changes for boxing day test.

[ManWithNoName]

Official. Khawaja in for SMarsh.

That's a bloody harsh Xmas for SMarsh.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Not the first time it has happened to him though. Still 182 against the Windies isn't exactly something to write home about. Neither is Burns hundred on concrete, same with Khawaja. I'm yet to be convinced any 3 have the ability to be a mainstay in the Australian line up, least convincing is Burns.

 

[Bradesmaen]

He's come from nowhere that's for sure. Under the circumstances he's performed at the right time with Johnson retiring and Starc being injured. And now NCN being out for the summer.

So what about all the other deserving bowlers who are still performing and have been putting up these numbers for more than one innings?

 

[HBF]

So what about all the other deserving bowlers who are still performing and have been putting up these numbers for more than one innings?

I completely agree. Boland has been very lucky indeed.

 

[Cleavy]

having Boland in the squad might be handy for his development, showing what he needs to do to make it to the next level

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Correct call. Kept Burns who may have a future in the team and punted the mental midget before he could downhill ski his way into a Watson-esque amount of time in the team.

 

[G Mus]

Joe Burns lucky he gets carried by Warner

 

[Bumpswithagrin]

S Marsh very unlucky.

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

That's rough.

 

[DaRick]

Shaun Marsh a bit stiff, but obviously the selectors wish to keep Burns and Warner together as an opening combination for as long as possible and solidify Khawaja as a long-term #3, given our problems in that area for so long.

 

[Bradesmaen]

having Boland in the squad might be handy for his development, showing what he needs to do to make it to the next level

So why isn't everyone called into the squad? You know what he needs to do to make it to the next level? take more wickets at a consistent level, without taking 11 overs to get one. "Strike" bowlers don't have S/R's of 66.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That's rough.

Hardly. He was in for an injured player. That player comes back.

 

[bootsmalicious]

I reckon they've dropped the wrong marsh

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Hardly. He was in for an injured player. That player comes back.

He also made 182.

His brother has been less than impressive, but seeing as they have a hard on for an all rounder, he gets to stay.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Marsh is unlucky. Looks like he used up all his luck on previous meeting at the selection table.

 

[Super Hans]

Great news, would have been a joke if they dropped Burns.

 

[JUBJUB]

There really is a Santa.I told the jolly fat fella what I wanted and he delivered it.
Actually half delivered,I told him I wanted both Marsh's gone.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

There really is a Santa.I told the jolly fat fella what I wanted and he delivered it.
Actually half delivered,I told him I wanted both Marsh's gone.

True but at least one of them is gone.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He also made 182.

His brother has been less than impressive, but seeing as they have a hard on for an all rounder, he gets to stay.

Against that Windies attack..it is amazing if you don't score some runs. Not a fan of S.Marsh, and it would have been a horrible call if we dropped Burns for him

 

[TennisPlayerAndy]

Against that Windies attack..it is amazing if you don't score some runs. Not a fan of S.Marsh, and it would have been a horrible call if we dropped Burns for him

Steve Smith. 10.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

I don't get how people bleat that Marsh downhill skied this summer and Burns didn't. Marsh's 49 in Adelaide was harder than anything Burns has managed to do.

Chin up Shaun.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Steve Smith. 10.

He is allowed a failure, and it's a good thing. We need him against NZ not against these plodders

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I don't get how people bleat that Marsh downhill skied this summer and Burns didn't. Marsh's 49 in Adelaide was harder than anything Burns has managed to do.

Chin up Shaun.

Sure, but you don't replace an opener with a middle order bat- not that I think Burns is a test opener. You sure as anything don't move our best number 3 to fit in S.Marsh. If you want to drop Burns, you pick another opener, simple.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Sure, but you don't replace an opener with a middle order bat- not that I think Burns is a test opener. You sure as anything don't move our best number 3 to fit in S.Marsh. If you want to drop Burns, you pick another opener, simple.

I've always thought Khawaja would be a good opener - certainly Burns hasn't shown me anything to suggest he'll be better there long term.

 

[Snell1234]

Crazy selection. Blind Freddie can see the flaws in Burns' game and how he will struggle on anything other than a flat pitch. He won't make a run in New Zealand and he will be destroyed by the South Africans later in the year. Marsh's issues have been mental as opposed to technique. He looks to have finally sorted out the mental issues and found some consistency and now he is dropped.

As Mark Taylor said in the commentary, he has actually been treated harshly since coming back into the team last year. He was dropped unfairly for the Ashes (despite solid performances in Australia and the West Indies), brought back for one test and then dropped again, and then somehow Burns is ahead of him in the pecking order for the Australian summer which is used as the excuse for dropping him again.

If we wanted to look at pecking orders, Marsh should have been ahead of Burns for the Gabba test.

Anyway, Burns won't survive past the New Zealand tour (and if by some miracle he does, he won't survive the South Africans) so Marsh should have a permanent spot by next summer.