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.
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.
(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.
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.
(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.
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.
Daniel
Guest
Good point.. In retrospect Marnus' form in the last Ashes wasn't really a surprise, given he was killing it in the county season. Apparently he had tweaked his technique, mainly to deal with the swinging ball in England, based on tips from his county team's coach. So he was probably better adapted to English conditions than just about every other Aussie player. Headingly is notorious for swing, and Marnus aced both innings there. Would have been interesting to see how Smith coped with that amount of swing...even with his superb form at the time.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Sadly the moronic selectors didn't get the memo over sean marsh at the start of the series . He's had some good numbers in aus last five years and even lead the low scoring atrocities for australia at times . Shield av highest for two years running give or take pucovski this season . Selextors are useless for aus
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Id also like to see Renshaw get another chance as well. I agree he was gritty and a fighter. But i just dont agree Maddinsom is done and past shield numbers have been very good
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
"Maxwell is a more than handy bowler as well." As well as what? He is a less than average Test bat with a career average worse than Wade (who also shouldn't be in the side)! He is a stop gap, partnership breaker/give the bowlers a rest type with the ball. Despite that he is an excellent fieldsman! This is not 4 over hit and giggle cricket.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He has...but Sayers has been doing it longer. Neser has spent many years in and out of the Qld team. The past 2 years he has stepped up but he has not surpassed Sayers. I think some of Neser's batting gets ascribed to his bowling too. Worrall , like Behrendorff and NCN, has been crueled by injury but he does some amazing things with the ball. Neser would well and truly deserve a test spot but the other two are better. That just shows the depth we have.
matth
Roar Guru
So why has Neser been doing so well the last couple of years?
matth
Roar Guru
You can't mark a young player forever. Maddinson has come a long way since then.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Qld is the issue there. They prefer that barnacle, Bryce Street. The one that folk no longer discuss is Kurt Patterson. He has been injured. The second half of the Shield season could throw him back into contention.
Mukhtar
Roar Rookie
Great comment. I would disregard IPL/T20 decisions in the context of Test captaincy selection: Smith is experienced and a sure selection in the team: he must be considered, at least until a better candidate is found or groomed. The lack of plans to dismiss set batters became glaring as the series progressed: Paine, Langer and bowlers must be questioned about the scarcity of ideas. Lyon getting selected by default it seems is too much out of respect for past achievements. While I wish they were better spinners to replace him, I also hold Paine responsible for GOAT’s issues for the dropped catches. Also, Paine’s defensive fields, tactless captaincy seemed to influence the bowlers. The lack of bowled, LBW dismissals means bowlers are focused on catches behind the wicket as primary mode of dismissal . I don’t remember such a tactic used by Australian team before. Wade looked amateurish, trying to hit out, but succeeding often to get out. The opener slots are open for contention. Warner has technical limitations, Pucovski seems to get concussed a lot, Paine is not an inspired captain, or reliable keeper, Lyon seems easy to play, Starc is a shadow of his menacing best: seems there are some slots up for grabs.
Mukhtar
Roar Rookie
Australian batters have clear limitations, and need to be selected based on playing conditions. Hope Warner, S Marsh when in form are played at home, while developing batters that handle swing, spin better for tours abroad.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Lack of depth is a furphy but why push it? Who can say which player will fit in at the level? It's quirky and any number of state level (or less) may fit in okay. Precious selectors pretend otherwise and try to create some kind of a mythical mold but cricket is cricket. We pretend they are some kind of special being but the truth is it's the National mystique that captures the imagination and invites the individual to bathe in the glow of an adoring population. The sooner we look at cricket players as all pretty good with some getting good breaks and others are freakily driven the better Ask that "leggie" Smith. The stigma of not being "Test" level is just plain weird. The reality is far more fluky. There are candidates everywhere.
Hari
Roar Rookie
I think, England is quite capable of that feat. But they begin at Chennai and two in a row and summer is going to show up too. What India need is some 600+ innings at Pujara scoring rate.
Hari
Roar Rookie
Thanks for not playing him against India.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
You don’t know what I’m doing? Heck, even I haven’t gotta clue! https://youtu.be/qQvr2eF5zMM
The Late News
Roar Rookie
You getting all poetic on us now Rowdy??
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Let's hope England don't win in India. It couldn't get any lower for Australia than that right now.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Why not carey or Inglis for wade. Head is clearly not up to scoring big against class attacks.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"So deep, deep without a meaning I knew you'd find me leaving Tell those friends with cameras for eyes That their hands don't make me hang They only make me feel like breathing In an unguarded moment" (The Church, "Unguarded Moment")
MarkD
Guest
Gday Micko , another quality cricketer wasted by the selectors. How he was selected for a handful of sub continent tests where plenty have struggled and then not even given a shot at a home test was extremely harsh . Another not often mentioned back in 2017 for a test spot because he was seen as a limited overs player was Chris Lynne. First class average of 43 would normally get you a shot at a test . Both now seem lost to sheild cricket and i wonder how much the continual snubbing had to do with that ? I know Lynne injured his shoulder which probably played a part but if you're not in the picture for test spot , you might as well become a fulltime 20/20 player
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Was also my thinking jeff the gabba may be more suitable to Australia on November just wondering if timing didn't help us and playing there last . Big chance the covid scheduling really didn't help with pitch there too and timing off the back of scg and mcg. Usually lyon and starc go well.at gabba And it flattened out quite a bit . Still lyon was.less.effective in uk ashes . We need to be careful playing the players who get scored against heavily at.certain grounds and starc and lyon are culprits if not rotated effectively away from grounds and conditions that don't suit them