I’ve been reading, with huge amusement, comments on The Roar about the sort of form Australian Test players are in.
If my take is correct, the only bloke who’s doing himself any justice at present is Travis Head and he’s not even in the Test side!
The reality is, we’ve had little cricket of any kind since last summer and what cricket we’ve had, has been T20 tournaments in overseas domestic competitions or white-ball international series with a lot of key players missing.
This means none of us, not the players, the selectors, coaches or us fans, have a good picture about who’s in form with bat and ball for the Ashes.
Cricket Australia has done its best to manage this situation, by starting the domestic season in September, but as we all know, state-imposed restrictions thanks to coronavirus outbreaks have meant only three one-day games have been played, along with four Shield games, with two states not playing any first class cricket to date.
There’s still time to organise matches and with border restrictions likely to lift in the coming weeks, cricket should get more or less back to normal in time for the first Test.
That sounds good in theory, but selectors, including the newly-appointed Tony Dodemaide, have the tough task of trying to work out a squad when there’s no consistent form line and little cricket being played.
I’d love to see Cricket Australia walk back its decision not to play a Test against Afghanistan. The announcement by new NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet that NSW would soon be allowing international arrivals and no quarantine for vaccinated passengers should banish many of the barriers to that match taking place.
That said, it’s clearly stuck in the realms of politics and it’s also debatable what value Australia’s cricketers would gain from the match, given the standard of the opposition. The obvious alternative is to stage two four-day matches between ‘possibles’ and ‘probables’ teams.
In terms of timing, there’s no reason why these games cannot take place. The final of the T20 World Cup takes place on the 14th of November, and assuming the unlikely happens and Australia makes it that far, there are still well over three weeks before the first Test, which starts on the 8th of December.
The other sticking point to these matches taking place was the 14-day quarantine, but as previously mentioned, this is in the process of being removed.
The teams I’d like to see play are:
Team Gold
David Warner
Marcus Harris
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Cameron Green
Tim Paine
James Pattinson
Michael Neser
Jhye Richardson
Mitchell Swepson
Team Greeen
Bryce Street
Usman Khawaja
Nic Maddinson
Will Pucovski
Matthew Renshaw
Josh Inglis
Alex Carey
Pat Cummmins
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
I’ve deliberately chosen the likely Test bowlers to play the likely Test batsmen for two reasons. One, I think the public needs to truly see the sort of form our likely Test team is in and what better way to do that, than to pit Test batsman against Test bowler.
The other reason is to make these matches sporting contests worth watching. On paper, if the Australian team played an A side, there are only two results likely: a draw or a comprehensive win to the Test players.
Watching Warner, Labuschagne and Smith trying to cope with that attack would be great viewing and the contest would be far more even.
A by-product is the tough hit-out our bowlers will gain, as well as our batsmen being forced to quickly change their mental approach from white-ball to red-ball batting.
I don’t think there are any surprises in the Gold team line-up. These are either incumbent Test players or those very likely to be called up if form drops or injury happens.
The Green team is far more open to debate, especially the batsmen and the batting order.
I’ve quite deliberately named Usman Khawaja as an opener because I believe he can still do a job for Australia in that position if required.
Can Usman make a shock run for an Ashes spot? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
There’s an assumption that he’s perhaps too old and certainly there are others in front of him, but not many. Dave Warner has to prove he still has what it takes and Marcus Harris has to show his County form means he’s now ready to be a good Test opener.
Will Pucovski is not an opener. He is a genuine No.3, 4 or 5 and at this stage of his career, he should bat no higher than 5, if he ever bats again at first class level.
Many would say he has a great technique to succeed as an opener, but the number of concussions suffered while batting suggest otherwise. That has to bring Khawaja into the frame, given his great record as an opener in Australia and the indifferent form of the other Shield openers.
Nic Maddinson is one of the game’s forgotten players. He’s been in very good form for the Vics over the past couple of seasons and deserves a shot at proving he can make a comeback to the Test arena.
I’m sure there are more than a few raised eyebrows at the inclusion of Josh Inglis and especially Matt Renshaw as a middle order player. There are a couple of other names in the mix – Ben McDermott and Josh Phillipe, but I’m not convinced by either as a consistent middle order option in red-ball cricket – yet.
I’m a real Inglis fan and think his attacking flair could be perfect at No.6 in Test cricket, while Renshaw has quietly made some decent scores for the Bulls in the Shield. He’s also shown he has the temperament to play Tests and will be determined to do well if given another opportunity.
Pat Cummins would skipper this side. He needs to show selectors he can do the job, given the lack of other candidates at present. He’d receive plenty of support, particularly from Alex Carey and Usman Khawaja, so would not have to make every decision himself.
The real key to these matches would be the pitches. These have to be genuine cricket wickets and a true test between bat and ball.
In an ideal world, they’d give the quicks plenty of help on day 1, play truly for day 2 then start to spin late on day 3 and into day 4, but that’s expecting too much. As long as they’re not complete roads, that would be fine.
Ashes series are such an important part of Test cricket, so getting selections right is critical. More to the point, making sure selections are based on sound metrics is vital, so everyone knows why certain players were left in or excluded.
If a Test team was selected tomorrow, at best it would be a guess who should play because there is no form line.
If the team was selected after playing the matches described in this piece, it would be far easier to comprehend decisions. It would also give everyone a taste of what was to come over our Test cricketing summer.
Clear as mud
Guest
Renshaw putting his hand up. and we know he goes OK in India....
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Well com on the basis of abbots form today there's certainly competition to say steketee needs more great performances
Clear as mud
Guest
still doesn't explain why they picked him for SA
Pierro
Roar Rookie
If steketee can replicate the form in next few shield games it's key if he can't then it's a bit more of anamoly . A year is a long time ago on form and no red ball cricket during this pandemic period
Clear as mud
Guest
Steketee looked the goods the other day and it seemed to frank his SA tour selection But I went back and looked at that selection - he got 13 wickets at 45 and a SR of 96 last Shield How in the name of Peter Taylor does a 27yo with that record make a squad? Forget banging the door down. He couldn’t even hit the door!!!
Clear as mud
Guest
It’s pretty weird to have the second test of the summer in Melb, hey!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I suspect with pucovski looking good for shield on two weeks our test team will be exactly the same side that started against India even if shield players are screaming out for selection. So far head , Carey, whiteman ,khawaja , and steketee have stuck their hands up in recent sheild matches and considering no red ball cricket I’m not convinced going with the same old side from 12 months ago is the same as pre covid consistent cricket . England have a weakened bowling line up and mising stokes and archer so not convinced they will be near as good as their full strength line up. The worry is that a series win means they don’t make changes for the India tour abroad where warner Paine starc and Lyon maybe getting past it or dubious selections there . Perhaps dodemaide will bring some common sense in to proceedings but not convinced
Pierro
Roar Rookie
COM go on tell me what was your former call sign ?
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Thanks COM . I’d say the damage was done in Adelaide by Hazelwood and Cummins who took nearly all the wickets in one innings but starc is also a prodigious pink ball specialist now at Adelaide in evening . His average and efficiency sky rockets at mcg and scg where we have not performed near as well much like Lyon . They have to learn to rotate bowling even off wins at Adelaide but so far they have not in last four years and it’s been disaster . It’s a clear pattern against quality sides . I am honestly not trying to be overly smart but Pattinson’s average at mcg is like Anderson’s at lord’s . You play them first name on the sheet next to Cummins
Clear as mud
Guest
Agree with all of that. But there seem to be some guys like Wagner, maybe a bit shorter, who are able to ride the boundaries of the bouncer rule and target the just not a bouncer height. from a fuller length. at heat. for overs at a time/ Cummins another. he pitched up about 2 balls last home Ashes.
Clear as mud
Guest
ok. i bow to your genius. i was already with you during the last Ashes on Paine. under another name. now I am likely with you on everything! and I am mostly serious. I still think it would have been unfeasibly difficult to sell "rotation" of Starc after what had just transpired in Adelaide. bowlers hate being rested. especiclly when they don't need rest. but, there you go.
Paul
Roar Guru
Spot on and much of this inability has to do with short form cricket and improvements to safety equipment. Back in the day when guys like Bobby Simpson was facing seriously fast bowling he and many other perfected the technique of evasion and were rarely hit. Nowadays, guys think they either have to have a swipe at the ball (thanks to white ball cricket) or let it hit them, but not many get out of the line of the ball. Simply asking for trouble as you say.
Gibbo
Roar Pro
I think Pucovski's bigger issue, like so many in the Aussie side, is his inability to play the short stuff. Many have pointed out post-Phillip Hughes's passing that more attention needs to be given to how players play the short ball, but so little has been done around that. Gone are the days of Ponting, Hayden and Gilchrist when they'd just boss the short stuff to the fence, and bowlers knew that bowling there wasn't going to end well for them. Nowadays, short-pitched bowling has become a real tactic because of players' inability to play pace. Either way, I love the idea of Pucosvki opening/playing at all, but this inability to play the short ball has to be addressed.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Dave j worse ideas than letting siddle steam in at mcg . Secretly hoping patto will make a one match cameo at mcg
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I did post before both in fact I think I wrote an article on it or intended . The key was he held the best average of all aussie test bowlers hovering between 12 and 14. That doesn’t require intelligence to note. We didn’t lose a test there when he played . The other key pink ball tests completely different . Batting irrelevant you choose your best for each ground on all the criteria . I had zero doubts Pattinson should play both tests against India before each test and Said it alot on here . I cried out for it on here last mcg india test and a few people know that full and well. Result India won . When he didn’t play against england we drew that match too and but for rain would have lost it arguably . Pink ball tests are very different to red ball tests . Pattinson would have shortened indias total considerably and we know when patto played any test at mcg Australia won including the last kiwi match . Handy with bat too at times. A mistake to leave him out against india twice . Result two losses
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Ahh I meant Pattinson for starc in my post above
Timmuh
Roar Guru
I'm not a big fan of these types of games where the result means nothing, necessary for tour games for visting teams to acclimatise to conditions - and maybe could be played before "out of season" tours - but the Shield is there to assess form, and the next set of players need competitive games against the Test incumbents. That said, for the point of the exercise among the bowlers surely Starc is the one with his position in doubt given his (relatively) recent time at Test and Shield level. If the selectors are picking him because they see the left-armer as "variety", then shoe-horning Joel Paris into the second squad makes sense. He's a little inconsistent himself, but the last two years his form seems to stack up.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Keepers to spare Micko
Clear as mud
Guest
I mean… it’s possible that you have a higher intelligence, genius beyond belief. That may be true. If you held these view in foresight and not hindsight, you should indeed be running Australian cricket Still… we whitewashed the previous summer: and then rolled a star-heavy India in 2.5 days, not only the 36 but they only made 244 on their first dog Do you really think anyone could have publicly justified changing the lineup at that point? I also think it shifts too much blame to the bowlers for Melb. India only made 320 batting second on a drop in The batters..: they made 195 and 200. Burns: 0 and 4. Should never have played the first test. Definitely not the second…. Rotation Wade: 30 and 40. Classic Wade. Can’t go on with his starts. Thanks for opening. Labu: 48 and 28. Almost. Smith: 0 and 8. Emblematic Head: 38 and 17, cordoned both times Green: 12 and 45. Out trying to accelerate with the tail. Paine: you will love this. 13. 1. And a dummy spit. That is where that test was lost. And Pattinson in for Starc wouldn’t have changed that IMHO
Clear as mud
Guest
You said above you wanted Pattinson at the MCG. That’s rotation after Adelaide. That’s the point I’m addressing