Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[hawkman]

Mitch Marsh gave his batting gloves to my son after the game tonight, he is my new favourite player. Get him into the test team.

Did he think he might be able to do a better job in them?

ah, the classic australian tradition of losing a match and having to drop a bunch of people so everyone feels a sense of justice. and then basing everything around form, which maybe one day people will figure out isn't a particularly good way to select a team, even if it feels good.

and so it goes

India dropped 2 even with 2 forced changes and that seems to have worked. They realised there was an issue with the players they picked and immediately corrected it

 

[Pippen94]

Mitch Marsh gave his batting gloves to my son after the game tonight, he is my new favourite player. Get him into the test team.

That's nice thing for him to do

 

[Pippen94]

I think Pippen has had a few too many today.

Person demanding Harris in side accusing me of being drunk - great judgment

 

[eth-dog]

Person demanding Harris in side accusing me of being drunk - great judgment

I haven't been demanding for anyone to be in. I'm simply showing you up for the fool that you are.

 

[Pippen94]

I haven't been demanding for anyone to be in. I'm simply showing you up for the fool that you are.

Then why are you playing man & not the ball??

 

[Redline]

I think we do need to take into account how much international bowling attacks have improved. It always has been but at the moment I don't think there has ever been a bigger step up from facing first class attacks to teams like India and England.

Also I think we sometimes forget how even the real good Australian teams of the last twenty years struggled at times on overseas wickets or against good bowling attacks. There was alot of runs scores against some average England, West Indies and New Zealand teams at home.

Of course I am not saying this top seven don't have it's batting issues.

 

[Docker82]

I think we do need to take into account how much international bowling attacks have improved. It always has been but at the moment I don't think there has ever been a bigger step up from facing first class attacks to teams like India and England.

Also I think we sometimes forget how even the real good Australian teams of the last twenty years struggled at times on overseas wickets or against good bowling attacks. There was alot of runs scores against some average England, West Indies and New Zealand teams at home.

Of course I am not saying this top seven don't have it's batting issues.

Honestly I think it’s more the shield has declined tbh. Mainly on the batting side of things.

 

[eth-dog]

Then why are you playing man & not the ball??

I've repeatedly given you the reasons Khawaja won't be selected instead of the other prospects and you continually stick your head in the sand and say that it doesn't matter. You're making a fool of yourself.

 

[corbies]

What makes you think Smith will make runs. Indians have his number, so far.

His test career. I'll back him in. He's been able to work out every weakness he's ever had at test level.

If it was Kohli or Williamson on this run I'd say the same.

 

[hawkman]

Sounds like Pucovski might be fit. If Warner is fit i would have the batting lineup as

Warner
Wade
Labuschagne
Smith
Pucovski
Green

Happy to protect Pucovski in the middle order to start his career

 

[Hamingja]

Isha for selector.

She went Warner, Pucovski, Lab, Smith, Wade and Green.

If we are not going to consider Khawaja or Marsh then that is the best we can do.

 

[JackOutback]

His test career. I'll back him in. He's been able to work out every weakness he's ever had at test level.

If it was Kohli or Williamson on this run I'd say the same.

I agree, but right now we need as many contributors as possible because neither Smith or Lab are in the runs. It’s a compelling series now.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Head and Burns out for Warner and Puc is best case scenario.

I am not sure i can stomach another test of watching them 'bat'

 

[MALTSY]

Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Green
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

 

[Santana]

Warner
Wade
Labuschagne
Smith
Pucovski
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

If Warner isn't fit then I don't know.

 

[Belnakor]

His test career. I'll back him in. He's been able to work out every weakness he's ever had at test level.

If it was Kohli or Williamson on this run I'd say the same.

Last time we toured India Kolhi got 46 runs in 3 tests. These things happen. We worked him out but he bounced back, same thing will happen with Smith.

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

Warner
S.Marsh
Labuschagne
Smith
Wade
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Hazelwood
Lyon

 

[Woody15]

Warner
Wade
Labuschagne
Smith
Pucovski
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Not sure it will happen though. Might swap Wade and Pucovski around but I think they'll protect him a bit in the middle order.

If Warner is unfit, I think Harris comes in for Burns. Head might get a reprieve as well.

Very tough call.

 

[Scotland]

The problem with Shaun Marsh is that while he is a veteran he's unreliable. He could come out and make a classy 100, but he could equally spend 5 minutes at the crease across two innings.

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

The problem with Shaun Marsh is that while he is a veteran he's unreliable. He could come out and make a classy 100, but he could equally spend 5 minutes at the crease across two innings.

I would take my chances given the options we have.

 

[1990crow]

I would take my chances given the options we have.

No way. Shaun Marsh isn't the solution.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Baffling why people want to keep going back to the same old players time and time again.

If we want to break the cycle of underperforming players we will need to look outside the players that have been given more than enough opportunities.

 

[JackOutback]

Baffling why people want to keep going back to the same old players time and time again.

If we want to break the cycle of underperforming players we will need to look outside the players that have been given more than enough opportunities.

When it’s a stopgap measure because no one else is available, it’s not the worst option. SMarsh and Khawaja are inconsistent but clearly have the ability to perform at Test level. If Warner or Pucovski aren’t available, and selectors believe Burns and Harris aren’t up to it, they can be an option for a Test or two. I think we would have performed better in both Tests with one of those two ahead of Burns. Hell, both of them are as much a Test player as Wade.

 

[rippersnipper]

Maddo should be an option too. He's gone up a few levels down here

 

[big_e]

Burns out
Warner in