Sydney. SCG. The sixth of January. An enthralling New Years test drew to a close as Australia flexed their muscles on the final two days to defeat a spirited Pakistani side. Departing test opener David Warner rolled back the years and delivered a swashbuckling innings that secured a comprehensive victory in front of an admiring Sydney crowd.
For many fans, it capped off a comprehensive series victory in the sunshine whilst bidding farewell to a pioneer of the game. For some, however, many turned to an old but rather imposing elephant in the room of Australian cricket: the elusive opening spot, and who would be given such monumental shoes to fill? Debates were extensive between friends, colleagues and families as the summer test series loomed, with Warner announcing that he would don the baggy green for the final time at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a full-circle finish to an esteemed playing career.
As a result, many cricketing nuffies cast their eyes to the warm-up match played between the Prime Minister’s XI and Pakistan on the 6th of December, the former of which contained three primary candidates for Warner’s replacement: Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw and Marcus Harris.
All of whom had experience within the Australian test lineup, and had been stalwarts within their respective Sheffield Shield sides for the previous two calendar years. As the game concluded, it was Renshaw that rose above the rest, with a calculated and patient 136* off 337 balls, and an innings one would think would hold great weight in the lead-up to the West Indies’ squad announcement on the 10th of January.
However, in an announcement as bizarre as Colin Miller’s hairstyle, batting heavyweight Steve Smith put his hand up to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order, casting a tidal wave of disappointment across many of Australia’s new opening candidates.
Many greeted this news with scepticism, however, as they wondered why the acclaimed ‘best since Bradman’ would move from his regimented No.4 position, where he had amounted an astounding average of 61.5, and a tidy 19 hundreds to boot. Was it always a desire of Smith to front up against a brand new Kookaburra, or was it time for a new challenge as, like many of the Australian side, they entered the twilight of their decorated careers?
The Australian side, albeit an established and ruthless cricketing unit, signals retirement and rebuild imminently. With the average age of the SCG test XI against Pakistan standing at 33 years and 4 months, many hypothesise that Warner’s retirement will be the first cab off the Australian rank in the inevitable carousel that is professional cricket.
Despite signalling no intention of hanging up his spikes anytime soon, journalists have pondered whether Steve Smith will join his former New South Wales compatriot Warner since the end of the enthralling 2023 Ashes campaign, when many greats, including former England captain Michael Vaughan, thought that Smith would call stumps on his career.
While we have no verbal allusion to Smith’s retirement, his internal transfer to the top of the Australian order suggests a last hurrah to fulfil ‘a new challenge’. This move to the opening slot has indirectly opened the door for young gun Cameron Green to take up the decorated No.4 spot within a slightly new-look Australian side, as was confirmed by chief of selectors George Bailey after the West Indies squad announcement ahead of the first Test.
At the same time, Renshaw rose to the top, as he was included in a 13-man squad that alluded to a slow but calculated ‘new era’ for Australian cricket, but would not feature in the XI to take the field.
However, as one position seems to be sorted, there are many other questions that surround replacement. Usman Khawaja, despite surmounting the highest amount of test match runs scored in 2023, also lingers on retirement at the age of 37, as does Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon, who are 34 and 36 respectively.
To make matters more dubious for fans, test match experience is few and far between for Sheffield Shield players, with only six players having been given a baggy green since the 2021/2022 Ashes campaign, one of which being a covid replacement for the affected Pat Cummins, and three being involved as second and third spin options on subcontinental tours.
From a cricket fan’s perspective, the outlook is somewhat bleak. Despite a squad that will sit at the apex of Test cricket for a short while, the imminent retirement of many leaves obvious holes in various key areas of this current Aussie setup. Whilst talent is undoubtedly present, the lack of test match experience will be a huge challenge for captain Cummins and the coaching staff when moving the eventual new playing group forward.
Many Australian supporters fear the fallout from the ‘golden generation’ retirement era, and with a rich history of cricketing prowess, will the lack of variety in the squad fail to guarantee long-term success? As the core of the squad enter their final years in a baggy green, the silence surrounding this question is deafening.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
We can’t really know because Green has missed plenty of cricket sitting on the sidelines running drinks. The team seems to think so, and it seems like Cummins and the leadership group are running the show since showing Langer the door.
George
Roar Rookie
Agreed, Smith can do what he wants, the man is a freak of nature with the willow. I think in the same breath as Bancroft, Renshaw and Harris - has Green warranted another chance in the test side? Playing devil's advocate here.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Australian selectors love a genuine all-rounder and a batsman keeper. I don’t see the fuss, seems to me that Smith has done what he thought was in the best interests of the team by exposing himself to a bit of risk so they can get Green into the starting 11. Good on him for putting the team first. Renshaw, Bancroft and Harris could all get another opportunity within the next couple of years through injury and/or with Smith and Uzzy both getting on in years… or if it doesn’t work with Smith opening. Would you really select any of those three ahead of Smith without giving him a crack at opening if he is willing? I hope it works out for Smith, I very much enjoy his batting… and he remains as sharp in the slips as ever. Bancroft deserves to be in the conversation, but remember he has already had two opportunities in the test team. That’s more than many batters who have been very successful at shield level in the past. I don’t see cause for criticism of Smith, nor for claims of conspiracy.
sportnotrort
Roar Rookie
Nice article again ! Age is the enemy for this squad . Hence a desperation to get Green into a place where he can solidify his batting position. Could be the right series to do so. CA has invested a lot in him and now some signs it could pay off. Not totally convincing and suspect batting at 4 is a stretch against quality opposition but a chance with the current opponents . As for Smudger, getting closer to the end but I wouldn’t write him off quite yet. I suspect he goes out on his terms.
George
Roar Rookie
I think he will get his chance soon enough, but yes, not the correct selection right now.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I sus Lyon won't be going to England in 27.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I think he'll develop that. He's young by spinner standards. He has a beautiful action and that is bedrock for a bowler as he can build upon that.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Also Bancroft showed form really for about a 12 month window. His last few shield games haven't been good. There's a good chance his batting form was on the decline by the time the test squad was announced for Pakistan. And then he did himself no favours in the A game. He's shown himself due to be considered for test selection now. But there's plenty of question marks over him.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Only if you ignore that Bancroft has a terrible test average, performed poorly in county cricket and A fixtures. As the article notes, Renshaw, Harris and Bancroft all got to press their case in the same game. Only Renshaw flourished.
George
Roar Rookie
Agreed, but doesn't have the turn and bounce that Lyon naturally generates to such a successful degree.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Murphy looks like a quality player.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
What's scary as an outside is the relationship that exists between the BCCI and the franchises that make up the IPL. Both seem to be on the very unhealthy page where they see cricket as a purely money making venture that benefits India - not Indian cricket or cricket in general. I've often thought, in recent years, what would happen to cricket if India crashed & burned internationally? Granted they've no trophies to really speak of but they're still top 2 in all formats. What would happen if they slipped to 4 or 5? It might actually be a good thing, if it meant curtailing the "power" the IPL seems to be able to exert.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
They won’t be young by the time Lyon retires!
George
Roar Rookie
To be honest, I think the writing is on the wall for India. If you are producing players to face 60 balls at the absolute max, I don't even see longevity in the ODIs, let alone the test match arena. To top all of it off, there are no major Cricket trophies in the cabinet. Tick Tock, BCCI.
George
Roar Rookie
I agree, but I fear many fans that have been used to having the best team for a while now will be quick to criticise a young bowler who doesn't reach the heights of Lyon almost instantly.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I read an article from an India journo about the cricket academies that have been created over there. There was no exact number given, but it was in the thousands (I read on another site that there were at least 10,000, but there's no accurate count). The main purpose for most is to groom young talent to make it into the IPL. The elite academies, similar to the private schools in England, aim to provide the talent that makes up their state sides and ultimately their international teams, but their bread & butter is still producing cricketers capable of playing IPL. It makes economic sense for these academies to take this path, but as you say, if the elite academies can't produce top notch red ball players, Indian cricket could be in a very similar position to Australia.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
All the names you mention have time on their hands to develop further.
George
Roar Rookie
I agree, generational player for Australia. The only thing fans may worry about is who will replace him when he eventually departs. They have tried a few spinners (Murphy, Kuhnemann, Swepson), but no one seems anywhere near as effective with the red ball. I would throw Adam Zampa in the mix personally, but I assume selectors are too worried about too many '4-balls' being bowled.
George
Roar Rookie
I think that India are almost falling into the 'private school' mentality that England did all those years ago. Because they enjoyed short-term success through a certain talent pool, they stuck to their guns and now we can see they are failing to produce long-term test players. The IPL will have a lot to answer for when the Indian side become full of pinch hitters that would rather play a 2 day test match so they can play a T20 on the Friday night than win a 5-day thriller for their country.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Unless he injures himself I reckon Lyon will remain in the team for some time.