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.
