Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[Docker82]

I'm sure our WA posters who say Harris should never be considered again would say the same thing about Bancroft

Yes. 100%.

Bancroft did however look slightly more competent at test level.

Burns isn’t great but he’s constantly outperforming the other options at test level.

 

[archibald]

Being the impatient type I would love to see both Pucovski and Green play straight up, but I'd give Burns and Wade the first 2 tests. If they don't perform by all means draft them in. Either way i would play Green in either Melbourne or Sydney and use that convenient excuse of needing an allrounder.

 

[yabsy]

Not sure Langer ever opened for WA before he started opening for Australia. Was thrown in and thrived.

Same goes for Katich.

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[magpiemaniac44]

Good to see Head’s got in the runs in the last few games.

Whiteman has put up some runs but I doubt he’d get a look in

 

[Seedsfan]

Wade is already out for mine. Green is my six regardless of whether or not he could bowl (he is now bowling) and Head is going absolutely nowhere. The only spot for him is as an opener and I suspect someone at CA has asked Victoria to play him there for that reason, all I'm saying is I'd like to see him play there more before he is given a Baggy Green to open. That's all.

They were mentioning on the coverage that he called Trevor Hohns to tell him mentally he is fine and is available for selection and said that he wants to look to open as he sees that as his way into the national side

 

[Ducky Tie]

It's easy to get drawn to young talent, but I'd be very surprised if we gave both Green and Pucovski debuts in the first test of a massive series against India. Maybe one of them.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

Same goes for Katich.

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

I think Kat opened for NSW though didn't he? . happy to be wrong on that though

 

[eth-dog]

I think Kat opened for NSW though didn't he? . happy to be wrong on that though

Phil Jaques was an opener at the time I think. Not sure about the other but it might have been Kat.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think Kat opened for NSW though didn't he? . happy to be wrong on that though

Wasn't Greg Mail the opener for us back then? Only reason I remember the bloke is he was the most ugly and boring batsman NSW have had!

 

[Ducky Tie]

Wasn't Greg Mail the opener for us back then? Only reason I remember the bloke is he was the most ugly and boring batsman NSW have had!

Yeah I reckon you’re on the money. Mail and Jaques opened together before Hughes came onto the scene from memory. Katich was generally at 3 or 4.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah I reckon you’re on the money. Mail and Jaques opened together before Hughes came onto the scene from memory. Katich was generally at 3 or 4.

That is what I remember too but it’s going off a vague memory there.

 

[corbies]

Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris are no chance to be picked for Australia for two reasons now:
1. They’re Victorians, and
2. They’ve broken the Waugh bros‘ record for the highest ever partnership - that in itself is a criminal offence.

Why would an organisation who are based in Victoria and whose vast majority of staff are Victorian have a bias against Victoria?

Why would a selection panel made up of a QLDer, a Western Australian and a Tasmanian not pick a Victorian because they broke a record of a pair of NSWman?

 

[Drunkcat]

Burns or Bancroft will be easy wickets for Bumrah

 

[Blackhawk42]

Head and Wade in the runs again this Shield round. I doubt either of them miss the first test.

Burns is the concern but despite our sudden batting depth there just doesn't seem to be an opening batsman we can trust.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Head and Wade in the runs again this Shield round. I doubt either of them miss the first test.

Burns is the concern but despite our sudden batting depth there just doesn't seem to be an opening batsman we can trust.

Pucovski just made a double ton opening.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Pucovski just made a double ton opening.

Of course, but this was his first time opening and against a weak bowling attack wasn't it?

 

[toml]

Of course, but this was his first time opening and against a weak bowling attack wasn't it?

And on a pitch that even South Australia managed to bat on for 160 overs in the 4th innings.

 

[Cleavy]

we'll see how Burns goes next game (vs SA)

 

[Spitting_Cobra]

we'll see how Burns goes next game (vs SA)

Marnus might make 1000

 

[BronCrow]

Not sure Langer ever opened for WA before he started opening for Australia. Was thrown in and thrived.

And to think, that was by circumstance as well. It only happened because Michael Slater slept in and missed the bus for the first morning of the final test of the 2001 Ashes series in England.

 

[Phone]

Katich didn't move to opening for NSW even after he was opening for Australia. one of the only times I recall was right before the 10/11 Ashes.

 

[big_e]

And to think, that was by circumstance as well. It only happened because Michael Slater slept in and missed the bus for the first morning of the final test of the 2001 Ashes series in England.

Not true. Here's a report from before the test.

Slater axed from Australia's Fifth Test team

Opening batsman Michael Slater has been dropped from Australia's team to play England in the Fifth Test, which begins at The Oval on Thursday.

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[BronCrow]

Katich didn't move to opening for NSW even after he was opening for Australia. one of the only times I recall was right before the 10/11 Ashes.

I don't think Watson ever opened the batting at Shield level either before doing it at test level.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Of course, but this was his first time opening and against a weak bowling attack wasn't it?

Burns has failed every dig this summer and you wouldn't say his spot is certain at the best of times.

 

[BronCrow]

Not true. Here's a report from before the test.

Slater axed from Australia's Fifth Test team

Opening batsman Michael Slater has been dropped from Australia's team to play England in the Fifth Test, which begins at The Oval on Thursday.

www.espncricinfo.com

Think you will find that is a cover up to some degree. There may be some truth to him being dropped anyway, but I stand by the fact that he missed the team bus.

Slater hits out in autobiography

Michael Slater has expressed his anger at being dropped from the Test team in his autobiography

www.espncricinfo.com

Was also interviewed around the same time as this article by Andrew Denton on Enough Rope, where he said himself what I just said. It was also mentioned in his autobiography.