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Opinion
And so the Aussies are in India to face the final frontier.
Well, it’s one of the final frontiers, because we haven’t won a series in Sri Lanka for a while, or England either, come to think of it. So maybe it’s just a plain old frontier.
But it is an important tour, especially as India are one of the only three properly resourced cricket nations in the world – something fans of those cricket nations should keep in mind whenever their team beats up a poorer nation.
The beginning of a tour is always an exciting time because anything is possible. Will this be another thumping like 1998, 2008 or 2013? A triumph like 1969 or 2004? A thumping that could’ve been a triumph like 2017? A better effort than expected but still kind of a thumping like 1979? A classic like 1986, 2001 or 2010?
Who will star? Who will flop? What scandals will result?
Commentators have already been making silly calls, so I thought I’d join in on the fun with all the expert insight of someone who never played top-level cricket. But I predicted the 2008, 2013 and 2017 Australian squads to India were terrible and I was right.
I couldn’t do a worse job than those selectors, especially the 2013 mob. Something about touring India tends to send Australian cricket selectors a little funny. They start thinking Cameron White is a frontline spinner and that five batters will give you enough runs.
So in the interests of tempting hubris, here are my thoughts on the Australian squad.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Pat Cummins (captain)
He has settled into the captaincy very well. There seems to be a bewildering amount of people begging for Cummins to fail, more than any I can remember for any recent Australian Test captain – even Michael Clarke – due to three main reasons:
I think some are also scared because Cummins likes to read books.
Anyway, I predict he will have a good series, but I don’t think he’ll be as dominant with the ball – fast bowlers rarely are in India. Oh, and Geoff Lawson should’ve been made Australian captain in 1984. Just saying.
Steve Smith (vice-captain)
He was immortal, then mortal, and now he’s immortal again, apparently, which is exciting. Smith’s a fascinating character; I don’t think anyone like him has existed in Australian cricket. We’re lucky to have him, because to win in India you need to put on big, big scores.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Ashton Agar
Sigh. He’s such a nice guy. He clearly has talent. Should he play in a Test? Does anyone see him doing anything much against Indian batters on their own pitches? Will Cummins trust him? He’s kind of a safe option but not really safe, because if he gets slaughtered, we’re in trouble, and his batting does not compensate. Agar averages 42 with the ball at less than three wickets a game. You may as well give a few overs to Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Smith. Sorry, I like him, but I can’t see it. If we play a second spinner (and we don’t have to), roll the dice on Todd Murphy.
Scott Boland
He’s a terrific bowler and perfect for India. Australian medium pacers have traditionally done far better in India than fast bowlers – for example, Geoff Dymock, Glenn McGrath and Shane Watson. I would consider playing Boland in all four Tests.
Alex Carey (wicketkeeper)
My heart is with Jimmy Peirson, who I still think is a better keeper, but Carey’s done nothing wrong and a lot right. I still this is a Test for him. The wicketkeeper is the captain of the fielding side – the number of catches we take does reflect on him.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Cameron Green
It’s not the end of the world that he can’t bowl in the first Test. He’s in there as a batter and we need to play six batters. This is beyond crucial. Cameron Green’s had a steady start to his career so far. I’m interested to see how he goes in India. All-rounders aren’t as important in India as people who do their jobs.
Peter Handscomb
I love him as a backup. If someone’s injured, I’d have him straight in – with the proviso that if Glenn Maxwell gets through the Shield game okay, I’d put him on a plane to India pronto and would pick him over Handscomb. And I don’t care if that’s irrational; all Maxwell fans deserve at least three more Maxwell Tests to compensate for the Mitch Marsh years. Has he done much opening? That’s where the next vacancy is going to be. Just asking.
Josh Hazlewood
He’ll be fine. Maybe he should be rotated to rest and play Boland. I wish Michael Neser were going.
Travis Head
He’s a big question mark. He’s doing so well in Australia, better than I thought, and I liked Head before it was cool. But he struggles against spin. He deserves selection in the first Test. I can’t see him lasting the series, but I could be wrong.
Usman Khawaja
He’s another question mark, though he’s done so well and I have a lot more confidence. I think opening the batting was the key to unlocking Khawaja – it stopped him from stressing out or something.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Marnus Labuschagne
I used to wonder if Labuschagne was lucky more than good – no batter gets as many let-offs as him. But it’s been 33 Tests now. Maybe he’s just good. Still, can’t help feeling a slump is overdue. Will it be a Mike Hussey-style slump or a Jimmy Adams one? I just hope it doesn’t happen in India.
Sidebar: could Labuschagne be a possible Warner replacement as opener? Just a thought.
Nathan Lyon
The thought of an Australian cricket team without Lyon terrifies me at the moment. He should have a solid tour. Don’t get injured!
Lance Morris
He’s a good player, but it’s a waste of time taking him to India; they should’ve taken Neser. When Australia has won in India it’s generally because of huge batting scores, off spin bowling and medium pacers rather than fast bowling and leg spin.
Todd Murphy
He’s very promising. I’d pick him over Agar, but I would pick a second spinner only if it’s a raging turner.
Sidebar: you know who else I wish were on this tour? Matthew Kuhnemann. I get why he wasn’t picked, but he’s very promising. I am a proud Queenslander, but Kuhnemann should be playing Shield cricket all the time. Emigrate, Kuhnemann. One of the southern states will have you. I would’ve taken Kuhnemann over Mitchell Swepson.
Matt Renshaw
What a journey he’s had. They want him to be the next opener. He may get a chance soon, but does he actually open any more? It’s good to start succession planning for the next opener, and I prefer him to Cameron ‘plenty of chances’ Bancroft and Marcus ‘plenty of chances’ Harris. Still, I don’t know. I’m not as confident in Renshaw as I used to be.
Mitchell Starc
Champion. Though I’d consider rotating him to play Boland more.
Mitchell Swepson
He’s a good player, I like him a lot. He deserves more Tests, but I wouldn’t have taken him to India. Even Shane Warne and Jim Higgs struggled there.
David Warner
The biggest question mark of them all. As Peter Roebuck pointed out, great players in decline normally tail away, then pull out a massive double century and tail away again. This happened with Gordon Greenidge, Alastair Cook and (kind of) Mark Taylor. I think it’s happening with Warner. His service to Australia is such that he deserves to see out this series. I’m not so sure about the Ashes.
My preferred Test first side from this squad
Fly out Maxwell after the next Shield game; he’s next in line to replace Head or Green. Consider Handscomb as an opener if Warner really implodes.
Still, it’s not a bad squad.
Those are my thoughts. What about yours?
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