Joe Burns, Steve O’Keefe, Mitchell Swepson, Kurtis Patterson and Usman Khawaja are among a host of cricketers fighting for Test spots in the second half of the Sheffield Shield season, which resumes in two days’ time.
Australia will likely take a 14-man squad to Bangladesh for their upcoming two-Test tour, and performances across the final four rounds of the Shield should have a major influence on the makeup of that group.
Starting from Friday, Queensland play Tasmania at the Gabba, South Australia face Western Australia at Adelaide Oval, and NSW tackle Victoria at the SCG.
The likes of Khawaja, Patterson and Swepson will get also get a chance to impress for Australia A against the England Lions in a four-day, pink-ball match at the MCG starting on February 22.
Australia are on a hot streak, with a 9-2 win-loss record across their past dozen Tests, including clean sweeps of New Zealand, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
What’s more is that eight of those nine wins were thrashings by an innings or more than 245 runs.
This commanding run means the selectors shouldn’t feel the need to make significant changes to the starting line-up against Bangladesh.
Yet in the Shield there still will be hot competition for the squad’s three reserve spots, as well as pressure on incumbent opener Joe Burns, and a bowl-off for the second spin spot in the starting XI.
Joe Burns (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Australia consistently field two spinners in Asia. In fact, on their last tour of Bangladesh, Pat Cummins was the lone quick in the second Test, supported by slow bowlers Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar and O’Keefe.
That unusual selection was prompted by the circumstances, though, with star quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood unavailable to play.
O’Keefe and Agar could again be in contention. Agar was excellent last time in Bangladesh, taking seven wickets at 23 and contributing with the bat. He has, however, had a horrendous Shield season to date, averaging 136 with the ball, and may not play again for Western Australia due to limited-overs international commitments in South Africa and New Zealand.
O’Keefe, meanwhile, is quietly having a terrific Shield campaign, with 14 wickets at 18 so far. If the left armer continues his fine form, the selectors could be swayed by his experience and success in Asia, where he has taken 28 wickets at 30.
The main rival for the second spin spot against Bangladesh is leg spinner Swepson, who toured Bangladesh with Australia last time, and was also included in the squad for their most recent Test, against New Zealand at the SCG.
After averaging a hefty 37 with the ball across the previous two Shield seasons, the Queenslander has bounced back this summer, taking 12 wickets at 27.
Mitchell Swepson sends down a leg-break. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
As I argued recently, O’Keefe is a far better option than Swepson in Bangladesh.
The amount of spin and variable bounce on offer in Bangladesh means ultra-accurate finger spinners like O’Keefe are better suited to the conditions than more aggressive, but far less precise wrist spinners such as Swepson.
If the selectors pursue a horses-for-courses strategy, that could place Burns under added pressure.
His only Test series in Asia, against Sri Lanka in 2016, saw him average eight from four innings and then get axed. The Queenslander underwhelmed this summer, averaging 32 from five Tests, but deserves a longer run in the team.
His spot will surely come under scrutiny, though, if he labours in the second half of the Shield season while a rival flourishes.
That competition could come from within his own team. On Australia’s last Test tour of Asia, against Pakistan in the UAE 16 months ago, fellow Queenslander Khawaja was outstanding as an opener.
Playing the spinners with great skill, Khawaja made 229 runs at 76 for the series. That included one of the best performances of the modern era – an epic double of 85 and 141 in the first Test in Dubai, spending nearly 13 hours at the crease.
But if Khawaja is any hope of making the upcoming tour, he will need to rebound strongly from his shocking start to the Shield season, having averaged just 20 in the first six rounds.
Yet, if he can get on a roll, Khawaja still looms most likely to unseat Burns.
Australia will also be looking for a reserve batsman, which means Khawaja’s versatility will keep him in contention, while prolific NSW runmaker Kurtis Patterson could also be in the mix.
Patterson was unlucky to miss the Ashes tour last year after making 30 and 114* in his only two Test innings, against Sri Lanka a year ago. Then injury curtailed his Shield campaign this summer, limiting him to just one innings in the first six rounds.
Now the tall left-hander is fit again and ready to press for Test honours.
With young gun Will Pucovski continuing to suffer issues with concussion, Patterson and Khawaja are the leading contenders for the reserve batsman spot. Performances in the Shield over the next six weeks should have a major impact on the makeup of that squad.
JGK
Roar Guru
Geez Tasmania are poor.
Paul
Roar Guru
We have no idea what type of pitch they'll dish up, especially if there's oversight from the ICC. For sure it'll turn but so what? We apparently have plenty of good players of spin, lets see if that's really the case
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
That doesn't change anything I said or does it? Pakistan would have been bowled out for 150 odd on that wicket if they were playing against any of the top 3. Besides, you clearly missed the point which is the banglas won't serve up a pitch even remotely similar to that deck.
Ron Chinchen
Guest
Points noted Matth and I expected such a response. I am not seeking to demean Lyon's performances which have, as I have pointed out, have improved over the years. II am just using him as the best comparable option. But using the test issue doesn't change the argument because actually Lyon's test averages are slightly better than his first class averages. However when you compare any other spin bowler including Lyon, no one comes close to O'Keefe's shield performances year by year, O'Keefe has markedly better figures, up to ten runs a wicket better than almost anyone else. This argument is not about Lyon, its about the failure of selectors to recognise the freakish performances O'Keefe produces year by year without recognition. In the very few tests O'Keefe has played he has been relegated to an also spinner, allowing Lyon the majority of the opportunities to strike. I think selectors missed the bus with a spin bowler who dominates first class cricket and I think personality, rather than skill had a lot to do with it.
Paul
Roar Guru
You mean on the same pitch where Pakistan made over 400. Where the spinners and quicks from both teams equally shared the wickets and the Pakistan spinners bowed about 1/3 of the overs in each Bangladesh ininings. Yep, I thought again
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
They sure can, champ. But as I said; 'If another spinner isn’t jumping out with form, leave them home.' I woulda thought an above par spinner was above par because of form?
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Who's obsessed with pace allrounders? There's a lot to like about Green. Even without his bowling he was one of the in form batsmen in the first half of the Shield season, and I commented that he probably does need another year or two of development. But certainly, if you can have a player in your top 6 who's a legitimate top 6 quality batsman and also offers a lot with the ball, that's an amazing bonus to have and can do amazing things for the balance of the team. But certainly, trying to push people into that sort of role when they aren't actually good enough with bat or ball for test level doesn't help anyway. Players don't necessarily need to prove themselves for a "few years" though. If real quality young players come through and are playing well then pick them. They don't need to wait "a few years at least" if they are playing well, in form, and the opportunity comes up. Plenty of quality players over the years have made successful transitions to test cricket when picked after only a hand full of first class games. Occasionally you just get a young kid who can just tell they've got something special, and they come into first class cricket and immediately look like they belong, and you just don't need years to work out that they are right for test cricket. I don't know that Green is quite there yet, but he's certainly close. If he came straight out in these last four Shield matches and continued the form shown in the first half of the season with a couple more hundreds, then, considering the dearth of real quality middle order options he's competing with, it's quite conceivable he could push himself very quickly into consideration. And it's known that having a player in the squad around the likes of Smith and others, training with them, learning from them, can be a very positive thing for development. So a young kid who you think is really close can often really benefit from that. Of course, you only do that if you also think they are at a point where they could do a job if called upon because of an injury or something. You don't carry them just for experience.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
I doubt there would be any need to bowl Wade at all. Four main bowlers, 2 of whom are spinners, plus Labushagne as a third spinner, would be all you'd need in spinning conditions.
Micko
Roar Rookie
We need to stop this obsession with pace all rounders. They should only get picked when they've consistently proved themselves in Shield cricket for a few years at least!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Would you use Wade as backup, or not bother and just have Labuschagne as a part timer?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Sadly, Maxi won't be playing anything. Elbow operation.
matth
Roar Guru
Not a bad call
matth
Roar Guru
Just re O’Keefe v Lyon’s first class stats, just remember that Lyon’s first class stats includes a heck of a lot more test matches, which means better batsman. It also means variable conditions because as the first spinner he plays even if the surface is no good for him even if just to contain and give the quick bowlers a rest and keep the over rate up. O’Keefe’s only tests have been in favorable conditions where two spinners are required, so has more helpful pitches and more attacking fields.
Tom
Correct, won't be at all surprised to see them going in to matches with 3+ spinners. They'll produce dustbowls.
Wise Old Elf
Guest
Question is, can the Sheffield Shield save perhaps the lousiest Australian cricketing summer since who knows when? It has been a complete shocker. Bring back the World Series Cup.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
Redbacks
Rissole
Roar Rookie
Certainly a feasible scenario after playing with his idol Smith for a few big bash seasons.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
Yes, but on a wicket sporting fair bit of green grass. You expecting green tops in Banglesdesh mate? Think again...
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Really? 4 matches 9 wickets at 32.77 but he took 6 of those wickets in the 1 innings. So in 3 tests 3 wickets. :unhappy:
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Carey as a batsman should get in the squad and also backup for Paine. Averaging 55 so far in Shield.