Australian Frank Worrel Trophy & Ashes squad - 2015

[eth-dog]

Maxwell is an absolute deadeye on the stumps, has a rocket arm and very, very safe hands. I would say he is one of the best fielders in the world ATM.

Yes, but he's also a terrible slipper, an accusation you can't level at Smith or Warner, which sets them ahead.

 

[Ducky Tie]

Smith and Maxwell are both ahead of Warner in the field for mine. All three have outstanding hands although Smith is the only to have done regular slip work which puts him slightly ahead for mine. Warner's ground fielding from a run saving perspective can be fairly inconsistent and he also hits far less than the other two.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He is 26. If he had a chance to adapt at test level for more than 1 series he would step up.

Maybe he should stop trying reverse sweeps when we are saving a test match then...

 

[Moist Biscuit]

Maybe he should stop trying reverse sweeps when we are saving a test match then...

Basically this. I like Maxy but he needs to have a better temperament in the longer forms.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Basically this. I like Maxy but he needs to have a better temperament in the longer forms.

I won't say he will never make it, believe me. The talent is there..similarly I get beyond frustrated with Nic Maddinson domestically. They need to realise that bowlers don't care if they get hit for 4 sixes if they get them out. There is a time and a place for these shots...saving a test match was not one of them

 

[Sweet Jesus]

I won't say he will never make it, believe me. The talent is there..similarly I get beyond frustrated with Nic Maddinson domestically.

Needs to take a leaf out of Jordan Silk's book.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Whats with the Mitch Marsh fap sesh? Has only taken 1 wicket as an All Rounder in test cricket. Hardly been impressive with the rock.

I'd rather not play an all-rounder when we don't have one that should bat top six, but at least one will be picked. In that case I would back Marsh to score more runs more often than Watson. I don't think either should get a cap, but one will.

 

[The_Reaper]

To be fair, with Harris and Johnson in our best XI, it's pretty easy to see why they want a fifth bowling option.

 

[Scotland]

Whats with the Mitch Marsh fap sesh? Has only taken 1 wicket as an All Rounder in test cricket. Hardly been impressive with the rock.

He's only bowled 61 overs in 7 innings. Bit early to be making any calls one way or the other on his bowling.

Has batted pretty well, though. Looked comfortable in the UAE when we were struggling which was a huge positive.

You can easily make the argument that he didn't earn his spot, but I'm happy to persist with him on what he's shown to date.

 

[Badesumofu]

I looked up the bowling stats of Faulkner, Watson and Marsh since Faulkner played his Test. Here they are:

Faulkner: 1 Test - 6 wickets @ 16 (against England, in England).
Watson: 11 Tests - 10 wickets @ 43
Marsh: 4 Tests - 1 wicket @ 164

Smith has 6 wickets @ 64 from 15 Tests (bowled in 16 innings) in that time.

However the numbers with the bat for the same period tell a different story and actually more than justify Watson's spot in the side. I'll link to them on Statsguru because they make interesting reading when you consider the full picture:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...al1=span;team=2;template=results;type=batting

Here is the XI I would pick for the first Test against WI:

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Voges
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Ahmed possibly to sneak in if it is a really slow turner.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Marsh bowled well on very unresponsive tracks in the UAE, and also had Khan plumb LBW which we didn't review. I wouldn't be using his current bowling stats against him.

 

[The_Reaper]

Yeah. Marsh has only bowled in those UAE tracks and in Adelaide.

It's pretty harsh to judge him on his test stats so far.

Hazlewood is in the same boat because of how flat Melbourne and Sydney were

 

[Bradesmaen]

Mitch Marsh is a better test bowler than Mitch Starc and that's saying something.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I looked up the bowling stats of Faulkner, Watson and Marsh since Faulkner played his Test. Here they are:

Faulkner: 1 Test - 6 wickets @ 16 (against England, in England).
Watson: 11 Tests - 10 wickets @ 43
Marsh: 4 Tests - 1 wicket @ 164

Smith has 6 wickets @ 64 from 15 Tests (bowled in 16 innings) in that time.

However the numbers with the bat for the same period tell a different story and actually more than justify Watson's spot in the side. I'll link to them on Statsguru because they make interesting reading when you consider the full picture:

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/en...al1=span;team=2;template=results;type=batting

Here is the XI I would pick for the first Test against WI:

Warner
Rogers
Smith
Voges
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Ahmed possibly to sneak in if it is a really slow turner.

Watson's scores in test cricket have come with the team so far behind or so far in front it makes bugger all difference.

 

[PaddyO]

Good to see domestic form being rewarded. I don't think Voges or Ahmed will play a test on either tour (although I'd have Voges in at 5) unless injuries strike, but it's a nice nod all the same.

I think they'll go;

Warner
Rogers
S.Marsh
Smith
Clarke
Watson
Haddin
Johnson
Starc (with Harris to replace him for the Ashes)
Hazlewood
Lyon

I'd move Smith to 3 and slot Voges in at 5. Maybe Mitch Marsh for Watson.

Starc should play both Windies tests and then county cricket (backup Ashes tourist). He is far too good to not make it as a test bowler - and a perfect replacement for Johnson. 150km with ease, late swing, young. ******* hell I hope he makes it...

I don't see the point of taking Voges if they don't intend to play him. Might as well take Burns or someone young.
I think Voges is playing.

 

[PaddyO]

Mitch Marsh is a better test bowler than Mitch Starc and that's saying something.

Pfft.

According to what? Statsguru?

Do a poll of which bowler international batsmen would least like to face.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Pfft.

According to what? Statsguru?

Do a poll of which bowler international batsmen would least like to face.

Starc can't swing a Red Ball. He has one delivery in ODI's.. a good one, but it was the same one that got him 90% of his wickets

 

[PaddyO]

Starc can't swing a Red Ball. He has one delivery in ODI's.. a good one, but it was the same one that got him 90% of his wickets

Took 5 wickets in the last test he played.

Bowled really well...

 

[Bradesmaen]

Took 5 wickets in the last test he played.

Bowled really well...

Like usual he took the tail enders. He rarely threatens the top order.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Like usual he took the tail enders. He rarely threatens the top order.

Out of the 5 wickets he took for the match, only 1 was a tailender, and that was Ashwin who is good with the bat (and well set, on 50 at the time).

 

[Bradesmaen]

Out of the 5 wickets he took for the match, only 1 was a tailender, and that was Ashwin who is good with the bat (and well set, on 50 at the time).

Was thinking of other matches. I wasn't actually in the country for that one. He generally doesn't threaten the top order though because he is a one trick pony. That is why he has never been a good NSW bowler either. However he has a golden ticket (prior to becoming an ODI star) because he's tall, left arm and a former Aus U19 player.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Was thinking of other matches. I wasn't actually in the country for that one. He generally doesn't threaten the top order though because he is a one trick pony. That is why he has never been a good NSW bowler either. However he has a golden ticket (prior to becoming an ODI star) because he's tall, left arm and a former Aus U19 player.

I haven't thought much of his Test work so far, but if you didn't see the match, I would tell you that it was easily the best he has bowled in the whites for Australia. Hopefully it is a sign of things to come.

 

[The Passenger]

The Sydney test was the most encouraging performance Starc has put in at that level and by quite some distance. Far better than the two 5 innings haul he has taken prior.

Anyone with any cricketing knowledge can see why they persist with him. The talent is right off the top shelf, but at some point performances need to start matching that.

 

[Hellgood]

Undoubtedly Starc has been given a very soft ride to the top with selection through the various levels of senior cricket. But it's time to get over that. Myself included. He's conclusively proven the establishments faith in him to be right through superb performances in the one day arena and looks to be on the right track with tests.

 

[The_Reaper]

His WACA fivefer against the Saffers was pretty ordinary.

I mean he was better than Hastings but it wasn't good bowling.

At Sydney he was pretty promising.