I doubt I would be on my alone with my belief that Trevor Hohns has had time and must be moved on. Along with Chappell. I do realise the cupboard is quite bare at the moment. I just can't get over the confusion about so many selections over the past 12 months, not only that, but the lack of communication and the fact that there seems to be one set of rules on selection for some and then another set for others. I'm confused as to what players have to do to get selected? We are told player X needs to make more runs and then they proceed to pick a guy averaging 28 at FC level. They overlook in form opening batsmen to play a short form specialist that hasn't opened the batting for his state in years. They have continued to play an all rounder in the side despite the country clearly not having one good enough for test cricket. They chop and change their ideas, saying they will stick with players and then dropping others after one test.
Joe Burns
Was recalled into the team after the SA debacle coming off season of averaging 55 and with 3 test centuries already to his name and then was dumped for the next series after one match. The selectors had chosen to go with Aaron Finch as an opener despite his poor record in that position and the fact that Victoria refuse to play him in that position. Selectors have now done a 360 after the Indian series.
Matt Renshaw
Much the same as Joe Burns, he was dumped just one match after returning to the side in SA. Most thought Renshaw was a shoe in to open the batting in the UAE after having a stellar 12 months of FC cricket including a county season where he had just averaged over 50. He has now been returned to the side after averaging 19 in the current Shield season
Glenn Maxwell
Whether you agree or disagree with the Maxwell non selection, I don't think anyone could argue that he was not ****ed around by the selectors. Most would know by now that Maxwell was told not to bother with Aus A tour leading up to the Pakistan tests due to the fact that they had seen enough of him. Most thought this meant he would be selected, which did not eventuate meaning he missed any chance of putting his hand up for test selection. As it turned out Labuschagne earned selection by scoring a 50 for the A side IIRC. Since being dropped from the side after averaging 37 in the India and Bangladesh tours (more than anyone could average in our home tour against India) he has missed out on being selected 13 times and has averaged 53 in FC cricket throughout that period.
Mitch Marsh
Unfortunately this guy has become the joke of Australian Cricket thanks mostly to the guys that keep selecting him. He was finally dropped after 8 scores of 16 or less but then returned two tests later after averaging 18 in his last 3 Shield games - then - dumped once again after one match. He returned for two innings to up his record to 10 innings in a row of 16 or less. He has been gifted 31 matches with an average of 25.4 (the worst of any top 6 batsmen in Australia's history to play that much test cricket). Yet, amazingly, for the first time only a couple of days ago Hohns had this to say "if the all rounder isn't performing and you don't have a good all rounder, maybe we shouldn't have one and go back to the stock-standard six batsmen and four bowlers". How it took him this long to work that out is beyond me? Marsh was also named VC less than 12 months ago, something Hohns admitted they now need to addressed.
Matt Wade
I'm not sold on whether Wade should be in the side or not, but the communication with him has clearly been poor. Had not been contacted by a selector since he had been dropped from test cricket, despite him being the most in form batsman in the country outside the Australian team. It wasn't until he spoke out about this to the media that he received an email from JL telling him he wasn't likely to get a gig anytime soon. The excuse Honhs used in his press conference is that Wade bats too low down the order at 6. Well this is fine, but why wait until now to tell him that? Unfortunately for him there is no FC cricket on for a while for him to be able change anything
Aaron Finch
Finch was in very good form when selected so I don't have an issue with that, but the fact he was picked as an opener where he hadn't played for the last 3 years and where Victoria refused to play him was laughable. Fair enough in the UAE, but it was clear to most that he wasn't suited to that position. Victorian Coach Andrew McDonald was fairly blunt about this at the time and refused to let him open in FC cricket leading up to the tests. Not surprisingly Finch was dropped after 5 tests.
Fast Bowlers
While our national bowlers continue to perform poorly, there are bowlers banging the door down at FC. Hohns and co continue to sit on their hands and not give anyone else a crack. The clear back up choice at the moment is Peter Siddle which is confusing to many. Starc has been in poor form for a decent period and continues to hold his spot.
Joe Burns
Was recalled into the team after the SA debacle coming off season of averaging 55 and with 3 test centuries already to his name and then was dumped for the next series after one match. The selectors had chosen to go with Aaron Finch as an opener despite his poor record in that position and the fact that Victoria refuse to play him in that position. Selectors have now done a 360 after the Indian series.
Matt Renshaw
Much the same as Joe Burns, he was dumped just one match after returning to the side in SA. Most thought Renshaw was a shoe in to open the batting in the UAE after having a stellar 12 months of FC cricket including a county season where he had just averaged over 50. He has now been returned to the side after averaging 19 in the current Shield season
Glenn Maxwell
Whether you agree or disagree with the Maxwell non selection, I don't think anyone could argue that he was not ****ed around by the selectors. Most would know by now that Maxwell was told not to bother with Aus A tour leading up to the Pakistan tests due to the fact that they had seen enough of him. Most thought this meant he would be selected, which did not eventuate meaning he missed any chance of putting his hand up for test selection. As it turned out Labuschagne earned selection by scoring a 50 for the A side IIRC. Since being dropped from the side after averaging 37 in the India and Bangladesh tours (more than anyone could average in our home tour against India) he has missed out on being selected 13 times and has averaged 53 in FC cricket throughout that period.
Mitch Marsh
Unfortunately this guy has become the joke of Australian Cricket thanks mostly to the guys that keep selecting him. He was finally dropped after 8 scores of 16 or less but then returned two tests later after averaging 18 in his last 3 Shield games - then - dumped once again after one match. He returned for two innings to up his record to 10 innings in a row of 16 or less. He has been gifted 31 matches with an average of 25.4 (the worst of any top 6 batsmen in Australia's history to play that much test cricket). Yet, amazingly, for the first time only a couple of days ago Hohns had this to say "if the all rounder isn't performing and you don't have a good all rounder, maybe we shouldn't have one and go back to the stock-standard six batsmen and four bowlers". How it took him this long to work that out is beyond me? Marsh was also named VC less than 12 months ago, something Hohns admitted they now need to addressed.
Matt Wade
I'm not sold on whether Wade should be in the side or not, but the communication with him has clearly been poor. Had not been contacted by a selector since he had been dropped from test cricket, despite him being the most in form batsman in the country outside the Australian team. It wasn't until he spoke out about this to the media that he received an email from JL telling him he wasn't likely to get a gig anytime soon. The excuse Honhs used in his press conference is that Wade bats too low down the order at 6. Well this is fine, but why wait until now to tell him that? Unfortunately for him there is no FC cricket on for a while for him to be able change anything
Aaron Finch
Finch was in very good form when selected so I don't have an issue with that, but the fact he was picked as an opener where he hadn't played for the last 3 years and where Victoria refused to play him was laughable. Fair enough in the UAE, but it was clear to most that he wasn't suited to that position. Victorian Coach Andrew McDonald was fairly blunt about this at the time and refused to let him open in FC cricket leading up to the tests. Not surprisingly Finch was dropped after 5 tests.
Fast Bowlers
While our national bowlers continue to perform poorly, there are bowlers banging the door down at FC. Hohns and co continue to sit on their hands and not give anyone else a crack. The clear back up choice at the moment is Peter Siddle which is confusing to many. Starc has been in poor form for a decent period and continues to hold his spot.