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Changes for the 3rd Test

  • Thread starter Thread starter Slax
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Seems a taboo topic but I just don't see Steve Smith taking them forward as captain. When your team is getting routinely humiliated like this, something is seriously amiss more than just the talent level in the side. Not much about Smith says leadership material to me.

It won't happen but I'd almost be inclined to bring in Bailey as a stop gap senior leader to try and settle the ship. Averaging 65 over his last four knocks.

Might be deemed reactionary but a major shake up is required. These gutless performances can't continue.

I can't take that one seriously. He is the best player in the team as far as I'm concerned. The other players around him lack the technique and the proper mental approach because they've been coached and trained wrong. Bit too harsh to blame Smith for their failings. You can't inspire a team to victory if they can't bat properly to start with.
 

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Here's the realistic side:

Warner
Burns (I assume S. Marsh won't be fit otherwise he'd replace him)
Khawaja
Smith
Ferguson
Handscomb
Nevill
Starc
Mennie/Siddle
Hazlewood
Lyon

O'Keefe is on thin ice with CA, he's not getting a call up until India. Not to mention Lyon is low on confidence and we need to fix that before India, not make it worse and go in with a first choice spinner low on experience in O'Keefe.

Nevill stays, we aren't going into the first test in India with Wade keeping. Cross the bridge next summer if Nevill continues to fail (that 60 odd should earn him a couple but of Tests anyway).

We can't really judge the bowlers because of the way we've batted anyway. I can't remember the last time they've been ble to bowl with confidence against quality opposition on a good wicket so let's not shake that up while our attack is at an acceptable level.

Batsman wise, there's no sense in Bancroft coming in now. He's in poor form and right how we have competent openers in Warner and S. Marsh. If you slot Bancroft in then what happens against Pakistan? You can't drop Ferguson/Handscomb or whoever after a couple of tests as it's just silly and screams of panic. Let Burns stay and if he makes a good score he can be considered in the middle order again further down the line.

I'm not entirely sold on Handscomb as he's frustrating when it comes to making big scores. The other options just aren't ready though so it's time to give him a chance. The selectors need to look for who is fighting it out and really make it clear the value they place on innings from the likes of Khawaja in the second innings of the last two tests. Too often do we just throw in the towel completely because the game is already lost when these second innings, despite the match state are absolutely crucial to our development. Nevill and O'Keefe really impressed me with their partnership in Sri Lanka and it's why I'll give Nevill the benefit of the doubt for now.
 
I can't take that one seriously. He is the best player in the team as far as I'm concerned. The other players around him lack the technique and the proper mental approach because they've been coached and trained wrong. Bit too harsh to blame Smith for their failings. You can't inspire a team to victory if they can't bat properly to start with.
I'm not heaping the blame on him entirely but Christ, the talent level isn't this bad. Do they look like a team playing with purpose to you?
 
Understood, but that's why we have averages.

Say someone has two dog shit seasons and then 2 really good ones, and averages 35 as a FC batsman.

Where's the evidence that the 2 good seasons weren't the outliers? there is none. which is why more stock is usually placed in overall records rather than periodic ones.

Chances are if the player is good enough, they will do enough in their good years to cancel out the effect of the bad ones.

But what if after them two years he's changed the way he bats because of new coaching etc. he is now a completely different bat than he use to be before with a more clear mindframe and maturity.

Too many factors to consider to accept what they did to start their careers is relevant.

Got to look at it from a cricket pov, not a statistical pov
 
O'Keefe is on thin ice with CA, he's not getting a call up until India. Not to mention Lyon is low on confidence and we need to fix that before India, not make it worse and go in with a first choice spinner low on experience in O'Keefe.

Nevill stays, we aren't going into the first test in India with Wade keeping. Cross the bridge next summer if Nevill continues to fail (that 60 odd should earn him a couple but of Tests anyway).

Why?
 
1. Warner
2. Bancroft
3. Khawaja
4. Smith*
5. Ferguson
6. Handscomb
7. Wade+
8. O'Keefe
9. Starc
10. Hazlewood
11. Bird
I like the side, except I can't see how Bancroft earns a spot. Only got past 50 3 times last season and has a top score of 22 this year.

I think Wade needs to come in. Yes his keeping is behind Neville's but we a desperate for someone like him in the middle order.
 

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Cameron White is the obvious choice but given Ferguson and Voges screw ups, they will be pressured to go for youth, although White could replace Voges and then they are just picking on form and not be seen as abandoning their selection policies.

But the reality is they will probably only make 1 change either a fit Marsh coming in or swapping out a pace bowler because that's all they ever do!
 
I can't understand the point of having Nevill in. He was deplorable in Sri Lanka with the bat. He can't hit out if we by some miracle needed quick runs, he sure can't steady the ship after a collapse. People are advocating for his continued inclusion with a known weak middle order. It's mind boggling. Wade must come in for the rest of the summer.

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I like the side, except I can't see how Bancroft earns a spot. Only got past 50 3 times last season and has a top score of 22 this year.

I think Wade needs to come in. Yes his keeping is behind Neville's but we a desperate for someone like him in the middle order.

We need Wade just so there is someone to form partnerships with in the middle order.

I'm not all that happy with Bancroft at the moment but the only other option would be to push Khawaja up to open until Shaun Marsh is back and then play someone in the middle order.

Head or Patterson I guess
 
If Maxwell is the answer, then we are asking some bloody silly questions.

One day and T20 certainly, but he is completely unsuited to Test cricket.
 

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If Maxwell is the answer, then we are asking some bloody silly questions.

One day and T20 certainly, but he is completely unsuited to Test cricket.
Maxwell is better than Ferguson and Voges. Add in his right arm spin and fielding he's in the mix to be a great addition.

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Warner
S. Marsh
Khawaja
Smith
Maxwell
White
M. Marsh
Wade
Starc
Hazlewood
Sayers

Bats deep, Maxwell to provide the spinning option.
Why would Marsh bat ahead of Wade when Wade is a better bat?
 
If Maxwell is the answer, then we are asking some bloody silly questions.

One day and T20 certainly, but he is completely unsuited to Test cricket.
I don't have him in my side, but his form suggests he is more than capable in the longer form. Averages 56 last year and made a very patient 80 odd in his only innings last year. The selectors would definitely be havinf a look at him.
 
If Maxwell is the answer, then we are asking some bloody silly questions.

One day and T20 certainly, but he is completely unsuited to Test cricket.

How do we know Maxwell is not suited to Test cricket with the limited test matches he has played which is 3.Played all in India,Sri Lanka region on spin friendly wickets where all our batsman struggled and was mainly picked as a spin bowler.Also never played a test match in Australia.
 
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