Test Squad - 2016

[bird_man]

Our next series is in Sri Lanka in July and August. There is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and then but it's obvious our top 5 are set in stone barring any injuries. Nevill is also a definite. Out of our bowlers, Pattinson and Hazlewood as well as Lyon are definites. I'd expect Starc to be selected also if he's fit. That leaves the number 6 spot, as far as all rounders go, Marsh has been good with the ball but his batting has been terrible. They may look at demoting him to 7 with Nevill going up to 6 or replacing him, either with a puer batsman but more likely another all rounder. Either way I expect him still to be in the squad.

As far as back ups go, I think we'll take another front line spin bowler, more than likely O'Keefe and probably an all rounder in Maxwell. As a back up batsman, Shaun Marsh is obviously in the squad at the moment but it may come down to how he finishes the Shield season. He isn't a great player of spin bowling and Peter Handscomb, who is very good against spin has been in good form and may nudge ahead of him.

If we go with 15, I expect the squad to look like this. We are probably more likely to only take 14 though?

Warner
Burns
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
Handscomb
Maxwell
M Marsh
Nevill
Pattinson
Starc
Hazlewood
Siddle
Lyon
O'Keefe

 

[Power Raid]

when is Starc due back

He will be a big inclusion

 

[bird_man]

when is Starc due back

He will be a big inclusion

Should be fine by then I reckon, although he wont have any cricket under his belt. A fully fit line up of Starc, Hazlewood and Pattinson is exciting. I can't imagine us wanting to leave one of those out for a second spinner.

 

[Van_Dyke]

I'd still be surprised if SMarsh isn't in the squad.

 

[JackOutback]

I think the team will likely look like this...

Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith, Voges, MMarsh, Nevill, Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon

With Maxwell, SMarsh, Siddle/NCN, O'Keefe/Agar the back-ups.

 

[Kram]

I'd still be surprised if SMarsh isn't in the squad.

He only scored 182 the last time he played, definitely should be boned from the squad.

 

[bird_man]

I think the team will likely look like this...

Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith, Voges, MMarsh, Nevill, Pattinson, Starc, Hazlewood, Lyon

With Maxwell, SMarsh, Siddle/NCN, O'Keefe/Agar the back-ups.

No second spinner in the team?

I reckon it will either be Marsh/O'Keefe or Maxwell at 6 with 3 pace bowlers

 

[Van_Dyke]

He only scored 182 the last time he played, definitely should be boned from the squad.

That Voges should be dropped, doesn't even average 100

 

[to1994]

I think it's time to move on S. Marsh for these tours. I think he's very good as a player but he's approaching 33 and with Voges already in the side I can't see a place for him now that Burns has cemented himself for now.

Maxwell is probably a lock given form and the conditions but I think the selectors are more likely to pick O'Keefe in the XI given him being picked in Adelaide was preparation for a tour like this.

M. Marsh has been poor with the bat in Tests but his 87 was scored in similar conditions that we'll face so I believe he'll stay at 6 unless we lose the first Test.

Handscomb would be my pick for reserve batsman, the only situation where I wouldn't take him is if it is going to disrupt a run at country cricket if he's playing. He's unlikely to get in the Test playing XI so it would be for experience and hopefully a tour match if he was selected anyway.

 

[Kram]

32 is too old for the Test team now, only on Big Footy.

 

[Van_Dyke]

I think it's time to move on S. Marsh for these tours. I think he's very good as a player but he's approaching 33 and with Voges already in the side I can't see a place for him now that Burns has cemented himself for now.

Maxwell is probably a lock given form and the conditions but I think the selectors are more likely to pick O'Keefe in the XI given him being picked in Adelaide was preparation for a tour like this.

M. Marsh has been poor with the bat in Tests but his 87 was scored in similar conditions that we'll face so I believe he'll stay at 6 unless we lose the first Test.

Handscomb would be my pick for reserve batsman, the only situation where I wouldn't take him is if it is going to disrupt a run at country cricket if he's playing. He's unlikely to get in the Test playing XI so it would be for experience and hopefully a tour match if he was selected anyway.

And? So what if he's 32. If he's the best reserve batsman, he should be there.

 

[JackOutback]

No second spinner in the team?

I reckon it will either be Marsh/O'Keefe or Maxwell at 6 with 3 pace bowlers

Got to play your strengths and our pace is our strength. Smith and Voges can spin a few overs. That said, could easily see Maxwell in for Mitch, or if they take Agar, bat him at 6 (he's had a very good Shield season with the bat).

 

[to1994]

32 is too old for the Test team now, only on Big Footy.

I'd agree with you if there was a spot in the XI and we were excluding him but there isn't one. The fact is that our batting line-up is set in stone aside from M. Marsh who is NOT going to be replaced a specialist bat, the selectors have made that very clear.

This means the next spot opening up is a middle order spot when Voges retires or has a terrible form slump and they decide to move on which is unlikely. S Marsh will likely be 34 by the time this happens so we are far better off giving the likely replacement, Handscomb a bit of overseas experience as a reserve given he's in form, a good player of spin and is the long term option anyway.

I'm all for picking the best XI but the reserve is very unlikely to play anyway so what's the point of taking Shaun?

 

[bird_man]

He only scored 182 the last time he played, definitely should be boned from the squad.

Well he was dropped after that much so it obviously doesn't count for that much.

Lets look at his over all record, with his test average of 37. He'll be 33 by the time this tour comes around. I'm not counting him out, but I think he's at the stage of his career he has to really be out performing the younger guys to get back in there. The way Voges did.

 

[bird_man]

Got to play your strengths and our pace is our strength. Smith and Voges can spin a few overs. That said, could easily see Maxwell in for Mitch, or if they take Agar, bat him at 6 (he's had a very good Shield season with the bat).

He's averaged under 40 with the bat, he hasn't been that great.

Agree with you about playing to our strengths though, I wouldn't want to leave any of Patto, Hazlewood or Starc out, which is why I think they may go with Maxwell

 

[The_Reaper]

Handscomb needs to play ahead of Maxwell.

Go for the batsman who can play spin and use the Sri Lanka tour as a trial run for India.

 

[Snake Charmer]

Will be heading to Sri Lanka for this series. Hoping Starc is fit. Marsh under the pump. Maxwell could get a look in

 

[bird_man]

Handscomb needs to play ahead of Maxwell.

Go for the batsman who can play spin and use the Sri Lanka tour as a trial run for India.

Would love to see us go back to 6 batsmen but unfortunately I think it's unlikely.

 

[Docker82]

I think the squad is pretty set ATM. Only changes will be Bird and Sayers out for returning quicks and a second spinner, most likely to be O'Keefe. Add an all rounder to the squad who bowls spin (Maxwell or Agar) and we're done.

Shaun Marsh isn't the best back up batsman in the world but he's played in the conditions previously and done ok. I don't really rate him but a new batsman is a risk, especially with the ability of our top five batsmen (Smith aside) yet to be proven in the sub continent.

 

[The_Reaper]

Would love to see us go back to 6 batsmen but unfortunately I think it's unlikely.

Yeah but on the other hand the whole "it's Asia so we must play two spinners even though O'Keefe and Maxwell aren't going to get Indian batsmen out" is so stupid.

Every single time we go to India we expect Cameron White or Xavier Doherty or Glenn Maxwell to bowl us to victory.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I think the squad is pretty set ATM. Only changes will be Bird and Sayers out for returning quicks and a second spinner, most likely to be O'Keefe. Add an all rounder to the squad who bowls spin (Maxwell or Agar) and we're done.

Shaun Marsh isn't the best back up batsman in the world but he's played in the conditions previously and done ok. I don't really rate him but a new batsman is a risk, especially with the ability of our top five batsmen (Smith aside) yet to be proven in the sub continent.

Who seriously would be a better back up then Smarsh In the country right now?

 

[JackOutback]

Who seriously would be a better back up then Smarsh In the country right now?

People will throw up a list of names of their favourites with potential but the fact is, he was last out and should be first in, his last score was 182, he has experience which could be needed if we got an injury to one of our more experienced players. He should be the reserve batsman, the players behind him should continue to pile on the runs if they want to usurp him.

 

[ioppolo]

Got to play your strengths and our pace is our strength. Smith and Voges can spin a few overs. That said, could easily see Maxwell in for Mitch, or if they take Agar, bat him at 6 (he's had a very good Shield season with the bat).

Agar at six in tests?

Please.

 

[Beutbrute]

Current batting averages of Australia's top 5:
Burns - 49
Warner - 50
Khawaja - 51
Smith - 57
Voges - 97

Has there ever been a time with a top 5 having such good averages?
If Burns gets enough runs in this innings and has an average over 50 at the end of the innings has there ever been a top 5 to all average 50 or more?
(Not saying this is our best ever batting lineup by any measure)

 

[Power Raid]

Current batting averages of Australia's top 5:
Burns - 49
Warner - 50
Khawaja - 51
Smith - 57
Voges - 97

Has there ever been a time with a top 5 having such good averages?
If Burns gets enough runs in this innings and has an average over 50 at the end of the innings has there ever been a top 5 to all average 50 or more?
(Not saying this is our best ever batting lineup by any measure)

facts are facts

its looking quite balanced as a batting line up without having super stars