Usman Khawaja is firming as contender for an international return but Kerry O’Keeffe has picked a bolter to partner David Warner as opener in the Ashes first Test against England.
The former Test spinner says South Australia’s Jake Carder is “an opener for Australia just waiting to be selected”, while adding he would have Mitch Marsh playing in the same top six at the Gabba.
Two places in the top six are thought to be up for contention with Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Cameron Green set for a nod.
With Will Pucovski expected to miss out through concussion, Marcus Harris and Khawaja are the leading candidates to partner Warner with Khawaja leading the Sheffield Shield runs chart with 326 runs at 81.50, including two centuries.
Travis Head is considered a shot in the middle order.
Speaking on Fox Cricket, O’Keeffe said Carder should open with Warner. The 25-year-old has scored 118, 37 and 68 in his three Shield innings as a No. 3 for South Australia as well as 1 and 79 as an opener.
“If I was a selector and the first six in Brisbane, I’d go: David Warner, Jake Carder, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Mitchell Marsh,” O’Keeffe said.
“I think there’s more upside to Mitch Marsh, at 30, then there might be to Travis Head.
“And Jake Carder is an opener for Australia just waiting to be selected.”
Marsh hasn’t played a first-class game this summer, but is in good form in T20 cricket.
He’s got the backing of former Test keeper Brad Haddin as well.
“It’s similar for me to George Bailey. He came off that red-hot white-ball form leading into the 2013 Ashes where Australia won 5-0 at home and he batted at No. 6,” Haddin told Fox Cricket.
“Mitch Marsh is that gut-feel selection. You can look at the analytics and red-ball games going on, but I just think he’s ripe for the picking at the moment. Come in at six, he’ll move the game forward. If the top order do their job, he could be really proactive batting with the tail. Imagine him at eight, nine and 10.”
O’Keeffe said Marsh would give Australia more as a bowler than Green.
“Last year against India, Cameron Green didn’t get a wicket, so Tim Paine kept having to bring back the specialists. Mitch Marsh got seven wickets in his last Test two years ago – he gets people out in Test cricket,” he said.
Marsh told Fox Cricket he was keen to be involved, despite a lack of first class cricket.
“I certainly have aspirations to keep playing Test match cricket for Australia,” Marsh said.
“In all honesty, I’m probably a few back in the pack now but hopefully some stage I’ll get a go with some red-ball cricket for either WA or I know there’s an Australia A game coming up, so hopefully I’m in that.
“Anytime you play, you’re pressing for selection, so I still have high hopes to play Test match cricket again. But I’m realistic that I’m probably a couple back at this stage and I have to make a few runs.”
Kim Hughes 1980
Roar Rookie
MM proved he is not a test top 6 batter. He was given a good run. Time for someone else. My top 6: Warner, Carder, Labuschagne, Smith, Harris, Green
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Khawaja another 70 when everyone failed today . Keep saying him and labs to open. Stack that middle order up
Rohan
Roar Rookie
We should blood as many young players as possible. The old pack are finished.
Rohan
Roar Rookie
Marsh said. “In all honesty, I’m probably a few back in the pack now but hopefully some stage I’ll get a go with some red-ball cricket for either WA or I know there’s an Australia A game coming up, so hopefully I’m in that. “Anytime you play, you’re pressing for selection, so I still have high hopes to play Test match cricket again. But I’m realistic that I’m probably a couple back at this stage and I have to make a few runs.”
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes, his punishment seems excessive for "the crime". Who is Smith to be pandered to re team ethics and "a voice"? I like Langer on some levels, but I also think he's part of the problem - this "oh I was one of the guys once too, we stick together as a brotherhood". Actually, I think the game has moved way beyond that (even if Australia doesn't yet recognise it). We need dispassionate and hard-nosed managers at the helm, unafraid to put the wind up players who command once-in-a-lifetime type incomes for being contracted to the national side. - But they also wanted to 'pigeon hole" Maxwell as a player in either one form, or the other. Whilst all the same time not actually having a strategy as to operating with "separate" format sides. - We have players like Marsh and Maxwell who regularly face down the best players in the world in cricket, but are somehow not considered "worthy" of representing Australia in the peak format (Tests), because they don't have the time to face Shield trundlers and score big red-ball runs. All seems out of whack to me at the moment.
Clear as mud
Guest
The bizarre thing was that Maxwell seemed to get marked just when he was doing what they wanted him to do.he made more runs in FC that 12 months than ever before or since. I put it down to Smith, really. The fine. The terrible public criticism. The mocking on that video. Has to have played a part. Maybe it’s because he wanted to come to NSW after chatting to Moises, and didn’t get Smith’s permission. Who knows? And yet only one of them was banned for a year.
Clear as mud
Guest
Yep. Fair enough To be honest, when in form and on song, Marsh Maxwell and Inglis etc at 5-6-7 would make us one of the strongest and feared teams ever.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I don't disagree re Maxwell. But two wrongs as they say... This is the problem. Players get labelled. Just assess them for what they are at the point in time. Because some sportsmen actually work on their game and change/become better as they mature. I think Maxwell would make a fine contribution to the Test side from here on in (probably from a couple of years back). But he's been "marked". I see Marsh as the same. And all the time the "new" focus ("time to move along") comes down to assessing the worthiness of the likes of Bryce Street or Jason Sangha.
Clear as mud
Guest
i hear what you're saying, and feel for the kid but in SA, the Maxwell intersection just made it front and centre Maxwell had done well in the subcontinent. Maxwell was on fire in the Shield. Maxwell was dropped for Shaun, told to make bigger runs. so did. He was the spare batter. kept with the team. then Mitch was picked for team balance in Perth... his bowling. he didn't bowl. he got a big ton on the roadiest road. looked like a number 11 in Sydney and survived, and made another ton, against Crane and Curran and co. Maxwell's heart must have broken. then the breaking Smith shamed Maxwell and had him dropped from the ODI team. Warner stepped in and got Maxi back into the groove in the T20s when Smith was too tired to play They pick SA and Maxi misses out. Sandpaper happens and they fly him, and Burns and Renshaw, to SA overnight. Literally. But they don't play Maxwell. They make him field. So you can imagine how he and I must feel hearing now that guys like the Marshes were shellshocked. Then Langer compounds it all with his rubbish re India A and the UAE selection. Maxwell shamed again and told to make Shield runs. but called to UAE early to field for these jokers, including Marsh, who shouldn't have played apparently. Maxi may have forgiven Langer - but I never will.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, let's separate the two players from the "brothers" collective. Yes Mitch had a poor series in the UAE and immediately flowing on to India at home (one Test) - a 6 week or so period But he had one of his best mates (who was also dating his cousin) take his life days before the First Test in Dubai; subsequently didn't sleep for a week before the First Test in UAE, separated from family and friends, and indeed ended up with atrial fibrillation in the lead-in warm up A game. He should never have played in that UAE series. But circumstances being what they were...Now he'd be given 6 months off to focus on his mental health. Just 3 years ago, it wasn't quite so elevated as being a necessary/warranted approach. As for the SAF sandpaper/post-sandpaper innings, well he was no orphan re not being completely focused after that incident. (Warner/Smith/Bancroft - Butterfly Effect). It is what it is re the record books and how it's impacted his career, but sometimes that's not reflective of the lived experience at the time. He's at where he's at now and what was/has been, is just that.
Clear as mud
Guest
mmm, it wasn't just the UAE. both brothers were deplorable in the second half of the SA tests - Mitch got 5, 16, 4 and 0 to undermine his great start. then the UAE, 12, 0, 13 and 5. and then 9 and 10 in Melb. that's 5 tests, 10 digs, 74 runs, average 7.4, top score 16. That's number 10 stuff. from someone given such a long run despite mostly poor results, it seemed to show an inability to step up when the pressure was on, or conversely, to confirm to the many doubters the runs against England really were a result of dead tracks and rubbish England bowling. the 96 in SA under real pressure - that's his best dig, by a mile. but it was a flase down. seemingly...
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Maybe CA has finally realized that the way to promote cricket as a sport is to encourage contests between bat and ball. Go the curators!
Clear as mud
Guest
Just to be clear. Mitch was 27 when he was last substantially dropped. he's been in the team for 4 years and given 31 matches to bed himself in. he'd had that redhot run for 3 months. and then his form went to the toilet, as did his brother's, just when we needed them to step up after SA. i'm saying this just so we don't put him in the category of a Renshaw or even an early period Marto, picked truly young and punted after a smallish run. he may well do well enough to make his way in, be a true late bloomer. fair play to him if he does. he certainly has a talent, has always looked like he could be The One. he just hasn't been able to do it at the highest level, often enough. (and other players who look good enough, they get none of the chances...)
Clear as mud
Guest
Yes Philippe looked good. what about them old time Gabba greentop. sensational!
JGK
Roar Guru
Carder out for 3 today. Skull kills off another career…
Nathan Tee
Roar Rookie
Why is Maxwell not one of the 1st picked??? The Teat Team was once the best cricket team in Australia made up of the very best players in Australia. Maxwell must be a massive pain, otherwise, he would be the first picked. He has shown in his last Test Innings ( In India) that he is capable of reigning it back from T20 hit everything for six & he is definitely in the top 6 batsmen in Australia. He seems like a nice guy. I just want to know what he has done to upset the selectors so much that he is not picked at 6 for the Test Team. His off spin is also world class & I just do not understand why he has been rejected from the Test Team. A disgraceful omission that really has denied Aussie cricket supporters some special inning over the last 3 or 4 years. I am at a loss. p.s Green cannot take a wicket at Test level, see you later cabrone.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Kayo. I'm 4 months retired now...what joy.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
That's why he's in the conversation. Players don't begin as established players. He has been emerging, is now consolidating his opportunity. Others haven't taken those opportunities. If you dismiss success because it is new, you will only ever recycle familiar names...a very social media thing to do.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Mitch is a terrific back foot player. Pulls and cuts are his bread and butter. The big drive only comes out later.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Don I have a job! Is it in Perth? If so I can watch after work I guess.