Australia Test squad - 2014

[Carbine Chaos]

Shouldn't and won't make the Squad unless Lehmann has completely lost the plot. Not even WA's best bowler. Severely overrated because he can throw the bat and bowl fast.. unfortunately bowling fast means jack if you can't control it.

K mete.

 

[The_Reaper]

Unfortunately the Australian selectors have been watching too much AFL. Representing the country should be the best of the best. They have Aus A for a reason. You dont need to "blood youth" like AFL teams because there is no grand final of Test Matches in 4 years that you need to win.

We do however have to take in to account that Haddin, Harris and Rogers are all 36.
Clarke is 33/34 and is severely hampered by his back.
Watson is 33/34 and just not particularly good.
Johnson is 33
Siddle is in his 30s and looks to have have declined a fair bit.

That's 7 blokes who could be gone in the very near future

 

[bird_man]

We do however have to take in to account that Haddin, Harris and Rogers are all 36.
Clarke is 33/34 and is severely hampered by his back.
Watson is 33/34 and just not particularly good.
Johnson is 33
Siddle is in his 30s and looks to have have declined a fair bit.

That's 7 blokes who could be gone in the very near future

Our side is going to be completely different post ashes.

 

[eth-dog]

Our side is going to be completely different post ashes.

Warner
Cowan?
Hughes
Smith
White?
Marsh
Whiteman?
Johnson
Pattinson
Lyon
Bird?

 

[frankrizzo]

I suspect Clarke may retired for ODIs after the WC. And I think that would be right. While Tests are more important than the WC, its nice to win that too and Clarke has a key role to play there.
That may allow him to play on beyond the next twelve months. I sure hope so, because captaincy stocks are looking as thin as the batting ones. As much as Clarke's man-management off the field has been poor at times, and no longer being a selector probably helps a lot; his tactics are usually pretty good.

I like the idea i just don't see how he then makes it through the indian tests and the WC?

If his back is as bad as it seems he has no hope of giving his all to both our test summer and the WC and it's prep games, one form of the game will suffer and maybe suffer badly as it did recently when clarke injured himself rushing back to play a odi in zim and the test team then suffered as a result.

I assume for example he will play the SA odi series when with how dodgy his back looked not that long ago he should be resting and trying to get near 100% for the tests, to prove his odi readiness are people prepared that he might then get injured and miss the tests or be well below his best for the whole test summer?

 

[Damon_3388]

I mean, if you're one of those people who really actually believe you should pick the most in-form batsmen or whatever, then you've gotta support picking Cowan.

It's just that in Cowan's previous stint you've got a pretty good example of how silly an idea that actually is. he didn't disgrace himself, he was ok, and he shouldn't've been dropped at the moment he was, but he was only ok. Just pick who you think the best batsman is. Dont let 2 matches complicit things.

I think if you're looking to drop Rogers on form, surely Cowan has to be the one to replace him. Would even be happy with Cowan at #3 TBH.

What's been good with his two Shield hundreds so far this year is that he hasn't just been grinding out the runs and batting time, he's been dominating the bowling - hit 33 fours and batted at a strike rate of 71.43 in those two innings combined. His confidence in his strokemaking would be sky high, and I feel it's his confidence which has bought him undone at Test level in the past. If you're looking to change Rogers out, best to take advantage of a confident Cowan IMO.

Personally, I'd have Cowan in for all 7 Tests this summer, and if he doesn't deliver, that can be his card marked. If he does though, happy days.

 

[Damon_3388]

Also, serious question - Do people see Tom Cooper in line for higher honours sometime in the next 12-18 months?

Cooper has already represented Australia A, and has improved immensely as a batsman over the past few seasons. Scored 756 runs from 19 Shield innings in 2011-12, scored 881 runs from 18 Shield innings in 2013-14 (2nd in the comp), and has scored 264 runs from 3 Shield innings (one hundred, two fifties) so far this season. First Class average of 41.81, at a healthy strike rate of 56.85.

 

[The_Reaper]

Also, serious question - Do people see Tom Cooper in line for higher honours sometime in the next 12-18 months?

Cooper has already represented Australia A, and has improved immensely as a batsman over the past few seasons. Scored 756 runs from 19 Shield innings in 2011-12, scored 881 runs from 18 Shield innings in 2013-14 (2nd in the comp), and has scored 264 runs from 3 Shield innings (one hundred, two fifties) so far this season. First Class average of 41.81, at a healthy strike rate of 56.85.

Yeah.

Could well be a contender for Clarke's spot. Really depends on when Clarke retires and how ready they think Smith is to Captain.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Also, serious question - Do people see Tom Cooper in line for higher honours sometime in the next 12-18 months?

To a degree, but I don't see him in test cricket. I know it is a harsh criticism, but getting runs on the Adelaide Oval doesn't weigh as heavily as on the other pitches. The pitch today was very flat against a poor attack. That said, he scores runs, he will be a chance.

 

[Damon_3388]

To a degree, but I don't see him in test cricket. I know it is a harsh criticism, but getting runs on the Adelaide Oval doesn't weigh as heavily as on the other pitches. The pitch today was very flat against a poor attack. That said, he scores runs, he will be a chance.

That was actually his first First Class century at Adelaide Oval. His other four have come elsewhere. Has a pretty balanced record at most venues though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That was actually his first First Class century at Adelaide Oval. His other four have come elsewhere. Has a pretty balanced record at most venues though.

An average of 40 when he has played a lot of his career in Adelaide doesn't strike me as a great selection though. We selected Doolan who averages 37.

 

[Damon_3388]

An average of 40 when he has played a lot of his career in Adelaide doesn't strike me as a great selection though. We selected Doolan who averages 37.

A 40 average for a Shield player now is what a 50 average was 10-15-20 years ago. No one individual has topped 1,000 runs in the past five Shield seasons. Scoring 750-900 runs in a Shield season puts you at or near the top of the runs table these days. There just aren't that many players scoring mountains of runs in Shield cricket like there was in the '90s and early 2000s.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

A 40 average for a Shield player now is what a 50 average was 10-15-20 years ago. No one individual has topped 1,000 runs in the past five Shield seasons. Scoring 750-900 runs in a Shield season puts you at or near the top of the runs table these days. There just aren't that many players scoring mountains of runs in Shield cricket like there was in the '90s and early 2000s.

That is sort of tbe point- why don't we wait till these gin batsmen come through- Doran, Handscomb, Burns, etc. those 3 are potential 50+ first class average cricketers. Averaging 40 means at best you are averaging 30-36 in test cricket, that isn't good enough. That is average.

 

[Damon_3388]

That is sort of tbe point- why don't we wait till these gin batsmen come through- Doran, Handscomb, Burns, etc. those 3 are potential 50+ first class average cricketers. Averaging 40 means at best you are averaging 30-36 in test cricket, that isn't good enough. That is average.

Doran hasn't even turned 18 yet, or played a single First Class fixture. I think we'll be marking a lot of time if we're waiting for him to come on to the level you're anticipating, if he ever even does. I mean, is he really likely to jump out of the box in Shield cricket at 18-19 years old like, say, Phillip Hughes (averaged 69.05 during his first two seasons of Shield cricket, before his Test debut in February 2009) did? And what do we do in the meantime while we're waiting for him?

Handscomb has has a good start to the season (204 runs from two innings so far), but you're getting a bit ahead of yourself if you think he can potentially average 50+ in First Class cricket I think. His career record is reasonably good so far for a keeper-batsman (45 FC innings, 34.04 average, 49.22 strike rate, 2 FC centuries), but he'd require multiple 1,100-1,300 run Shield seasons to get his career average to 50+ over the next 5 years, and I'd be surprised to see that happening.

Burns is already 25, and has a similar First Class record (71 FC innings, 40.78 average, 50.86 strike rate, 6 FC centuries) to Cooper (75 FC innings, 41.81 average, 56.85 strike rate, 5 FC centuries). Again, he'd also require multiple monster Shield seasons to get his career average to 50+, and again, I'd be surprised to see that happening.

If you're using a 50+ FC average as a criteria for Australian Test selection, you're really not going to have too many players to choose from over the next few years. Best to just assess based on how people perform in the current climate, and pick the best performed from there.

 

[bird_man]

Cowan would be getting close to a recall, he has been is terrific form and has much better statistics over his career than any other contenders (bar Hughes). I do however think that the fact that he failed at test level would have put him back to the end of the cue but he must be working his way up again.

Hughes would probably be in front of him at the moment IMO.

 

[western royboy]

Cowan would be getting close to a recall, he has been is terrific form and has much better statistics over his career than any other contenders (bar Hughes). I do however think that the fact that he failed at test level would have put him back to the end of the cue but he must be working his way up again.

Hughes would probably be in front of him at the moment IMO.

Cowan suffered from being white anted by Watson, being bagged by Ian Chappell as being not good enough and then playing a test when clearly he probably shouldn't have (due to illness) in England and lost his place.

In my book he was dealt with very harshly all things being considered. Batsman get better over time - it's a fact. Rogers and Cowan are probably in effect playing for the same spot and so it's unlikely he will get a look in at the minute.

The current selection panel is skewed a bit towards the Ian Chappell type of view, thus he's coming from a long way back.

 

[eth-dog]

Cowan suffered from being white anted by Watson, being bagged by Ian Chappell as being not good enough and then playing a test when clearly he probably shouldn't have (due to illness) in England and lost his place.

In my book he was dealt with very harshly all things being considered. Batsman get better over time - it's a fact. Rogers and Cowan are probably in effect playing for the same spot and so it's unlikely he will get a look in at the minute.

The current selection panel is skewed a bit towards the Ian Chappell type of view, thus he's coming from a long way back.

If that's the case we're ****ed.

 

[Kram]

K mete.

NCN's papers are already stamped with Brades, he could eventually play for Australia and take over 100 Test wickets with an average somewhere in the 20s and he would still reckon he's no good

 

[Taylor]

That yorker length ball just inside the wide call during the big bash final made it pretty clear to me that Nathan could control the ball.

 

[The_Reaper]

NCN's papers are already stamped with Brades, he could eventually play for Australia and take over 100 Test wickets with an average somewhere in the 20s and he would still reckon he's no good

Or he could have 2700 test runs at an average of 47.47 with 9 test centuries and still be a useless hack

 

[PTizzle]

I'm a fan of Cowan - if the powers that be really want to drop Rogers when he's bounced back from poor patches in his short test career so far I think he'd be the man to replace him. I do agree with the thoughts that he's 'just okay' at test level but the cupboard isn't exactly packed.

Doolan didn't exactly cover himself with glory in the Shield, but I wouldn't mind him getting a test on Australian soil to see if it brings something out of him.

 

[bird_man]

I'm a fan of Cowan - if the powers that be really want to drop Rogers when he's bounced back from poor patches in his short test career so far I think he'd be the man to replace him. I do agree with the thoughts that he's 'just okay' at test level but the cupboard isn't exactly packed.

Doolan didn't exactly cover himself with glory in the Shield, but I wouldn't mind him getting a test on Australian soil to see if it brings something out of him.

Their is no way in the world the selectors haven't already got Hughes set for Rogers' spot in the near future IMO.

Cowans' best bet would be at 3 I reckon.

 

[bird_man]

I think Cowan would be an improvement in Doolan.

 

[PTizzle]

Their is no way in the world the selectors haven't already got Hughes set for Rogers' spot in the near future IMO.

Cowans' best bet would be at 3 I reckon.

Definitely like the idea of Hughes replacing Rogers - just wondering if they might delay Hughes's return to the team for the India series. Buys them a bit more time and Cowan's in good form. I wouldn't be dropping Rogers personally anyways, let him go for another year or so (barring catastrophe) and then Hughes steps in.

I don't mind the idea of Cowan at 3 but CA seemingly want to play Marsh/Watto together if fit and I can't see how Cowan at 3 fits into that equation really.

 

[The_Reaper]

Definitely like the idea of Hughes replacing Rogers - just wondering if they might delay Hughes's return to the team for the India series. Buys them a bit more time and Cowan's in good form. I wouldn't be dropping Rogers personally anyways, let him go for another year or so (barring catastrophe) and then Hughes steps in.

I don't mind the idea of Cowan at 3 but CA seemingly want to play Marsh/Watto together if fit and I can't see how Cowan at 3 fits into that equation really.

Do they?
I know the media does but I get the feeling that if we have Marsh/Watto it will be Shaun