Australian Test Selection 2016/2017

[Dan]

Khawaja was the form batsman in Australia last summer. He was head and shoulders above almost everyone no matter what version of the game he was playing. Some people here are way too quick to write him off.

tbf, I've been consistent in calling him a spud; I don't think me writing him off is a kneejerk reaction -- just a continuation of me not rating him whatsoever.

 

[vic_orthdox]

Khawaja and Warner actually play spin quite similarly, just that Warner has a better bomb down the ground. Both struggle to hit the ball towards mid on in a controlled fashion.

Ussie's awesome, for the record, third best batsman in Australia.

 

[morgieb]

Was it Khawaja that got dropped for Faulkner for the 5th test in 2013? Or Hughes?

Seems like the same idea. 'We're losing, we don't think this bloke is going to make any runs, who else have we got left in the squad who can bat top seven?'.

Yeah was Khawaja. Hughes got dropped for Warner.

 

[NUFAN]

Silva averaged less for the series before this innings than Burns.

I don't blame them for making the change. Biggest stuff up was that pull shot first ball.

Yes exactly, especially tough drop after being very productive in the series before.

Today is potentially a massive day for Henriques and Nevill. Nev has largely escaped criticism but his batting average must be worrying. For Henriques it is just about staying in the mix or not, i personally think he hasnt got a Tests future but he's fine for the short formats.

 

[Red]

Nevill should be under no pressure at all regarding his batting, especially while we are persisting with Mitch Marsh at #6

 

[Shady Slim]

am happy to be proven wrong but on comments re patto in other threads and this one i'm not a fan because right now he's a thug

a dick in the dick way not in the johnson at his best way

 

[NUFAN]

Nevill should be under no pressure at all regarding his batting, especially while we are persisting with Mitch Marsh at #6

Runs at 7 are even more important because of Marsh at 6. We know the selectors love Marsh and it is hard to say they love Nev.

BTW, Nevill in his last 10 test knocks has 113 runs @ 12.55. His keeping has been good.

 

[mr_mister]

so how many of the Sri Lankans are capable keepers? I assumed De Silva was the keeper coz he was batting at 7, but it's Perrara lol. Has Chandimal just also forgone that duty as well?

 

[morgieb]

so how many of the Sri Lankans are capable keepers? I assumed De Silva was the keeper coz he was batting at 7, but it's Perrara lol. Has Chandimal just also forgone that duty as well?

I think Chandimal was keeping in the last Test? NFI why he isn't in this Test.

Also Kaushal Silva can keep.

 

[Howe_zat]

so how many of the Sri Lankans are capable keepers? I assumed De Silva was the keeper coz he was batting at 7, but it's Perrara lol. Has Chandimal just also forgone that duty as well?

De Silva is probably the only player in that top 7 who has never been a keeper.

Chandimal was actually the designated keeper for each match of this series but Perera has taken over in the 2nd and 3rd tests. Kaushal Silva kept wicket when he first came into the side about 5 years ago and Mendis broke into first class cricket as a keeper-batsman last year. Even Karunaratne has a first class stumping to his name. They also have Dickwella in their touring squads who is more of a 'specialist' keeper, because that's what they need apparently.

 

[91Jmay]

Khawaja and Warner actually play spin quite similarly, just that Warner has a better bomb down the ground. Both struggle to hit the ball towards mid on in a controlled fashion.

Ussie's awesome, for the record, third best batsman in Australia.

I'm taking you to mean literally in Australia, because there is no way a guy that awful against spin can be considered 'awesome'.

 

[honestbharani]

De Silva is probably the only player in that top 7 who has never been a keeper.

Chandimal was actually the designated keeper for each match of this series but Perera has taken over in the 2nd and 3rd tests. Kaushal Silva kept wicket when he first came into the side about 5 years ago and Mendis broke into first class cricket as a keeper-batsman last year. Even Karunaratne has a first class stumping to his name. They also have Dickwella in their touring squads who is more of a 'specialist' keeper, because that's what they need apparently.

Lol.. Dickwella and De Kock.. such keeper names

 

[Red]

Runs at 7 are even more important because of Marsh at 6. We know the selectors love Marsh and it is hard to say they love Nev.

BTW, Nevill in his last 10 test knocks has 113 runs @ 12.55. His keeping has been good.

I get your point but if you've got a guy at 6 averaging 24 it's hard to be critical of someone as good with the gloves as Nevill is on the basis of him averaging 20 at 7. Need to bring in an extra batsman at 6 if that's the case.

If Wade ever plays for Australia again (in tests especially) I will lose my ****e.

 

[TheJediBrah]

I get your point but if you've got a guy at 6 averaging 24 it's hard to be critical of someone as good with the gloves as Nevill is on the basis of him averaging 20 at 7. Need to bring in an extra batsman at 6 if that's the case.

If Wade ever plays for Australia again (in tests especially) I will lose my ****e.

That's very bizarre logic IMO. You should be critical of both. "no. 6 sucks so it's ok if no.7 sucks is well" just makes no sense.

 

[mr_mister]

Drop Voges, both Marshes, Mo, Nevill, Holland and Gaz. I wanna see who we dig up in that scenario

 

[TheJediBrah]

Drop Voges, both Marshes, Mo, Nevill, Holland and Gaz. I wanna see who we dig up in that scenario

Wouldn't mind seeing this at all tbh

Except Smarsh genuinely deserves a run

 

[mr_mister]

Yeah I agree it just feels weird saying it out loud

 

[Australiafan]

While our attention is on the struggles in the subcontinent, I think our greatest issue is the fact we have an all rounder who averages 24 and a keeper who averages early 20's. Surely selectors can not afford to carry both in the same eleven. While everyone is talking about flat pitches in Australia, I think our top order will be in for a real challenge against some quality pace attacks. Its possible that we will be three down for not many at various times, and when you look at batsmen to come Nevill and Marsh this can be rather depressing. Australian selectors need to look into strengthening our lower middle order. While I see potential in Marsh, I see a player who is afraid to play his natural game. Someone needs to tell Marsh he is an attacking batsman. Nevill on the other hand seems like a very limited batter, how he averages 40 in first class cricket is beyond me. Just goes to show you averages in first class cricket should not be the sole indicator of who can make the step up. I have always been adamant that Nevill is keeping this spot warm for Whiteman, and I see little in Nevill to convince me otherwise. I also think Stoinis should be picked in the squad to put some pressure on Marsh.

 

[TheJediBrah]

While our attention is on the struggles in the subcontinent, I think our greatest issue is the fact we have an all rounder who averages 24 and a keeper who averages early 20's. Surely selectors ca not afford to carry both in the same eleven. While everyone is talking about flat pitches in Australia, I think our top order will be in for a real challenge against some quality pace attacks. Its possible that we will be three down for not many at various times, and when you look at batsmen to come Nevill and Marsh this can be rather depressing. Australian selectors need to look into strengthening our lower middle order. While I see potential in Marsh, I see a player who is afraid to play his natural game. Someone needs to tell Marsh he is an attacking batsman. Nevill on the other hand seems like a very limited batter, how he averages 40 in first class cricket is beyond me. Just goes to show you averages in first class cricket should not be the sole indicator of who can make the step up. I have always been adamant that Nevill is keeping this spot warm for Whiteman, and I see little in Nevill to convince me otherwise. I also think Stoinis should be picked in the squad to put some pressure on Marsh.

Honestly I think he's mostly been out of form and in ****ty situations. He hardly got a bat in the Aus summer except for declaration batting and it's not surprising he lost form. He looked excellent in his first Test innings in the Ashes 2015.

 

[Justo]

Poor Nev. On top of the above let's not forget the guys still a relative noob in the team (Wade was previously kept around as reserve keeper etc on quite a few tours). M Marsh while not having many more games has been around the side for much longer and has a lot more exposure in these types of conditions so you would hope he could do a little more.

Ultimately though I think there's quite a bit of an over reaction going on here. At its core this is still a fairly raw side and barely 18 months ago Rogers, Clarke, Watson, Haddin, Harris and Johnson would form the base of this team. Even with this retired group we were still **** in these conditions and they had several opportunities to develop a method and adapt.

Lyon wasn't brilliant but he would need to match Herath's performance to give Australia any real hope for the series given the ******ness of our batting. The main disappointment is the continuation of generally stupid selection policies (why bring in Henriques for a batsman, Holland who hardly deserves the shot and gets no warm up, S Marsh's selection even if it did work) that don't seem to help the development of the team or players.

O'Keefe's injury was annoying though. First real shot he's had to prove himself in conditions that suit and he'll probably get looked over for the India tour for the leading leg spinner in the next shield season (or spend most of the season injured).

Anyway for the home season I'd go with the below and look to use it as the base for away tours.

Warner
S Marsh
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
Burns
Nev
Starc
Patto/Bird
Lyon
Haze

Both SA and Pak have good bowling attacks so I think there's value in stacking the batting even if the pitches turn out to be roads. Could swap S Marsh and Burns around but I'd like see Burns given a shot in the middle order. I'd rather have Nev's keeping on flat pitches over a potentially better batsman. M Marsh isn't out of the equation but I'd like to see him given a solid run in the Shield.