eth-dog
Tier 1 WW Player
I won't call it halfway point because, well, Victoria have only played twice, Queensland and New South Wales three times and Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia four times. But yeah, it's mostly stats based because you can't watch every game.
1. Will Pucovski (2 matches, 3 innings', 495 runs at 247.5 with 2x 100's and 0x 50's). Puck has been the best opener in the Shield so far this season, without a shadow of a doubt. Two double centuries, leading run scorer, deserves his spot here.
2. Marcus Harris (2 matches, 3 innings', 355 runs at 118.3 with 1x 100 and 1x 50). Harris' double century puts him slightly ahead of Whiteman for me, and has been excellent value at the top of Victoria's order for me.
3. Shaun Marsh (4 matches, 6 innings', 485 runs at 97 with 3x 100's and 1x 50, c). In the absence of little brother Mitchell, Shaun has captained WA to 1 win and 3 draws whilst batting extremely well, signified by having more centuries than any other player.
4. Travis Head (4 matches, 8 innings', 455 runs at 65 with 2x 100's and 1x 50). Head has been gallant in getting South Australia to two draws with a couple of second innings centuries that guided them safely home, was almost captain.
5. Cameron Green (4 matches, 6 innings', 363 runs at 72.6 with 1x 100 and 2x 50's). Green's form with the bat has continued this season, he's now the most likely to enter the middle order of Australia if Wade or Head fail in the first couple of tests.
6. Moises Henriques (3 matches, 6 innings', 338 runs at 67.6 with 2x 100's and 0x 50's). I ummed and ahhed at this for a while between him and McDermott, but in the end McDermott's failure to convert his multiple 50's into 100's cost him.
7. Josh Inglis (4 matches, 5 innings', 354 runs at 118 with 2x 100's and 1x 50, +). Inglis has firmly put himself as a challenger to Alex Carey as Australia's next test keeper with a lot of runs this year whilst batting extremely well. Clear choice for this spot.
8. Sean Abbott (3 matches, 5 innings', 261 runs at 130.5 with 1x 100 and 2x 50's; 92.5 overs, 14 wickets at 17.92, SR 39.7, ER 2.7, 1x 5-for, 0x 10-for's). Wow, great start to the season for Abbott with both bat and ball. 14th on the runs list means he could feasibly be batting at 7 here but with Green in the top 6 you probably don't need 5 bowlers.
9. Mitchell Swepson (4 matches, 191 overs, 23 wickets at 21.17 SR 52.5, ER 2.41, 3x 5-for's, 1x 10-for). If it wasn't the case before this year (it was), Mitchell Swepson has locked in his place as the heir apparent to Nathan Lyon, taking the most wickets in the comp at this point.
10. Scott Boland (2 matches, 80 overs, 11 wickets at 19.9, SR 43.6, ER 2.73, 1x 5-for, 0x 10-for's). Ummed and ahhed at this one too, Boland or Copeland? But Boland has been the significantly better offensive bowler with more wickets, wickets per match and strike rate whilst still being defensively sound so it just edged his way.
11. Jackson Bird (4 matches, 157.1 overs, 15 wickets at 25.06, SR 62.8, ER 2.39, 0x 5-for's, 0x 10-for's). He hasn't got a 5 wicket haul but he's second in the wickets tally and has bowled very well this year, hence his average and economy rate being very good.
Without the blurb:
1. Pucovski
2. Harris
3. Marsh (c)
4. Head
5. Green
6. Henriques
7. Inglis (+)
8. Abbott
9. Swepson
10. Boland
11. Bird
Squad: Sam Whiteman, Ben McDermott, Ashton Agar, Trent Copeland
1. Will Pucovski (2 matches, 3 innings', 495 runs at 247.5 with 2x 100's and 0x 50's). Puck has been the best opener in the Shield so far this season, without a shadow of a doubt. Two double centuries, leading run scorer, deserves his spot here.
2. Marcus Harris (2 matches, 3 innings', 355 runs at 118.3 with 1x 100 and 1x 50). Harris' double century puts him slightly ahead of Whiteman for me, and has been excellent value at the top of Victoria's order for me.
3. Shaun Marsh (4 matches, 6 innings', 485 runs at 97 with 3x 100's and 1x 50, c). In the absence of little brother Mitchell, Shaun has captained WA to 1 win and 3 draws whilst batting extremely well, signified by having more centuries than any other player.
4. Travis Head (4 matches, 8 innings', 455 runs at 65 with 2x 100's and 1x 50). Head has been gallant in getting South Australia to two draws with a couple of second innings centuries that guided them safely home, was almost captain.
5. Cameron Green (4 matches, 6 innings', 363 runs at 72.6 with 1x 100 and 2x 50's). Green's form with the bat has continued this season, he's now the most likely to enter the middle order of Australia if Wade or Head fail in the first couple of tests.
6. Moises Henriques (3 matches, 6 innings', 338 runs at 67.6 with 2x 100's and 0x 50's). I ummed and ahhed at this for a while between him and McDermott, but in the end McDermott's failure to convert his multiple 50's into 100's cost him.
7. Josh Inglis (4 matches, 5 innings', 354 runs at 118 with 2x 100's and 1x 50, +). Inglis has firmly put himself as a challenger to Alex Carey as Australia's next test keeper with a lot of runs this year whilst batting extremely well. Clear choice for this spot.
8. Sean Abbott (3 matches, 5 innings', 261 runs at 130.5 with 1x 100 and 2x 50's; 92.5 overs, 14 wickets at 17.92, SR 39.7, ER 2.7, 1x 5-for, 0x 10-for's). Wow, great start to the season for Abbott with both bat and ball. 14th on the runs list means he could feasibly be batting at 7 here but with Green in the top 6 you probably don't need 5 bowlers.
9. Mitchell Swepson (4 matches, 191 overs, 23 wickets at 21.17 SR 52.5, ER 2.41, 3x 5-for's, 1x 10-for). If it wasn't the case before this year (it was), Mitchell Swepson has locked in his place as the heir apparent to Nathan Lyon, taking the most wickets in the comp at this point.
10. Scott Boland (2 matches, 80 overs, 11 wickets at 19.9, SR 43.6, ER 2.73, 1x 5-for, 0x 10-for's). Ummed and ahhed at this one too, Boland or Copeland? But Boland has been the significantly better offensive bowler with more wickets, wickets per match and strike rate whilst still being defensively sound so it just edged his way.
11. Jackson Bird (4 matches, 157.1 overs, 15 wickets at 25.06, SR 62.8, ER 2.39, 0x 5-for's, 0x 10-for's). He hasn't got a 5 wicket haul but he's second in the wickets tally and has bowled very well this year, hence his average and economy rate being very good.
Without the blurb:
1. Pucovski
2. Harris
3. Marsh (c)
4. Head
5. Green
6. Henriques
7. Inglis (+)
8. Abbott
9. Swepson
10. Boland
11. Bird
Squad: Sam Whiteman, Ben McDermott, Ashton Agar, Trent Copeland
