Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

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The Passenger

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First Test XI:

Batsmen - Same top 7 as last test. Wade will want to score runs straight up or will find himself under a bit of pressure. Burns may find himself in the firing line if he really struggles or Maddinson hits the ground running in the shield and the selectors are willing play him as an opener - he has opened plenty over the years, including a bit in the last two seasons so there is no reason that isn't a viable option.

Bowlers - Haze, Cummins and Lyon with the only debate around Starc v Pattinson. I suspect the quick bowlers will probably continue rotating.

To be honest, I think it will be a pretty straight forward selection debate for the first test.

It's nice to see some good batting options outside the team for what feels like the first time in an eternity. There's a relatively high level of confidence either of Green, Maddinson or Patterson could perform if called upon during the summer. Certainly in comparison to the previous back up batsmen.

Let's top 6 averages 40 and he averages 37 - close enough when you consider his skillset.

I'd be less inclined to be that generous with the top 4 bowlers - Test cricket is about 20 wickets - you need your best 4 all the time.
Yep - you can skimp a bit on your #6 batsmen if he can provide a genuine fifth bowling option. But don't skimp on your bowlers to bring in a #8 batsmen.
 

DaRick

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First Test XI:

Batsmen - Same top 7 as last test. Wade will want to score runs straight up or will find himself under a bit of pressure. Burns may find himself in the firing line if he really struggles or Maddinson hits the ground running in the shield and the selectors are willing play him as an opener - he has opened plenty over the years, including a bit in the last two seasons so there is no reason that isn't a viable option.

Bowlers - Haze, Cummins and Lyon with the only debate around Starc v Pattinson. I suspect the quick bowlers will probably continue rotating.

To be honest, I think it will be a pretty straight forward selection debate for the first test.

It's nice to see some good batting options outside the team for what feels like the first time in an eternity. There's a relatively high level of confidence either of Green, Maddinson or Patterson could perform if called upon during the summer. Certainly in comparison to the previous back up batsmen.


Yep - you can skimp a bit on your #6 batsmen if he can provide a genuine fifth bowling option. But don't skimp on your bowlers to bring in a #8 batsmen.

It's a D/N test so he'd most certainly be picked if fit.
 

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It would be to assess his bowling given he probably hasn't bowled in half of those.

And probably only the last half dozen or so he has played as a specialist bat.

I can see why CA would be cautious - but geez - one of the most exciting packages in a long time.

Also - it may come ot pass that he is never a top 6 bat - however he doesn't really need to be - he just needs to be reasonably close.

Let's top 6 averages 40 and he averages 37 - close enough when you consider his skillset.

I'd be less inclined to be that generous with the top 4 bowlers - Test cricket is about 20 wickets - you need your best 4 all the time.

he still has 2 5fa's regardless.

we either gotta stop looking for an elusive all rounder or back this one in some point soon.

we dont have many bats on the first class scene that bat @ 40+, so why not.

even if he was to fall short of averaging 40, we aint losing anything if he plays at 6. as the last 15 years we've tried allsorts there from watto, m.marsh, cartwright, north, mcdonald, ferguson, maddinson ,wade there.
 

The Passenger

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It's a D/N test so he'd most certainly be picked if fit.
Good call. Didn't realise. D/N test might even push Pattinson in front of Hazlewood, although the latter has definitely done nothing wrong in the D/N tests he has played.
 
Good call. Didn't realise. D/N test might even push Pattinson in front of Hazlewood, although the latter has definitely done nothing wrong in the D/N tests he has played.
Hazlewood gets picked every day of the week ahead of Pattinson for me, D/N or not.
 

The Passenger

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Hazlewood gets picked every day of the week ahead of Pattinson for me, D/N or not.
Yeah I would have Haze in front of Pattinson as a general rule, but for mine there are a probably a handful instances where I would at least consider Pattinson first if it was between two - a D/N test with the ball expected to swing around being one of them. I probably still lean Haze and from a selectors POV, I suspect you are right and Haze will get first crack and Patto will need to bide his time for a bit.

Great to see them all of our quick's up and about over the last 18 months. Good problem to have.
 

Spitting_Cobra

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Most settled line-up in recent years. Guys knocking the door down with big runs is great to see. Not expecting Green to bowl much but ten overs an innings shouldn't be too drastic an ask. Who gets the opening spot? Burns probably the front-runner after his last home series against Sri Lanka, but we're not really finding a solution if they don't like him overseas.
 

omarlittle1

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he still has 2 5fa's regardless.

we either gotta stop looking for an elusive all rounder or back this one in some point soon.

we dont have many bats on the first class scene that bat @ 40+, so why not.

even if he was to fall short of averaging 40, we aint losing anything if he plays at 6. as the last 15 years we've tried allsorts there from watto, m.marsh, cartwright, north, mcdonald, ferguson, maddinson ,wade there.
Ben Stokes averages 37 with the bat and 31.5 with the ball at Test level and 35 (bat)/29.42 (ball) at First class level and many consider him the best all rounder in the world. Plus he bats in top 5.

If Green can average that he'll be on par with the best all rounder in the world. That would be a huge win for us, plus; I think he has the potential to be even better than that. Let's hope he continues his development and his body holds up.
 
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Most settled line-up in recent years. Guys knocking the door down with big runs is great to see. Not expecting Green to bowl much but ten overs an innings shouldn't be too drastic an ask. Who gets the opening spot? Burns probably the front-runner after his last home series against Sri Lanka, but we're not really finding a solution if they don't like him overseas.

Sri Lanka was 2 years ago, back when Kurtis Paterson was being hailed as the next Don Bradman

Last summer was NZ and Pakistan where Burns made one good innings, commentators claimed Australia’s opening woes over and he never made another run all summer long!
 
Greg Chappell getting behind Green; I still think the incumbent has to fail before being given the boot.

Wade didn't set the world on fire last home summer. To be fair, he didn't get a whole heap of opportunities because the top order was dominant, but he didn't look very comfortable against Wagner (bit like Hodge when he got dropped). If he makes a good score in the next two shield games he probably should start the Test series, but Green's making an irresistable case if he doesn't.
 

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Get him into the Australian set-up, he gets to see what it is like, they get to see what he is like.

Bit of an orange-boy thing, but can't be bad.
I think he misses one shield game but could be good experience
 

toml

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People keep touting Maddinson as an opener but is he really that? Since going to Vic he has opened in less than half of the matches he has played and when he was picked for Australia A earlier this year they didn't open with him either. He's a 5/6 at test level imo, probably where Burns should have kept batting in the test side following his first few tests batting there.

With Harris and Dean both in the Vic squad I doubt Maddinson opens for Victoria this season either.
 
People keep touting Maddinson as an opener but is he really that? Since going to Vic he has opened in less than half of the matches he has played and when he was picked for Australia A earlier this year he didn't open either. He's a 5/6 at test level imo, probably where Burns should have kept batting in the test side following his first few tests batting there.

With Harris and Dean both in the Vic squad I doubt Maddinson opens for Victoria this season either.
He's made runs as an opener, who would you say is next in line at this stage for that position?
 
Surely Dean to 3?
Nah, Dean's opening or nothing. If Maddinson opens it's because they either want to play Harper as the keeper with Gotch playing as a batsman or Jake Fraser-McGurk at 6.
I honestly have no idea at this stage
Hence the reasoning that Maddinson is probably next in line for the opening spot
 
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People keep touting Maddinson as an opener but is he really that? Since going to Vic he has opened in less than half of the matches he has played and when he was picked for Australia A earlier this year they didn't open with him either. He's a 5/6 at test level imo, probably where Burns should have kept batting in the test side following his first few tests batting there.

With Harris and Dean both in the Vic squad I doubt Maddinson opens for Victoria this season either.

'if' maddinson is in the frame for test selection, then he probably has to open for vics.

right here, right now , all things being equal positions 3-6 could be solid for a couple of years (other than injuries) with labs, smith, head, green (if he lives up to his hype).

burns hasn't quite nailed down his spot yet and who knows how long warner will go on for. he may give away one form of the game sometime soon.
 

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