Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[Badesumofu]

How can you judge Carey on his FC form over the last 15 months seeing he has not played ... for all we know his batting might have improved if given the chance of playing more FC cricket.

I believe what I said was that he needs to be playing more of it for that exact reason. You can't pick someone because 'for all we know he might have improved'. But things like playing IPL while the Shield is on, are a choice. I don't begrude him playing that when he's making half a million bucks. Not at all. But the fact remains that he could have played 4 Shield matches this season. If he'd done that and made a lot of runs then this would be a different conversation.

 

[scotty13]

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.

Sorry, yes I mean as a partnership (if openers were to average 50+ then they would be some of the greatest players)... The reality is a good opening partnership will go for 100+ and if might be a 60/40 or 70/30 split one innings, and the reverse the next.
Openers should be able to see off the new ball.

 

[Millky95]

Bailey was always an average cricketer and was selected on the ‘good bloke’ principle

People can shit on Bailey all they want but he never lost a single test match AND lead to some of the best moments in Ashes history

 

[11kgm]

Looks like India are keen on changes

Sharma Rahul and Thakur in

Agrawal Vahari and Yadav Out

 

[BlueandGoldforever]

It is a pity it has started raining, I was enjoying that Shaun Marsh master class.

 

[The hands of stone]

I’m worried about puc’s ability to play the short ball

I’d leave him out for the summer

I wasn't overly worried until the last the one , the way he played it and obviously the impact.
The rest of his game is good to go but as someone said there is nowhere to hid in test cricket

 

[Greenery]

Are we seriously talking about Carey as an option for the Test team? His FC record is seriously ordinary. It's not ideal that he struggles to play enough FC Cricket, but ultimately he and/or CA need to find a way to get him some FC Cricket if he/they want him to play Tests. Because you could not pick him as a batter on his current record. Not sure I'd pick him as a keeper, either.

He is so overrated, a decent middle order noodler, can't slog, terrible keeper.
If he wants to go the Wade route and dedicate himself to be a specialist batsman he can go for it.

While I'm on it I think Nic Maddinson should be given a chance at least to be in the squad.
He has 2 years of elite shield performance on his back and Puc can't be considered 8 concussions? Mans could find himself Mccartin/Hughes danger.

Harris really doesn;t have the technique for test cricket (weak outside off caught on the offside too often) but who else is there? Poor Renshaw never got a proper run after starting so well and doesn;t open for his state anymore, Khawaja has been exiled.

I suppose they want to pick someone and stick with them (like Burns) this is going to be very difficult especially with Warner publicly discussing international retirement.

 

[Voice of the G]

I believe what I said was that he needs to be playing more of it for that exact reason. You can't pick someone because 'for all we know he might have improved'. But things like playing IPL while the Shield is on, are a choice. I don't begrude him playing that when he's making half a million bucks. Not at all. But the fact remains that he could have played 4 Shield matches this season. If he'd done that and made a lot of runs then this would be a different conversation.

I

He is so overrated, a decent middle order noodler, can't slog, terrible keeper.
If he wants to go the Wade route and dedicate himself to be a specialist batsman he can go for it.

While I'm on it I think Nic Maddinson should be given a chance at least to be in the squad.
He has 2 years of elite shield performance on his back and Puc can't be considered 8 concussions? Mans could find himself Mccartin/Hughes danger.

Harris really doesn;t have the technique for test cricket (weak outside off caught on the offside too often) but who else is there? Poor Renshaw never got a proper run after starting so well and doesn;t open for his state anymore, Khawaja has been exiled.

I suppose they want to pick someone and stick with them (like Burns) this is going to be very difficult especially with Warner publicly discussing international retirement.

With Warner international retirement what do you mean.Makes sense to give test cricket away for him and play T20,s and 1 day games where the money is.

 

[TheMcManusNose]

On the Carey issue.

There was a good reddit thread of shield batting averages last 3 years:



In a small sample size Carey has averaged 45 over that period for the 9th best record as a batsman. Whiteman the next best keeper at 39 (note he doesn't keep for WA currently, has been overtaken by Inglis, who averages 33 in FC in his career).

My take from the rest is that Wade and Head certainly deserve their places barring continued failure, especially when you consider form this year in addition to this. Unless people want to advocate for players like Maddinson and Harris over them, who IMO are in the same box as players with good records but specific flaws currently holding them back from being certain selections at the highest level. Each will have their passionate defenders but ultimately IMO you can throw a blanket over them. My personal opinion is that dropping someone like Head now for one of those players (sans Pucovski) is counterproductive in that he will go and play BBL and nothing will change.

Pucovski is the wild card and that obviously centres entirely around health.

 

[BronCrow]

He is so overrated, a decent middle order noodler, can't slog, terrible keeper.
If he wants to go the Wade route and dedicate himself to be a specialist batsman he can go for it.

While I'm on it I think Nic Maddinson should be given a chance at least to be in the squad.
He has 2 years of elite shield performance on his back and Puc can't be considered 8 concussions? Mans could find himself Mccartin/Hughes danger.

Harris really doesn;t have the technique for test cricket (weak outside off caught on the offside too often) but who else is there? Poor Renshaw never got a proper run after starting so well and doesn;t open for his state anymore, Khawaja has been exiled.

I suppose they want to pick someone and stick with them (like Burns) this is going to be very difficult especially with Warner publicly discussing international retirement.

Agree that Carey doesn't have the sort of form at this stage in the longer form of the game to make a serious case to be picked purely on his batting. Nowhere near as good a gloveman as Paine either. Actually, by the time Paine is finished, I have a suspicion that Carey may have missed the boat on Test Cricket, with Josh Inglis overtaking him. Admittedly, have not seen a lot of Inglis' keeping.

Wasn't aware that Pucovski's concussion history was that bad. As it appears that is the case they owe to him not to pick him. It may be cruel now but he and his loved ones will thank him later in life.

Harris has not shown any great sign of being up to it at Test Level. Plays at a lot of balls he doesn't need to play at.

A smokey to open for mine would be Sam Whiteman. Has made 3 centuries and 3 half centuries in his last 6 FC matches. Also a former keeper as well.

 

[Cleavy]

Warner targets SCG return despite lingering concerns | cricket.com.au

David Warner admits he is unlikely to be fully fit in time for the third Test at the SCG, but...

www.cricket.com.au

so do we gamble on Warner or not?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Warner targets SCG return despite lingering concerns | cricket.com.au

David Warner admits he is unlikely to be fully fit in time for the third Test at the SCG, but...

www.cricket.com.au

so do we gamble on Warner or not?

Easy question

Yes we do

Especially if the alternative is Harris

 

[Voice of the G]

Easy question

Yes we do

Especially if the alternative is Harris

Would play Harris before a unfit Warner any day.Not worth the risk in making injury worse.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Would play Harris before a unfit Warner any day.Not worth the risk in making injury worse.

I’d easily play Warner

 

[Voice of the G]

I’d easily play Warner

We agree to disagree again,lol.

 

[11kgm]

Depends hows cooked Warner is?

If not PUC for Burns

 

[hawkman]

If the forecast is terrible i wouldn't play Warner and save him for Brisbane

 

[Cleavy]

throwing it out there as an option: Harris & Pucovski to open and Wade moves to 5?

 

[Voice of the G]

throwing it out there as an option: Harris & Pucovski to open and Wade moves to 5?

Just makes sense especially if Pucovski is going to open,they have had some wonderful partnerships in the shield this year and with Harris being the senior partner surely it will help Pucovski.

 

[Gough]

Hey RohitSharma, who's been a naughty boy?

 

[eddiesmith]

throwing it out there as an option: Harris & Pucovski to open and Wade moves to 5?

No chance, if they wouldn’t pick Harris ahead of Burns he isn’t playing ahead of Head

 

[The Passenger]

throwing it out there as an option: Harris & Pucovski to open and Wade moves to 5?

Harris won't get picked in front of Head. He only plays if neither Puc or Warner gets up.

 

[Blackhawk42]

Am I the only one thinking that we won't see Pucovski at all this series?

They surely can't drop Wade.

I don't see Head being dropped for a debutant when we already have the inexperienced Green in the lineup.

Warner for Burns is obvious.

I'm of the view that we'll see Warner and Wade open the batting.

 

[Voice of the G]

Am I the only one thinking that we won't see Pucovski at all this series?

They surely can't drop Wade.

I don't see Head being dropped for a debutant when we already have the inexperienced Green in the lineup.

Warner for Burns is obvious.

I'm of the view that we'll see Warner and Wade open the batting.

I am not convinced in playing Warner when he is not fully fit.Will be a liability in the field and our fielding is not good at the moment for starters.Wade will not be dropped,I would open with Harris and Pucovski and bat Wade at 5 but similar to you it worries me a bit 2 young blokes in the top 6 but about time Labs and Smith step up and play their part.

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Is Sydney going to give us a result ? Or we likely to lose days of play to weather like so often happens in Sydney ?

Anyways I'm picking Warner and Puc for Burns and Head and batting Wade at 5 if it was up to me.