As we grind into the 40th or so match of this World Cup, the cricket merry-go-round continues.
After India (probably) hoist the World Cup, Australia are due to play a five-match T20 series against them straight after, for reasons only known to Cricket Australia, the BCCI and their broadcast partners. Then we get to Australia’s summer of cricket.
Joining us this season is Pakistan and the West Indies. If this was 1984 and we were treated to Viv Richards, Gordon Greenidge and any number of terrifying Windies quicks, plus a god-like side order of Imran Khan and the feisty Javed Miandad, this summer would be a mouth-watering prospect.
But instead we get Pakistan continuing their decades long journey of flattering to deceive on these shores, plus a West Indies team that does not even qualify for major international tournaments anymore.
This summer is badly in need of something more, something with true feeling. A heavyweight battle for the ages between teams determined to test themselves against the best, plus fan bases who hold enduring grudges.
So let’s drop the international calendar to a bare minimum and I present to you a three “Test” series that we can all get behind: State of Origin: Western Australia vs New South Wales.
You know you want it, even as a neutral, this would be unmissable.
In the Western Corner we have the most dominant domestic team of the past decade and maybe even of all time.
In the Eastern corner we have Australia’s largest cricketing state, exporting truckloads of players to the international team and to all other state teams as well.
Finally we could answer all the big questions. Is the NSW bowling attack all they are cracked up to be? Are Western Australia all that good or do they just win because none of their players have to go and represent their country (except in Cameron Green’s case to go and not represent his country).
By the way, I don’t include Marcus Stoinis in that equation – the Aussies are doing you a favour there Western Australia!
Cameron Green. (Photo by Matt Roberts – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Would NSW be completely dominant at Sheffield Shield level, rather than completely hopeless, if only they had Steve Smith and friends and could hoover all their diaspora back from around the country.
I envisage a three “Test” series, with a game each in Perth and Sydney and a decider at the MCG (because Victoria is the sporting capital of the world remember, and otherwise they will feel very left out).
The respective teams might looking something like this (injuries permitting):
Western Australia:
Cameron Bancroft
Marcus Harris
Teague Wylie
Cameron Green
Mitchell Marsh
Josh Inglis
Aaron Hardie
Jhye Richardson
Joel Paris
Corey Rocchiccioli
Lance Morris
I am happy to defer to my WA friends here. Is there a spot for Ashton Turner or Ashton Agar, or are the Ashtons just not required? What about Mitch Marsh over Hilton Cartwright? Is Inglis or Phillipe the better Josh? Are you happy for Marcus Harris to return or do you reject the traitor to keep Sam Whiteman?
New South Wales:
David Warner
Usman Khawaja
Steve Smith
Nic Maddinson
Moises Henriques
Sean Abbott
Matthew Gilkes
Pat Cummins
Mitchell Starc
Josh Hazlewood
Nathan Lyon
The questions for New South Wales might be just how the Origin eligibility is determined. Queensland keeper Jimmy Peirson was born over the southern border, but debuted in the Sunshine State. He would be a handy pick-up behind the stumps. Even Jake Doran might squeeze into the team if the criteria is birthplace.
Other State of Origin options for New South Wales include Charlie Wakim, who is in form for Tasmania, Jordan Silk who was the youngest player to score a century on debut in NSW grade cricket, South Australian opener Henry Hunt and white-ball spin wizard Adam Zampa. I feel like I’ve missed a significant option or two, but my 10 minutes of research hasn’t born further fruit.
Steve Smith. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Looking at these two sides, obviously New South Wales have great strength in their bowling attack and top-order batting. Like the national team, however it is looking a little long in the tooth, plus the middle order is a weakness for certain. How will their pensioners go against the fire of Lance Morris and friends?
As always Western Australia are spoiled for choice when it comes to all-rounders, so the problem will be who doesn’t get a bowl (not Cameron Green surely. Imagine the uproar!). The batting is solid with some fine up and comers and a few Shield stalwarts, rather than out and out intimidating.
So, would you pay to see this series rather than yet another round of feeling sorry for the West Indies? And who would win? The only thing for sure would be that it would be played with feeling.
For me? Well I think Queensland would smash the lot of them! Even if we had to give Usman back to NSW, and Marnus back to South Africa, and Michael Neser back there as well, and Peirson to NSW, and … never mind.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
A great win for NSW No2 team over Queensland! :thumbup:
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Come here and say that!
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Matthew I have been in the middle of nowhere lately and just read your fabulous article! Get the boys up to my front verandah for some hospitality before the opening match. Love the concept!!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
True for some, but in the case of those born overseas and some of the others, it’s simply the result of immigration- Khawaja, Neser, Labuschagne, Renshaw. Or in the case of Lehmann, the fact his dad played a couple of seasons in Victoria. But it’s way you play most of your cricket growing up is the real criterion of your “origin”, what environment you are a product of. Those guys born overseas are mainly a product of NSW and Qld, Lehmann is an SA product, Peirson, Bryant and Street played under-17 for Qld, so I am guessing they are basically local products. Whereas the likes of Sandhu and most of the SA team represent the mobile mercenary trend. But NSW, WA and Vic hardly have a single non-local product.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
A bit rich calling "Son-of-Boof" a Victorian?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
SA, WA & NT would still only be about 18% of Australia's population. Tassie should join Victoria.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
NSW, at one stage, had land between WA's current border and an originally more easterly SAn longitudinal border. Till a little bit of common sense popped out of the constipated English colony-border drawers as they moved the SA border west to the exclusion of NSW.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
NSW tried to annex the whole continent at one stage but the plucky New Hollanders fought back
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
Playing today in the Qld v SA game but born elsewhere- SA (8)- Hunt, Manenti, McAndrew, Conway (NSW), Lehmann, Buckingham, Fraser-McGuirk (Vic), McSweeney (Qld), Qld (6)- Street, Peirson, Sandhu (NSW), Renshaw (Eng), Khawaja (Pak), Neser (RSA). Disregarding Bryant (NSW), Labuschagne (RSA) who are not playing this particular game. It's how professional sport works now. Talent is mobile.
All day Roseville all day
Roar Guru
In Tas's current Shield match, four of its top five are NSW-born. Ward, Wakim, Silk, Doran. Plus Neil-Smith at number ten.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Ok. It had moved on to Queensland or WA players
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Yes, that’s what I said.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
McSweeney , born & raised in Queensland.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
P.S. if you had to give Marnus and Neser back to Sth Africa, then WA would have to give Inglis and Whiteman back to Yorkshire. Oh, but Renshaw goes back to Yorkshire too. But you’d pick up McSweeney, who is doing very well for South Aus.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Brilliant idea, Matth. The truth will out. I think half the SA team is also ex-NSW ? (SA also has players of WA, Vic and Qld origin – only 4 Croweaters in the current lineup.). I don’t think Abbott makes the top 6 for NSW. Wakim, Silk or Daniel Hughes would have the best creds. NSW 2nd XI bowling attack might also challenge WA 1sts on a good day – Abbott, Tremain, Bird, Conway, McAndrew, Zampa, Manenti. NSW origin bowlers occupy 4 of the top 6 places on the Shield averages at the moment- Henriques, Tremain, McAndrew, Hatcher. Just saying. :stoked: I’m not from NSW. State of origin qualification rules: state where you first played first grade cricket or represented at under-19 level, unless you spent 3/4 of your school years in the state you now represent.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Fair enough but by saying NSW was ¾ it sounded like the implication was that other states were necessarily smaller. ------- If they were drawing up Federation again it'd be highly unlikely that SA or the NT would get a guernsey. I reckon they should be annexed by WA anyway.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I didn’t try to estimate the population of SA? Although, it sounds like it will soon be a wild area , with tumbleweeds rolling down the main streets. :stoked:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well you over estimate SA's share of the national population; it's about ¹/15th. When l was born SA had 15 Federal Electorates and WA 10. Now it's reversed as all Federal Electorates have to be very close to ¹/150th in size (although for some crazy reason we're now 151 Fed Electorates)
Panthers
Roar Rookie
When you look at the Cricketers in SA, you’d think that NSW had 3/4 of the population. Plus , the population of NSW is now under 1/3 of Australia’s population. :laughing:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
NSW is still a ⅓ of Australia's population