The late, great Rod Marsh was known for being precise with his gloves and an astute observer of cricket talent as one of the best pathways coaches the game has seen.
A decade ago he warned that Australia’s batting pipeline of talent was running dry and that apart from two fellas named Steve Smith and David Warner he couldn’t see too many 10-year Test players on the horizon.
The legendary wicketkeeper, who died two years ago, was adamant the rise of T20 cricket, a lack of coaching dedicated to the basics of technique in the elite junior pathways and the fact that batting was being made easier by the large chunks of willow that are now permitted all added up to concerns in the future.
“It’s ridiculous when you think about the size of the bats they are using and you see mis-hits going for six,” he said in 2014. “You think ‘well if I was playing today’ – and I used to hit the ball in the air when I batted – but if I was playing today the temptation would be to always go over the top rather then hit the ball along the ground, and find the gaps.”
Ten years on, he couldn’t have been more spot on.
There is a significant lack of young batting talent at first-class level putting any pressure on the six incumbent Test batters.
Only four players have scored more than 500 runs at Sheffield Shield level this season while averaging above 40 – Tasmania’s Beau Webster (840 at 70) to edge out Western Australian opener Cameron Bancroft (704 at 50.28) with teammate Sam Whiteman (619 at 41.26) and NSW rising star Ollie Davis (514 at 64.25) the only other players hitting that benchmark.
Webster, Bancroft and Whiteman are each 30 or 31 while it is no surprise that Davies, at 23, is being talked up as a potential Test prospect down the track due to the dearth of younger options in the domestic middle orders.
Pressure should be growing on Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head to get back to top form after they have gone through a string of low scores this summer heading into the Second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Friday.
But there are few options in the state ranks who are knocking at the selection door, let alone bashing it down.
Rod Marsh. (Photo by Adrian Murrell/Getty Images)
Nine of the leading 15 run-scorers in the Shield this season are already in their 30s and have either been given a couple of cracks at international cricket without cementing a spot like Bancroft, Peter Handscomb and Marcus Harris or journeymen having a surprise summer of runs like Tasmania’s Charlie Wakim and Jordan Silk.
“In an ideal world, if you’ve got a 35-year-old and a 25-year-old both of equal ability then you choose the 25-year-old,” Marsh said a decade ago when he was the chief selector.
“If the 35-year-old you believe is going to do a better job, then you choose the 35-year-old. It’s simple.”
And that’s the dilemma facing George Bailey and co when they have established veterans who are struggling like Labuschagne and Head, and David Warner before them. Apart from Cameron Green, 24, there has been no batter at first-class level who has dominated.
Not that T20 cricket is the root of all batting evil or that this problem is confined to Australia.
And it’s not as if a talented power hitter like Tim David decided he would dedicate himself to being a white-ball gun for hire because of the dollars on offer. He tried to cut it at first-class level but couldn’t get a start but found that the role of being a T20 finisher suited his skills set and went down that path.
Jake Fraser-McGurk. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
For all the talk that Jake Fraser-McGurk could follow Warner’s path into the Test team after making a name for himself in the T20 ranks, he has a long way to go to prove his game can adapt to Shield level before anyone could even contemplate sending a baggy green cap in his direction.
There was plenty of the usual rigorous debate and philosophical differences put forward to my suggestion that the Australian batters had grown complacent because they were in a cocoon of comfort that comes with knowing you are highly unlikely to be dropped.
The saving grace for Australia in Wellington during the first Test was that Green finally broke through to score the kind of innings that his talent has foreshadowed – standing tall with a steady knock as wickets clattered around him before stepping on the accelerator to not only reach a hundred but power onto 174 not out as the usually unflappable Kiwi bowling attack went haywire.
And that their bowling attack is still the best in the world, bar none (that’s right, India), with Nathan Lyon stepping into the lead role this time around while Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood offered unrelenting support.
Cameron Green celebrates his century during day one of the First Test. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The eventually emphatic 172-run victory masked the fact that Australia’s other top six batters all failed to pass 40 in their 12 trips to the crease. Lyon, with his cameo 41 as nightwatchman, was the next best effort.
Australia have managed to get by for most of the summer, apart from the Gabba hiccup against the West Indies, with a misfiring batting unit and such is their stranglehold over New Zealand, they will probably win this next Test even if they don’t rack up big scores.
But as Marsh predicted, Australia can no longer rely on the batting production line which once meant Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Stuart Law, Michael Bevan and co were continually overlooked despite mountains of runs at Shield level.
And with Usman Khawaja 37, Steve Smith 34 and every other member of their top seven north of 30 apart from Green, the current batting brigade have a finite time left before the selection panel’s job will become a whole lot harder.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If you look at Shield players who have demonstrated they are up to the standard, there are plenty. People rave about Fraser-McGurk but he has had one slog that came off.. but nothing else. Young fellas that have played 3, 4 or more solid Shield innings, demonstrating there is more to come include, Jack Clayton, Aaron Hardie, Davies, Jewell, McSweeney, Thomas Kelly is just starting to deliver and 2 WA kids one who has delivered but lost form, Teague Wyllie, and Jayden Goodwin, who is really starting to deliver. We have only seen Cooper Connolly in white ball cricket but he is a long term #3-#5 batsman for WA. Project some of these boys one season or two, there’s not much to worry about. Hardie and McSweeney are ready now.
MO
Roar Rookie
Pucs done. He keeps getting hit in the head which means he’s got a fundamental problem with his technique or skills. With his concussion history how can he be selected for shield let alone tests. It doesn’t matter how many runs he makes now he’s too much of a health risk. Concussion expert reckons 21 days minimum stand down but 28 is safer.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Beau Webster looking the goods this year. Warner stuffed it up for Renshaw and Bancroft to get 2 years of batting at the top rotated on grounds and conditions that suit . Renshaw suited to uk and nz , Bancroft on the Aussie and harder flat decks. I would have thought labs and head could have been rotated out to show them no ones place is safe
Blink
Roar Rookie
The reason most obviously is that the pitches have become bowlers paradises and run of the mill medium pacers have become over-rated. There are a heap of fast medium bowlers that can move the ball and take wickets reularly. Pretty much every state has at least two. It seems the big scores are coming from those prepared to take on and take down those bowlers, which isn't many. Since this is common knowledge you would think the writer would have mentioned it. Of course if you're glued to stats sheets and don't know cricket, this may not occur to you.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I'd definitely like to see some FC cricket during the Bash. There are guys who don't get BBL contracts that could feature (Handscombe this year?). There are also guys who would make themselves available for a game or two even with BBL contracts, just to stay on the test selectors radar. I'd love for Australia to bring out Ireland for series of A games to help them develop and then give them a test at the end of the summer.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
The batters currently in the test side.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Uzzy is showing signs of age? That's why he isn't on The Roar Paul! It's a bit early!!
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
The current crop of Shield bowlers are knocking on the door, but until one of the incumbents pulls the pin, we won't see the likes of O'Neill,Perry, Paris, Richardson or Morris, when fit, Meredith ,Bell or*shudder*,*gasp* Rocchiocoli, in the ranks. Bowling not a problem,keepers the same. But maybe, we have to accept that one,two or more of the batspersons in the Shield, averaging over 40,this season,will have to do. England is getting by with only Joe Root in the high forties, so unpalatable as it may be, some of the loaf is better than no loaf at all.
Sportstragic
Roar Rookie
Gee that’s a bit harsh on Bancroft “doesn’t deserve a test spot” He is the leading run scorer in the shield for the past few years and is the second leading run scorer this season. I am not a big fan of his but he definitely deserves a go with these numbers. Who do you think deserves a test spot in front of him?
Paul Suttor
Expert
even Michael Clarke had some struggles after his first few Tests & the risk of bringing someone in like Davies before he has a solid bank of Shield experience is he could end up like Nic Maddinson a few years ago & never make his way back
Paul Suttor
Expert
they were never going to drop Marnus, Head or anyone else for that matter for this Test but Uzzy is showing signs of age, Smith has been cryptic about his retirement plans and Marsh and Carey are not young despite being very fit cricketers. The selectors need to find a few diamonds in the rough soon
Paul Suttor
Expert
Hardie definitely looks the goods for a batting all-rounder gig but the way Marsh has rejuvenated his red-ball career, he could be there for another few years
Paul Suttor
Expert
It's a shame about Puc, he definitely looked the goods but with all these concussions mounting up from getting hit by bouncers, even if he were to work his way back into contention for the Test team, he'd be targeted by fast bowlers even more so than the standard opening batter
Unmaker
Roar Rookie
There are definitely players with the talent, they just lack the consistency and ability to take things to the next level. From what I've seen of Caleb Jewell, he looks as good as anyone when he's on song. Unfortunately other than his 200 recently he's had a pretty lean run of late. Renshaw, Harris, & Hanscomb have all had many chances and have never seemed fully comfortable at international level... I don't know what or who the answer is but some new blood has to be introduced sooner rather than later.
OB
Roar Rookie
The great RW Marsh spot on. The elephant in the room.. Our current Test batting line up is actually pretty brittle with a lack of big team scores and centuries. Splitting the Shield season to emphasise BBL was the start of the downward spiral. And WOW only 4 batters hit 500 runs plus? That has to be an all time low. No one even kicking door down ala when back in the day when Hayden, Hussey and way back to M. Waugh were piling 1000 runs a season and couldn't get in. No ones turning in the runs that have them clearly marked true Test prospects. The cupboards never been so bare. Now we apparently have to role the dice mainly on potential. It makes me cringe to think poms have much better developed young batters than us - can we hang on tom retain Ashes one more time?
DTM
Roar Rookie
Yes, the Shield and Test Match pitches over the last couple of seasons have certainly been more conducive to bowling than in the 5 or so years earlier. So this should be taken into consideration but I don't think the Australian selectors actually rate many of the Shield bowlers.
Paul
Roar Rookie
Great article, I agree with everything. I particularly feel of Pucovski, who seemed like he was getting back underway. Premier Cricket is just about over in Victoria. We're into finals this weekend and Melbourne didn't make it. Means no more chances for Pucovski to ease his way back.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I think it would be good to incorporate that into our summer, ie a few Aussie only 4 day games followed by 2 or 3 games against an opposition XI
ant
Roar Rookie
I reckon that, in general, over the past (couple of) years, the pitches have been a bit greener on average. Perhaps we should be a bit less harsh on the Shield batters, the conditions do seem a bit tougher than before. Also, it's a real mystery why Paul hasn't mentioned Aaron Hardie in this article. He's basically a Mitch Marsh but scoring a bit slower.
ant
Roar Rookie
Agree that Bancroft should be the reserve. Sure, Renshaw has batted in the middle order but, supposing we had a middle-order injury, Smith could easily go back to the middle order with Bancroft opening. Also, surprised that Aaron Hardie did not get a mention this article. Quite a solid record and is basically Mitch Marsh right now but scoring a bit slower.