Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[rippersnipper]

You don't need to have a spinner if there isn't anyone good enough to fill the role; I'd happily play two of Neser, Patto and Richardson in place of Starc and Lyon. Carey either comes in to bat at 5 or keep. If he is in to bat then Inglis comes in for Paine. Cummins takes over as captain. Puc back in and Whiteman to open with him.

 

[magpiemaniac44]

I’d keep faith in Lyon he had one bad series. Swepson handover should happen after the ashes.
Starc is too sporadic for test cricket and has no control. Pattinson or Ricoh takes his spot but really anyone can bowl better
Carey for Apine is the simple change but do we want Paine experience for the ashes? If not Carey in for SA series
Wade has always been a stop gap solution but his time is up now I think. Head or McDermott in.

 

[ozaddy]

He’s been in good form in the Shield and made a ton against india

** Deleted as was wrong, and embarrassed by how wrong i was (re: McDermott games this season in Shield)

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I'd don't want to see Harris, Wade, Paine, Starc or Lyon from that team today start the series in South Africa.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

I’d keep faith in Lyon he had one bad series. Swepson handover should happen after the ashes.
Starc is too sporadic for test cricket and has no control. Pattinson or Ricoh takes his spot but really anyone can bowl better
Carey for Apine is the simple change but do we want Paine experience for the ashes? If not Carey in for SA series
Wade has always been a stop gap solution but his time is up now I think. Head or McDermott in.

Needs to be dropped for a test at least IMO so he doesn't feel like he's untouchable, can't have series figures of 9-500 and get away with it unscathed.

 

[eddiesmith]

Picked in 1 shield game this season? He's not even first choice for Qld.. Is he replacing Paine and becoming captain?

Well that’s probably because he plays for Tassie...

Played every game and averaged about 50.

 

[big_e]

I’d keep faith in Lyon he had one bad series. Swepson handover should happen after the ashes.
Starc is too sporadic for test cricket and has no control. Pattinson or Ricoh takes his spot but really anyone can bowl better
Carey for Apine is the simple change but do we want Paine experience for the ashes? If not Carey in for SA series
Wade has always been a stop gap solution but his time is up now I think. Head or McDermott in.

FWIW, Lyon has a poor record vs South Africa - averages mid-40s.

 

[hawkman]

Needs to be dropped for a test at least IMO so he doesn't feel like he's untouchable, can't have series figures of 9-500 and get away with it unscathed.

He was ordinary in the Shield prior to the test series as well.

Graeme Swann was retired by 34 after he felt his ability had dropped off

 

[PP34]

I'd like to see Alex Carey come in and bat number 5. I think Travis Head still has a future, but Wade as a test batsman is done.

Need to start giving some of the guys below Starch a go too.

Having only really seen Carey in ODIS, he doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in my opinion as a test batsmen. Reminds me a lot of Wade and Head as a player who would just toss away his wicket like it's nothing after playing a few good shots.

 

[Docker82]

And the selectors, not sure how I forgot them. There needs to be a shake up there.

Shuffling the deck chairs I’m afraid.

The talent simply is not there.

Pattinson, Neser, Richardson and Swepson are/might be test standard but aren’t significant upgrades if at all. Pucovski is probably the only significant upgrade outside the side and he wasn’t available for the selectors to pick.

 

[Docker82]

Leaving on the 24th to SOuth Africa according to Ryan Harris. That's the last day of two shield games. Means Head and maybe a couple others don't have an opportunity to make a score

Sounds like the squad will be selected before the shield games then...

 

[TommyD13]

Sounds like the squad will be selected before the shield games then...

Get ready for "... this bloke is in good form, with some good scores recently in the Big Bash" from Hohns

 

[Docker82]

Get ready for "... this bloke is in good form, with some good scores recently in the Big Bash" from Hohns

It’ll be a disappointing squad with only minor changes (say Richardson for Abbott) - bookmark it.

 

[The hands of stone]

there's plenty of batting depth, if you want to be brave. The fact of the matter is Matt Wade and Marcus Harris are not better batsmen than Head, Usman & Maxwell. Anyone who believes that they are have got rocks in their head. You're really only looking to fill one position, assuming Will Pucovski's fitness. Pick whichever one you think is the best batsman and off you go. Oh and uh over which player has the slightly better Sheffield shield performances over an 3 match period, and you'll end up with a dud.

Is that good batting depth or just a decent amount of bats who are ok ?
I don't think we have anyone outside the team that can come in to improve it currently.

 

[ozaddy]

Having only really seen Carey in ODIS, he doesn't exactly inspire a lot of confidence in my opinion as a test batsmen. Reminds me a lot of Wade and Head as a player who would just toss away his wicket like it's nothing after playing a few good shots.

Hmm, he won the last overseas ODI series for Australia. I don't think he throws his wicket away as you put it. In BBL he tries the reverse sweep which he can put back in the holster, but he is actually quite reliable

Sent from my Mi9 Pro 5G using Tapatalk

 

[ozaddy]

Is that good batting depth or just a decent amount of bats who are ok ?
I don't think we have anyone outside the team that can come in to improve it currently.

Atleast give some hope to us supporters and lets hope its not our best team

Sent from my Mi9 Pro 5G using Tapatalk

 

[Bradesmaen]

Starc's average is 27.5. Take out Day night tests (where he has the lacquer on the ball to make it swing more) and he's 29.4. Take out the minnows in SL and West Indies who are horrid and he averages over 33 in tests. 33... I wish the commentators/special comments guys would stop stroking his ego with "he just needs a rest" or "he's a feared bowler" with... "he's been average since he came into the team and still is"

 

[toml]

People seriously suggesting Mcdermott? The bloke has 2 First Class 100's lol

 

[The Passenger]

The problem with throwing away half the team is you need to be replacing them with better players, otherwise you're just going to end up bitterly disappointed after the next series loss and back at the same position where you "just change half the team - I don't even care who comes in. Just try something."

Pucosvski will obviously come in for Harris if he is available, but Puc is a best XI player anyway.

The three guys who's best XI spots are under threat are Wade, Starc and Lyon. I would be changing up one of Starc or Lyon. Probably Starc, bringing either Richardson or Neser in for the first test in South Africa. I still think Swepson has a way to go to displacing Lyon. I genuinely don't know who would come in for Wade, unless we went straight back to Head. Our batting depth is horrendous. Wade and Head are the two clear stand outs for the sixth batting spot, and the gap beyond them is huge.

If Paine is to retain the captaincy he needs to get more aggressive. We are far too passive in our tactics in the field. He is still our best option as a keeper IMO, but definite warnings signs with his glovework in Sydney.

We have about 5 core players who are fantastic players that can win us matches and are going to be at the base of the vast majority of our wins (as great players will be), but as soon as one or two of them don't perform (even the best don't performance every test) we are in trouble because you know there is virtually zero chance of the others stepping up with a match winning display. Take someone like JP Duminy - absolutely a middle of the road test cricketer over the long haul, but could pull out some great performances here and there, and he certainly did against us. Starc is supposed to be that bowler - inconsistent, but can be a match winner on any given day. Well he's had a lot of tests now and how often has he pulled out a match winner against good opposition?

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Warner
Puc
Laba
Smith
Usman
Green
Carey
Pattinson
Cummins
Sweepson
Hoff

Or potentially another quick for Sweepson in South Africa.

 

[coolidge1000]

Shuffling the deck chairs I’m afraid.
The talent is definitely around Pattinson is a top class bowler world.standard I'd have him.hed of Starc and drop.wade for mcdermott have to keep paine he's the best keeper in the country ATM unfortunately he's ahead of.carey
The talent simply is not there.

Pattinson, Neser, Richardson and Swepson are/might be test standard but aren’t significant upgrades if at all. Pucovski is probably the only significant upgrade outside the side and he wasn’t available for the selectors to pick.

 

[coolidge1000]

People seriously suggesting Mcdermott? The bloke has 2 First Class 100's lol

He's just got the ripe age for maturity I'm pretty sure hes 26 he's scored runs in all formats this year it's time to give him.a chance and atleast he's slot more technically proficient then Wade or head.

 

[Major Colvin]

Credit to India they were exceptional. Considering injuries etc, one of the best test series wins from them I've seen.

Australia didnt have a terrible series overall, they just failed to capitalise in some key moments in the Sydney and Brisbane tests.

Mitch Starc is an interesting one, he's either lethal or benign. Compare him to Hazlewood and Cummins who look like they could take wickets any over. Starc goes missing for long periods and can be expensive. His batting which I've always considered a feather in his cap, hasn't really improved. He threw away his wicket in the 1st innings on the 3rd test when Smith had a already made a ton and coasting towards a double century. He seems to lack concentration at test level.

Wade is obviously finished.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

People seriously suggesting Mcdermott? The bloke has 2 First Class 100's lol

I'm not saying he should be in, but how many 1st class hundreds did Laba have when he got selected ?

 

[eddiesmith]

People seriously suggesting Mcdermott? The bloke has 2 First Class 100's lol

One of them against India