Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[eth-dog]

I'd be worried about a 28 year old averaging 35 in FC cricket reverting to the mean.

Keep in mind he's played his first 30-40 games as a keeper batting at 7.

 

[dogs105]

Averaging 55 this season with two centuries from 4 matches.

Why not Travis Head who's averaging 65 in the Shield from 4 matches?

I just want to see more sustained form before picking someone who averages 35. Pretty sgit situation if a few innings can get you in yest contention nowadays. Over a small number of games, some players will perform really well. This doesn't indicate that they will perform in the long term.

 

[eth-dog]

Does the shield come back before the SA tour? If Burns can transfer his BBL form back into first class cricket I’d have him as the backup opener behind Warner and Pucovski.

It doesn't.

 

[eth-dog]

Why not Travis Head who's averaging 65 in the Shield from 4 matches?

I just want to see more sustained form before picking someone who averages 35. Pretty sgit situation if a few innings can get you in yest contention nowadays. Over a small number of games, some players will perform really well. This doesn't indicate that they will perform in the long term.

Because Head needs to play Shield to work on his current flaws and he isn't an opener. I'm not saying he's the perfect option but the cupbard is pretty bare

Who do you propose goes over instead?

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Why not Travis Head who's averaging 65 in the Shield from 4 matches?

I just want to see more sustained form before picking someone who averages 35. Pretty sgit situation if a few innings can get you in yest contention nowadays. Over a small number of games, some players will perform really well. This doesn't indicate that they will perform in the long term.

Absolute it doesn't, but the cupboard is very bare, and Head isn't an opener plus he needs to work on his technique.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

Because Head needs to play Shield to work on his current flaws and he isn't an opener. I'm not saying he's the perfect option but the cupbard is pretty bare

Who do you propose goes over instead?

Ha, snap (pretty close to it anyway).

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Because Head needs to play Shield to work on his current flaws and he isn't an opener. I'm not saying he's the perfect option but the cupbard is pretty bare

Who do you propose goes over instead?

Tbh, I would probably bring Khawaja to back up as opener for the SA series to see if he can still perform at the elite level.

 

[dogs105]

Because Head needs to play Shield to work on his current flaws and he isn't an opener. I'm not saying he's the perfect option but the cupbard is pretty bare

Who do you propose goes over instead?

Id have to go with batters who have performed better longer term. Averaging 40 or above in FC - Maxwell, Maddinson, Head.

Maxwell failed at test level, but could get more chances.

Maddinson failed from not many opportunities.

Head not really failed, but only averaging 39 at Test Level.

I would have all 3 ahead of whiteman, but would think about picking anyone with a whole season of good form.

 

[Voice of the G]

Tbh, I would probably bring Khawaja to back up as opener for the SA series to see if he can still perform at the elite level.

With the SA test series and the NZ T20 tour clashing are we sure Warner might not be selected for the NZ tour.Khawaja might be a option for SA if that happened.Going to be difficult to pick 2 competitive squads.

 

[eth-dog]

Tbh, I would probably bring Khawaja to back up as opener for the SA series to see if he can still perform at the elite level.

He's not performing at the level below.

Id have to go with batters who have performed better longer term. Averaging 40 or above in FC - Maxwell, Maddinson, Head.

Maxwell failed at test level, but could get more chances.

Maddinson failed from not many opportunities.

Head not really failed, but only averaging 39 at Test Level.

I would have all 3 ahead of whiteman, but would think about picking anyone with a whole season of good form.

I have Maddinson in the squad, and neither Head nor Maxwell are opening bats. Maddinson can open but he's better in the middle order.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

In terms of openers, here's what we have in the Shield:

Daniel Hughes
Nick Larkin
Marcus Harris
Will Pucovski
Henry Hunt
Jake Weatherald
Cameron Bancroft
Sam Whiteman
Bryce Street
Joe Burns
Alex Doolan
Jordan Silk
Charlie Wakim

Throw in Khawaja and Maddinson who have done it in the past as well. Aside from the Vics (one who is already in our best XI and the other isn't Test standard), the best performing opener this season has been Whiteman by a country mile.

It's pretty grim reading to be frank.

 

[eth-dog]

With the SA test series and the NZ T20 tour clashing are we sure Warner might not be selected for the NZ tour.Khawaja might be a option for SA if that happened.Going to be difficult to pick 2 competitive squads.

Warner will play in SA.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

I think there needs be a restructure of how each format of cricket (Domestic & International) is being represented during the season cause I feel from the formation of the BBL has caused the skill level of Test Match cricket to dropped massively

Remember the times where players couldn't even break the Test XI even though they score thousands of runs to now where to now where no one can play proper Test Match Cricket anymore and average 30 in FC and get picked.

 

[Gough]

I think there needs be a restructure of how each format of cricket (Domestic & International) is being represented during the season cause I feel from the formation of the BBL has caused the skill level of Test Match cricket to dropped massively

Remember the times where players couldn't even break the Test XI even though they score thousands of runs to now where to now where no one can play proper cricket anymore and average 30 in FC and get picked.

The problem with the BBL is that it's a glorified grade competion, you go to the IPL and you play and learn from the best in the world. I don't think that's the case here.

 

[Voice of the G]

In terms of openers, here's what we have in the Shield:

Daniel Hughes
Nick Larkin
Marcus Harris
Will Pucovski
Henry Hunt
Jake Weatherald
Cameron Bancroft
Sam Whiteman
Bryce Street
Joe Burns
Alex Doolan
Jordan Silk
Charlie Wakim

Throw in Khawaja and Maddinson who have done it in the past as well. Aside from the Vics (one who is already in our best XI and the other isn't Test standard), the best performing opener this season has been Whiteman by a country mile.

It's pretty grim reading to be frank.

Street is the player I like in that group.

 

[TubbsFarquhar]

I think there needs be a restructure of how each format of cricket (Domestic & International) is being represented during the season cause I feel from the formation of the BBL has caused the skill level of Test Match cricket to dropped massively

Remember the times where players couldn't even break the Test XI even though they score thousands of runs to now where to now where no one can play proper cricket anymore and average 30 in FC and get picked.

The BBL will never go away, there's too much $$$ involved. Ideally, here's how I'd have it

Late October: Start of Shield
November: ODI/T20I series (don't care for T20Is but, let's be realistic, they're here to stay)
November-January: Tests (with the Shield running concurrently)
January-February: Condensed BBL (back to 10 games)

Unfortunately, due to broadcasting and $, CA is unlikely to revert back to a short BBL season. The test team would benefit from having Shield players to pick from who are playing at the same time, and the BBL's quality would increase as a result of Warner, Smith, Starc etc being available.

 

[big_e]

How many other Aussie openers scored century during that time??

It's been grim. We've had ten openers since March 2018, and this is the list of half-centuries

Burns: 4 from 17 innings (180, 97, 53, 51*)
Warner: 4 from 21 innings (335*, 154, 111*, 61)
Khawaja: 2 from 5 innings (85, 141)
Finch: 2 from 10 innings (62, 50 and a 49)
Harris: 2 from 18 innings, including today (70, 79)
Pucovski: 1 from 2 innings (62)
Bancroft: 0 from 4 innings
Wade: 0 from 4 innings
Renshaw: 0 from 2 innings
S Marsh: 0 from 1 innings

 

[Cubs2Lions]

This might be the best Australian selectors can do.....

if both tours are happening at the same time:

Away Tour vs. SA
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Green
Paine (C) (WK)
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Reserves
Neser
J.Richardson
Pattinson
Swepson
Harris
Maddison
Wade

Away Tour vs. NZ
Finch (C)
Short
Khawaja
Lynn
Carey (WK)
Maxwell
Stoinis
Coulter-Nile
Zampa
K.Richardson
Tye

Behrendorff
Silk
McDermott
Sams
Philippe
A.Agar
Handscomb

 

[GCS in 11]

34+ players on Tour at once. Is there anyone I’m missing?

SA Tour:
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Wade
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

Squad: Whiteman, Head, Abbott, Pattinson, Neser, Swepson

NZ Tour:
Short
Finch
Lynn
Maxwell
Stoinis
M.Marsh
Carey
Turner
Richardson
Tye
Zampa

Squad Members: Agar, Sams, Coulter Nile, McDermott, Phillipe, Henriques

 

[Tugga27]

This might be the best Australian selectors can do.....

if both tours are happening at the same time:

Away Tour vs. SA
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschange
Smith
Head
Green
Paine (C) (WK)
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Reserves
Neser
J.Richardson
Pattinson
Swepson
Harris
Maddison
Wade

Away Tour vs. NZ
Finch (C)
Short
Khawaja
Lynn
Carey (WK)
Maxwell
Stoinis
Coulter-Nile
Zampa
K.Richardson
Tye

Behrendorff
Silk
McDermott
Sams
Philippe
A.Agar
Handscomb

The selectors prefer Wade to Head as it currently stands.
I can't see them going straight back to Head for Wade.

Take a punt on some new blood.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

34+ players on Tour at once. Is there anyone I’m missing?

SA Tour:
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Wade
Green
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

Squad: Whiteman, Head, Abbott, Pattinson, Neser, Swepson

NZ Tour:
Short
Finch
Lynn
Maxwell
Stoinis
M.Marsh
Carey
Turner
Richardson
Tye
Zampa

Squad Members: Agar, Sams, Coulter Nile, McDermott, Phillipe, Henriques

Nice squad/s mate.

Just the only change I would change would be swapping Turner with Coulter-Nile in the T20 Squad.

Besides that looks quite good

 

[Cubs2Lions]

The selectors prefer Wade to Head as it currently stands.
I can't see them going straight back to Head for Wade.

Take a punt on some new blood.

The problem is who else would you put in then that is classed as "new blood" cause there really isn't anymore banging that door down.

 

[Zach Package]

Absolute it doesn't, but the cupboard is very bare, and Head isn't an opener plus he needs to work on his technique.

That's key for me.

It probably speaks to how good he is and how he applies himself that he continue to be pretty prolific despite being a bit dodgy technically. Bit like Phil Hughes

 

[JackOutback]

I'd be worried about a 28 year old averaging 35 in FC cricket reverting to the mean.

I like Whiteman, he spent most of his time batting late so that might explain his overall average, but I don't disagree here. The sample size is too small and opening is not his natural position to be suggesting he step up to international cricket yet. The cupboard is pretty bare, I think we need to consider someone like Khawaja as a proven product.

 

[Voice of the G]

The problem is who else would you put in then that is classed as "new blood" cause there really isn't anymore banging that door down.

New blood,would you at the current Australian World U19 squad and take say a Jake Fraser-Mc Gurk along and give him some experience of training with the senior players or is he to young.