The Aussie selectors have named the squad for the historic tour of Pakistan. So what were the initial takeaways?
1. They are really doubling down on Marcus Harris, aren’t they?
Isn’t 14 Tests a good sample size? I get the lack of openers is a real concern with the age of David Warner and Usman Khawaja, the issues of Will Pucovski and the form of Cameron Bancroft. Still, is Harris the answer?
The selectors really missed an opportunity here to try someone new, like Henry Hunt or Bryce Street. As an aside, if I were Peter Handscomb, Nick Maddinson or Kurtis Patterson, I’d shift myself to opener – that’s where the spots are going to be in the next year or so.
Kurtis Patterson (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
2. They are really doubling down on Ashton Agar, aren’t they?
I guess his selection is a case of who else is available.
It’s probably too soon for Matthew Kuhnemann, Jon Holland seems to have had his card permanently marked and Agar is definitely better than Lloyd Pope.
Still, I wish Steve O’Keefe and Farad Ahmed hadn’t retired from first-class cricket. We’ve got to figure out how to keep our cunning old spinners in the game longer.
3. They’re really doubling down on Mitch Marsh, aren’t they?
In a sane cricketing country I would write “I can’t believe he’s back in the squad”, but of course I can.
The lust to have Marsh in the Test side has been a driving factor of Australian cricket in the past ten years. It cannot be destroyed. When he scored that (admittedly marvellous but white ball not red ball) innings in the T20 World Cup my first thought will be “the Marshettes will be pushing for him back in the Test team” and sure enough you had Darren Berry and Ricky Ponting clamouring for his reinstitution.
The excellent form of Cameron Green, who has out-batted and out-bowled Marsh at Test level already, is keeping things at bay but the selectors clearly want him back in the side.
Something seems to happen no matter who serves in that position. Again, it’s just a shame they didn’t use this tour to try someone else. My dream would’ve been Glenn Maxwell, but I’d take Maddinson or Handscomb. They don’t have to bowl seam!
There’s no point in having a spare seam-bowling option if the team keep collapsing – something proved time and again whenever Marsh plays Tests, but which they always forget.
(Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
4. The clock is ticking for Alex Carey
Josh Inglis’ selection is not a vote of confidence. And fair enough. Carey will play a few Tests and then get dropped.
The wicketkeeping position feels like the most uncertain in the side. It didn’t have to be, not if they picked Jimmy Peirson, but anyways…
5. Will we win? I doubt it
It’s been so long since we toured Pakistan but Australia has generally been terrible playing in Asia. Our batting, so strong at home, always seems iffy over there, apart from Steve Smith, and he’s not what he used to be.
All Pakistan need to do is prepare spinning wickets and they should be fine. But you never know.
It should be an exciting tour and it’s good the team will play some cricket away from Australia, Justin Langer and the fury of the ex-player mafia.
Graham
Roar Rookie
The fast bowling positions in this team could be an issue. If two spinners are chosen and Green is used as the third seamer that only leaves one other spot for a fast bowler to share the new ball with Cummins.
The Racing Line
Roar Rookie
I don’t know if the Pakistan pitches will be as spin-friendly as some people suggest. They’ll certainly offer spin, but maybe not to the extent of having 2 to 3 spinners in the 11.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You'd be battling to find some.
Dave
Guest
Yes, you did. Elite Freo Spin Doctor.
Dave
Guest
You're happy to sledge those from other countries or states but never your boys. The Fremantle 'Spin' Doctor.
Brian
Guest
I'm surprised so many expect Pakistan to just throw the series away preparing seam friendly pitches. There is internet in Pakistan, they know our 8th paceman is more dangerous then our 2nd best spinner
JamesH
Roar Guru
It's not contradictory at all. Agar's Bangladesh series is the most recent test performance we have to go on, unlike in Harris' case. It was also a horses for courses approach, as is now being taken here. Subcontinental pitches tend to favour quicker spinners who skid the ball on, rather than those who rely on overspin and bounce. I don't know how the Pakistan pitches will turn out but by taking Agar we have a great option for anything a bit low and dusty.
Brian
Guest
There's a separate ODI/T20 squad which will include Finch, Maxwell, Zampa. Marsh and Agar are in the test squad
Brian
Guest
Ingls is also there as our next best bat. If Khawaja opens and then Labs, Smith or Head get injured Inglis would be the next in line middle order batsman.
U
Roar Rookie
Carey I’ve always said should be a stopgap pick as the keeper. Keep him around for a year or two until the young guys like Inglis, Phillipe and Peirson solidify their games
U
Roar Rookie
You contradict yourself saying that we should basically forget most of Harris’ earlier tests because of how far back they were and then talk up Agar’s Bangladesh series. Neither should have been picked
U
Roar Rookie
Maxwell has the only century in india apart from Smith in years. 7 tests where he has the century and another game got 4 wickets. Add his fielding and you’ve got a guy where you can say it’s a crime that he hasn’t had a single home test. I’d have him over Agar
Ace
Roar Rookie
Regardless of the article Don and Dave rants are worth the read.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Inglis certainly rates as a batsman alone and therefore a handy back up in case of injury or covid
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Never said that. See, you're paranoid. I have said many times he could. There is a difference. He is in good, sustained form. He is a leader. Australian leadership is volatile. That's an argument. Your argument is, "I hate Marsh. I hate WA and I hate Don's posts 'cos they always sound better than mine. It's not fair! MUUUM!"
Rob
Guest
Last time Khawaja played away from home against Pakistan whilst opening the batting he was terrible wasn't he.... In all seriousness though he obviously doesn't have a great record overseas but what other option do we have?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Didn't follow Bangladesh/Windies? You need to know something about something to make an argument. Explain his form there an since. You seem to have followed your last game 5 years ago.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Not following cricket? Just sledging states? Petty.
JamesH
Roar Guru
1. Why are people surprised Harris was picked? If not for Head getting COVID and an all-time performance from Ussie in Sydney, Harris would be the incumbent. Most of those 14 tests were more than 2.5 years ago. He earned his Ashes recall through hard work in domestic cricket and performed okay, all things considered. Hunt and Street have promise but there's no need to rush them into a baptism of fire in Pakistan. Let them develop. 2. Agar played in our last test tour in Asia (Bangladesh) and was close to our best bowler, taking 7 wickets at 23. He's a better bowler now than he was then, too. He was always going to be picked on this tour. 3. Marsh has just been picked as cover for Green. They want the safety of a seam-bowling allrounder if they go with two spinners, and whatever his failings in the past, Marsh is still the second-best option in that role. What surprises me more is that Harris, Marsh and Inglis are our only backup batsmen and only one of them has been selected purely in that role. A bit of a COVID scare and our batting could be under severe pressure. I'm disappointed for the likes of Maddinson and Renshaw, who have performed in their middle order roles and earned a callup. Renshaw is also a decent player of spin. 4. I don't think Carey is under immediate threat from Inglis. They will probably want to give him a few series to nail the spot down. Of course, if he performs poorly in the first couple of matches then the pressure will ramp up. 5. Yeah, this will be a tough one. I see it as reasonably even, though. I think our bowling group has the experience and confidence to make life tough for Pakistan's batters. It will be a question of how many of our own actually stand up. Can Head and Labuschagne continue their form in foreign conditions? Can Smith and Warner find their best? Will the special meaning of returning to his birthplace translate into runs for Khawaja? I don't expect Pakistan to produce the sort of rank turners India like to serve visitors, since they'd be nullifying one of their own strengths, but some the pitches will obviously be conducive to spin.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Stephen, you've made some interesting points here and obviously stirred a few people up in the process! :happy: I don't disagree with your comments about Harris but trying to think like a selector, who would they have in his place, given the complete lack of red ball cricket for the past 2 months? If they chose another guy and he got called up, wouldn't they be setting him up to fail? I think Agar's selection is a very good one. There's no doubt selectors would have seen what Axar Patel and Washington Sundar have done for India and I think they want a left hander to do something similar. Granted SOK would have been a better choice but I think they want Agar to get used to Asian pitches, so when it comes time to bowl him, probably in Sri Lanka, he's got his line, length and pace right. I don't disagree about Alex Carey either. I'm sure selectors want him to succeed but no doubt have told him to lift in both parts of his game. Can't see him being dropped any time soon though. If Australia can escape with a drawn series after all the recent shennanigans, that would be classed as a good result. Even though the cricket's being played in Pakistan, it won't stop all and sundry piling in if something happens