Ongoing Test match XI speculation thread.

[Blackhawk42]

Far out that limited overs squad is average...

Can’t say I could do better though. Grim.

Is it though? It exists in that form due to the test side being selected simultaneously.
Finch, Maxwell, Starc and Zampa are world class. Everybody else thoroughly deserves their selection. This would be a very competitive side even with the test squad players missing.

 

[Some Idiot]

Bryce Street has 635 first class runs in his whole career.

He won't need his passport for another year or two.

Agreed, looks to have the right temperament but needs to find more ways to score. Strike rate of 30 on the roads we've seen in the shield, would struggle to find a run against a good test side.
Has plenty of time to build a case in the future.

 

[theyellowsash]

After some though, this is how I think we line up against both NZ (T20s) and South Africa (Tests)

South Africa Squad (17 Players)
Openers
- W.Pucovski
- D.Hughes
- U.Khawaja (Versatility as an opener or in the middle order)
Middle Order
- M.Labuschagne
- S.Smith
- T.Head
All-Rounders
- C.Green
- M.Henriques
Wicket Keepers
- T.Paine
- J.Inglis
Fast Bowlers
- P.Cummins
- J.Hazlewood
- J.Pattinson
- M.Neser
- J.Richardson
Spinners
- N.Lyon
- M.Swepson

New Zealand Squad (16 Players)
Batsmen
- A.Finch
- D.Warner
- D.Short
- M.Wade
- B.McDermott
All Rounders
- M.Stoinis
- M.Marsh (If he is fit)
- G.Maxwell
Keepers
- A.Carey
- J.Philippe
Fast Bowlers
- R.Meredith
- W.Agar
- M.Starc
- A.Tye
Spinners
- A.Zampa
- A.Agar (If he is fit)

I have opted to go strong to New Zealand for 2 reasons. Firstly, as we have a t20 world cup this year, I think it is important if we get games into guys like Warner, Starc & Wade as they will all be in the squad. Secondly, as they haven't been performing that well (and in Warners case, coming off a somewhat serious injury) it is better they travel to New Zealand and we give others a chance at their roles. Riley Meredith, Andrew Tye & Wes Agar will get the chance to earn their sripes in the t20 squads through strong performances in the big bash and having attributes I personally like. McDermott, Philippe and others will also be pushing for permanent selection in this area. Other players we could bring if we want a larger squad are Lynn, Sams, Chris Green or Turner. We could opt to bring youth like Ollie Davies, Max Bryant or Mackenzie Harvey as well but I personally have other ideas.

As for South Africa, I have opted for a squad of 17. I want to try Daniel Hughes as an opener alongside Pucovski. He has been super consistent for a lot of shield seasons and could prove to be a handy opener. I have taken Khawaja as depth as he is a very versatile player. Moises Henriques might also play a 5 if Head doesn't perform. Josh Inglis probably doesn't start and we keep Tim Paine but he seems promising and IMO, our future keeper so taking him in the squad could improve his development. Swepson can maybe debut for Lyon one game but I still think Lyon is our first choice spin. Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser & James Pattinson will battle for the title of 3rd string fast bowler. Gives us the option, to give one of the main 2 a rest as well and play 2 off them. If we want more players, we can bring along Harris, Handscomb, Patterson, Abbott, Sayers or Bird.

What taking so many players also does is give our shield teams a great opportunity to play youth. Guys like Harvey, McGurk, Davies, Jason & Tanveer Sangha among others all get the chance to play a few shield games and get more practice in the red ball format.

head shouldnt be there, and the only reason henriques would ever get a go is the colour of his state cap. id have thought that khawaja wouldnt get yet another chance either, hes tried and failed many times. surely there are some better options.

 

[SSwans2011]

No idea what to do with the captaincy. I'd suppose Labuschagne would make the most sense if not Smith, so would ideally look at transitioning to that.

As for South Africa, my preferred XI would be:
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Patterson
Green
Paine (c) (wk)
Pattinson
Richardson
Cummins
Hazlewood

That is assuming Green is fit enough to chip in with the ball. Labuschagne and Smith to chip in with spin overs. Lyon's summer was particularly concerning. He was a bit unlucky with a few missed chances and poor calls, but didn't really look threatening all series. If conditions necessitate a spinner, I'd like to see Swepson given a chace based on Shield form this season.

Patterson deserves another crack if fit. Head is probably next in line after that. For the rest of the squad, I would select McDermott, Inglis, Neser and Lyon.

I'd personally prefer Khawaja as opener over Warner, but that's not going to happen.

 

[ozaddy]

No idea what to do with the captaincy. I'd suppose Labuschagne would make the most sense if not Smith, so would ideally look at transitioning to that.

As for South Africa, my preferred XI would be:
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Patterson
Green
Paine (c) (wk)
Pattinson
Richardson
Cummins
Hazlewood

That is assuming Green is fit enough to chip in with the ball. Labuschagne and Smith to chip in with spin overs. Lyon's summer was particularly concerning. He was a bit unlucky with a few missed chances and poor calls, but didn't really look threatening all series. If conditions necessitate a spinner, I'd like to see Swepson given a chace based on Shield form this season.

Patterson deserves another crack if fit. Head is probably next in line after that. For the rest of the squad, I would select McDermott, Inglis, Neser and Lyon.

I'd personally prefer Khawaja as opener over Warner, but that's not going to happen.

How are pattersons figures any better than head? First class isn't and test, the same game kurtis played in where he scored 114no, travis got 164 and 59 no in second innings, so because travis is very ordinary according to quite a few on here, those scores must not mean anything.

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[eddiesmith]

No idea what to do with the captaincy. I'd suppose Labuschagne would make the most sense if not Smith, so would ideally look at transitioning to that.

As for South Africa, my preferred XI would be:
Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Patterson
Green
Paine (c) (wk)
Pattinson
Richardson
Cummins
Hazlewood

That is assuming Green is fit enough to chip in with the ball. Labuschagne and Smith to chip in with spin overs. Lyon's summer was particularly concerning. He was a bit unlucky with a few missed chances and poor calls, but didn't really look threatening all series. If conditions necessitate a spinner, I'd like to see Swepson given a chace based on Shield form this season.

Patterson deserves another crack if fit. Head is probably next in line after that. For the rest of the squad, I would select McDermott, Inglis, Neser and Lyon.

I'd personally prefer Khawaja as opener over Warner, but that's not going to happen.

A shield average of 23 is worth another shot?

As for Labs, I feel he is way too immature, if you watch him in the review huddles Australia would burn their reviews inside the first over every innings.

But captaincy options are extremely limited after Paine. Smith was just no good and a fast bowler could be a disaster as they either under bowl themselves or burn themselves out.

 

[Scratchy05]

head shouldnt be there, and the only reason henriques would ever get a go is the colour of his state cap. id have thought that khawaja wouldnt get yet another chance either, hes tried and failed many times. surely there are some better options.

Look at state cricket, unfortunately there are not any unless you keep Wade & Warner but I'm also looking to the t20 world cup with them.

 

[Scratchy05]

Interesting question. Who gets sent over to SA has the back up keeper?

Carey is the T20 keeper and with a World Cup coming up you’d probably want him getting ready for that rather than sitting on the bench in SAF. Although he is next keeper in line for the test side.
Not sure what squad Wade will be in. Is he good enough to be the second keeper in a test squad.
Throw McDermott in the same boat he’ll be in one of the squads but don’t know which one.
Phillipe will likely be in the T20 squad.

Keen to get others thoughts?

McDermott is a shocking keeper. Keep him as a batsmen in the T20 squad. Inglis is an easy choice IMO.

 

[cats_09]

A shield average of 23 is worth another shot?

As for Labs, I feel he is way too immature, if you watch him in the review huddles Australia would burn their reviews inside the first over every innings.

But captaincy options are extremely limited after Paine. Smith was just no good and a fast bowler could be a disaster as they either under bowl themselves or burn themselves out.

He isn't exactly the best at judging when to call for a review is he - at times he seems to have called for a review even before the umpire has given him out, he's suggested to teammates that they should review & thankfully some teammates have ignored him when they know they are out

Someone joked about a player reviewing when they are bowled because less than half the ball made contact with the stumps - could almost see Lab being that player

 

[theyellowsash]

Look at state cricket, unfortunately there are not any unless you keep Wade & Warner but I'm also looking to the t20 world cup with them.

what about renshaw? looked like a future star at test level, got dropped after a couple of down games. but in 5 innings has scored 276 runs.

 

[Docker82]

Is it though? It exists in that form due to the test side being selected simultaneously.
Finch, Maxwell, Starc and Zampa are world class. Everybody else thoroughly deserves their selection. This would be a very competitive side even with the test squad players missing.

I honestly disagree. That side relies way too much on the players above (Starc will in South Africa though). Virtually everyone else isn't proven at international level or is just not good enough.

 

[ozaddy]

I guess all those quoting bbl scores will now have alex carey in their next test side

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[eddiesmith]

I guess all those quoting bbl scores will now have alex carey in their next test side

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Just go back a few pages to when he last passed 20

 

[toml]

Do the people suggesting players go to South Africa simply for "experience" realise this will mean they will be missing the 2nd half of the Shield season just to run Smithy out a new pair of gloves every 2 overs? In an ideal world the NZ series will be canned so guys like Mcdermott, Philippe, J.Richardson etc can play Shield, won't happen though.

 

[archibald]

Unlike Headingley where they had the Smith excuse and Australia still drew the series, the selectors usually wield the axe after bad losses like this.

However it’s also feasible they’ll blame it all on Wade and Harris and no changes to the overrated and pathetic NSW bowling attack.

Hows Wade's average at number 5 going?

 

[archibald]

Now, I'm all for laying the boots into Mitchell Starc (psychologically don't think he has it), but do we honestly think that whoever we picked in his place would have had any impact on the result? Would love to see Richardson take Starc's spot EVENTUALLY as he could be as good as Cummins, but Neser or Abbott? I'll stick with Starc thanks.

As for the calling for Tim Paine's blood, its pretty pathetic and typically reactive of Australian Cricket. The question again is who's the better option? No one. We are a mediocre side at the moment and without accepting that, nothing changes.

 

[cricketnut14]

Now, I'm all for laying the boots into Mitchell Starc (psychologically don't think he has it), but do we honestly think that whoever we picked in his place would have had any impact on the result? Would love to see Richardson take Starc's spot EVENTUALLY as he could be as good as Cummins, but Neser or Abbott? I'll stick with Starc thanks.

As for the calling for Tim Paine's blood, its pretty pathetic and typically reactive of Australian Cricket. The question again is who's the better option? No one. We are a mediocre side at the moment and without accepting that, nothing changes.

i tend to disagree about the mediocre comment.

we were mediocre on day 5 in sydney and brisbane - yes. starc, lyon and paine underperformed and it cost us.

i still think all 3 are in our best XI for now.

on paper we have a really good side with most bases covered.

if pucovski and green are the real deal then good things to come.

starc, lyon and paine may be on borrowed time but their is the captaincy issue to sort out.

pattinson could walk into the team no worries and you are always going to have unlucky guys like neser etc.

the #5 spot needs covering, whether its puckovski to 5 and harris opens etc, or we go back to head or back someone else in.

warner - world class
puckovski - potential to be a great - excellent first class record
labuschagne - could easily average mid/high 40's by the time he finishes his career
smith - world class
????????????????
green - potential to be a great - excellent first class record
paine - has been more than adequate throughout his career
cummins - world class
starc - good overall record
lyon - good overall record
hazlewood - on the next tier to cummins - elite

 

[Tugga27]

And leading the way for the dumbest article of the year.

Will Stanton in today's Australian saying Finch should be made test captain.

Aaron Finch is the Brearley-esque answer to Australia’s problems

Aaron Finch for Test captain. He’s the best leader in world cricket. He’s another Mike Brearley for his mastery of men. He’s a more dangerous batsman than Brearley ever was. His cricketing brain, cunning and intuition is second to none. He’s unfailingly respectful and universally respected. Bat him at five, he come off often enough. Alex Carey gets the gloves, bats seven, deputy skipper. Tim Paine gets thanked for his services and receives a generous round of applause.

 

[cricketnut14]

And leading the way for the dumbest article of the year.

Will Stanton in today's Australian saying Finch should be made test captain.

Aaron Finch is the Brearley-esque answer to Australia’s problems

Aaron Finch for Test captain. He’s the best leader in world cricket. He’s another Mike Brearley for his mastery of men. He’s a more dangerous batsman than Brearley ever was. His cricketing brain, cunning and intuition is second to none. He’s unfailingly respectful and universally respected. Bat him at five, he come off often enough. Alex Carey gets the gloves, bats seven, deputy skipper. Tim Paine gets thanked for his services and receives a generous round of applause.

and bats @ 5.

thats a short term solution at best i think.

but yeah, thats outside the box kinda stuff.

 

[Blue Arrow]

I guess all those quoting bbl scores will now have alex carey in their next test side

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Good enough for Warney, good enough for us.
Carey has a FC average of 34 and is in with a chance to be a specialist test batsmen, sad days.

 

[toml]

Carey keeping in the test side? He's Wade-esque with the gloves, no thanks

 

[eth-dog]

Aaron Finch is at best on the borderline of Victoria's FC XI, let alone in Australia's.

 

[LordLucifer]

Australia's massive money-spinning problem (msn.com)

Chappelli has been reading our posts.

 

[Scratchy05]

what about renshaw? looked like a future star at test level, got dropped after a couple of down games. but in 5 innings has scored 276 runs.

Hasn't even been opening as of late, nor performing.

 

[The Passenger]

and bats @ 5.

thats a short term solution at best i think.

but yeah, thats outside the box kinda stuff.

I think Finch parachuted into the test captaincy is best to remain outside the box kinda stuff.