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Australian test selection 2025/26
- Thread starter Red
- Start date
I'd dump the current selectors as they refuse to accept that opener and #3 are specialist batting positions requiring extensive Shield experience in those positions...
I'm waiting for Inglis to be picked as the next #3, despite never batting above #6 in FC cricket
I'm waiting for Inglis to be picked as the next #3, despite never batting above #6 in FC cricket
Last edited:
RunningRabbit
Cricket Spectator
My team would be
- Khawaja
- Konstas
- Smith
- Head
- Webster
- Inglis
- Carey
- Cummins
- Stark
- Boland/Hoff
- Lyon
RunningRabbit
Cricket Spectator
Inglis is twice the batter of Green, every time he faces the new ball he looks shaky and his first 40 deliveries is allways just defend and don't get out no matter the game situation. The fact the selectors open Marn to accomodate him aswell is just crazy
It does not sit right with me that we lose what should have been a very winnable game in a final because we tried to experiment with the batting order when we have seen what works and beat India.
It does not sit right with me that we lose what should have been a very winnable game in a final because we tried to experiment with the batting order when we have seen what works and beat India.
the big bambino
Cricketer Of The Year
I'd like to see truer pitches in fc and test cricket in Australia to assist betting development and confidence. I think it was a mistake to play Marnus out of position and Green at all in the WTC. While it was a one off test, playing blokes out of position doesn't help team development. Even harder to understand the thinking behind playing blokes out of position when they were already struggling in their favourite spots.
It's probably time for someone to have a kind word with Usman, sadly. I'm not sure I'd go with Patterson. His problem is that he is too well known for being inconsistent. Pressing for test selection one year to lucky to keep his shield spot the next. Lets see how he starts this coming season. I'd be ok going in with McSweeney, Konstas, Marnus, Smith, Head and Webster as our top six. I'd love to play Green but our most concerning spots at 1, 2 and 3 aren't for him. As much as I hate to say it Harris has to be a chance to open.
As for pace bowlers I'd like to see Morris selected. Strangely enough for Aus we have some good slow bowling options in the shape of Kuhnemann (who can now be picked with confidence since his action has been cleared), Murphy and Rocket chocolates from WA.
It's probably time for someone to have a kind word with Usman, sadly. I'm not sure I'd go with Patterson. His problem is that he is too well known for being inconsistent. Pressing for test selection one year to lucky to keep his shield spot the next. Lets see how he starts this coming season. I'd be ok going in with McSweeney, Konstas, Marnus, Smith, Head and Webster as our top six. I'd love to play Green but our most concerning spots at 1, 2 and 3 aren't for him. As much as I hate to say it Harris has to be a chance to open.
As for pace bowlers I'd like to see Morris selected. Strangely enough for Aus we have some good slow bowling options in the shape of Kuhnemann (who can now be picked with confidence since his action has been cleared), Murphy and Rocket chocolates from WA.
Thala_0710
International Captain
I'd drop Khawaja and Marnus. Both of them have struggled against top pace quite a lot and replacements are available too. But I'd still back Green to come good at 3; not the worst call imo to give him a try.
Konstas
Mcsweeney
Green
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey+
Cummins*
Starc/Boland
Lyon
Hazlewood/Boland
Konstas
Mcsweeney
Green
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey+
Cummins*
Starc/Boland
Lyon
Hazlewood/Boland
the big bambino
Cricketer Of The Year
Btw we want to keep Cummins going for as long as possible.
TheJediBrah
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Marnus should have gone months ago.
Khawaja is done but I can see why they feel they need to stick with him.
Head should have been on notice, averaging barely 30 as a Test bat for 2 years is just not good enough.
Green is a trickier one, honestly don't know what do. Unlike Marnus and Khawaja I doubt whoever you would replace Green with is going to be much better long or short term. But as it stands he's barely good enough to hold a spot, and that's when he bowls.
Of course the hard part is who comes in, because there's not a lot knocking the door down. Inglis has got to be given a proper run. I don't rate Konstas but obviously someone does so give him a run.
At this point change is important. We're better off with these guys than sticking with the likes of Marnus.
Khawaja is done but I can see why they feel they need to stick with him.
Head should have been on notice, averaging barely 30 as a Test bat for 2 years is just not good enough.
Green is a trickier one, honestly don't know what do. Unlike Marnus and Khawaja I doubt whoever you would replace Green with is going to be much better long or short term. But as it stands he's barely good enough to hold a spot, and that's when he bowls.
Of course the hard part is who comes in, because there's not a lot knocking the door down. Inglis has got to be given a proper run. I don't rate Konstas but obviously someone does so give him a run.
At this point change is important. We're better off with these guys than sticking with the likes of Marnus.
Burgey
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These ICC final losses are coming all too close together these days. The first was in 75, and there wasn't another til 96, then the 2010 T20 loss and now this, only 15 years after the last. It won't do. Not up to scratch.
Obviously the batting is the main issue, but They really need to bite the bullet and start rotating the quicks through different tests as well. I get the pride and sanctity of wanting to play all of them, but long terms it's going to be counter-productive.
Re the batting, Khawaja obviously is near the end, even on his own time table. If he misses out in the Windies and they want to make a change, Konstas is the obvious first cab (not that I'm sold on him overall), but as you know I'm a big Tim Ward fan. He had a good return to the Shield last season and if he gets a good start again this year he should be a chance.
Marnus imo has had enough chances now and continues to not only fail but worse, does so in the same way. I'd bat McSweeney three atm, Smith (pending injury) four and Head five. Slug and Green can fight it out for the six spot. Green's ceiling is high, but he isn't a top order test player yet, and I still feel like he's almost trying to prove himself every time he walks out to bat, instead of just playing. Inglis the obvious contender for any middle order spot given his efforts in SL and despite a moderate FC record overall.
Obviously the batting is the main issue, but They really need to bite the bullet and start rotating the quicks through different tests as well. I get the pride and sanctity of wanting to play all of them, but long terms it's going to be counter-productive.
Re the batting, Khawaja obviously is near the end, even on his own time table. If he misses out in the Windies and they want to make a change, Konstas is the obvious first cab (not that I'm sold on him overall), but as you know I'm a big Tim Ward fan. He had a good return to the Shield last season and if he gets a good start again this year he should be a chance.
Marnus imo has had enough chances now and continues to not only fail but worse, does so in the same way. I'd bat McSweeney three atm, Smith (pending injury) four and Head five. Slug and Green can fight it out for the six spot. Green's ceiling is high, but he isn't a top order test player yet, and I still feel like he's almost trying to prove himself every time he walks out to bat, instead of just playing. Inglis the obvious contender for any middle order spot given his efforts in SL and despite a moderate FC record overall.
Burgey
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IMO Green's biggest problem remains his inability to rotate the strike. He doesn't seem able to drop the ball into a gap and get a single when he first comes in, and it places huge pressure on him and whoever he's batting with. It's worse when it happens up the order.
the big bambino
Cricketer Of The Year
Yep there's not a lot of batting options. Would love to see Ward to come good. Inglis is a strange one. He's both close but far away. His spot is 5 or 6 imo and we seem to have better cover there.
cascade
U19 12th Man
Batting numbers since Warner retired. Nothing really surprising here - middle order has generally been fine except Mitch Marsh, Labuschagne has been particularly bad. If you exclude the Sri Lanka series from this list, Head has been the top run scorer and Khawaja's average drops down to 23.16.
They probably can't drop both Labuschagne and Khawaja immediately with Smith now injured and Green proving he shouldn't be playing in the top order. But they also can't be thinking Khawaja can stay until the Ashes.
I'm happy with backing Konstas. He's flawed, but he showed a lot of improvement after the U19 World Cup & I think his confidence is valuable. Either Patterson or Tim Ward would be my picks to bring into the team at the moment. I'm less convinced on McSweeney after watching him through the back half of the Shield.
They surely need to find a way for Inglis to play in WI. Otherwise he's just spending too much time on the bench or playing white ball cricket. Webster hasn't done anything wrong but maybe swapping him out for Inglis in at least one game is the best thing to do.
I would also like to see them rotate in some of the younger quicks but I never know who is actually fit enough to play so no real thoughts on that.
Spark
Global Moderator
I think McSweeney was hit pretty hard mentally by being dropped, it seems to have seriously damaged his confidence and that's flowed into his batting.
Inglis basically has to play IMO, but where? Green really should be batting 4 if Smith is out, but Ingis at 3 just feels... weird.
Inglis basically has to play IMO, but where? Green really should be batting 4 if Smith is out, but Ingis at 3 just feels... weird.
CricAddict
International Coach
I know you are humblebragging, but there are 4 icc tourneys now to just 1 between 75 and 96. So the difference in count of ICC tourneys will be quite similar or even higher in these 14 and 15 years compared to those 21 years.
Starfighter
Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Feels like we're now in the position England spent a lot of the mid-late 00s in. Most of the potential replacement batsmen are best suited to bating 5 or 6.
cascade
U19 12th Man
Yeah I'd say the experience of not only getting dropped after a ridiculously tough assignment, but also then having to see Konstas play the way he did & become a huge sensation would have messed anyone up. I'd rather see him left to keep captaining Aus A games for a little while & hopefully he builds his confidence back up. He's still a good player I'd like to see back in the team eventually.