Australian Test Selection Thread 2017 - 2018

[Starfighter]

Yeah. Does anyone here really rate Cartwright's bowling anyway?

 

[Tangles]

So would you reckon they might pick Cartwright in the allrounder role and only play three specialist quicks for the Ashes?

Cartwright at 6 or Agar for Lyon with 4 quicks is probably on the cards.

 

[TheJediBrah]

Cartwright at 6 or Agar for Lyon with 4 quicks is probably on the cards.

As much as getting rid of Lyon would be great, I would rather the former. With Agar + 4 quicks we'd probably end up with a middle order of Maxwell/Wade/Agar, which doesn't instil a great deal of confidence.

 

[stephen]

Seriously though Pattinson is incredible red hot form right now. 52 wickets @ 13.7 in 9 FC matches and 487 runs @ 43.

Bloke isn't knocking down the door, he's detonating the door with 195 tons of tnt.

 

[Red]

In that case Lyon plays over Cummins.

While the "Quartet" might have its marketing appeal, there'll come a time when the selectors and fans will greatly rue not selecting a specialist spinner. And before someone says "Yeh but Cummins would average 24 with the ball while Lyon averages 34", it has NOTHING to do with that.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

But picking Agar + Maxi is picking a specialist and a part timer who spins it the opposite way.

 

[Burgey]

But picking Lyon is picking a bloke with over 200 poles who's the best credentialed finger spinner in Australian conditions ever. It's a graveyard for ginger spinners. Always has been.

If you had a wrist spinner with decent domestic numbers then fine, because they do better here generally than finger spinners. But there isn't one. Look at the pitches - aside from the first session in Brisbane they're pretty much all belters. Four x 90mph bowlers on flat decks in dry conditions = a two day bowling machine session for international players. It's a recipe for a shambles.

Honestly, Warner, Renshaw, Uzzie, TPC, Footbrush, Cartwright would be my top six. If not Cartwright then Maxwell. Wade bats seven, Starc eight then Patto or Cunmins (I'd have Patto personally). Lyon and Haze round it out.

It really seems a bit of a no brainer to me. It's isn't the 80s and we aren't the West Indies.

 

[Tangles]

ginger spinners

heh.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

What I will say for Lyon is his most decent figures against a top side at home were last Ashes. The attack then was unparalleled in its potency compared to any other recent attack. The way the quicks are lining up this summer could be similar.

However, the way spinning alleounders are going in world cricket, I'd be betting that's what Agar is being groomed for. I personally like his bowling so I'm ok with it. I can understand other people's apprehension though.

 

[Red]

But picking Lyon is picking a bloke with over 200 poles who's the best credentialed finger spinner in Australian conditions ever. It's a graveyard for ginger spinners. Always has been.

If you had a wrist spinner with decent domestic numbers then fine, because they do better here generally than finger spinners. But there isn't one. Look at the pitches - aside from the first session in Brisbane they're pretty much all belters. Four x 90mph bowlers on flat decks in dry conditions = a two day bowling machine session for international players. It's a recipe for a shambles.

Honestly, Warner, Renshaw, Uzzie, TPC, Footbrush, Cartwright would be my top six. If not Cartwright then Maxwell. Wade bats seven, Starc eight then Patto or Cunmins (I'd have Patto personally). Lyon and Haze round it out.

It really seems a bit of a no brainer to me. It's isn't the 80s and we aren't the West Indies.

Spot on IMO. I'd have Patto too.

 

[Gob]

Pattinson at 7

 

[Red]

Pattinson at 7

Nup. 8 or 9.

 

[The Battlers Prince]

At the moment 8 or 9, but Cummins, Patto or Starc could one day be good enough for 7.

 

[Burgey]

Tbh it would be better if MMarsh's bowling went up a notch (he's a pretty good test bowler now) and he batted seven or eight, which is where he really belongs based on his performances so far. Won't happen, but one can always hope.

 

[Red]

What I will say for Lyon is his most decent figures against a top side at home were last Ashes. The attack then was unparalleled in its potency compared to any other recent attack. The way the quicks are lining up this summer could be similar.

However, the way spinning alleounders are going in world cricket, I'd be betting that's what Agar is being groomed for. I personally like his bowling so I'm ok with it. I can understand other people's apprehension though.

You'd just like to see him take bulk wickets for a season in the Shield.

Potential is there but he needs to hone it.

 

[social]

Ideally, Agar would debut in about 4 years time

You know, when he's actually good enough and has a number of really solid shield seasons behind him

I'm old fashioned in that way

 

[Gob]

Nup. 8 or 9.

I want the quartet to happen with out Lyon compensating for that. I mean Mitch Marsh batted at six for how many tests exactly? James Pattinson can't be much worse than that. He seems a good bataman these days technically

 

[honestbharani]

Yeah. Pattinson Cummins Starc between them can cover for whatever additional batting ability Mitch Marsh or Maxwell bring to the table at 6 and Wade is not exactly the worst batsman around anyways. So you maybe onto something here.

 

[morgieb]

I'd be OK with Agar if we had a de Kock/Bairstow rather than Wade. All of Pattinson, Starc and Cummins can handle #8 IMO.

 

[Burgey]

All this talk about Australia carrying Wade at six and bowlers from there down are acting like last year's Hobart test never happened. Australia's batting isn't strong enough to carry 5 batsmen with Wade at six.

We are always just a TPC dismissal away from a lolapse. Fmd if it wasn't for him impersonating Bradman on the last tour of India we'd have been skittled for sub 200 scores in virtually every innings.