Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[SherbertLemon]

Is Pucko the future if he can’t play the short ball?

Pretty damning flaw

 

[Blackhawk42]

My 11 for the next 2 tests (barring an injury I would keep the same side for the next 2 games)

Warner
Pucovski
Labushagne
Smith
Head/Wade
Greene
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazelwood

Only position Im not sure on is Head/Wade.
Wade is not the future at 34, however is potentially playing better than Head.
Head however is 6yrs younger than Wade, has an average after 19 tests better than many great players we have had for Australia and Head has clearly played better in shield than Wade did.

So do you go with a player who has 3yrs left in him or a player with 10yrs left? Etiher way Im not overly fussed, would love Travis to keep playing for Aus but would also enjoy him back at the Strikers.

Wadey has been our best looking batter this whole series so far. Even Marnus has looked very shakey despite posting some better scores. He MUST play until his consistency declines and a younger player is genuinely ready to take over from him.

I'd be keen to see Wade and Warner open if I'm honest. If they get rolling they could take a game away from an opposition early on.

 

[Kram]

Yep time to look to the future

It's the Australian Test team here, not Carlton FC.

Winning the next match is the objective.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

It's the Australian Test team here, not Carlton FC.

Winning the next match is the objective.

Pucovski is more likely to score runs

 

[bh90210fan]

We’ve got nothing to lose bringing in Pucovski. If he gets out cheaply it’s not as though Head would’ve done any better. Give him a run as he is technically a much better batsman and much more likely to succeed both short and long term. Put Green at 5 where he can stabilise an innings if needed and let Wade come in at 6 where he can score quick runs with the tail

Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Green
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

 

[scotty13]

Wadey has been our best looking batter this whole series so far. Even Marnus has looked very shakey despite posting some better scores. He MUST play until his consistency declines and a younger player is genuinely ready to take over from him.

I'd be keen to see Wade and Warner open if I'm honest. If they get rolling they could take a game away from an opposition early on.

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.

 

[11kgm]

It's the Australian Test team here, not Carlton FC.

Winning the next match is the objective.

We won't win with Head and Burns in the side

 

[Kram]

We won't win with Head and Burns in the side

Wont Warner be in for Burns.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Wont Warner be in for Burns.

Head should be out too

 

[eddiesmith]

We’ve got nothing to lose bringing in Pucovski. If he gets out cheaply it’s not as though Head would’ve done any better. Give him a run as he is technically a much better batsman and much more likely to succeed both short and long term. Put Green at 5 where he can stabilise an innings if needed and let Wade come in at 6 where he can score quick runs with the tail

Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Green
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

Wade is a far better no5 than 6, he goes to 5 or Puckovski goes to 5. I wouldn't mind Puck at 5, it's not about protecting him but Wade is settling into opening and Puck has only opened 3 times at first class level, so why not come in as a middle order batsman?

 

[JackOutback]

Travis Head has a higher average at this point in his career, than Steve Waugh did and a number of more notable test names for Australia. He averages a touch under 40 and he's a baby. He stays.

Thing that’s often forgotten when quoting this stat is that Waugh was 23 or 24 when he played his 20th Test. Head is 28; he’s not a baby and questions can be asked about whether he’s capable of addressing his flaws at this stage.

 

[bh90210fan]

Wade is a far better no5 than 6, he goes to 5 or Puckovski goes to 5.

Wade has the ability to score quick runs when he has to. Green should be used to bat long and should move up the order to do so. He’s already played an innings facing 400 balls for WA. He won’t throw his wicket away if he doesn’t need to push on

 

[barrackers]

Wade is a far better no5 than 6, he goes to 5 or Puckovski goes to 5. I wouldn't mind Puck at 5, it's not about protecting him but Wade is settling into opening and Puck has only opened 3 times at first class level, so why not come in as a middle order batsman?

Not yet sold on Pucovski as an opener, but I’d also prefer to see the inexperience of Pucovski and Green at opposite ends of our top 6. Think having experienced players around youth is important.

 

[eddiesmith]

Wade has the ability to score quick runs when he has to. Green should be used to bat long and should move up the order to do so. He’s already played an innings facing 400 balls for WA. He won’t throw his wicket away if he doesn’t need to push on

Wade has a far better average and strike rate when batting at 5 than 6. Green is the rookie, he slots into 6 and stays there until he is worthy of moving up. If they felt 5 was his best spot he'd have gone there first test instead of moving Head up.

 

[King Elvis]

My 11 for the next 2 tests (barring an injury I would keep the same side for the next 2 games)

Warner
Pucovski
Labushagne
Smith
Head/Wade
Greene
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazelwood

Only position Im not sure on is Head/Wade.
Wade is not the future at 34, however is potentially playing better than Head.
Head however is 6yrs younger than Wade, has an average after 19 tests better than many great players we have had for Australia and Head has clearly played better in shield than Wade did.

So do you go with a player who has 3yrs left in him or a player with 10yrs left? Etiher way Im not overly fussed, would love Travis to keep playing for Aus but would also enjoy him back at the Strikers.

I like it - mostly.

Head out - good Adelaide boy, but gets out too often the same way, we can't afford his frequent lapses of concentration.

Pucov should come in, but I'd prefer him in the middle order, for now, at least.

So Wade either stays opener, or we drop him and go with Harris. I'm a Wade fan (and I wasn't when he started, but he fought his arse off and did everything to deserve a Test shot) and I think Burns has put the entire top order under massive pressure due to his inability to score.

So, for now, I'd keep Wade in... BUT, I would consider dropping Green. I rate him, and he could be something special, but I don't think we need an all-rounder in this side, with our batting so frail. On that basis, I'd consider Harris in to open, and Wade down the order for Green. But Green is clearly a huge prospect, so wouldn't be bothered if we kept him.

So I'd go with;

Warner
Wade
Labushagne
Smith
Pucovski
Greene
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazelwood

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I like it - mostly.

Head out - good Adelaide boy, but gets out too often the same way, we can't afford his frequent lapses of concentration.

Pucov should come in, but I'd prefer him in the middle order, for now, at least.

So Wade either stays opener, or we drop him and go with Harris. I'm a Wade fan (and I wasn't when he started, but he fought his arse off and did everything to deserve a Test shot) and I think Burns has put the entire top order under massive pressure due to his inability to score.

So, for now, I'd keep Wade in... BUT, I would consider dropping Green. I rate him, and he could be something special, but I don't think we need an all-rounder in this side, with our batting so frail. On that basis, I'd consider Harris in to open, and Wade down the order for Green. But Green is clearly a huge prospect, so wouldn't be bothered if we kept him.

So I'd go with;

Warner
Wade
Labushagne
Smith
Pucovski
Greene
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazelwood

They won't drop Head.

 

[King Elvis]

They should.

 

[Richard Pryor]

As a Queenslander and fan of the underdog really wanted Burns to succeed at Test level but unfortunately the poor bloke is done. Still has and will continue to have a great State career.

 

[Lynchy04]

Head averages 39 in FC cricket, its not good enough to be a lock. He is an average cricketer who shouldn't be a lock for the national side, more suited to a reserve batsman in a squad at best.

 

[bh90210fan]

Wade has a far better average and strike rate when batting at 5 than 6. Green is the rookie, he slots into 6 and stays there until he is worthy of moving up. If they felt 5 was his best spot he'd have gone there first test instead of moving Head up.

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

 

[bh90210fan]

I like it - mostly.

Head out - good Adelaide boy, but gets out too often the same way, we can't afford his frequent lapses of concentration.

Pucov should come in, but I'd prefer him in the middle order, for now, at least.

So Wade either stays opener, or we drop him and go with Harris. I'm a Wade fan (and I wasn't when he started, but he fought his arse off and did everything to deserve a Test shot) and I think Burns has put the entire top order under massive pressure due to his inability to score.

So, for now, I'd keep Wade in... BUT, I would consider dropping Green. I rate him, and he could be something special, but I don't think we need an all-rounder in this side, with our batting so frail. On that basis, I'd consider Harris in to open, and Wade down the order for Green. But Green is clearly a huge prospect, so wouldn't be bothered if we kept him.

So I'd go with;

Warner
Wade
Labushagne
Smith
Pucovski
Greene
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazelwood

We need an opener. We’re not doing Pucovski any favours by letting him settle into a spot in the middle order only to shift him around later on. If he needs protecting then he shouldn’t be picked at all

 

[Voice of the G]

Head averages 39 in FC cricket, its not good enough to be a lock. He is an average cricketer who shouldn't be a lock for the national side, more suited to a reserve batsman in a squad at best.

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.

 

[Lynchy04]

The problem is not a lot of Batsmen knocking down the door but my argument is Head averages 39 in FC cricket, basically Daniel Hughes, Kurtis Pattison, Nic Maddinson, Usman Khawaja , and Glen Maxwell all average around that with Khawaja around 42 I think. Not sure about Shaun Marsh but In am sure he and Handscombe would be all similar to.

Head is not good enough to be a lock but if he is good enough to get selected than I cant see why any of that group can't be picked going forward.

 

[Richard Pryor]

The problem is not a lot of Batsmen knocking down the door but my argument is Head averages 39 in FC cricket, basically Daniel Hughes, Kurtis Pattison, Nic Maddinson, Usman Khawaja , and Glen Maxwell all average around that with Khawaja around 42 I think. Not sure about Shaun Marsh but In am sure he and Handscombe would be all similar to.

Head is not good enough to be a lock but if he is good enough to get selected than I cant see why any of that group can't be picked going forward.

Agreed, and this all goes back to the major issue of no FC cricket being played right now to accommodate the BBL, which means there is always going to be a massive incumbency bias going forward (essentially turning our home series into a situation where our squad management is basically the same as if we were on tour) unless something changes.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

As a Queenslander and fan of the underdog really wanted Burns to succeed at Test level but unfortunately the poor bloke is done. Still has and will continue to have a great State career.

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.