What a fabulous few months it has been for the Australian cricket team – first the T20 World Cup victory when nobody was expecting it and then complete domination of the old rival in the Ashes.
The team looks to be performing exceptionally well in all the departments under a new Test captain.
I have criticised the selectors in the past but will give them an honourable mention.
Firstly, they got the squad selection absolutely right in the World Cup and the result was there for all to see. Now, in the Ashes, they managed to give some blokes a go and created depth in batting as well as bowling. So kudos to them.
And it is no coincidence that these good selections have come under the new selection panel now headed by George Bailey with Tony Dodemaide as his deputy.
However we saw how important having depth in your batting and bowling ranks can prove last summer, against India. So this process of creating a pool of Test-ready players needs to continue.
Currently, due to the bio bubble environment in which every series is played, every touring team is travelling with at least 20 to 25 players. This provides the opportunity to give some useful experience to the next cabs off the ranks.
Currently there are seven batsmen in the Test squad, with Nic Maddison and Mitch Marsh covers for Sydney. In addition to these nine, Will Pucovski, Bryce Street and Henry Hunt – who, except Puc, were already part of Australia A against England Lions – should be on the upcoming tour as reserves.
This will help in a couple of aspects. The first is that they get a taste of how the Test team works so they are familiar with the setup. Secondly, they get good experience of subcontinent conditions.
The issue is that they will lose out on the Sheffield Shield rounds that will be played in March. There is a delicate balance between gaining experience in domestic cricket and being with a touring team – gaining experience in alien conditions.
But these guys have proven they can perform in Aussie conditions. Now to make their games all-round and further improve them in all aspects of batsmanship, it is important that they are confronted with foreign conditions. They can still go ahead and play all rounds of Sheffield shield in February and early March, then head abroad.
Imagine a scenario where suddenly Street has to open against India on a subsequent tour with no prior subcontinent experience – that would not be fair to the youngster.
Bryce Street of Queensland. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Until a few years ago, Australia A was a regular fixture, and tours and matches proved useful for fringe players to get experience. But now, with less and less A cricket being played, the only feasible solution to give fringe players a taste of foreign conditions is to have them travel with the Test and ODI squads.
I would even go a step further and suggest that we have some sort of similar arrangement for younger players.
With the new selection panel showing that they are flexible in selections and ideas, I am optimistic that some solution like the one above may be put in place to create further depth and talent.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
They have played 2 (or 3) spinners in their most recent tests in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and UAE. With Green in the side, that will surely continue.
Brett Allen
Guest
I don’t think they’ll play 2 spinners, even on the subcontinent.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I believe only Benz made a better sedan. The 504 l had was a legend. They eat up country kms with an uncommon ease. They traverse all sorts of roads well with great steering, suspension and brakes. You can still buy readily available parts for them very cheap. They are the Kings of Rallying.
Paul
Roar Guru
Not so long ago I caught a 504 taxi in Luxor. Still getting along just fine though a tad shabby
Cricket
Guest
Than who is going to play....two spinner or Cummins, Starc and Boland....and i think in spin pitches swepson with Lyon make a good partner ship....
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Addendum : I see the NZ series is now postponed, one les competing priority
Frank delosa
Guest
We need the new breed of openers. Warner is past his test match used by date (3 years ago). Hunt Street Renshaw Not Stoinis. For the love of danders, not Stoinis. I danced with glee when the Melb Stars did not the finals. Another year, no finals. Most money spent. No finals. Ha Ha.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
Given there is a simultaneous very brief white ball tour of New Zealand, and Vic and NSW have seven Shield games to with other states five which will mean going deep into March, how many spares that won't play can realistically be taken to Pakistan? And there is no time for tour games between Tests, any lead-up games have not (to my limited knowledge) been scheduled but I wouldn't expect more than one four day game. There may be a couple more than normal anyway, due to covid making getting people over on short notice a difficult thing to do. The Sri Lanka tour might make more sense to take players just to get a feel for being around the national team. There are less competing priorities in June and July, not taking players out of First Class games (maybe some with County contracts) and maybe an A team tour can be arranged with some early overlap.
Peter85
Roar Rookie
It would be nice to see a few Australia A tours. M Renshaw, K Patterson, T Ward, J Phillipe, H Hunt, B Street should get a look given age profile and current year SS results.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Practice pitches I suppose. But would think it better for CA to organise some A tours to the subcontinent rather than take a bloated squad of players to carry drinks and bat/bowl in the nets.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
There has never been an all-NSW selection panel for Australia. In fact, there has never been a NSW Chairman of Selectors since the position was established in 1976. In the last 25 seasons, there has been a selector from NSW on the selection panel in just 5 of them (just one in each of those five seasons). Maybe players from NSW are being picked on merit?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Stupid autocorrect put pantechs as patterns :angry:
Tony
Roar Guru
that explains it
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The Egyptians came thru about 10/15 years ago and brought em all to take back to Egypt because of their toughness. A friend of mine had a farm with over 200 504s on it and they gave him a pretty penny for them. And 404s as well. They cut em into ⅓s into pantechs and shipped em back. ——– The cars Holden & Ford thought they were
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I’m confused. What experience of alien conditions are they getting if they’re not playing? Surely the intention is to just play players to give them a go? We pick our best side for the conditions and opposition. There would be few of the players mentioned that haven’t previously actually played on the subcontinent in Aus A or CA development or U19s sides. Sure, take them if they are genuinely there as cover, which is par for the course. Beyond that, I’m not sure I understand what this article is trying to achieve.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Agree, ‘relieving drive train torque reactions’ how correct you are mate :thumbup:
Tony
Roar Guru
Don't see many 504s around these days
Linphoma
Guest
By all means organise more A tours but make sure they play meaningful games not practice matches. Biosecurity bubbles and all that make it difficult but it can be done with some organising.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Dodemaide now on board it’s a bloody certainty :thumbup: The all NSW selection panel of the past will never occur again :laughing: If Hazlewood doesn’t play in remaining shield games it’s a worry leading into a big series against Pakistan. The selectors can’t nurse him back with T20 games & 50 over games to prepare him for the dust bowl pitches with little preparation.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'd definitely take Boland. He reminds me of a 504 Peugeot. Not as sexy, as sporty or as chic as some cars. But dependable reliable, and returns deceptively good figures but when the dirt appears it leaves all the poseurs in it's wake. I reckon he'll take more wickets in Pakistan than our spinners. To not take him would make me wonder what is wrong with Bailey's brain.