia’s specialist spinners in each of the last five Tests at the SCG:
- 2019 against India: 4-178
- 2018 against England: 4-140
- 2017 against Pakistan: 9-318
- 2016 against West Indies: 6-183
- 2015 against India: 4-233
It would be interesting to know whether Australia’s No. 1 slow bowler, Nathan Lyon, agrees with the prevailing narrative that the SCG is great for spinners. I would imagine he does not, based on his awful first-class record at that ground. Lyon averages 50 at the SCG from 12 matches, which makes it his worst first-class venue among all the main grounds in Australia.
(AP Photo/Jon Super)
The SCG is also his equal-worst Test venue in Australia, alongside the WACA, averaging 48 from his eight Tests in Sydney.
Rather than being defined as spin-friendly, the best description for the SCG based on recent Tests is ‘flat’. Last year India piled up 622, the year before Australia churned out 649, the previous summer Australia made 538, the year prior David Warner was 122* from 103 balls when the match was abandoned, and the year before that Australia made 572 and India replied with 475.
That sounds like an absolute road to me. And Australia’s biggest weapon on roads, the key reason why they are so dangerous on flat pitches, is their dynamic pace attack.
So I wonder again: why is the Australian think tank considering two spinners for the SCG? It would make more sense if Australia had an elite spinner waiting in reserve. But they don’t. Steve O’Keefe is a fine bowler, yet he hasn’t played a Test in more than two years and appears to be on the outer due to off-field indiscretions. Beyond O’Keefe the cupboard is barer than Lyon’s scalp.
Victorian left-armer Jon Holland has a terrific Sheffield Shield record but has looked patently out of his depth in Tests, with nine wickets at 64 from four matches. Holland’s last stint in the Test team was so poor that he was outbowled in the UAE last year by part-time leggie Marnus Labuschagne.
Ashton Agar, meanwhile, did a very good job in his last Test stint, taking seven wickets at 23 in Bangladesh two years ago. But he’s had a horror Shield season so far, with just three wickets at 136 from four matches. It would be madness for him to be vaulted into the Test team amid such a deep form slump.
The only other realistic option is inconsistent leg spinner Mitchell Swepson. The Queenslander’s best is very good, perhaps even good enough for Test cricket. The problem is that the gap between Swepson’s best and worst is yawning, and he far too frequently flits back and forth between good balls and bad balls, fine spells and awful ones, impressive matches and disappointing performances.
If he were given an SCG Test debut, Swepson would have the skill to challenge the Kiwi batsmen and have an impact on the Test. The problem is that he just as easily could go into long-hop and full-toss mode and end up with 1-140 from 30 overs. The 26-year-old is simply not ready for Test cricket. First, he needs to prove that he can perform consistently in the Shield.
While Swepson has had a good start to this season, with ten wickets at 21, in the 18 months prior to that he averaged 42 in first-class cricket.
All of this only makes the talk of Australia playing two spinners even more bizarre. Not to mention that, outside of India, New Zealand arguably play spin better than any other Test team. In Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and BJ Watling they have four fine players of spin. I imagine the Kiwis would be delighted if they arrive in Sydney to see Australia playing only two fast bowlers.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood both have excellent Test and first-class records at the SCG and should be automatic picks at that ground. Mitchell Starc’s record in Sydney is less impressive, but if he were to be omitted, it should not be for the likes of Holland, Agar or Swepson.
Instead, Australia should pick gifted quick James Pattinson or take the chance to offer a Test debut to in-form swing bowler Michael Neser. Until another quality spinner emerges in Shield cricket, Australia should forget about playing two spinners anywhere but in Asia.
Ignore the spin-friendly SCG myth.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
There are comments on cricinfo from Nevill and Khawaja that the SCG is starting to play like the pitches of old in that it spins, Nevill going on to say that it justifies picking 2 spinners. Maybe things are looking up.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
There is some suggestion the only corridor/access to the ground between the stands isn't wide enough to allow a regular sized truck in so to install and remove a drop in pitch might become problematic..... :stoked:
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Id definitely agree with you on the selectors not dropping him, id say its unlikely. Only way is if swespon bagged another half a dozen wickets in lead in shield games and the SCG is giving him and okeefe little or was when I last looked yesterday . Shame swepson didn't get a full second innings at NSW. Interesting SCG really playing like a pace wicket yet again in the shield game
Pierro
Roar Rookie
India look set for 2 DNs out of four tests next year and the powers that be want 3 DN tests. . I can see a time where red ball cricket is lost and eradicated in australia due to evening broadcasting upping attendance and viewing numbers for the networks
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Perth should be interesting Australia should have the upper hand
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I like some afl but its gotten annoying and Sydney Swans and the brisbane have some real power with their depth and academies and flagship status for each state . Good point that it could improve the pitch if it goes drop in. Looks like spin could go by the way side in australia a bit . Shame to see the WACA go last year was such a big part of australias cricketing history gone now . Time moves on unfortunately. As long as we can keep tests alive in Aus. , I see CA and broadcasting head execs say recently they would have 5 DN tests if possible
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yep, it's all about the AFL. Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth are drop-in's because of the AFL wanting it that way, and Brisbane and Sydney are getting massive pressure from the AFL to go the same way.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I've never said that I would never drop Lyon, I've said the selectors will never drop Lyon. I don't care how many people are "onto this" if you think the they are going to drop Lyon any time soon, no matter what stats or history says, you're crazy. As I've said numerous times recently, ever since Warne, the idea of ever going into a match without a specialist spinner, even when the conditions warrant that, has been out the window, they just won't do it. Prior to Warne it was a thing that on really fast bowler friendly surfaces with nothing for the spinners that they might go an all seam attack with just some part-time spin from some of the batsmen. But there's a massive resistance to it now, which is then compounded by Lyon somehow becoming this cult figure who's thought of as indispensable, regularly talked about as the best spinner in the world, no matter how many bad matches he's had recently, and seems simply undroppable. You can line up as many stats and cold hard facts as you want against Lyon. The selectors are not going to drop him!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Intersting to get your take on it too Chris. I knew it was dual use and AFL must have had an impact on it but in the context of learning whether drop in pitch comes in that sounds like the key point you raise, AFL seems to be so dominant now . The MCG pitch has been a mess and then they botch it up in the other direction. Concerns they will take it back to a flat track for boxing day ! As a side point a win in perth would be a big lead if the MCG pitch is made more benign again
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Interesting though you must acknowledge those numbers are very poor in sydney and melbourne recently chris. Just looking out for the best mix for the team. Of course Ronans article a few days back were about the myth around spinners at scg . Im not the only one on to this chris, you've got writers on roar writing articles about it now mate
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's varied across different seasons, but I think most of NSW home shield games this season have been at the SCG. The first one that was played at Drummoyne I believe was supposed to be at the SCG but there were issues getting the pitch ready in time so it got shifted. Lyon doesn't play all that many Shield games, same as most of the other main test players. Certainly, there are a few Shield games in NSW played away from the SCG, just like Vic play a few at Junction oval, but they still play plenty at the SCG. It's one reason why NSW, despite having by far the best first class cricketers in the country, don't keep winning the Shield, because most of those players aren't playing most of the games.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Nobody is dropping Lyon any time soon. He's become this cult-figure in the team to the extent that he'd need an extremely extended period of extremely poor form for the selectors to even consider starting to think about maybe dropping him!
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It's basically a fight between Cricket NSW and the SCG trust on one side, and the AFL on the other. The AFL want it to be a drop-in pitch, because removing the square during AFL season is better for them. At this point Cricket NSW and the SCG trust have been fighting hard against the idea of going to drop-in's, but unfortunately, the AFL has too much money behind it and it's hard to see that resistance lasting forever. I reckon it will eventually go the way of the drop-in. But lets face it, they haven't exactly been producing wonderful pitches on the natural square. There's no reason, with drop-in technology continuing to advance, being well beyond that which the MCG still uses, that they couldn't produce better drop-in pitches than the current SCG pitches have been producing.
Stuart Bywater
Roar Rookie
A quadruple wicket maiden is worth getting excited.
Stuart Bywater
Roar Rookie
The first innings of the match is generally pace friendly [obviously]. In the second innings, SOK's figures were 17.5 overs,2 maidens, 28 runs for 3 wickets with an economy rate of 1.57 and a strike rate of 35.67 plus effecting a run out.
Stuart Bywater
Roar Rookie
I understand that SOK's alleged outburst arose from his frustration at the selectors continually overlooking him for lesser credentialled and performed spinners.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Thanks for picking up that typo general. of course its lyon I'm talking about there but good to see you have the microscope for typos out , don't proof my notes as too busy mate
David
Guest
Cool story, bro.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
I was joking.
TheGeneral
Roar Rookie
You have got Paine on the brain. He is bowling now with the pink ball as it suits his bowling. He IS a jack of all trades.