The Ashes has one match remaining and Australia have severely dominated England all series and are still 3-0 up after a thrilling one-wicket draw in Sydney.
With the series well and truly won, one of the largest debates at the moment is who will make up the XI for the final Test in Hobart.
The fourth Test came down to the last ball as England started the day with no wickets lost and needed to survive the day if they wanted to rule out the possibility of a whitewash.
After the first session you could tell that the English did not want to chase the win and instead decided to defend and play for the draw.
Australia was forced to only bowl spin in the last four overs due to the lighting and with two wickets needed it was Steve Smith who got the breakthrough.
This left Stuart Broad and James Anderson in the firing line of the last two overs. Despite Smith and Lyon’s best efforts to grab a wicket, the bottom two batters were able to stay alive and defended the last 12 balls to create a miracle escape.
We are seeing one of the best Australian teams in a while as they have got a ton of great talent at their fingertips.
Some players that should be in a Test team are not selected as there are so many great options to choose from.
Josh Hazlewood has only been able to participate in the first Test and it will stay that way as he has been ruled out once again due to injury.
Aussie selectors have been tempted to rest Mitchell Starc and possibly bring in Jhye Richardson, however, Starc has been almost demanding that they let him loose. Starc is obviously a brilliant fast bowler, and he can certainly be a huge game-changer with the pink ball.
Jhye Richardson celebrates the wicket of Haseeb Hameed. (Photo by Mark Brake – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
This is the Ashes and there is no time for rest, despite the series already being won. I think that the bottom order needs to remain the same as the most recent Test. Many are weighing up wether Cameron Green needs to be dropped or not.
Green hasn’t been horrible this series as he has taken some of the most important wickets, however, his batting hasn’t been up to scratch. He is averaging 22 runs, with only one half-century which occurred in his latest innings. I do still believe that they need to keep Green in the side as having an all-rounder in your team is a real boost and I think that Green has a lot of potential, and he can show this in Tasmania.
This most common debate in recent days is what will the top six look like? Usman Khawaja was the replacement for Travis Head, who had COVID, for the New Years Test. Khawaja scored hundreds in two straight innings. He was easily the Aussies’ best batsmen in Sydney, and I can’t see him missing out on this next Test.
Head is eligible to return for the next match and this has given the selectors a headache. The three locked in batsmen are David Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne That leaves Alex Carey, Travis Head, Khawaja and Marcus Harris. One of these guys is not going to be selected and there are many mixed thoughts from fans.
Obviously, I explained before that Usman needs to be given another game, Carey is a solid wicketkeeper, so I think he needs to keep his spot and that means there’s two left to pick from: Marcus Harris and Travis Head.
I like to base my opinions on form, which is why Harris needs to be dropped. I don’t think he has done enough this Ashes to prove that he is a long-term Australian opener. He has averaged only 22 runs and he hasn’t made a major impact in any innings besides Melbourne.
I understand that he averages the same amount as Cameron Green, however, as I said before Cameron is an all-rounder which is so important. I think that Head has got the wood over Harris as he scored a sensational 152 at the Gabba and a half-century in Melbourne.
The batting order is also very important, and I think that Khawaja should open with Warner as that is a dynamic duo and then having Marnus and Smith right after is just a lethal top four. I think that Head is a better batsman right now, therefore Carey should bat at No.5 because need to have the better batsman at 6 rather than 5.
This means that Head can bat at 6, allowing him to be a strong supporter if he must bat with the beginning of the tail.
The selectors have a big problem on their hands but if something was ever a positive problem then this would be it as there is so much greatness to choose from.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Pink ball game in Hobart? Don't think slow overs will be an issue with a 2 1/2 day game
matth
Roar Guru
After missing out the World Test Championship solely due to an over rate penalty, we will always pick a spinner.
Mike
Guest
I agree with the conclusion you've come to regarding Harris. Not sure about the method or your batting order though! Harris and Green have both averaged 22 with the bat this series. So, the big differences between them is Green's awesome gulley fielding. Oops... I missed something. That's right. His 9 wickets at the amazing average of 15.44, including Root a couple of times, Stokes and other top order bats. Of course if Stokes' bails had bothered to fall off once hit, those figures would be 10 wickets at 13.9. True all rounders don't always fire with both disciplines at once. When Boland fell and it looked as though he might not complete the Test, Green's true value was shown. We still had four strike bowlers and were not looking at being reduced to 3 and a part timer. At the begiining of his Test career Green's stats look handsomely favourable when compared with three much vaunted English fellas. Botham - batting average 33.54 bowling average 28.40 Ben Stokes - batting 36.52 bowling 32.34 Flintoff - batting 31.77 bowling 32.78 and... Green - batting 30.58 bowling 28.55 Not shaping up too badly in my assessment. I predict he'll be better than all, if not at least two of the above by the time he's done. Just looking a bit further. After their first two years: Stokes 6 tests for a batting av. of 25.3 and bowling 32.9 Flintoff 9 tests for batting 16.6 and bowling 55.0 Botham 14 tests for batting 38.0 and bowling 18.4 Wow! Beefy sure started with a bang and continued on. In my mind, Green is looking like the real deal and he'll get better and better. Learning how to get both disciplines going at once is where he is at. He has already demonstrated he can do each one at Test level.
Paul
Roar Guru
"Carey is a solid wicketkeeper, so I think he needs to keep his spot" did you miss this?
Paul
Roar Guru
hey Christo, you've provided some interesting thoughts here. I agree Warner and Khawaja should open, but a not sure about your logic for promoting Carey to 5? His role, first and foremost is a keeper and he's already under fire for missing chances in the series. Given he's only playing in his first series, I'd keep him at 7, but allow him to actually build an innings, if possible. If you drop Green down he becomes a bowler first and foremost which means he has to bowl more than the 9 -12 overs in an innings he's managed so far this series. I'm not sure that's something the selectors would be keen to do. As you say, Australian selectors have a nice problem to deal with, not like the Poms.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
The whisper is that Starc will be rested, but he wants to play ...... if he is fit and keen then for ffs let him play.
Paul
Roar Guru
Good work Frank. You managed to pick 11 Australians to play the 10 Poms you chose yesterday. Surely it should be 10 Aussies versus 11 Poms, just to make things even? :happy:
Paul
Roar Guru
Yeah, don't agree with that. Carey's copped the raw end of the prawn this series, having to come out and slog after Green has had the chance to build innings.
Paul
Roar Guru
This is an article from a 14 year old who wants to become a sport journalist. It makes way more sense to me than the headline story about 11 changes to speed up test cricket.
Paul
Roar Guru
Did you miss this bit "Carey is a solid wicketkeeper, so I think he needs to keep his spot"?
baha
Guest
Comments like this is why I love anonymous message boards :laughing: Not quite at 4chan level though
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
For the love of nectar...
Frank delosa
Guest
Warner - why is this chad an autopick? on the decline, should move aside Uzzy - if he fails the press and fans will eat him alive. If harris is picked the public will scream. Labs - needs to get over himself Smith - needs runs. Head - should not be auto pick. if he fails in TAS he should be under pressure to keep his spot. Green - needs runs Carey - keeper for now. paine aint coming back, get over it Cummins - cpt. Richo - for the love of nectar let him play Swepson - give the bloke a game in a dead rubber. Lyon overrated these dayz Starc - the spoiled brat will be picked 12: Boland. This chad needs to learn he isnt an auto pick. ENG to surprise his pompous AUS lineup and win by 67 runs.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Drop Lyon. Won't need spin in Hobart, even if you did there's still Head, Markus and Smith Harris Warner Marnus Smith Khawaja Head Green Carey Cummins Starc Richardson/Boland
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Interesting jigging 5,6&7 to help Green but Carey gives one less faith at 5.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
No brainer. Harris. Why is this even a post? Or is just another option for me to fumble-finger advertising?
Tony
Roar Guru
Details... details... :happy:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Hang on a sec: so, Harris, Khawaja, Head and Carey are in a battle for three spots? So, in this line of thinking, if Carey were the one to miss out, then just who would wicket keep??