Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[Voice of the G]

I can see him getting back into the Test side, but not for a while. And preferably not opening. One trouble, of many, is we have a lot of those players where "not an opener" is a reasonable description. And maybe only Warner where opening is very clearly the place they belong.

Harris is a natural opener and been in that spot for a long time.

 

[Docker82]

So who are you going to replace him with? I presume the Victorian selectors have been asked by the ACB selectors to play Pucovic as a opener,a big risk playing him as a opener against this Indian attack and would prefer him to bat at 5 and settle into the team.Wade opens but still think Harris has been hard done by on his performances in the shield this season.Keep an eye on Pucovic and Harris if opening for Victoria,Rodgers is the perfect choice to assist them develop as openers especially for Harris remembering how Rodgers was a late developer as a test player.

Was Rogers really a later developer?

He may have been selected later on in his career but that was more due to us having actual options up until 2012 and guys like Katich and Watson succeeding in the role despite being thrown in mid tours.

He was at his peak 1-3 years after he left WA imo. He certainly wasn’t the player he once was by the 2013 Ashes when he was picked consistently for the first time. We just turned to a 35 year old at that time because of his experience in English conditions and the fact we were struggling to find openers.

 

[eth-dog]

Harris is a natural opener and been in that spot for a long time.

There are reasonable question marks over whether he belongs at the level though.

 

[Docker82]

Im not convinced on Wade as opener... He has gone 8, 33, 30 and 40. Openers need to make at least 50 every innings so our no. 3 isnt coming in too early. If Wade stays in the side it should be back down the order in place of Head. In fact Wade averages 45.5 at no. 5 which is much better than what he has as an opener.

50 every innings is a huge ask. As a partnership maybe but the way you’ve written it it sounds like you want both our openers averaging 50?

Pretty sure Matthew Hayden is the only opener we’ve had in history with a career average above 50.

A partnership of 50 between the openers generally takes you through most of the first session of a test match and sets a solid platform as long as we don’t lose a second wicket shortly afterwards.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

There are reasonable question marks over whether he belongs at the level though.

While he should've been picked ahead of Burns on form, I feel he'll have a Cam White career. Excellent in FC but just doesn't quite have what it takes to make it at the top level.

 

[Docker82]

Harris is a natural opener and been in that spot for a long time.

Simon Katich wasn’t a natural opener and did a great job there. Justin Langer spent a lot of his career in the middle order.

Good batsmen can bat anywhere - the problem with Harris is he isn’t test standard.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Can people please stop bringing up Heads test average as a reason to why he is doing a 'fine enough' job.

He dominated a Sri Lankan team that is one of the worst touring teams i have seen in my life time. Taking that out he averages low 30's. He is 27 and still doesn't have the temperament for test cricket. He needs to go back to Shield level and improve in that area we can not just keep hoping it will magically improve.

 

[nobbyiscool]

I was in favour of picking Pucovski (as an opener) before the first test - but since the most recent concussion I'm stunned that people are calling for him to come straight into the side having played no red ball cricket since the Indians last sconed him.

It's clearly a technical issue to do with facing the short ball given that it keeps happening.

And given Will has already bravely spoken about his mental health battles, and we know there's a link between concussions and mental health problems (ie. CTE) I no longer think picking him for Australia this summer would be a responsible thing to do for the kid or for Australian cricket.

 

[eddiesmith]

Wade hasn’t made the number 5 position his own, he was barely hanging on to his spot in the team before this series started. Greens already shown that he’s more than worthy to bat at five and should be promoted if it’s the best move for us

He got promoted there during the Ashes and had averaged 50 whilst Green hasn’t made 50 in an innings.

 

[Westend]

He got promoted there during the Ashes and had averaged 50 whilst Green hasn’t made 50 in an innings.

Yeah I agree at this stage....wade at 5 ..Wade has proven in his career batting down the order with the tail he struggles

Green has shown already that he can hang around with the tail and I like the opportunity of Paine and Green batting next to each other

 

[JackOutback]

He got promoted there during the Ashes and had averaged 50 whilst Green hasn’t made 50 in an innings.

Out of three innings? And one was a score of 45? Delist.

 

[Docker82]

Wade has scored three scores 30 or above in four innings as an opener.

David Warner aside, so we realistically expect a better return from any of the other options... Number five is also generally considered an easier position to bat in than opening.

 

[big_e]

Can people please stop bringing up Heads test average as a reason to why he is doing a 'fine enough' job.

He dominated a Sri Lankan team that is one of the worst touring teams i have seen in my life time. Taking that out he averages low 30's. He is 27 and still doesn't have the temperament for test cricket. He needs to go back to Shield level and improve in that area we can not just keep hoping it will magically improve.

Take out the ten matches Bradman played against India and South Africa and his average drops by about 15 runs per innings, too.

Look, Head has always been one of those guys who could go either way. The hundred against Sri Lanka, his 70-odd on debut and a few others shows he has ability, but it's his failure to kick on that hurts him.

Much like Nathan Lyon was in the side for ages simply because everyone else was a little bit worse than him, Head will be replaced as soon as someone jumps ahead of him in the queue by weight of runs at FC level. That time has come, and though I have been a supporter of his, he's gotta go.

 

[bh90210fan]

He got promoted there during the Ashes and had averaged 50 whilst Green hasn’t made 50 in an innings.

Got closer to 50 than Wade this series

 

[eddiesmith]

Got closer to 50 than Wade this series

Wade has a century at no5 and did that in his first innings!

But Wade stepped up to open, a position he’d never played even at first class level and has done ok but you want a rookie straight into the team to bat higher because 6 doesn’t suit him...

Puckovski opened for Victoria because that was the spot available, players take what’s available not the Australian test team all shuffle around to fit the rookie in.

 

[bh90210fan]

Yeah I agree at this stage....wade at 5 ..Wade has proven in his career batting down the order with the tail he struggles

Green has shown already that he can hang around with the tail and I like the opportunity of Paine and Green batting next to each other

You don’t want a batsman hanging around with the tail, do you? It should be the other way around. A number 6 should be able to force the issue when he has to. Green would be better off up the order and building partnerships with the likes of Labuchagne, Smith etc

 

[bh90210fan]

Wade has a century at no5 and did that in his first innings!

But Wade stepped up to open, a position he’d never played even at first class level and has done ok but you want a rookie straight into the team to bat higher because 6 doesn’t suit him...

Puckovski opened for Victoria because that was the spot available, players take what’s available not the Australian test team all shuffle around to fit the rookie in.

You shuffle around as much as you need to if your side can’t even get to 200 in an innings. Wade hasn’t made any spot in the order his own. It’s not like it would be Mike Hussey dropping down.

 

[Westend]

You don’t want a batsman hanging around with the tail, do you? It should be the other way around. A number 6 should be able to force the issue when he has to. Green would be better off up the order and building partnerships with the likes of Labuchagne, Smith etc

nah I agree I am just saying that Green is better suited batting with the tail so far than wade because Wade has proven with his average that he doesn't bat well with the tail ad if wade bats six he will be with the tail rather than 5

i reckon green is better suited than wade at either 5 or six IMO but if wade plays which i think he will ...wade is better suited at 5 with green at six

i understand what you are saying

 

[LukeParkerno1]

nah I agree I am just saying that Green is better suited batting with the tail so far than wade because Wade has proven with his average that he doesn't bat well with the tail ad if wade bats six he will be with the tail rather than 5

i reckon green is better suited than wade at either 5 or six IMO but if wade plays which i think he will ...wade is better suited at 5 with green at six

i understand what you are saying

Could name Wade at 5, then be flexible with Green depending on match situations with a LH or RH coming in at 5 depending on circumstances.

 

[Alfonz]

I was in favour of picking Pucovski (as an opener) before the first test - but since the most recent concussion I'm stunned that people are calling for him to come straight into the side having played no red ball cricket since the Indians last sconed him.

It's clearly a technical issue to do with facing the short ball given that it keeps happening.

And given Will has already bravely spoken about his mental health battles, and we know there's a link between concussions and mental health problems (ie. CTE) I no longer think picking him for Australia this summer would be a responsible thing to do for the kid or for Australian cricket.

Agree completely. Survive India and he would then have SA in the next series (if that goes ahead). I fear he is one solid knock on the helmet from retirement. Facing Rabada and Nortje would be very concerning. At least there would be 12 months to rest his brain (and play Shield/Afghanistan) before the Ashes.

It might be normal to want him to get Test experience before the Ashes series, but this is not a normal situation.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

There's not much discussion about Smith at the moment, but since England, he's batted 11 times, 1 not out, 264 runs, average 26.40, 2 fifties. In that time, Travis Head has batted 9 times, 299 runs, average 32.22, 1 century, 1 fifty. Just saying.

 

[Greenstar5]

I'm going with just the 1 change.

Burns out. Warner in.

In the small chance Warner isn't good to go, use Harris.

I feel the test series has been fairly even. Moments when either side has had chances to win either test.

For us we need to keep working hard on our batting partnerships and make sure we take those catches. Pretty confident the team will bounce back and be much better in Sydney.

 

[The hands of stone]

As much as I would love Puc to play and be very tempted too , I would be putting him on ice for a bit.
Harris is the next best 'opener' so I would be picking him .

Head is a real concern , his current issues were there at debut plus he isn't really young to play the 'youth' card.
I wouldn't pick him but think the selectors will.
Green should take the 5 spot being more technical correct and a long term talent.

Wade took the grenade in the first 2 tests performing well out of position. He keeps a place at 6 where he can rear gaurd if 4/100 or hit the gas at 4/200 plus..

Warner
Harris
Lab
Smith
Green
Wade
Paine
Bowlers unchanged

 

[The hands of stone]

There's not much discussion about Smith at the moment, but since England, he's batted 11 times, 1 not out, 264 runs, average 26.40, 2 fifties. In that time, Travis Head has batted 9 times, 299 runs, average 32.22, 1 century, 1 fifty. Just saying.

Next two tests are pretty big for him . If he doesn't have much impact its then been a very long dry spell.

I think he will bounce back but another failure first up and the pressure will really be on.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Assuming Pucovski plays, and I get why people are reluctant:

Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Wade
Paine
Green - I'm not sold on Green yet so going down a spot, I could see him eventually opening, he does at least play straight early in an innings
remainder unchanged

If Pucovski doesn't play, Harris in for him.