What is your Australian 2nd XI

[SouthSwans]

2nd XI
1. C Bancroft
2. E Cowan
3. N Maddinson
4. M Stoinis
5. M Klinger
6. P Handscomb+
7. G Maxwell
8. J Faulkner
9. S Boland
10. J Bird
11. J Paris

Unavailable: Starc, Khawaja
1st XI
1. J Burns
2. D Warner
3. S Smith*
4. A Voges
5. S Marsh
6. P Nevill+
7. M Marsh
8. J Pattinson
9. P Siddle
10. J Hazlewood
11. N Lyon
12th: N Coulter-Nile

 

[PaddyO]

If people aren't injured...

1st XI
Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
M. Marsh
Nevill +
Starc
Siddle
Hazelwood
Lyon

2nd XI
Bancroft
Cowan
Ferguson
Stoinis
Klinger
Maxwell/Henriques
Hartley +
Faulkner
O'Keefe
Coulter Nile
Bird

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I can't even name a first eleven I'm happy with. The second opener and a number three stick out as impossibilities. IMO, Burns is far better suited to the middle order. The way he pushes defensively at wide stuff, often with an angled bat, just asks for trouble - especially against the new ball.
I'm a big fan, but would put him in at 5 and Voges 6. But then, bam, the top three is Warner, nobody, nobody (on slower decks, Warner only gets the gig by default) and the holes have to be filled.

Bowling, if fit, is easier: Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood, Lyon 1st XI. And for 2nd XI Behrendorff, Siddle, Coulter-Nile, O'Keefe.

 

[PaddyO]

I can't even name a first eleven I'm happy with. The second opener and a number three stick out as impossibilities. IMO, Burns is far better suited to the middle order. The way he pushes defensively at wide stuff, often with an angled bat, just asks for trouble - especially against the new ball.
I'm a big fan, but would put him in at 5 and Voges 6. But then, bam, the top three is Warner, nobody, nobody (on slower decks, Warner only gets the gig by default) and the holes have to be filled.

Bowling, if fit, is easier: Starc, Pattinson, Hazelwood, Lyon 1st XI. And for 2nd XI Behrendorff, Siddle, Coulter-Nile, O'Keefe.

To me it's an easy shuffle to get Burns into the middle order once Usman is back. Khawaja is very capable of opening and he and Warner seem to enjoy batting together. Plus Smith makes runs whether he's at 3/4/5 so it doesn't matter where he goes.

Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Ferguson/Maxwell
Burns
Voges
Nevill

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'm still not sold on Khawaja, but yes, I'd feel more comfortable with him opening than Burns.
No to Maxwell - talent to burn, brain of a blancmange - and Ferguson is questionable as well. I actually prefer Smith at four, but if he has to go three so be it. I guess that would leave Handscomb or Lynn to slot in.

So a first eleven of:
Warner
Khawaja ?
Smith
Burns (not really happy this high up, would prefer 5)
Handscomb ?
Voges (mature head at 6 is preferred, likely to bat with the tail)
Nevill (tempted to go Hartley, who I still rate as the best gloveman)
Starc
Pattinson
Hazelwood
Lyon


Leaving a second eleven:
Cowan ?
Bancroft ??
S Marsh ???????? (too many failures for a top order player, fine if he gets a start but starts are too rare and has that same issue as Burns in defensive prods outside off that can't score runs but can get wickets)
Lynn ? (not really there yet, injury and occasional poor form - I just like him, clean striker but needs to do more to prove himself and I worry about his temperament when the ball moves)
Ferguson
Maxwell (due to a serious lack of options, and he has scored runs in Shield cricket; taking the step up in the long form seems beyond his mind)
Whiteman (again obviously Hartley is a temptation)
Coulter-Nile
O'Keefe
Siddle
Behrendorff


In short, the batting blows, which makes one wonder if the much vaunted depth in fast bowling is really that deep, or if its just that Shield batsmen are that bad; and make bowlers look better. We really need the Test players regularly appearing in the Shield.

 

[Slax]

If picked now given injuries

1st XI
Burns
Warner
Smith
Voges
Klinger
Nevill +
M. Marsh
Pattinson
Siddle
Hazelwood
Lyon

2nd XI
Cowan
Dunk
Ferguson
Klinger
Stoinis
Handscomb +
Maxwell
Faulkner
Coulter Nile
Ahmed
Bird

12th Man: Bollinger

 

[Slax]

To me it's an easy shuffle to get Burns into the middle order once Usman is back. Khawaja is very capable of opening and he and Warner seem to enjoy batting together. Plus Smith makes runs whether he's at 3/4/5 so it doesn't matter where he goes.

Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Ferguson/Maxwell
Burns
Voges
Nevill

I actually prefer the look of the team with Khawaja at 3 rather than opener. I have never believed in the play your best batsman at 3 line, because simply it is crap. Khawaja looked like he has matured since his move to Queensland and if not for injury would of stayed at 3. We've had problems with this position since Ponting lost form then retired and Smith has made it known he prefers to bat at 4 and I say leave him there then.

 

[PaddyO]

I actually prefer the look of the team with Khawaja at 3 rather than opener. I have never believed in the play your best batsman at 3 line, because simply it is crap. Khawaja looked like he has matured since his move to Queensland and if not for injury would of stayed at 3. We've had problems with this position since Ponting lost form then retired and Smith has made it known he prefers to bat at 4 and I say leave him there then.

I don't disagree with this at all. To me the team looks better with Smith at 4 or 5 and Khawaja at 3. And I don't think it matters to much. But FTR, Smith is averaging over 70 at #3, and 63 and 66 at #4 and #5 respectively. Smith's versatility is a massive bonus to us though, because not all middle order guys can go up to 3 comfortably.

 

[PaddyO]

If picked now given injuries

1st XI
Burns
Warner
Smith
Voges
Klinger
Nevill +
M. Marsh
Pattinson
Siddle
Hazelwood
Lyon

2nd XI
Cowan
Dunk
Ferguson
Klinger
Stoinis
Handscomb +
Maxwell
Faulkner
Coulter Nile
Ahmed
Bird

12th Man: Bollinger

Klinger in both XIs.

Dunk's FC stats are good this year and I've only seen him in the Big Bash. Is he really a test quality opener over someone like Bancroft though?

 

[JackOutback]

If people aren't injured...

1st XI
Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
M. Marsh
Nevill +
Starc
Siddle
Hazelwood
Lyon

2nd XI
Bancroft
Cowan
Ferguson
Stoinis
Klinger
Maxwell/Henriques
Hartley +
Faulkner
O'Keefe
Coulter Nile
Bird

S S.Marsh goes from first choice replacement to the Test team to not even being good enough for the A team

Assuming Khawaja is back, I think it would look like...

Bancroft
Cowan
Ferguson
Bailey (c)
S.Marsh
Stoinis
Wade +
Faulkner
Agar
Coulter-Nile
Bird
Handscomb (12th man)

 

[Underarm]

Based on Usman being fit, and the Adelaide test.

Cowan
Bancroft
Smarsh
Bailey (c)
Stoinis
Klinger
Wade +
Pattinson
Bird
Behrendorf
Okeefe

 

[Daniel McL]

My 2nd XI would be:

Bancroft
Cowan
Maddinson
Bailey (C)
Klinger
Henriques/Faulkner/Stoinis
Wade
Bird
Agar
Abbott
Behrendorff

 

[ioppolo]

I'd have Henriques in the test team over M. Marsh.

 

[JackOutback]

I'd have Henriques in the test team over M. Marsh.

I'd have Faulkner. And yes, that's in spite of him being a 'bowling all-rounder'.

 

[crows dude]

If people aren't injured...

1st XI
Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Voges
M. Marsh
Nevill +
Starc
Siddle
Hazelwood
Lyon

2nd XI
Bancroft
Cowan
Ferguson
Stoinis
Klinger
Maxwell/Henriques
Hartley +
Faulkner
O'Keefe
Coulter Nile
Bird

PATTOMAN????

 

[eth-dog]

Warner
S Marsh
Khawaja
Smith (c)
Voges
M Marsh
Nevill (+)
Starc
Pattinson
Lyon
Hazlewood

Bancroft
Burns
Stoinis
Handscomb
Henriques (c)
Wade (+)
Maxwell
Agar
Coulter-Nile
Siddle
Behrendorff

 

[happy_eagle]

1. Bancroft
2. Cowan
3. Klinger
4. Handscomb (wk)
5. S.Marsh
6. Maxwell
7. Faulkner
8. S.O'Keefe
9. Pattinson
10. Behrendorf
11. Bird

 

[PaddyO]

S S.Marsh goes from first choice replacement to the Test team to not even being good enough for the A team

Assuming Khawaja is back, I think it would look like...

Bancroft
Cowan
Ferguson
Bailey (c)
S.Marsh
Stoinis
Wade +
Faulkner
Agar
Coulter-Nile
Bird
Handscomb (12th man)

I literally don't rate S.Marsh at all, regardless of the fact the Aust selectors keep bringing him back. He is a fine batsman but his inconsistency means he will never succeed long term as a test bat. I love him in T20 and 50 over, hate him in the test team.

 

[PaddyO]

PATTOMAN????

Always forget someone obvious in these! Would replace NCN.

 

[JackOutback]

Patto is Australia now, not Australia A.

 

[PaddyO]

Patto is Australia now, not Australia A.

No doubt, but I selected them at full strength discounting injuries. Starc, Haze and Siddle should still be our starting three without injuries, and Patto can displace Siddle permanently when he shows his up to the rigours of 5 day cricket.

 

[JackOutback]

I'd imagine, given our history of injuries to fast bowlers, our 12th man will always be a bowler. So Patto in the 12 and three fast bowlers picked to suit conditions.

 

[Slax]

I don't disagree with this at all. To me the team looks better with Smith at 4 or 5 and Khawaja at 3. And I don't think it matters to much. But FTR, Smith is averaging over 70 at #3, and 63 and 66 at #4 and #5 respectively. Smith's versatility is a massive bonus to us though, because not all middle order guys can go up to 3 comfortably.

My other reasoning is that at the moment for some reason we seem to have much better depth in our openers than we do with the middle order.

 

[Mr Commissioner]

Ed Cowan
Ben Dunk
Matthew Klinger
Ferguson
Handscombe
Stoinis
Agar
Mennie
Hopes
Steketee
Bird

 

[Doodlesweaver]

Ed Cowan
Ben Dunk
Matthew Klinger
Ferguson
Handscombe
Stoinis
Agar
Mennie
Hopes
Steketee
Bird

Who is your wickie?