- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Opinion
With the World Test Championship Final against India and an Ashes Series against a resurgent English side looming, there are still major selection headaches for chairman of selectors, George Bailey and coach, Andrew McDonald.
A disappointing series against India has left many questions regarding Australia’s best XI leading into a vital series against their oldest rivals.
The first of these unanswered questions remains at the top of the order. Australia’s reluctance to move on from David Warner, despite a long history of failing to produce runs in adverse conditions, cost Australia greatly in their most recent series against India.
The opener scored a mediocre 26 runs in 3 innings in Nagpur and Delhi before being spared further potential embarrassment, after being sent home with an elbow injury sustained during his final knock of the series.
While Travis Head looked to be an able replacement at the top of the order, his scintillating form over the Australian summer at number 5 means that the South Australia captain will likely slot back into the middle order. Warner, who averages just 26.04 over 13 Tests in England, should be on the chopping block as Australia look to rejuvenate their side with younger talent.
(Photo by Buddhika Weerasinghe/Getty Images)
Despite failing in India, albeit in an unfamiliar role in the middle order, Matthew Renshaw looks to be the frontrunner to replace an aging Warner to become Usman Khawaja’s opening partner for the upcoming Ashes series.
The Queenslander bounced back from failure in India and averaged 83 for Australia A in a two-game series against New Zealand A in April, notching up two tons and a 78 in the process.
This impressive series built on a notable first-class season for Queensland, that saw Renshaw help an undermanned Queensland side finish in third place on the ladder.
As well as Renshaw, Marcus Harris is in the touring squad for the upcoming test matches, gaining endorsement from David Warner’s former opening partner and Bushrangers coach Chris Rogers, saying that the 30-year-old Victorian “is as ready as he’ll ever be” to fill the hole at the top of the Australian batting order.
Harris failed in England in a horror 2019 Ashes series where he scored 58 runs across 6 innings at 9.67, however, he may have found form at the right time after scoring 601 runs across the 2022/2023 season.
Another selection headache for Bailey and McDonald comes in the form of bowling allrounder Michael Neser. Neser took 40 wickets for the Bulls during the 2022/23 Shield season, culminating in him being awarded the Marsh Sheffield Shield player of the year, as well as winning the Queensland Bulls Player’s Player trophy.
Originally snubbed for the 17-man touring squad by the Australian selectors, Neser has muscled his way into the Australian training camp in England on the back of outstanding performances for his County side, Glamorgan with the ball and bat.
The South-African born pace bowler took a hattrick, including the dismissals England internationals Dawid Malan and Dom Bess on his way to figures of 7-32.
Backing up strong performances with the ball, Michael Neser has also scored 186 runs in 4 innings at an average of 46.5, including scores of 90 and 86 for the Welsh outfit in the early part of the 2023 County season.
The irrefutable form of the Queensland quick has left many scratching their head as to where Neser could fit into the Australian side for the upcoming Ashes series. Seemingly built for English conditions, Neser’s swing and seam movement will offer a different threat to the English batsmen compared to the likes of Hazlewood and Cummins.
Hamstrung by the decision to make Pat Cummins captain, whose form greatly declined in India, the injury prone Josh Hazlewood could be on the chopping block should George Bailey decide to reward Neser’s recent purple patch in red-ball cricket.
The inclusion of Neser will undoubtedly add versatility with the bat to a side whose tail was infamously found to be too long in the Indian series.
The selection panel must carefully evaluate these options and make bold decisions to rejuvenate the Australian side. With a World Test Championship Final and the Ashes on the line, finding the right balance between experience and fresh talent will be crucial.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.