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Joined July 2019
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Cricket. And numbers.
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Tim Paine attracts a lot of criticism for his batting. We have long compared Australian Test wicketkeepers to Adam Gilchrist’s destructive Test record -…
Throughout Ashes history, matches have been played at nine venues across Britain, from Sophia Gardens in Wales to the Riverside in Durham. So which…
Good article, but slightly short sighted. You haven’t factored in conditions into your decision making. For example, Labuschagne’s performance in County Cricket (in England with a red dukes ball) proved more valuable than Khawaja’s ODI form or Marcus Harris’ Shield form. Handscomb, I am hoping, will make a test return in the sub-continent – he is excellent against spin due to his quick feet. He is all at sea against the swinging ball however. For the upcoming tests in Australia, I hope they put enough value on recent Shield runs. It’s a bat off for the opener with Warner between Khawaja, Harris, Bancroft, Burns for me.
I wouldn’t be a Test selector for quids
Disagree – look at Labuschagne!
5 centuries in Div 2 County Cricket and transferred that into the test arena.
Until there is data backing up this notion that County Cricket is weak, I won’t believe it.
I wouldn’t be a Test selector for quids
This list is incomplete without Stuart Law.
He scored 27,000 First Class runs at an average of 50.5 with 79 centuries.
Only played 1 test match, where he scored 54*.
Australia's unlucky XI from the 2000s golden era
Labuschagne has been batting at 3 for Glamorgan.
Sure things and surprises in my Aussie Ashes team
I am 100% aligned to this.
Give Khawaja more time to recover and then see what he does against Worcs in the tour game. If any of Bancroft, Labuschagne or Wade fail in both Edgbaston innings, and Khawaja looks in good nick, then there is an easy change available for the 2nd test at Lord’s. Khawaja, don’t forget, is excellent as an opener.
That being said, Harris is stiff to miss out. But Bancroft has earned it more.
Sure things and surprises in my Aussie Ashes team
Why is Jonny Bairstow considered such a lock in this England side when Joss Buttler can keep? Here are his recent test performances in England:
2017 vs SA: Av 41 ✅
2017 vs WI: Av 15 ❌
2018 vs PAK: Av 16 ❌
2018 vs IND: Av 26 ❌
2019 vs IRE: ????????
England name 14-man squad for Ashes
Yes I am minded to agree with this.
Harris very stiff to miss out after his excellent Shield season and ton on tour, but your argument for Bancroft is valid and well thought out.
Wade is also stiff. If Khawaja is line-ball on fitness I’d go with Wade at no.6 and Labuschagne at no.3.
Starc will definitely have an impact on flatter pitches at some stage during the series. I’d also like to see Neser given an opportunity – perhaps at Old Trafford.
Bancroft, Labuschagne and Siddle in my Ashes XI
Very interesting.
Shame we can’t see the Hick vs Haddin full highlights, would be interesting to see how he actually looked through his spells.
Haven’t we been saying 125-130km is about right for England?
Forecast for a low-scoring Ashes between two weak batting line-ups
Dominic Sibley from Warwickshire is probably next man in for the opening slot.
Averaging 63 in County Div 1 this season, with three tons (including one double ton). And Edgbaston is his home ground, if that makes any difference.
Forecast for a low-scoring Ashes between two weak batting line-ups
Agree 100% with all this.
But Mitch Marsh has a strangely good test record with the ball in England. 8 wickets at 18.6 from 3 tests. Worth a squad pick, but not in the first XI.
Forecast for a low-scoring Ashes between two weak batting line-ups
I don’t like Mitch Marsh particularly. But taking a look at his bowling performances in England, there is a case to pick him for the squad.
His career test record is 35 wickets at 43.9 from 31 matches.
In England, his test record is 8 wickets at 18.6 from 3 matches.
Small sample size, and from 2015, but still…
Forecast for a low-scoring Ashes between two weak batting line-ups
Do you stand by your statement “England are clearly the better side on seaming pitches” after the Murtagh demolotion?
Selectors must opt for Siddle over Starc in first Ashes Test
Did you see what happened at Lord’s overnight?
Selectors must opt for Siddle over Starc in first Ashes Test
They bowl well together, those Victorian lads. Watch the Shield Final highlights and change your jocks after.
Selectors must opt for Siddle over Starc in first Ashes Test
I haven’t heard a compelling argument to date on why Hazlewood is a ‘must’ for the squad.
He is a great player. But Australia have a wealth of options in the pace department at the moment.
Unfortunately for Hazlewood, he had a middling India series, then was injured. He missed the Sri Lanka tests and the 4 rounds of Shield where the Dukes ball was used, and hasn’t found his form one week out from the Ashes. And in the 2015 Ashes in England, he was dropped in the final test for Siddle.
It’s international sport. These things happen. You can’t select a player because it would be ‘harsh’ not to.
I’d have Siddle, Bird and Neser as preferred options over Hazlewood at the moment.
Agree on all your points on Siddle.
Your stats on Bird are outdated, he has improved markedly over the past 12 months. Leading wicket taker in the 4 Shield rounds using the Dukes (23).
Neser took 20 wickets in those Shield rounds, and averaged 34 with the bat. Great package as a back up player.
Selectors must opt for Siddle over Starc in first Ashes Test
We have Head and Labuschagne as spin options.
Selectors must opt for Siddle over Starc in first Ashes Test
Labuschagne has been playing no.3 in County Div2, Bancroft has been playing opener/no.3 in County Div2.
Labuschagne has a far superior record this year, so unsure why you’d go with Bancroft.
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
If Khawaja isn’t fit for the 1st test it would be a blessing.
Play Warner, Burns/Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Wade.
Khawaja can come in for the 2nd test, taking the spot of whoever doesn’t perform in the 1st test out of Harris/Burns, Labuschagne, Head or Wade.
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
Test average is irrelevant if you’ve only played 2 tests. Not a big enough sample size.
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
He also faced 81 balls. So probably a big enough sample size to rule out pure luck.
Bird was talking up his technique.
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
I agree, if the 2nd innings is a similar story, the only reason we shouldn’t play a third innings would be to avoid embarrassment in the English press.
Hopefully common sense prevails and we give our batsmen as much time in the middle as possible.
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
You haven’t mentioned Labuschagne. Is he a lock for you, or nowhere near your XI?
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
This is bang on.
I’d feel disappointed if we went with the standard Australian trio of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood for the first test. Feels short sighted and lazy. We’d never go with these three for a test in India for example, so why shouldn’t we pick for conditions in England too? We were bitten in 2015 by going with Starc and Johnson. Cummins is the only one that has to play.
Agree about Head. Also Steve Smith dragging on brings memories of the MCG test. And Handscomb just keeps getting caught LBW.
Disagree on Burns and Bancroft. They soaked up 47 and 48 balls respectively to take some of the shine off the new Dukes. Pretty good effort after what we saw in the first innings. And against a superior attack (on paper).
Aussies Ashes candidates flunk selection test
Add Nic Maddinson to your blacklist. Averaged 65.2 in the Dukes rounds of the 2018/19 Shield and didn’t even get a ticket to the Aus A tour of England. One test match is all he’ll get.
An overview of Australian Cricket in the 2010s