Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson believes David Warner is not the only Test player under pressure to show they belong in the team.
Johnson, who created high drama last week when he questioned why Warner was being given a cushy ride to the finish line of his Test career, has doubled down in his latest column for The West Australian by saying other players are under pressure.
The likely XI for Thursday’s Test in Perth will be stacked with players in their 30s with Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, who are both 29, set to be the youngest members of the side.
Johnson wants to see young quick Lance Morris get a run after he was selected in the 14-man squad.
The 25-year-old Western Australian was part of the extended squad last summer but could not get a start.
“This summer is a great opportunity to blood some young or performing players, especially when it’s against two teams in Pakistan and the West Indies who have struggled in Australia for a decent period of time,” Johnson wrote in his latest column for The West Australian.
Lance Morris. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
“With Perth likely to present a fast and bouncy pitch, there would be no better place for the young tearaway to steam in for his Test debut.
“Spots are up for grabs as the Australian Test team prepares to enter a period of dramatic change. It’s the building of the future that Australia must be looking at.”
Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith are entering the twilight of their careers while Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood are getting close to the end of their time as well unless they soldier on until their late 30s.
Smith’s manager, Warren Craig, has put to bed rumours that the 34-year-old batter intends to quit soon after a series of cryptic comments this year.
“I can debunk that at this point in time,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald this week. “He’s still talking about things he wants to achieve.”
Warner’s place in the team has been a source of ongoing speculation due to his extended form slump in the Test format with Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh touted as potential options to replace him at the top of the order along with specialist openers Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Marcus Harris
Test captain Pat Cummins said moving Marsh from six to opener is “a possibility” as it would allow fellow all-rounder Cameron Green to return to the middle order.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Ashton's not even the second best Agar!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
So you think Ashton is a fast bowler.
Frodo
Roar Rookie
Yeah, maybe. That's what he says now. Been carrying on about Ashton for years he has.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Coagulant Impasses?
Blink
Roar Rookie
Thats garbage. The selectors job is to pick their best team to win the test. Sometimes they are advised to rest a quick but this is different for every bowler. We saw India introduce fresh young quicks against Australia last time out here which won them the series. But we have ultra conservative selectors, and their record is pretty dam good despite all criticism.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Clots?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
He means Wes Agar, not Ashton.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
I bet they won't even test for it.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Isn't it amazing? Johnson says "drop Warner." Cue outrage. He says " pay out superannuated players" and agreement all round. Just as long as it's not one of my faves... Just a thought... Does CA have a Covid -19 contingency plan if a player gets exposed, let's say, three days out from Perth? They're certainly not in isolation and the virus is circulating.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Perhaps even thrombotic.
Ace
Roar Rookie
True Opeo. But er were talking about future prospects. And knowing this wealthy current test squad it won't be for a while yet
Andrew
Roar Rookie
England does have the same issue though when they tour. Could be Dads Army vs Dads Army. Root(34), Stokes(34), Bairstow(36) - please tour as we want to give Mr Spirit a warm hug, Buttler(35), Wood(35), James Anderson(43) - that would be funny. Broads retired and was generally their best bowler here. Apart from Harry brook not seeing anyone of note coming through and they will all be new to these shores. India more of an issue next year as has been shown their next crop is pretty good.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I have no idea what the thinking was with Hodge. He couldn't get a Test match when he was in red hot form, had very few chances, even though he was one of the best players in Australia in his generation, averaged 55 in the few Tests he did play, yet was dropped due to poor form? He's probably thinking how unlucky he was, given the recent run of Tests Warner's been given and the lack of red ball form he's shown.
ColinT
Roar Rookie
Once upon a time it was quite normal for players to be selected in their early twenties, but back then, players retired much earlier as well. I think that was possibly driven by economic considerations. The majority of professional players did not earn sufficient income to support a family and set up for life after cricket. That all started to change after WSC, and in recent decades player earnings have sky rocketed, especially after the advent of the IPL revolution in 2007. Scott Boland and Stuart Clark are good examples of the many players who have the misfortune to be competing for a place against well established and successful test players. In Boland’s case the current bowling unit is inseparable and Clark played in the era of Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee. A more puzzling test selection example is Brad Hodge.
Ace
Roar Rookie
Thats the big question Colin. The Ponting's and Clarke's etc don't seem to be around these days Davies maybe one
Barb Dwyer
Roar Rookie
True. Factual headline: "Johnson accurately assesses Australian cricket future."
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
20-23 is good in footy. Probably 25-30 in cricket. One of them with performance to match potential is Jack Clayton.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
He's certainly been impressive in recent games.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Australia's had a habit in recent decades of choosing players in their 30's and they've done pretty well, albeit for 2 or 3 seasons. Boland and Stuart Clark are two that spring to mind; Mike Hussey is another late bloomer. There's more than a few 20 somethings who have shown glimpses of talent but have either been injured or have struggled after a good season. If they're not bashing down doors like Ponting or Michael Clark did, we have to go back to guys a tad older who can still get the job done for a while until the new crop of youngsters comes through. I'm sure that will happen, but the big question is when?
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
The players you've named show real promise for sure, but right now, which of these guys do you think could go on to have a career spanning 50 or more Tests? All are probably good enough to be selected to play for Australia, but how many could make a real go of it? I'm thinking Davies might and perhaps Webster, but still not sure about the rest.