Category: International Cricket

Joe Burns’ career as a test opener looks over. The thing is, he’s always been a makeshift opener. Back early in his career, he plundered runs as a top/middle order batsman and was elevated to open due to a lack of options like Wade has now, and let’s be honest, until lately he’s done a rather fine job. He made his test debut as a number 6, and that’s where he’d do best in this team I feel. The problem for Burns it’s now harder for him to drop back down the order where he belongs as he’s now seen as an opener, even though he’s not the best opener in the Queensland side.

Queensland have 5 openers in their top 5. It’s almost like an Australian T20 side from a few years back. Street, Burns, Labuschagne, Khawaja and Renshaw all have spent significant time opening the batting. Labuschagne is Australia’s number 3, and Renshaw has really developed as a middle order batsman in limited overs and is starting to bring that to his first class game. Ideally, Queensland’s top order should look like:

1. Street
2. Khawaja
3. Labuschagne
4. Burns/Renshaw
5. Renshaw/Burns

The problem from what I can see is Khawaja. In 7 innings as a test opener, he averages 96.8 with 2 centuries and 2 fifties. He’s almost the opposite of Burns, having started his first class career as an opener and then dropping down the order. The problem is, it seems Khawaja still thinks he’s the best number 3 in Australia. Even last season when Labuschagne was batting at 3 for Australia, Khawaja was still batting himself at 3 for Queensland. From what I can see, he plays best as an opener, and Burns plays best down the order, so it should be obvious for Khawaja to shuffle up in place of Burns. Khawaja is still good enough to play for Australia, but his best chance will be as an opener, especially now that opening spots are up for grabs.

Ideally, Warner and Pucovski would have opened in the first test, but with both injured it made things difficult for selectors. For this series, I probably would have brought Shaun Marsh back into the squad to open considering his Shield form, opening with Burns, with Head being the one to miss out if Green played. Marsh also averages close to 40 as a test opener, although his record against India is poor and like Khawaja he hasn’t been opening, batting at 3 for Western Australia. Marcus Harris and Sam Whiteman would also be in contention with their strong form in the Sheffield Shield. I’d prefer Whiteman of the two, although I’d also be hesitant to be throwing too many debutants around opening.

Australia’s World Cup squad was announced on Monday, and overall it’s not a bad squad. I wouldn’t have been willing to pick Warner on name alone after his suspension but he’s been scoring at will in the IPL and I believe he deserves his spot. Harsh on Handscomb who didn’t do much wrong in recent games, and I don’t see the need for a second spinner in England. Maxwell can fill that role if needed and has just taken a bag in county cricket.

My changes:

In: Handscomb, Head/Turner

Out: Lyon, Coulter-Nile

I personally don’t rate Lyon or Coulter-Nile one day cricket, or at least not at international level. I’d pick Lyon in tests and Coulter-Nile in T20 but that’s it. With just 8 players in the squad who’d be batting in the top 7, I’m replacing them with batsmen. Handscomb is in great form and can keep if anything happens to Carey form or injury wise. I’d also bring in either Travis Head or Ashton Turner, batsmen who can also bowl a bit. Head showed his credentials in the recent home test matches although he hasn’t played any ODIs recently, and we all know what Turner has done in the BBL and how he took down India.

I almost would have selected Bancroft after his blistering form in the BBL but couldn’t really justify his inclusion over the current incumbents after winning 8 straight ODIs and we’re already a little heavy on openers with Finch, Warner, Khawaja and Marsh. I’d have him as well as Lynn, Neser and Kane Richardson on standby.

I should be a selector pic.twitter.com/3ak5ABiLus

— Just An Average Grade Cricketer (@avegradecricket) January 23, 2019

I kinda prediected the lineup for Australia’s first test against Sri Lanka. Most of it was a given, but there were a few contentious calls that I’d like to comment on.

Cummins and Head Vice Captains

Head has played 6 tests, averaging 32.6, highest score of 72. He obviously has good leadership skills, as he was picked as South Australian captain with similarly underwhelming returns. But yet again the selectors have blundered by naming a vice captain who has hardly come close to cementing a spot in the team. If he fails this series, it’s pretty unlikely he’ll be heading to England.

Patterson’s Lat Callup

The right decision here. He should have been selected a few years ago when Nic Maddinson was plucked from obscurity for the test team. Has batted well this season in the shield and that pair of centuries against the pink ball makes him a no brainer selection.

Labuschagne’s Inclusion

Again, this is the right call, although I’d play him at 6 rather than 4. He’s a quality batsman, and he proved that last season in the shield, where he was second only to Renshaw in the leading run scorers. He’s arguably the best fielder in the XI, and bowls useful leg spin. The season before that, he was player of the tournament in the one day cup. People keep saying he’s not a good enough batsman to play for Australia, but his record says otherwise. He looked good in his solitary test against India and scored a fifty in the warmup game.

In the squad that they selected, he also is a logical choice. Playing at the gabba, it makes sense that he’s been selected over Pucovski with the home ground advantage. His form this season hasn’t been great and if they want a batting allrounder Maxwell is probably a better choice, and if they wanted a genuine batsman Wade is in irresistable form, but from the squad that was picked his selection was correct in my opinion, but he needs to make a big score very soon.

Richardson Over Siddle

I was critical of Richardson’s selection for the South Africa tour last year, but this year I was advocating his selection. Last year he was picked on potential after a couple of decent Big Bash games, hardly the best test XI selection criteria. But this season he’s been dominating at shield level and had a very good ODI series while Siddle struggled. Siddle had a very good county season and deserves to be close to Australian selection, and might even need to come in for Starc for the next test.

Pucovski’s Exclusion

Again I think this is the right call. He’s only played 2 shield games all season and has a known weakness against the short ball. Prior to Patterson’s callup I still wouldn’t have picked Pucovski (Renshaw open, Burns bat down the order). If Head, Harris or Labuschagne fail then I’d be happy to throw him in for the second test, but if we’re picking guys on potential, why don’t we just make Sangha test captain now?

My Ideal Test XI

If I had free reign for the next test, I’d bring in Wade and Maxwell for Head and Labuschange, and Siddle for Starc. Maxwell doesn’t have a weight of runs but is probably a better allrounder option than Labuschagne and has proven experience at international level, while Wade is in the form of his life. Starc looks out of sorts this summer and I’d bring Siddle in for him, though I’d almost be tempted to call up Jackson Bird.