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Opinion

Depth issues mean few changes for South Africa tour

21st January, 2021
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21st January, 2021
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A lack of alternative options mean Australia will employ few changes to its best XI for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa.

After a second series loss in three home summers, the knives have come out for Tim Paine’s underperforming side, but beyond the rants born largely out of frustration, few genuine alternatives stick out.

Selection change is the natural and understandable reflex after a series loss, but in Australia’s case, they should make few changes for the first Test, expected to be in early March.

The reason for this is a lack of depth knocking on the Australian XI, which admittedly is not helped by a schedule that leaves players on the outer with few red-ball opportunities to prove their wares.

Rather than a selection overhaul, Australia needs to recalibrate tactically and mentally with its existing squad for the tour of South Africa.

With the bat, the Aussies were again undone by a lack of ruthlessness after getting starts which, in Sydney and Brisbane, arguably cost them wins.

With the ball, three LBWs in an entire series suggests they are not hitting the stumps near enough, while Nathan Lyon’s continual operation of a 6-3 leg-side field simply isn’t working.

There’s lots for coach Justin Langer to think about before his side flies out, reportedly on February 24. But, running the rule over the current squad, selection is probably not one of them.

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David Warner and Will Pucovski, should he return to fitness, are both certain starters against South Africa. Pucovski impressed in his SCG debut while the calls for Warner’s head, though admittedly building evidence, are still too premature.

Warner still sports a Test average of 48 with 24 hundreds (the eighth-highest ever for Australia).

He’s a player the selectors couldn’t (and shouldn’t) don’t drop unless they’re very, very sure. Or, if there’s someone waiting in the wings — but there isn’t.

Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith naturally pick themselves at three and four.

Labuschagne impressed again throughout the India tour, outscoring his nearest rival on either side by over 100 runs. Smith, too, was brilliant after a slow start and looked a different player in Sydney and Brisbane to the one at Adelaide and Melbourne.

At five and six, Matthew Wade and Cameron Green should also hold their places.

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Cameron Green

(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Wade’s frustrating what-could-have-been summer leaves him vulnerable to the chop, and he could probably have few arguments if that eventuated. But his ball-striking was superb in each Test, and his downfall almost always a malfunction between the ears.

Wade should rightly be rebuked for that, but those that then suggest Travis Head should replace him are essentially pushing the case of a player with even bigger mental deficiencies at the crease. Whataboutery shouldn’t be Wade’s saving grace, but he deserves one last shot given how hard he worked to force his way back into the side, plus his performances in the 2019 Ashes.

At seven is Tim Paine, who won’t be replaced despite the fact calls to strip him of the captaincy carry merit. The skipper has shown himself to be tactically lacking on numerous cut-throat occasions in the last 18 months, especially at Headingley, the SCG and now the Gabba.

There’s a sameness and predictiveness where, faced with free-scoring batters during tight encounters, Paine appears helpless to halting momentum. But yet again, there is no genuine alternative.

Pat Cummins’ herculean final day effort in Brisbane was further proof that an exhausted fast bowler probably shouldn’t be expected to execute the tactical moves needed to win a Test match.

Others thrown up like Head or Labuschagne, at this stage, are fanciful.

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A workable solution could be for Smith to play a more senior role on the field, which is likely needed.

With the ball, beyond the anomaly of Adelaide, Australia’s bowling unit had a disappointing series in which they twice failed to bowl out a side on the final day of a Test match.

Player of the series Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood could hold their head high, and while Lyon had a series to forget (nine wickets at 55.1), certainly won’t be pushed out of the XI in South Africa.

Australia's Nathan Lyon (R) celebrates his wicket of India's batsman Shubman Gill

(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)

Which brings me to the one change Australia should make for the first Test.

James Pattinson, should he prove his fitness, or Michael Neser should replace Mitchell Starc who had a disappointing series, especially in Sydney and Brisbane.

Starc is Australia’s prime strike option, yet Paine’s growing preference to give vital spells to Cummins and Hazlewood immediately throws Starc’s role and position in the side into question.

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He remains a devastating strike option, but currently lacks rhythm and should be afforded a rest.

Jhye Richardson, who has been ultra-impressive thus far in the BBL, is nearing a return to the Australian squad, but his workloads likely won’t have increased enough to be ready for a Test tour in a month’s time.

Australia is likely to select a large squad for the tour of South Africa, given the quarantine restrictions on flying in replacements at the last minute.

But when it comes down to selecting the final XI, few changes will be made.

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