Western Australia are showing no signs of letting up as the double defending champions have flexed their muscles in the opening three rounds of the Sheffield Shield.
Tasmania are also undefeated, Victoria managed to secure a much-needed win after two losses but there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel for NSW who are winless in their past 15 outings.
One of the subplots is always the competition between the contenders for the Test team and the opening slot is the main talking point for this debate at the moment for when David Warner retires after the three-match Pakistan series.
While Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris were being touted as potential replacements- there were a few others who had also put their name into the mix last season.
From the first three rounds, Renshaw and Bancroft are the clear frontrunners to replace Warner ahead of Harris.
Western Australia’s Cameron Bancroft. (Photo by Steve Bell/Getty Images)
Bancroft has continued his dominating form shown over the past few seasons with two centuries in his 370 runs in four innings with an average of 92.5.
Renshaw also has a century and two 50s to his name at an average of 54.2. so that makes for quite healthy competition in the remaining three rounds before the Test summer starts.
The real surprise in the Shield’s top five batting list is the name of Michael Neser who has scored at an incredible average of 75.75 in these three rounds. After struggling to break into the Test team as a specialist bowler, he is now making the case to be considered as an all-rounder.
There are three names that are bolting in from the blue (not the NSW variety) for the Test selection equation in the future.
South Australia’s Nathan McSweeney is averaging 46.66 with the bat – and already has a ton, a half-century and a match-winning performance in the last round. His numbers have been on the rise since last year.
Getting out on 99 was very disappointing for Western Australia all-rounder Aaron Hardie but he has again done really well with 250 runs at an average of 57.25.
After getting a start in the white-ball formats recently, he must now be in consideration for all three formats.
Queensland’s Jack Clayton has also caught the eye with a ton and a 90 to his name in amassing 211 runs at 42.2. The left-hander has talent but now needs to build on this solid start to be considered for selection at the national level.
There have also been a few disappointments from the batters that usually have been very solid in recent seasons and being talked about as contenders for national team.
Tasmanian openers Caleb Jewell (23) and Tim Ward (14.75) are struggling, as is South Australia’s Henry Hunt with 88 runs from six hits at 14.66.
WA young gun Teague Wyllie made another fine start to the season with a 96 but has not gone on with it – he is real gem of a prospect for the Test team.
Campbell Kellaway has also failed in the first two rounds but big things are expected from the Victorian youngster.
On the bowling front while NSW seamer Chris Tremain is leading the wicket tally with 16 at 18.62 – it is a real surprise to see two spinners in Corey Rocchiccioli and Mitchell Swepson being the next two on the list.
NSW expat Nathan McAndrew is putting his name into the national debate with a couple of five-wicket hauls for South Australia but Jhye Richardson has unfortunately been sidelined again, this time with a shoulder injury.
His WA teammate Lance Morris manage to get a match under his belt to take three wickets on the comeback trail from injury and will no doubt be in the reckoning when the Test season starts.
It has not been a particularly great time for the Test spinners – Todd Murphy has toiled hard with an average of 56 for his five wickets and Nathan Lyon made his comeback from his calf problem in the third round and it was a tough one for the Australian offie with a solitary wicket in his 36 overs and ending up on the losing side.
WA and Tassie deserve to be at the top of the standings, the middle of the table is tightly bunched but the Blues need a dramatic turnaround in form to mount a challenge.
It seems inevitable that Western Australia will be getting to another final and the question is who would be their opponents this time around?
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
The selectors have a knack for picking the wrong player. I still expect Harris to be picked until I see otherwise.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
Yep I will channel Ian Chappell and state that I don’t think it’s assertive enough. And we will notice it. And opposition bowlers will notice it Maybe Smith or Marnus will fine a bit more counter punch in their arsenal if we get off to decent starts. Or maybe Ussie will decide to channel his shot maker persona They may just like Head to come in at 3- 250 every dig and press go. If so, I’ll switch on then, especially against weaker attacks. (In 16-17 we showed a lot more intent early in our innings and it was brutal.)
jameswm
Roar Guru
My plan had been for Puc to open then when Smith retires move him to the coveted no.4 slot, usually reserved for your best batsman. I see he’s back scoring 30s, hope he gets back to his best.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Khawaja Warner Smith There are 3 born and bred NSW boys who can bat better.
jameswm
Roar Guru
It’s the obvious order. Khawaja (then Renshaw) Bancroft Labu Smudge Head Green
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
It fined up after lunch 4-78. Even Steven’s I reckon. NSW would like to lead by 50-100 I suspect
ant
Roar Rookie
Bancroft is literally averaging in the 90s, how can one not pick him? And Neser in for Starc/Hoff please. Bowling just as well and bats like a top four Is Jhye Richardson a chance to play this summer?
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Well the much lauded WA (better than the test bowlers) attack should roll the blues for about 35.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
agree on all of that just presumed Ussie is still enjoying it and will hang on a bit, for the team (?) and because he missed so many
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
they both go at 53 and warner goes at 70 Khawaja seemed to want to just bat and bat in India (46) and in england (39) Bangers is a grinder it could put a lot of pressure on Green and Head to up the scoring it's a good lineup, just don't like that order.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
it's at the SCG. it absolutely belted down anywhere east of Canterbury from Sat arvo thru to dinner time last night and then was as steamy as this morning perfect Imran 1976-7 conditions. 141 might be a real good score.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
watto should come back.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
right on it was such a breath of fresh air when Puc and Greeny were chucked in young. one since asterisked and one Asterixed. hopefully still time for them. and for others.
The Bush
Roar Guru
The reality is that we need two new openers over the next 12 to 18 months, so both will get a good chance to prove themselves, assuming we all agree that the Harris experiment should now come to an end. The next question is who will bat at six (I've assumed that Green will move to four after Smith retires or at least to five with Head to four) and has Carey lost it in all forms of cricket? I'd love to see the selectors get really brave and pick a really young up and comer to bat at six, like they once did with Ponting and Clarke. Of course if Pucovski ever comes good that might cause a re think of it all. Green has had a tough run of it this year, but him, Gill, Brook and now Ravindra, are all born in 1999 and could could be the next 'Fab Four' - let's hope test cricket is played enough for these four to show us what they've got.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
No, numbers don’t show that. Three to four matches is too small a sample to take seriously the difference in averages in the Shield. Bancroft has scored his runs in Perth and Adelaide, Renshaw in Queensland and Tasmania in smaller totals. Taking a longer perspective, Bancroft averages 49 in all first class cricket since the beginning of 2022-23, Renshaw averages 58, including 2 centuries in two matches vs NZ A in NZ in April and a century and 81 against almost the full Windies side for the PMs XI. Bancroft had 3 low scores and nothing over 50 in two games last month in Queensland vs NZ A. Renshaw also has a significantly better average in the English county championship (44 vs 34) which is important when considering fitness for Test cricket. Given Bancroft has already been tried and failed and Renshaw did better and is 3 years younger, Renshaw makes a lot more sense as a longer term prospect.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Three to four matches is too small a sample to take seriously the difference in averages between Renshaw and Bancroft in the Shield. Bancroft has scored his runs in Perth and Adelaide, Renshaw in Queensland and Tasmania in smaller totals. Taking a longer perspective, Bancroft averages 49 in all first class cricket since the beginning of 2022-23, Renshaw averages 58, including 2 centuries in two matches vs NZ A in NZ in April and a century and 81 against almost the full Windies side for the PMs XI. Bancroft had 3 low scores and nothing over 50 in two games last month in Queensland vs NZ A. Renshaw also has a significantly better average in the English county championship (44 vs 34) which is important when considering fitness for Test cricket. Given Bancroft has already been tried and failed and Renshaw did better and is 3 years younger, Renshaw makes a lot more sense as a longer term prospect.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
WA all out for 141 :thumbup:
The Bush
Roar Guru
After the Pakistan series, Australia's calendar looks like this for Tests: Jan '24: 2 v WI Feb-Mar '24: 2 v NZD Nov-Jan '24-25: 5 v IND Feb '25: 2 v SRI Jul '25: 2 v WI Nov-Jan '25-26: 5 v ENG Khawaja will be 37 in a few weeks, there's every possibility that he retires with Warner after Pakistan. Otherwise, what's his plan? Feast on a weak Windies and then tour New Zealand for a couple of games? Australia's gotta be careful here, not a lot of batsmen are still great at the age of 38 and that's what Khawaja will turn next summer when India tour. The selectors are to blame here, Warner should have been moved on already and we wouldn't be in this situation, but I'd be tempted to thank Khawaja for his services along with Warner and then give a new pair the Windies and NZ tour to start working together. It'll also be interesting to see how long Smith sticks around. He's clearly not the player he was and if he starts getting left out of the white ball sides, he may call time on his test career too.
bowledover
Roar Rookie
Yeah. Bancroft looks again like the form opener. Surely needs to be in line, followed by Renshaw. Well passed time for Davey to move aside. Personally, right now, how Neser isn't in the test side is astounding. Bloke is bowling so well and batting the house down. Aus really needs to look at its pace attack and prepare for the next cycle. Hardie also should be given some more opportunities. I see him more as a batter who can bowl some quality overs, but he performs.
Shire
Roar Rookie
The standard of batting in the NSW side is genuinely woeful, and it's sad to see. You're telling me that there isn't a SINGLE person in the entire state who can bat better than these clowns?