Australia’s got a pretty crowded schedule coming up over the next six or seven months and players will need to be at the ready because you never know when your chance will come.
As we’ve seen with Scott Boland coming in for the second Test with Pat Cummins out with a thigh injury, opportunities open up at the drop of a hat and you’ve got to be good to go.
Boland will thrive with the pink ball in Adelaide, I’m not sure if he can keep his Test bowling average to single figures but I reckon he’ll add a few more wickets to the 18 he snared in his first three matches last summer.
He’s well suited to day-nights Tests being tall, bouncy and accurate. I know he hasn’t played a lot recently but he’s got Shield games under his belt this summer.
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Here’s my shadow side for the first XI to come in at any stage over the next few months for the three-match home series against South Africa, then the four-game tour of India and the Ashes in England for June-July.
Matt Renshaw. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Openers – Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw: These two guys are at a similar stage of their careers. They’ve both had a go at Test cricket and didn’t quite nail it but they’ve done the right thing by going back to Shield level and scoring bulk runs.
Harris didn’t ever hit a career-defining century during his time in the team, he had a couple of gritty 70s, so I can see why the selectors keep going back to him as a shadow batter.
Renshaw’s white-ball cricket has helped him get back on track in the first-class arena and he scores much quicker now. He’s had a few good years for Queensland and also for Somerset since he got dropped from the Test side, he’s only 26 and he can even float down into the middle order if needed.
Usman Khawaja and David Warner are coming towards the end of their careers so someone is going to get a chance at opener in the not too distant future.
First drop – Cameron Bancroft: He’s also fallen short at consolidating his spot in his first go round in the Australian side but he’s performed well for Western Australia and because there’s not that many middle-order batters in form, I’d look at him at three if for whatever reason Marnus Labuschagne was unavailable.
No.4 – Peter Handscomb: This was an easy selection because he’s been the form run-getter in the Shield this year with Victoria and like the three guys I’ve just mentioned, he was thrown into Test cricket at a pretty young age, did a decent job but can do so much better if he gets another chance. A bit like Steve Smith, he’s simplified his technique so he’s not moving around so much at the crease and it’s paying big dividends.
We’ve seen that time and time again with batters in Australia, even the very best like Ricky Ponting, Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer, that during your first stint or two can be hard to establish your spot in the side long term but the batters are better equipped when they get recalled a bit later in their career.
Even Donald Bradman got dropped earlier in his career. The only guys I can think of in modern times who didn’t at some stage were ones like Adam Gilchrist and Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, probably because they were around 30 by the time they got a start at Test level.
No.5 – Kurtis Patterson: This was the toughest selection to make because apart from Handscomb, there isn’t really a standout candidate. If you’re looking for a like for like replacement for Travis Head, he’d be the best option. He made a hundred against Sri Lanka a few years ago, then he’s had a lot of injuries for a batter. He’d like a few more runs under his belt at NSW before he gets another shot at Test cricket.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Wicketkeeper – Jimmy Peirson: He’s the best gloveman in the country and he scored a ton earlier this season with Queensland so if Alex Carey was out in the next few months, he’s the most reliable and experienced option. Long term I think Josh Inglis will be the next keeper in the future.
All-rounder – Aaron Hardie: Another like for like, he’d probably bat seven in Test cricket behind Carey but he’s the closest thing we’ve got to Cameron Green. He did pretty well for Australia A in Sri Lanka and he bowls handy medium pace.
Spinner – Todd Murphy: The young Victorian offie is the future mainstay of the Australian team but over the next few months, it will depend on the pitch as to who’ll they’ll select as a second spinner or if Nathan Lyon is out. The conditions could suit the left-armers of Ashton Agar or Mitchell Swepson’s leggies. Swepson deserves another chance at some stage based on what he’s done in Pakistan and Sri Lanka, Agar’s at the top of his game but can’t get a run unfortunately and Murphy’s really the replacement for Lyon down the track.
Todd Murphy. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images) (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)
Fast bowlers – Michael Neser, Lance Morris and Scott Boland: Neser has dominated Shield cricket, has been getting hundreds as well. He’s a swing bowler who’s not going to let you down.
Morris is the fastest bowler in Australia up there with Mitchell Starc and he’s also a guy with an action that could go well in the subcontinent. He’s a real slinger and they tend to bowl really good reverse swing. We saw in England’s Test the other day against Pakistan how important that can be and Morris would be reversing it at about 20km/h quicker than Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson.
Boland is getting his chance to replace Cummins in this Test so he’d be the other shadow player but I also really like what Mark Steketee has done for Queensland the past few years. I think he could come in and do a job straight away – he’s big, tall and bouncy, looks like he’s got a fair bit in him.
Jhye Richardson would be in there as well but it’s a shame he’s got that heel injury at the moment. He took a five-for against England last year in the Ashes and he’s someone who could do really well in Tests if he can string a few matches together.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Do you think that is the same as Simon’s 3 years running? He has never led the batting 3 years running. That’s one season Tom; less than 2 and way less than 3. We have had two and a half seasons since then.
Tom
Hunt has had a pretty poor shield season aside from his 97no in the first match, also looked way out of his depth in the PM’s XI match a few weeks back. Played 2 absolutely atrocious shots to get out, probably needs to find his feet back at shield level for a season or so again before we start considering him for any sort of higher honours.
Tom
2019/20 – Top run scorer with 780 runs at 86.66 in 7 matches.
Mr Cricket
Roar Rookie
Swepson should be there instead of Murphy. Swepson has waited a long time for his chance, has been excelling in shield cricket and is proven to be competent at test level, even on flat tracks. Murphy is only 22 and now does not seem like the time to throw him in the deep end.
Mr Cricket
Roar Rookie
Mostly agree but I would put Henry Hunt in for Bancroft. He knows when to leave them and is comfortable against even the quickest of bowlers.
Micko
Roar Rookie
He's yet to prove himself up the order yet.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If a player is in form, pick him. It's just dumb to deny a form player because his career average is affected by a slump 6 or 7 years ago. Career average is only ever relevant to conversation after a career has finished. Contemporary average is the only relevant stat. Harris has equal rights.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
I’m happy for a 44yr old to come into the team if he’s shown he can do the job. Was very pro Head coming into the team (similar-ish age to Harris) as he had shown something in his previous opportunities. Just hesitant with a guy that after 250 FC innings can’t average 40 and has offered similar batting output as a lower order/wicket keeper in 26 innings at the international level, to suddenly become not just a little bit better but significantly better on the international stage. Eventually you have to realise it’s just not going to happen. For some people that’s just the case, the step up is just beyond their ability. Anyway have a good afternoon and enjoy the cricket
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You did write Harris off because of age. It's the whole conversation.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
This is ridiculous. I don’t write anyone off because of age, you’re obviously incapable of recognizing this is anyone’s argument. You obviously have a preconceived idea that’s why I’m against Harris. I have done some stats, as that’s what I do for my job, hence im stats orientated which fits in well with cricket. Khawaja after his first 26 innings (same amount at Harris) Ave was 46.87 100s - 4 50s - 2 Let’s remember Harris Ave - 25.29 100s - 0 50s - 3 It’s almost double the output. I know I’m talking to a brick wall but the comparison is stark in difference. Add to this he had a better FC average to fall back on and was a consistent performer in the other 2 forms of the game. Anyway this will be my last msg
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
When? Never!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Khawaja is not "significantly better". He just happens to have taken his chances when he got another go...at 35yo. That's long after you would have written off a career. Khawaja also failed to establish himself when younger but his talent was evident, as is Harris'. You have a raging prejudice at work in this argument.
Simon
Guest
?? He was the top runscorer for 3 years?
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
Khawaja is significantly more accomplished player than Harris is and his FC record is better. He had also performed when given opportunities at the international level. Age is not a barrier but talent is, this isn’t an age thing, this is a given lots of opportunities for no return thing. In rugby there is a phrase that people say it’s called ‘test match animal’. Some people have it, others don’t. It just means the step up in quality is something that some people that thrive at the level below just can’t cope with. So far Harris appears to be one of these with very limited to poor return from significant opportunity. 26 opportunities to go out there and prove yourself is a lot. I’d be happy to be proven wrong and would support anyone that puts the baggy green on, but sometimes you just have to cut your losses and realise it’s just not going to work out and invest time into someone that is more likely to make a significant contribution. There is a smell of Mark Ramprakash to this
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You've said that before and it was invalid then. The only reason Harris didn't get that gig as a 23 yo is because he wasn't picked, not because he was no good. He had a mountain of Shield runs. You seem to think a 30 is too old to get a game. Strange argument. Have you noticed how Ussie is going? Our new test keeper is 30.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
Because Steve Waugh was 23-24 yrs old, if he was 30 he would have been dropped as it would have been obvious nothing was there. An average of 25 for any batsman after a decent sample size is unacceptable, it’s something you expect from your no.7 and similar average to Starc who sometimes bats no.9. I’m starting to think you are Marcus Harris either that or a blindly devoted West Australia, that would of argued Jo Angel over Jason Gillespie back in the day.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I'm not close to it but the numbers from Hardie early this season indicated he might be the next in line at 5. If he's the best batter, it's just a benefit he bowls too, right?
Simoc
Roar Rookie
It's a weak looking team. Our depth isn't great then. Luckily our first Xl is ok.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It didn't get Steve Waugh dropped. Of course it's promising. To average 25, you must have scored test runs. Given the failures, for which you deride belittle and dismiss him, he must have had some big scores to redress that balance. Those innings are promising. That is so obvious.
Rebel334
Roar Rookie
Averaging 25 as a batsman after 16 test isn't promising, it would have you dropped from almost every test nation and possibly never seen again. Its almost 2 years worth of opportunities. No body in shield cricket is consistent atm, hence id rather invest the time in a younger player that will also average 25 in test cricket but has potential to average much more, than a 30yr old that will offer mediocrity.