The summer so far has highlighted five dilemmas facing our Test side.
In no particular order, the first four are:
• No in-form Test quality opening batsmen to replace David Warner or Will Pucovski
• No batsmen ready to replace Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head or Cameron Green
• No obvious Test captain candidate
• Question marks over the successor to Nathan Lyon
When looking at the squad to tour South Africa, it’s scary that we have only three batsmen considered capable of replacing any of the top seven – Marcus Harris (Test average 23.77), Moises Henriques (Test average 23.42) and Alex Carey. We’re in serious trouble if any of the batting order gets injured.
Then we come to replacing Tim Paine. I’m a real fan of Paine’s captaincy since he took the reins three years ago, but there are more than a few who think it’s time to move on. It’s clear that given his age, at some point soon, another captain will need to be found.
Many are suggesting we need to do that before the Ashes, but there are simply no suitable candidates. Australia does not give the captaincy to bowlers, rightly or wrongly. They could hardly give it to whoever replaces Paine as keeper, and of the batsmen, only Smith has the right credentials at present to be considered. It’s questionable, though, whether he’d want the job again and whether he’d be able to cope with role, given previous events.
Then there’s the question of a replacement for the GOAT. Lyon had an underwhelming Test series for a variety of reasons, which has led many to suggest his days are over and he should be replaced. The number one candidate is Mitchell Swepson, but there’s no guarantee he’s a Test quality option right now.
(Photo by PATRICK HAMILTON/AFP via Getty Images)
Yes he has killed it in Sheffield Shield cricket this summer, but he was belted badly by the Indians in Sydney, not only going for well over five an over, but losing control, which only made things worse.
The squad for the South Africa Test series has been announced and none of the issues previously mentioned have been addressed. The ICC Test schedule right now only has Australia possibly playing a Test in England, assuming the side makes the Test Championship final, then no more Tests until the Ashes, which will presumably start in November.
This leaves Cricket Australia (CA) and the selectors with the fifth dilemma – can the Test team afford to go into an Ashes campaign with so many serious issues left unaddressed?
The simple answer is no they can’t. More to the point, there is the best part of ten months to do something about it and my suggestion is to create an Australian A squad to play a series of games against another top ranked country, preferably India.
I would include the following players: Sam Whiteman, Sean Abbott, Daniel Hughes, Michael Neser, Ben McDermott, Mitchell Swepson, Nic Maddinson, Jhye Richardson, Kurtis Patterson, Jack Wildermuth, Travis Head (c), Ashton Agar, Josh Philippe, Adam Zampa, Josh Inglis, Tanveer Sangha and Bryce Street.
In an ideal world, this squad would tour the sub-continent, but in the current COVID world, that’s asking a lot. There should be no reason, however, why this group could not play four or five four-day matches in Darwin, Cairns or Townsville against India A from August onward.
They could also play some practice matches against the current Australian Test squad in late September/early October, which would lead nicely into the start of the Shield summer or, for those involved in the T20 World Cup, provide some useful practice prior to that tournament starting in October.
The squad make-up is specifically designed to find out whether these players can address the four issues mentioned at the beginning of this article.
Travis Head’s main role is to captain the side because I see him as the likely successor to Tim Paine, assuming Paine retires in the next 12 months.
(Photo by Mark Brake – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
The attack is spin heavy for a few reasons. These are the current candidates to be Australia’s next spinner. It will also force Head to be creative, both with how he uses his bowlers, but also with field placements and the composition of his teams.
The batsmen are all players who have either played Tests and should be re-considered or guys whose Shield form warrants consideration.
I’d also like the tour games to be a little innovative with bowlers using red balls in the first innings and pink balls in the second, just to see how both batsmen and bowlers cope. It would also be useful for Kookaburra, SG and Dukes balls to be used, but that might be a step too far.
There’s no guarantee this suggestion will address the issues mentioned at the start of this article, but right now, Australia cannot afford to do nothing. The problems are serious, especially with the batting, so Cricket Australia should be actively looking at any options that will help identify more Test quality cricketers.
Yes there would be a financial cost but this should be seen as an investment in the future, rather than a burden now.
The alternative is simple – do nothing and hope that all turns out well. As custodians of the game in Australia, it would be negligent of Cricket Australia to do nothing, so hopefully they do something while they have time.
JamesH
Roar Guru
I (strongly) agree in principle but Tanveer Sangha has never played a first class match and Zampa hasn't played one for over 12 months. If you want a young third spinner then Pope seems the logical choice. Otherwise any of J Richardson, Steketee, Meredith, Kelly, Sutherland or Paris would be a decent choice as an additional pace option.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
A real problem that A games face is that they do not generate income for the controlling body.. Usually played to small crowds with little or no interest from sponsors or Broadcasters.. They are more of an investment in the future.. But try telling that to the bean counters.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good article Paul and couldn't agree more. Shield cricket is good but like anything, the players are only ever going to be as good as their opposition. The rest you've summised very well.
Nat
Roar Guru
Good comment Anth
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Pretty sure you are spot on about T20. Whilst I'm not a fan it looks like it isn't going anywhere soon. Considering the depth of the Indian team we recently witnessed, they seem to have a domestic competition able to supply test ready players. Our remaining Shield games meanwhile are being played too late to have any bearing on selections for South Africa.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Not just an Australian thingy… It’s global.. The gap between domestic cricket and International cricket worldwide is widening.. From many comments I read here there is consensus that the Sheffield Shields standards and importsnce has been steadily eroded.. That applies exactly to South Africa’s Currie Cup and it shows.. Players are being thrust into international cricket underprepared.. Personally I blame the proliferation of T20 leagues for that. 3 and 4 day cricket suffering from spectator fatigue.
Oddball
Guest
Players could just play more Shield cricket. My attitude is if a player is off playing white ball games somewhere and his red ball form slumps then who's fault is that? It is the player's job to watch their own form. A perfect example is Davy Warner. I would not have had him in the test team. He was more interested in making big bucks in the pointless IPL. Well he should stay over there. We might have won if it wasn't for clowns like him.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Tremendous points Paul. More than ever I also feel the gap between Shield and test has widened. The step up from Sheffield Shield has become dauting, the success of Marcus Harris and Matthew Wade at state level haven't translated to consistent test performance. Regularly utilising an Australia A is a step in the right direction to address this. Having said that, the performances in our Australia A matches against India demonstrated a lack of depth. Thanks for the article.
Tony
Roar Guru
100% right, and get the Shield running properly.
Tony
Roar Guru
Agree with everything you say Anth. As far as captaincy, it's overrated. Pick the best 11 players and then choose one as captain.
bazza200
Guest
Could do an ODI and use a different ball at each end. just throwing it out there australia A vs Australia game is great idea.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
this 100%
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
I wrote about this after the second Test. Great minds think alike. Every team needs to follow India and NZ playing so many A games to improve the bench strength
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
For sure, that does suck, but getting on top of it when there's one person will allow the good times to return sooner rather than later (again I'm speaking from experience). Nobody says lockdowns are easy, but the Aussie approach has always worked.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I know. But it’s only one person :crying: __ All of Perth, Peel and the south west. Full lockdown. Mandatory mask wearing on essential trips outside the home. That’s a geographical twice the size of all the UK! ONE PERSON!! Aaargghh!!
Joshua Kerr
Roar Guru
Count your blessings that your governments are quick on the ball (from a disgruntled Pom). All the best for the week though, lockdowns are rubbish!
Jeff
Roar Rookie
All good. — COVID! — I just received a message 5 minutes ago that the new school year is cancelled for at least a week, 18 hours out from commencement of day 1, due to a hotel quarantine worker testing positive! My youngest was starting Year 1 tomorrow morning. — Suddenly after 10 months of no cases, we are locked down for a week and restricted from leaving home. __ FFS!! What is going on!?
Tom
Ah my mistake, I think I confused it with CA temporarily stopping the CAXI sides due to covid
Anth
Roar Rookie
Fantastic article there Paul, I would suggest that if the Australian Test side are going to exert influence in the future the A side should ultimately be based within the sub continent on a permanent basis. I am a bit concerned about the pursuit of a captain. Just select a side and the captain will emerge. We do not want to be imitating the English approach of the early to mid eighties, where they chose a captain, then selected a side. The poor bastards wandered in the wilderness for nigh on twenty years. We have leadership within the ranks, at the moment it is latent, when push comes to shove it will reveal itself. Of course Swepson is no guarantee as a Test quality spinner, but who in the hell is. The selectors need to bite the bullet and throw him into the fray. He is a leg spin bowler and unlikely to tie up an end; if that is what you want then stick with Lyon, yeah! he will go for sweet FA, but he won't win you a Test match as the last two Tests in Australia have revealed. I read somewhere that the Indian paceman Siraj had taken sixty odd wickets playing for India A, if that is the case, then it shows. Throw resources into the development of an Australia A Test side, base them offshore and renumerate them accordingly. I don't necessarily subscribe to keep them away from T20, but the emphasis CA place on T20 in relation to how much of it is played internationally needs to change. The BBL is Mickey Mouse compared to the IPL, either run the competition properly or forfeit it. As it stands at the minute, the Sheffield Shield is being hijacked by CA in its attempt to highlight some pseudo T20 wannabe competition dominated by blokes I played alongside at club level not so many years ago. T20 might guarantee dollars. A decent Test side guarantee's respect.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Apparently the Ashes will be starting in early-mid December and concluding early February.