Australian test selection 2018/19

[stephen]

Tbf the bowling selection is fine. We know what we're getting with Siddle if he needs to play.

 

[social]

The more I think about out the more infuriated I become by the Langer favouritism. Handscomb and Mitch Marsh both should have no claim to a spot. 3/4 off Marsh's runs in the shield came in one innings on a dead track. He's not bowling well either.

The bowling selections are ok. I think Bird's time as permanent 12th man is over and short of a huge number of injuries he's probably not going to play again. But there are worse choices that Tremain and Siddle as backup options.

But fmd we're going to have:

Harris
Finch
Khawaja
Head/Handscomb
S Marsh
M Marsh
Paine

As our top 7. I can't think of a worse Australian top order in my lifetime. Absolutely horrendous.

During the WSC, we had a whole team on the sidelines and could still field a batting lineup including ancient Simmo & young AB, both of whom would walk into today's side

During the darkest times of the mid 80s (when the team was decimated by retirements and rebel tours), we still had AB who was light years in front of anyone not named Smith today

We're staring at the abyss

 

[social]

Tbf the bowling selection is fine. We know what we're getting with Siddle if he needs to play.

Bowling selection was easy

Siddle will only be needed if 2 pacers go down and is there for a holiday

 

[stephen]

NSW has the first XI bowling attack. I'm pretty sure that Vic has the entire second XI bowling attack.

 

[Burgey]

As with rugby union in this country, I'm convinced that nothing will change with CA until (and it will happen) the national team is on the end of countless thrashings AND ratings fall off a cliff AND sponsors start walking

I simply can't get upset anymore with the overt favouritism shown to M (he averaging 26 with the bat) Marsh or selection of guys like Siddle (at best, the 3rd best seamer for his state) or blatant hypocrisy when it comes to criteria (Maxi is basically ineligible due to lack of FC but Finch was chosen on white ball form)

It's a cluster **** and with Yes Men like Langer & Roberts in charge, there's no hope for change

Oz cricket will be ****ed for years IMO

We’ll still beat India and SL. Will paper over the cracks.

 

[Burgey]

During the WSC, we had a whole team on the sidelines and could still field a batting lineup including ancient Simmo & young AB, both of whom would walk into today's side

During the darkest times of the mid 80s (when the team was decimated by retirements and rebel tours), we still had AB who was light years in front of anyone not named Smith today

We're staring at the abyss

Kim Hughes too. Much under rated player imo.

 

[Starfighter]

I'd happily have a Graham Yallop in the team atm.

 

[Second Spitter]

He's a good batsman? Gotten better over the last few years too. Probably average even more if he'd been playing Shield in that time.

Don't dispute that. I would give him a run in the Test team, tbh. I think he'll prosper in an environment where he's not expected to hit a six off every delivery. It may even help his short-form game.

 

[SeamUp]

Elite honesty from Langer. Can't ask for much more

https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1065532320080228357?s=19

 

[Spikey]

as if marcus harris isn't currently mediocre with flashes of brilliance anyway

 

[Prince EWS]

Squad isn't awful (5 quicks is weird though), but FMD I feel for Burns and Renshaw.

Yeah I think it's more or less the best we could've hoped for. I would've picked Renshaw but that obviously wasn't going to happen with his recent form and Langer's "philosophy", and I certainly prefer Harris to other dire opening options, or the alternate option of picking another middle order batsman and locking in Finch and Khawaja to open.

Leaving Handscomb out in the UAE and then picking him at home seems very arse about face to me, but when you have your best two batsmen (and er, Bancroft) in-house suspended, you probably don't have the luxury of leaving out someone in good form with a reasonably good record. Most of his runs did come in one series, but it was a pretty similar series (ie. at home against an Asian side with a reasonable attack). I don't really have any better options to offer up for the spot that would've satisfied Langer's rabid focus on early season form when making these decisions (and arguably only Maxwell even without that handicap).

The other contentious one is Mitch Marsh. At this point I'd just pick six specialist batsmen, but the squad still allows for that, and as much as I think he should probably be dropped at this point, if I was forced to pick a pace bowling allrounder he'd be who I'd go for ahead of Stoinis, so I'd have probably left him in the squad.

My only real gripe is Siddle, but he presumably isn't really any chance of playing.

 

[GotSpin]

Yeah surely Siddle is just running the drinks on and stuff

 

[Second Spitter]

Elite honesty from Langer. Can't ask for much more

https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/1065532320080228357?s=19

His downfall is going to be glorious. It will make the Hitler parody video seem like a middle school recital.

 

[Gnske]

20 is mediocre, but 30 is the stuff of elite power.

 

[stephen]

Tbh I don't take much issue with what Langer said there.

 

[Tangles]

We’ll still beat India and SL. Will paper over the cracks.

This. We will roll out roads and rely on our bowling to get 20 wickets. Despite how awful the batting looks touring teams not called SA tend to struggle bowling on Aus roads.

 

[SeamUp]

First-class 100s

Steve Smith 37
David Warner 28
Usman Khawaja 27
Shaun Marsh 26
Peter Handscomb 14
Cameron Bancroft 11
Matthew Renshaw 10
Mitchell Marsh 10
Marcus Harris 9
Aaron Finch 7
Glenn Maxwell 7
Travis Head 7
Tim Paine 1
Alex Carey 1

Others

George Bailey 23
Cameron White 21
Callum Ferguson 17
Joe Burns 15
Matthew Wade 13
Tom Cooper 12
Alex Doolan 10
Peter Nevill 9
Moises Henriques 8
Nic Maddinson 8
Jake Lehmann 7
Chris Lynn 6
Travis Dean 6
Kurtis Patterson 5
Hilton Cartwright 5
Jordan Silk 5
Marcus Stoinis 4
Marnus Labuschagne 4
Beau Webster 4
Dan Hughes 4
Sam Heazlett 3
Ashton Turner 3
Jake Weatherald 3
Sam Whiteman 3
Will Pucovski 2
Will Bosisto 2
Nic Larkin 2
Jack Wildermuth 2
Jason Sangha 1
Jake Doran 1
Ben McDermott 1
Josh Philippe 1
Jack Edwards 1

 

[stephen]

It's such a shame that Lynn isn't up to playing first class cricket.

 

[stephen]

In an alternate universe half our XI right now would be Hughes, Lynn and Pomersbach .

 

[Burgey]

How many FC tons has Dan Hughes made?

SeamUp's list actually confirms my theory that Henriques literally makes one ton per calendar year he plays.