Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[Voice of the G]

Except it actually was. Wade has never dropped that many catches in a series.

So how many catches did Paine drop?

 

[bh90210fan]

Qld have only played 3 matches, he's only had 5 and one of them was only for a handful of balls before Qld declared. 48, 8, 40, 168no, 10no from his 5 bats. Certainly not suggesting he should be in the side at this point(he needs to show at least another year of shield/county form), just that your comment of him "not been up to it" is an incredibly premature tag to be putting on a 24yr old that made a test hundred at 20 and 2 50's on his first tour only India. There is also not really anything to back your suggestion that Carey is better red ball player than him other than speculation. Hope to see Carey get a good run of shield matches soon.

Two of the top ten leading run scorers this season have only played in two matches. Another three. I’d love to see Renshaw succeed and in no way am I ruling him out for future selection but his name shouldn’t be on the horizon right now. We can’t afford to be blooding another young player right now when we’ve already got two new kids in the team and no one to lead us when Paine goes. The Renshaw, Maddison, McDermott, Whiteman suggestions aren’t what we need. We need a leader at 5 and a keeper for when Paine goes. Inglis fits the bill for the keeper spot as he’s one of the most improved batsman in the country and probably the best keeper we have going around at only 25. He should have a long international career ahead of him. The candidates we have for the number 5 spot IMO need to be one of Carey, Head or Maxwell. We know Head has his issues and what selectors think of Maxwell for the test team so really Carey is the best candidate. Sadly, as much as people may laugh at an article suggesting Finch in the team in all reality it’s not far off the mark. It’s funny, just not haha funny

 

[JackOutback]

Two of the top ten leading run scorers this season have only played in two matches. Another three. I’d love to see Renshaw succeed and in no way am I ruling him out for future selection but his name shouldn’t be on the horizon right now. We can’t afford to be blooding another young player right now when we’ve already got two new kids in the team and no one to lead us when Paine goes. The Renshaw, Maddison, McDermott, Whiteman suggestions aren’t what we need. We need a leader at 5 and a keeper for when Paine goes. Inglis fits the bill for the keeper spot as he’s one of the most improved batsman in the country and probably the best keeper we have going around at only 25. He should have a long international career ahead of him. The candidates we have for the number 5 spot IMO need to be one of Carey, Head or Maxwell. We know Head has his issues and what selectors think of Maxwell for the test team so really Carey is the best candidate. Sadly, as much as people may laugh at an article suggesting Finch in the team in all reality it’s not far off the mark. It’s funny, just not haha funny

On the bolded, maybe that's exactly what we need to be doing; short-term pain for long-term gain. I mean, if there was a laundry list of players ready to step up, then sure, we can wait, but if the talent simply isn't there then I'm not sure what's to be lost by picking a player with the technique and temperament and getting them in now. I agree that Maddinson and McDermott aren't the answers, but if you're also ruling out project players, well then there is no answer.

Meanwhile, the Finch suggestion was laughable but are there any other captains that could potentially be in the team as a specialist captain?

 

[bh90210fan]

On the bolded, maybe that's exactly what we need to be doing; short-term pain for long-term gain. I mean, if there was a laundry list of players ready to step up, then sure, we can wait, but if the talent simply isn't there then I'm not sure what's to be lost by picking a player with the technique and temperament and getting them in now. I agree that Maddinson and McDermott aren't the answers, but if you're also ruling out project players, well then there is no answer.

Meanwhile, the Finch suggestion was laughable but are there any other captains that could potentially be in the team as a specialist captain?

I disagree with you that the talent isn’t there. It is, but the candidates don’t play shield cricket.

Henriques is someone who could captain us for a Paine style stint, probably another option

 

[ozaddy]

Good enough for Warney, good enough for us.
Carey has a FC average of 34 and is in with a chance to be a specialist test batsmen, sad days.

Others may, but i have never said anything about him being a specialist batsman, but if he did keep, his FC average of 34 is better than Paine's FC average of 29.

 

[eddiesmith]

Others may, but i have never said anything about him being a specialist batsman, but if he did keep, his FC average of 34 is better than Paine's FC average of 29.

One plays half his games on the Adelaide Oval, the other at Bellerive!

 

[ozaddy]

One plays half his games on the Adelaide Oval, the other at Bellerive!

Who do you consider the better batsman

 

[eddiesmith]

Who do you consider the better batsman

Paine

 

[Kram]

Henriques is someone who could captain us for a Paine style stint, probably another option

If that ever happened this place would explode.

 

[eddiesmith]

If that ever happened this place would explode.

There is another all rounder who captains his state that JL just loves

 

[JackOutback]

I disagree with you that the talent isn’t there. It is, but the candidates don’t play shield cricket.

Henriques is someone who could captain us for a Paine style stint, probably another option

I don't think Henriques is any upgrade on Wade. At this point, I'd be looking at Street or Phillipe or Renshaw and determining if they have the technique to make the step up. Otherwise I'd be going back to Khawaja as much as anyone else, or Maxwell, but the selectors don't seem interested. I don't think Henriques or Harris or Bancroft is the answer.

As for the captaincy, well that leaves me kinda stumped.

 

[Greenery]

I don't think Henriques is any upgrade on Wade. At this point, I'd be looking at Street or Phillipe or Renshaw and determining if they have the technique to make the step up. Otherwise I'd be going back to Khawaja as much as anyone else, or Maxwell, but the selectors don't seem interested. I don't think Henriques or Harris or Bancroft is the answer.

As for the captaincy, well that leaves me kinda stumped.

This is a great call Harris and Bancroft and co (given ample opportunity and not up to it and need to be discarded).
Maxwell never really got a fair crack.
Renshaw has shown he can be up to it internationally but needs to get his confidence back.
Solway also looks a prospect at the top of the order.
But need to discard deadwood.

 

[Marshland]

If Renshaw can get back to his early 2018 he'll be well and truly in the conversation again. He looked comfortably in the top 6 batsman in the country during that period for Queensland and Somerset, shame a finger injury ended his county stint early and then the concussion before the UAE tests. I'm backing him to be back in the conversation again over the next 2 or 3 years.

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

 

[eddiesmith]

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

Because he batted slow and that's what everyone loves, unless its Jadeja against Australia...

 

[Scorpus]

Yep, of course. Matthew Wade failing in the BBL means his... TEST career is in doubt.

‘Sums it up for him’: Wade’s Test spot in further doubt after latest flop

‘Sums it up for him’: Test flop’s red-ball future in doubt after latest batting failure

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[JackOutback]

Because he batted slow and that's what everyone loves, unless its Jadeja against Australia...

Jadeja is a legend. Anyone would love his grit in their team.

 

[The Passenger]

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

I liked renshaw but you're right - there was a bit of hyperbolic glee here just because he scored slowly. He did soak up a lot of deliveries which was no doubt handy, but people were acting like he was Rahul dravid.

 

[Heisenberg_]

Surely Carey will be given a chance sooner than later?

If selectors put Carey in the test side ahead of Josh Ingles they need replacing

 

[Chaisa]

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

TBF that average was a fair bit higher before his current form slump, averaging 35 in your first 10 or so Tests is a really good start to a career. Especially given he was only 20/21 at the time.

 

[Seedsfan]

I disagree with you that the talent isn’t there. It is, but the candidates don’t play shield cricket.

Henriques is someone who could captain us for a Paine style stint, probably another option

He isn’t good enough to make the IX let alone captain

 

[Seedsfan]

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

Because he is 24 and has 11 FC hundreds yes he has had a bit of a form slump though the past few years but he looks to be through that now

 

[Numero Uno]

I never liked the captain/keeper combo even though at the time Paine was a good choice considering the circumstances

keeping takes just as much concentration as it does skill and technique. Combining it with captaincy was a recipe for failure.

no surprise to me late in a test match when there is pressure and stress to win the test match wicket keeping errors occur..as happened in Sydney

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Except it actually was. Wade has never dropped that many catches in a series.

Didn't Wade miss 9-10 easy ones, and 14 overall, one summer? Though across two series, I think that included du Plessis in that Adelaide second innings.
He got better after that but was still the worst supposed keeper I can recall seeing in long format cricket.

 

[toml]

I've never understood the fuss over what is a 36-averaging batsman after playing what? 60+ games?

Anyone that watched Renshaw bat in the first half of 2018 for Qld and Somerset will understand where his ceiling is, he is incredible when he is at his best. If he can get back to that level and maintain that form he will comfortably get back in to national consideration. Can't be assed saying anything more than that.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Breaking it down for SA:

Openers: David Warner, Will Pucovski, Sam Whiteman
3-7: Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Nic Maddinson, Cameron Green, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine
Fast Bowlers: Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson*, Mitchell Starc, Michael Neser, Jhye Richardson
Spin Bowlers: Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Swepson

*pending fitness

Pucovski
Warner
Labuschagne
Smith
Maddinson
Green
Paine (+)
Pattinson/Richardson
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

Agree with most of this.

But imo time to move Paine on & pick Carey who is in his prime & gives us a much needed game changer like Pant did for the Indians.

Agree either a fit Pattinson or Jye Richardson in for Starc... but I would be looking to rotate fast bowlers, particularly for back to back tests.

If Lyon continues his poor form, then bring in Swenson.

I would have Head instead of Maxwell in yiu squad fighting for the #5 with Maddinson.