Fourth Test team

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah that's a fair call actually, Starc or even Pattinson could be that bowling all rounder. I see a bowling all rounder averaging over 30 with the bat and under 30 with the ball which they would all be capable of. I think a batting all rounder should be averaging about 30 or so with the ball and over 40 with the bat (I thought M Marsh would be capable of that but he can't get near that I don't reckon).

Pattinson would but I've given up on the bloke playing tests, his body just won't cut it unfortunately. It's sad because I really want him in the side. Don't think Starc will ever be more than a hitter with the bat, that's fine, but a bowling A/R needs to be able to defend. We really missed Cummins' batting in the UAE.

These AR'S that average 40 with the bat and 30 with the ball are so rare. We are realising how lucky we were to even have a Watson type. Have some hope for Widermth and Cam Green though.

 

[full on the fence]

bring in Doran? Silk?

SILK Has he ever made runs

 

[corbies]

SILK Has he ever made runs

LPNo1 says he just needs a season or two.

 

[full on the fence]

LPNo1 says he just needs a season or two.

LPNo1...Whats this mean ??

 

[eth-dog]

LPNo1...Whats this mean ??

One of the dumbest posters you'll ever encounter.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Have to pull you up on the bowling AR thing if you don't mind. Personally, Pat Cummins will develop into this. His batting is very good for a number 8. Have no problem with Head being the bowling AR in the top 6.

lol

 

[full on the fence]

One of the dumbest posters you'll ever encounter.

 

[Kram]

bring in Doran? Silk?

I wonder what random state player he will get a massive boner over for the summer that he's never seen bat before.

And then send them into lengthy form slump.

 

[West Coasters]

Re the All Rounder talk.

Starc and Cummins are not, nor I doubt will ever be, true all rounders. You can call them bowling all rounders if you wish but to me they are bowlers that can bat. A bit better than the likes of Shane Warne, not quite as good as Wazim Akram etc. Hazelwood and Lyon of course are nowhere near all rounders (even bowling all rounders) but nor are they bunnys with the bat so our tail is quite strong at full strength.

Re a batting all rounder, the average 40+ with the bat and under 30 with the ball type guy, are extremely difficult to find. We are having difficulty finding specialist batsmen that average over 40, let alone guys that can also average under 30 with the bat. In Australia, it is rare for a 5th Bowler in Australian team to bowl more than a few overs per innings of a test match so picking an all rounder for the sake of having that 5th bowling option is unnecessary imo. If someone as good as say Stokes (cricket talent wise, ignore his off field antics for the sake of the point) came along then by all means but picking M Marsh when he is out of form or a similar player that isn’t one of the best 6 batsmen in the country but is picked because he can bowl is dumb. Yes there is a risk that if one of your front line bowlers break down, you might want that extra option so you don’t overbowl your frontliners but that is similar to (not exact I grant you because bowlers are more likely to get injured that wicketkeepers but the point still stands) picking a guy who isn’t in the best 6 bats in the country but because he can wicketkeep (eg handscombe) he gets picked ahead of a superior batsman.

So, I think and I think 99% of Bigfooty agree, the selectors need to pick the best 6 batsmen, whether they can bowl or not, a wicketkeeper and your best 4 bowlers (3 pacemen and a wicketkeeper) whether they can bat or not. There is quite a lot of time/matches to go before that first test but below is my team as of today. This can and probably will change due to form, injuries etc.

1. Renshaw. Out of form at the moment but imo will be our best opener long term (along with Bancroft, obviously who isn’t available). If he gets a score or 2 in the shield before the first test, he should definitely be in. If not and is still out of form then not selected and the likes of Harris, Doolan etc come into contention.

2. Finch. I didn’t think I would ever pout this guy as a test opener but he was our most consistent batsmen in the UAE so on form deserves this spot.

3. Khawaja. Fitness the only question mark here. If fit, he is the definite number 3. If not fit, see below.

4. S Marsh. Yes struggled in the UAE tests but has come back and scored well in the Sheffield Shield.

5. Head. Was ok (not great, only ok) in the UAE tests but I think he is a long term middle order player. Has been consistent, if not spectacular in the shield for a few years now and is the right age to be experienced but also a long term member of the side.

6. Wade (and now I duck). Close to, if not the most consistent Batsman in the Shield the last couple of years. Averaging over 100 this year (with some not outs to bring that up), Over 70 last season. Overall averaging 39 in first class cricket. I think on form, he deserves this spot.

-If Khawaja is not fit, S Marsh and Head move up one and guys like Doolan, Labuschagne, M Marsh if he finds form in the shield, Cooper, Handscome etc come into contention to bat at 5. Wade should stay at 6 regardless.

7-11. If fit pick themselves. Paine, Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Hazelwood.

I will repeat. By no means should the above be locked in but subject to change due to Sheffield Shield etc form.

 

[Kram]

We’ll be talking about picking Shaun Marsh because we’re “playing to win” this time next year too.

And it will be just as stupid.

He made a fool of you last summer, get over it.

 

[Messenger]

He made a fool of you last summer, get over it.

I wanted to see him bat against Pakistan but he only faced 43 balls. In four innings.

 

[Van_Dyke]

I wonder what random state player he will get a massive boner over for the summer that he's never seen bat before.

And then send them into lengthy form slump.

I’m scared he’ll become a Phillipe fan

 

[corbies]

I wonder what random state player he will get a massive boner over for the summer that he's never seen bat before.

And then send them into lengthy form slump.

Wildermuth.

 

[Kram]

Wasn't Kurtis Patterson one of his loves, what happened to him?

 

[eth-dog]

Wasn't Kurtis Patterson one of his loves, what happened to him?

Lot's of 50's, can't convert.

 

[Big Bryza]

We really should have no limited overs teams playing while the first few shield games are on. Need to get a real good reflection of where everyone is at.

Yeah it's a disgrace. But, it's all about that cash money.

 

[crows dude]

Ideally we have a batting all rounder who can get picked in the top 6 and a bowling all rounder who can genuinely be picked as just a bowler, we’re a million miles from either though.

James Pattinson and Starc were on the way to being that. Stracs form with the bat dropped and Pato never seen again

 

[Gough]

James Pattinson and Starc were on the way to being that. Stracs form with the bat dropped and Pato never seen again

Starc is so frustrating to watch bat. We all now what he's capable of but he can never seem to stop himself playing ridiculous slogs that inevitably cost him his wicket.

 

[Kram]

Starc is so frustrating to watch bat. We all now what he's capable of but he can never seem to stop himself playing ridiculous slogs that inevitably cost him his wicket.

Let's be honest slogging is also how he's probably scored half his runs.

 

[Ishikawa]

Let's be honest slogging is also how he's probably scored half his runs.

Starc, much like his predecessor Johnson (or contemporaries who've flirted with the idea of additional batting responsibilities in Broad and Southee) with the bat I think is best left with as little responsibility or expectation as possible. Let them come out and smite a few in an uncomplicated fashion without burden.

 

[Torz]

Starc, much like his predecessor Johnson (or contemporaries who've flirted with the idea of additional batting responsibilities in Broad and Southee) with the bat I think is best left with as little responsibility or expectation as possible. Let them come out and smite a few in an uncomplicated fashion without burden.

I think Johnson came out and said that whenever he batted at 7, he started to think he had to bat like a batsman, which just made him tentative and get out.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I think Johnson came out and said that whenever he batted at 7, he started to think he had to bat like a batsman, which just made him tentative and get out.

Trouble with Johnson is that he could look every inch a batsman. He could play off the back foot and front foot with equal facility. It must have frustrated his coaches no end.

 

[bird_man]

lol

Not that funny. I'd prefer we have a guy that can hold onto a top 6 spot and is just able to role the arm over to give the quicks a rest from time to time then to have the worst top 6 batsman in Australian history continue to be gifted games.

 

[bird_man]

He made a fool of you last summer, get over it.

The thing wirh Shaun is, he'll make a fool out of his knockers one series and then make even more of a fool out of his followers the next.

 

[Kram]

The thing wirh Shaun is, he'll make a fool out of his knockers one series and then make even more of a fool out of his followers the next.

He's far from perfect incredibly inconsistent but has still played many vital innings for Australia and is correctly in the side atm (especially weakened). Some people need to get over it, never seen such irrational hatred of a player.