Sheffield Shield

[Sproj]

Who are the other candidates?

I'm not as hardcore into Cricket as UB or 1910, but Lehman doesn't strike me as somebody who has to be in the team. He looked a prospect in 2015/16 where he scored 623 runs from 14 starts but he hasn't really gone on with it. In fact he only scored 536 from 20 starts last year.

'Desperate times call for desperate measures' but what am I missing? His innings against Queensland was a nice way to start the year, but he's got to go on with it.

@Unbreakable summed it up pretty well. And you are right of course about wholesale changes but this is an unprecedented situation. The only two genuinely great bats in Australia are suspended and the other heads are not actually that good - S.Marsh, Ferguson, White.

The best current bat is a keeper who has not done that well at test level previously.

The only batsman assured of a spot is Khawaja...and he’s injured.

Very, very few batsmen even average 40, let alone 50 and the one young potential star is taking a break due to mental health reasons.

So, you have to choose the best of a very, very bad bunch.

The only other name not mentioned is Patterson and while he is actually probably the most consistent overall, he is a very poor man’s Joe Root, can make 50s (occasionally) but can’t go on with it.

No all rounder is good enough and I just can’t stand Stoinis, he’s too beautiful. Labuschagne is the best bowling batsman it seems but he isn’t really good enough at either to even justify being in consideration, let alone now being a test player.

So, in short, the pace bowling is stacked (though I wonder if that is inflated by such poor batting) but the batting is absolutely woeful, no Siddons/Hodge/Dussey sitting around waiting in the wings anymore.

 

[Unbreakable]

@Unbreakable summed it up pretty well. And you are right of course about wholesale changes but this is an unprecedented situation. The only two genuinely great bats in Australia are suspended and the other heads are not actually that good - S.Marsh, Ferguson, White.

The best current bat is a keeper who has not done that well at test level previously.

The only batsman assured of a spot is Khawaja...and he’s injured.

Very, very few batsmen even average 40, let alone 50 and the one young potential star is taking a break due to mental health reasons.

So, you have to choose the best of a very, very bad bunch.

The only other name not mentioned is Patterson and while he is actually probably the most consistent overall, he is a very poor man’s Joe Root, can make 50s (occasionally) but can’t go on with it.

No all rounder is good enough and I just can’t stand Stoinis, he’s too beautiful. Labuschagne is the best bowling batsman it seems but he isn’t really good enough at either to even justify being in consideration, let alone now being a test player.

So, in short, the pace bowling is stacked (though I wonder if that is inflated by such poor batting) but the batting is absolutely woeful, no Siddons/Hodge/Dussey sitting around waiting in the wings anymore.

Embrace it Sproj.

 

[Battler]

I think our batting will be enough in Australia with a M.Marsh or Stoinis at 6, the main issue right now is that we can't travel, all of our "50/50" type batsmen all fail overseas. I also wouldn't feel comfortable going in to a test series with just our 3 injury prone pacemen and no 4th option, we've tried that before and I'm pretty sure it ended in stress fractures and people being rested constantly. It's an unfortunate situation, but I don't think we can afford to play 6 specialist batsmen until we've seen Starc, Cummins & Hazlewood prove that they're capable of staying healthy for more than a month at a time.

If any of our quicks go down we're pretty much cooked anyway. MMarsh and Stoinis aren't much better than a part timer like Wade or Cartwright with the ball, Marsh was bowling at about 120km/h in the UAE with absolutely no movement. Both of them are not threatening in the slightest.

EDIT: Pick another out and out bowler if we NEED the 4th option. It's not like Stoinis or Marsh are lightyears better than, say, Pattinson with the bat. Drop Paine as well if we have to as he sucks big time as a batsman (no tons in over 10 years and counting). 6 and 7 are walking wickets if we go into the series with Marsh and Paine, so at least pick someone who can provide something with the ball.

 

[Browny]

Paine might not be scoring hundreds but he’s usually stopped collapses and scored handy 40s and 50s

Keepers aren’t usually judged on scoring hundreds

 

[Battler]

Paine might not be scoring hundreds but he’s usually stopped collapses and scored handy 40s and 50s

Keepers aren’t usually judged on scoring hundreds

It's an issue when we're carrying the Marshes and questionable bats like Head in the top 6.

 

[Sproj]

If any of our quicks go down we're pretty much cooked anyway. MMarsh and Stoinis aren't much better than a part timer like Wade or Cartwright with the ball, Marsh was bowling at about 120km/h in the UAE with absolutely no movement. Both of them are not threatening in the slightest.

EDIT: Pick another out and out bowler if we NEED the 4th option. It's not like Stoinis or Marsh are lightyears better than, say, Pattinson with the bat. Drop Paine as well if we have to as he sucks big time as a batsman (no tons in over 10 years and counting). 6 and 7 are walking wickets if we go into the series with Marsh and Paine, so at least pick someone who can provide something with the ball.

The problem is that the quicks are basically also the best batsmen. How about this for EXTREMELY left field...play Pattinson at 6.

 

[1910]

Great post, thanks for the rundown.



But shouldn't Cricket Australia learn their lesson and avoid going with untested flakey players?

Let me rephrase the question, when was the last time that type of selection worked out well and won Australia a test series?

That isn't a rhetorical question, I'm genuinely curious.

Been a few but not immediate success- Waugh 11 games for Blues, he had 605 runs at 43. Healy had 7 games for Queensland.

Renshaw was similar numbers to Waugh- 11 games at 41.

 

[1910]

If any of our quicks go down we're pretty much cooked anyway. MMarsh and Stoinis aren't much better than a part timer like Wade or Cartwright with the ball, Marsh was bowling at about 120km/h in the UAE with absolutely no movement. Both of them are not threatening in the slightest.

EDIT: Pick another out and out bowler if we NEED the 4th option. It's not like Stoinis or Marsh are lightyears better than, say, Pattinson with the bat. Drop Paine as well if we have to as he sucks big time as a batsman (no tons in over 10 years and counting). 6 and 7 are walking wickets if we go into the series with Marsh and Paine, so at least pick someone who can provide something with the ball.

Paine hasn't scored a 100 in 10 years? You left out he was injured for 9 of those years.

To put his injuries in perspective Australia played 78 Tests from his debut to his recall last summer. Smith made his debut the same game and played 53 of them. 2596 days between Tests.

But he hasn't scored a 100.

Paine has been sensational behind the stumps and his leadership has been tremendous. Loved him getting at the guys for celebrating a draw. Great leader.

 

[1910]

Philippe he will get a 100 tomorrow. Something about him, organised in his batting.

 

[Alec]

Mr Sheffield Shield

 

[Unbreakable]

100* for Handscomb, that's my guy, get him in there.

 

[1910]

Harris now has 341 runs at 170 average this season.

26, 250* and 65 from three games. He's batted 13.5 hours for two dismissals.

 

[1910]

Philippe he will get a 100 tomorrow. Something about him, organised in his batting.

Good call. Played it on from Neser.

 

[Unbreakable]

Mitch Marsh with 100, rofl.

I swear him and his brother only score runs when their spot is on the line, then do nothing when they actually get in the team. That'll be enough for him to retain his spot for the Summer.

 

[Browny]

Beat me to it. So why isn’t there place always in doubt then

 

[Sproj]

I'm beginning to think the first test side will look something like:

1. Harris
2. S.Marsh
3. Khawaja/Handscomb
4. Head
5. M.Marsh
6. Lehmann
7. Paine (c)
8. Cummins
9. Starc
10. Lyon
11. Hazlewood

That batting line up, yuck.

 

[Unbreakable]

If we're going to go young I think it should be like..

1. Harris
2. Renshaw
3. Khawaja
4. Handscomb
5. Lehmann
6. M.Marsh
7. Paine

S.Marsh shouldn't be anywhere near the team, Head hasn't done enough to retain his spot. I don't dislike Harris over Finch, he's more of a specialist opener in the longer format and is obviously younger & in better form. If we wanted to keep Finch in the team we could secure the middle order a little more and put him at 5 instead of Lehmann. That mightn't be a bad option.

 

[Sproj]

If we're going to go young I think it should be like..

1. Harris
2. Renshaw
3. Khawaja
4. Handscomb
5. Lehmann
6. M.Marsh
7. Paine

S.Marsh shouldn't be anywhere near the team, Head hasn't done enough to retain his spot. I don't dislike Harris over Finch, he's more of a specialist opener in the longer format and is obviously younger & in better form. If we wanted to keep Finch in the team we could secure the middle order a little more and put him at 5 instead of Lehmann. That mightn't be a bad option.

I mostly agree with you to be honest, just putting up the side I think the selectors will go with.