Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[LukeParkerno1]

I agree on Pucovski before Harris.Remember the old saying in sport,risky playing unfit players.

There’s different scales of “unfit”...80% is good enough

 

[a mayes ing]

...It's not even a debate. Warner isn't 100%fit. Paine and Langer have both said he isn't 100% fit but they are taking the risk.

 

[11kgm]

Why has warner taken a month to get over a minor strain

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Why has warner taken a month to get over a minor strain

It's not a hammy, groin strains generally take a bit longer, especially when you factor in running between wickets.

 

[The Passenger]

Unless something goes wrong at the 11th hour, we will be playing our best XI tomorrow which means no more excuses with the batting. No blaming on selectors (who were on a hiding to nothing with injuries in the first two tests anyway) or any other external factors.

With the emergence of Labu to support Smith and the promise shown from Green and Pucovski - whilst Warner is always a gun at home - it felt like our batting was the best placed it's been since the retirement of Hayden at the end of 08/09 on the back of earlier retirements* but so far that has been a mirage. It's only been two tests (against what must be said is a good bowling line up), but they've been two really really poor batting displays.

Obviously missing two of those five players hurts, and in any case two of the five are test match rookies which meant regardless of injuries it was always going to be a little bit of a rocky road at the start. Nevertheless, it's time to put our best foot forward with the bat and get things back on track because I do think this group of five can steer a good batting line up for the next 4-5 years (taking Smith through to the age 35 or 36), even taking into account the likely retirement of Warner soon.

Or maybe I was just being too optimistic... Our batting depth is still atrocious and arguably the worst it's been in 30 years (even longer?) and maybe that accounts for what has happened so far this summer.

*It was also straight on the back of Hayden's retirement that the decline of Ponting started and since then you'd have never rated our overall batting strength as anything better than decent, and there's been plenty of stretches where it's fallen well below that.

 

[ozaddy]

Unless something goes wrong at the 11th hour, we will be playing our best XI tomorrow

In your opinion. In my opinion I would have selected a level headed 26 year old without a doubt some issues that can be worked on, instead of a impulsive 33 year old with a very similar form guide.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

In your opinion. In my opinion I would have selected a level headed 26 year old without a doubt some issues that can be worked on, instead of a impulsive 33 year old with a very similar form guide.

Wade is much more likely to at worst fight for every ball. Both will score the same amount of runs but Wade actually doesn’t get out the same way over and over again

 

[eth-dog]

In your opinion. In my opinion I would have selected a level headed 26 year old without a doubt some issues that can be worked on, instead of a impulsive 33 year old with a very similar form guide.

I assume you're referring to Head and Wade? If Head is "level-headed" they must have changed the definition of it.

 

[The Passenger]

In your opinion. In my opinion I would have selected a level headed 26 year old without a doubt some issues that can be worked on, instead of a impulsive 33 year old with a very similar form guide.

If we are talking about our bext XI the difference between choosing Head or Wade is negligible.

Also I pointed out that we have a clear best five batsmen. Wade and Head are battling for number 6. The gap from them to our 8th best is huge, and - is I addressed in that post - means our depth is horrendous.

Head/Wade (and others) are 50/50 selections. There's a reason for that. They won't win test matches. That's why they are 50/50 selections.

People need to lose grasp that their 50/50 selections are the panacea of our batting problems. None of these guys were ever gonna be consistent match winners - S Marsh, Burns, Khawaja, Dooland, Harris, Bancroft, North, Cowan, Ferguson, Handscomb, Finch, Maxwell et al - all fall into this category. They are 50/50 selections for a reason.

 

[ozaddy]

If we are talking about our bext XI the difference between choosing Head or Wade is negligible.

Also I pointed out that we have a clear best five batsmen. Wade and Head are battling for number 6. The gap from them to our 8th best is huge, and - is I addressed in that post - means our depth is horrendous.

Head/Wade (and others) are 50/50 selections. There's a reason for that. They won't win test matches. That's why they are 50/50 selections.

People need to lose grasp that their 50/50 selections are the panacea of our batting problems. None of these guys were ever gonna be consistent match winners - S Marsh, Burns, Khawaja, Dooland, Harris, Bancroft, North, Cowan, Ferguson, Handscomb, Finch, Maxwell et al - all fall into this category. They are 50/50 selections for a reason.

Some players such as Steve Smith (averaged 37 after similar tests as Head) were given an extended go to find their feet at this level, I can't see why someone like Head at his age couldn't be afforded the same level of go. Though this will be controversial. but I would do the same with the next wicketkeeper and make Smith the captain again.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Some players such as Steve Smith (averaged 37 after similar tests as Head) were given an extended go to find their feet at this level, I can't see why someone like Head at his age couldn't be afforded the same level of go. Though this will be controversial. but I would do the same with the next wicketkeeper and make Smith the captain again.

Head has a horrible technique outside off stump.

 

[The Passenger]

Some players such as Steve Smith (averaged 37 after similar tests as Head) were given an extended go to find their feet at this level, I can't see why someone like Head at his age couldn't be afforded the same level of go. Though this will be controversial. but I would do the same with the next wicketkeeper and make Smith the captain again.

Head has been given a similar amount of chances to guys who got dropped and came back better players.

This is completely off the top of my head so my not be entirely accurate, but it's fairly accurate - most of the guys got dropped at some point in their careers and came back better players - Hayden, S Waugh, Ponting, Martyn, Clarke, Smith (not sure ?), Langer, Hussey (yes - his early career was in and out of the team)....

Head is at the point of his career as pretty much all those guys. he's done OK. But maybe the crucial part of all those guys. The "Making of them" so to speak... All of these guys got dropped at some point. Head is probably at that point where he will cop the same treatment.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong - I rate Head. But it's his turn to take a spell.

 

[The Passenger]

Not having a go at you at ozaddy cause I admire you're enthusiasm, but where this argument falls flat:

Player X has a better average than Steve Waugh, Damien Martyn, Matthew Hayden so just give them a chance

at the same point of their careers.

They forget almost all of those guys got dropped at some point and came back better players.

 

[Doashuey]

I think Head has had a fair crack at it and if he is left in the test team just to give him more time whilst repeating the same mistakes, he wont improve. He has had the same issues for years now, lack of foot work and impulsively playing at wide outside off deliveries. A kick in the arse and a move back to Shield to work on that rather than accepting these flaws will make him a better player if he goes back and works on it, or he becomes another has-been if he doesnt. Either way, I think the right decision has been made and hope it results in him forcing his way back into the team as an improved player who earns the spot back.

 

[ozaddy]

Not having a go at you at ozaddy cause I admire you're enthusiasm, but where this argument falls flat:

Player X has a better average than Steve Waugh, Damien Martyn, Matthew Hayden so just give them a chance

at the same point of their careers.

They forget almost all of those guys got dropped at some point and came back better players.

I don't recall them being replaced by an aging player nearing end of career (not sure who M Hussey replaced in team).

 

[The Passenger]

I don't recall them being replaced by an aging player nearing end of career (not sure who M Hussey replaced in team).

Huh? Literally off the top of my head at the time

Hayden -> Slater
Martyn -> M Waugh

All those guys got replaced by better players.

Head will be fine. He's a good batsman. But it's his time to get replaced. He (head) is not batting well enough.

 

[ozaddy]

I think Head has had a fair crack at it and if he is left in the test team just to give him more time whilst repeating the same mistakes, he wont improve. He has had the same issues for years now, lack of foot work and impulsively playing at wide outside off deliveries. A kick in the arse and a move back to Shield to work on that rather than accepting these flaws will make him a better player if he goes back and works on it, or he becomes another has-been if he doesnt. Either way, I think the right decision has been made and hope it results in him forcing his way back into the team as an improved player who earns the spot back.

Personally being a port supporter, doing a shuey and taking a dive makes me want to puke in my mouth, but back on cricket. I think people are forgetting that every player has struggled in this series against a pretty good indian attack, but to single out Head who i admit frustratingly is getting out after getting through the initial part of his innings is equally frustrating. If Labs didn't have the opposite amount of luck than what Aaron Finch is getting in the BBL, then his return would be equal to Burns. Not saying want Labs to go out, just the level of vomit directed at head, when you step back its disproportionate. Scapegoat anyone?

 

[ozaddy]

Huh? Literally off the top of my head at the time

Hayden -> Slater
Martyn -> M Waugh

All those guys got replaced by better players.

Head will be fine. He's a good batsman. But it's his time to get replaced. He (head) is not batting well enough.

All those players were retired by 33 (without looking it up) - just looked it up, and i am wrong

 

[Doashuey]

Personally being a port supporter, doing a shuey and taking a dive makes me want to puke in my mouth,

I hope it tastes as good coming up as going down.

I dont think most are scapegoating Head, I think it is just a fact that we have to make room for Green in the middle order and now we have Warner and Puc in as openers, it becomes a battle of 2 spots between Wade and Head and Wade has been the better performing batsman this series and deserves to stay in over Head. Using past averages to make the decision is unwize, current form is a better guide as to which of the 2 is more likely to help Australia win this test. HEad has had a decent run at it and if he goes back and works on deficiencies, he will get another crack at it and hopefully have a better career for it.

 

[The Passenger]

All those players were retired by 33 (without looking it up) - just looked it up, and i am wrong

And?

 

[ozaddy]

And?

Just think a mate has tapped a mate on the back, you're in pal. I always think that 50/50 decisions should go with the significantly younger player, especially when the younger one is more mature than the other choice.

 

[ozaddy]

I hope it tastes as good coming up as going down.

I dont think most are scapegoating Head, I think it is just a fact that we have to make room for Green in the middle order and now we have Warner and Puc in as openers, it becomes a battle of 2 spots between Wade and Head and Wade has been the better performing batsman this series and deserves to stay in over Head. Using past averages to make the decision is unwize, current form is a better guide as to which of the 2 is more likely to help Australia win this test. HEad has had a decent run at it and if he goes back and works on deficiencies, he will get another crack at it and hopefully have a better career for it.

30, 40, 8, 33
38, 17, 7

Current form is not a lot different.

 

[barrackers]

30, 40, 8, 33
38, 17, 7

Current form is not a lot different.

More to form than numbers. Head is out of touch and getting out to bad shots. In an unfamiliar specialist role Wade looked capable of a bigger score with a bit of luck (getting caught after a middled shot deflected off short leg for example). Like Finch I think Wade is out of his depth as an opener, but for mine on form Wade's a better bet than Head in the middle order right now. Head is still young enough to come back and if that happens I hope it's off a weight of Shield runs.

 

[frankrizzo]

Some players such as Steve Smith (averaged 37 after similar tests as Head) were given an extended go to find their feet at this level, I can't see why someone like Head at his age couldn't be afforded the same level of go. Though this will be controversial. but I would do the same with the next wicketkeeper and make Smith the captain again.

smiths spot was under serious pressure early during that 5-0 ashes but he made two tons in that series when we were in trouble early, he was really the only frontline batsman to give proper support to haddin during those first innings collapses, a bad ashes and he probably gets dropped not carried.

 

[eddiesmith]

Head can feel a bit unlucky being dropped for an unfit Davey who played exactly the same loose shot Head was condemned for