1. The selectors have named a fifteen man squad, but the media have come out saying “Justin Langer has named his first Test squad”. Now I know the coach is one of the selectors, and that is still wrong, but that argument is for another day. But come on media, there is more than one selector, and Langer isn’t even the Chairman! Please get this right in the future.
2. The batsmen pretty much selected themselves, especially with the advance notice (ie. Leaks) that Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne were more or less locks at the selection table. Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja and the Marsh brothers were always going, and it is good to see Travis Head get his chance. But there has to be some questions asked about overlooking the three batsmen who were sent to South Africa that are now superfluous to the squad. Peter Handscomb perhaps just doesn’t have the form on the board, while surely Glen Maxwell has just pissed too many people off to be given another chance. He’s done nothing wrong last year in India and Bangladesh, and hasn’t been sighted since. There’s more to this than is being said publicly. Why haven’t the media with their sources been able to give us this story? Labuschagne is man preferred for his spot, and he does have the kind of temperament that the ‘New Australia’ is probably looking for. And Joe Burns has again been treated like dogshit, given one Test after flying in just two days before the match after a stellar Shield season, but not required for the next tour. It’s pretty ordinary stuff if you ask me.
3. Aaron Finch is going to be the main beneficiary of David Warner’s exile from national colours. He must be odds on to become ODI captain and lead Australia to next years World Cup, and now on white ball form almost alone he has found his way into the Test squad. Everyone will hope that he succeeds, but we all see the same deficiencies in his defensive technique that are likely to be exposed at the highest level in Test cricket. The interesting thing to see is will he open alongside Renshaw, or will he slot into the middle order, with Khawaja opening and Shaun Marsh at three perhaps? Whatever happens, he has the opportunity now to lock down his place for years to come with a big 12 months in all forms of the game.
4. I haven’t seen enough of Brendan Doggett or Michael Neser, but if either is more deserving of a place in this squad than Chris Tremain then I am an extremely bad judge. And that is quite possible. I saw bits and pieces of both in last seasons BBL and the last Shield games streamed on CA app, and while they look handy they didn’t seem to be anywhere near ready for this step. Tremain on the other hand has topped the Shield aggregates for the past two seasons, and when I’ve seen him up close at the SCG he is frightening. Along with pretty good returns in the recent A tour in India, I cannot believe he is not in the team to open the bowling with Starc given the absence of Hazelwood and Cummins. It is a staggering decision, given they have also recalled Peter Siddle. Which brings me to this…
5. Peter Siddle, the ‘People’s Champ’, has had a great season In English County cricket, taking plenty of wickets and doing a great job for his county. But that has been on seaming wickets in helpful conditions with a Duke ball. Australia is going to the UAE on dead wickets in 40+ degree heat. No help there. Is Siddle the best option for those conditions? Is he just going because the team needs and experienced campaigner? I don’t know, and while I am not completely against his selection in the squad, I wonder if he is going to be just carrying baggage.
6. Three spinners have been chosen, and don’t think for a moment that the selectors aren’t think about playing all three of them, and relying on Agar’s improving batting to act as an all round option. The wickets will dictate what the balance is, but given Australia has struggled to score runs from anyone whose names isn’t Smith or Warner they will be look to get runs from wherever they can. Nathan Lyon will be the fulcrum of the attack, but as to whether Holland or Agar or both play will be another selection crucial to the outcome of the series.
7. Tim Paine retains the keepers role and the captaincy, though his holding of either role in 6 months time still seems to be being debated. The advancement of Carey as keeper and Mitch Marsh as captain is being kept warm through innuendo of those that have an ear close to the selectors, so Paine will be looking to not only continue his clean keeping, but also keep adding to his run tally – and better yet, win the series!
What does this squad say about the direction the leaders of the team are heading? It opens a lot of questions that are yet to be answered definitively, and it looks as though there is a lot left to faith in regards to some selections. It does at least bring a lot to look forward to when the series starts on October 7.
2. The batsmen pretty much selected themselves, especially with the advance notice (ie. Leaks) that Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne were more or less locks at the selection table. Matt Renshaw, Usman Khawaja and the Marsh brothers were always going, and it is good to see Travis Head get his chance. But there has to be some questions asked about overlooking the three batsmen who were sent to South Africa that are now superfluous to the squad. Peter Handscomb perhaps just doesn’t have the form on the board, while surely Glen Maxwell has just pissed too many people off to be given another chance. He’s done nothing wrong last year in India and Bangladesh, and hasn’t been sighted since. There’s more to this than is being said publicly. Why haven’t the media with their sources been able to give us this story? Labuschagne is man preferred for his spot, and he does have the kind of temperament that the ‘New Australia’ is probably looking for. And Joe Burns has again been treated like dogshit, given one Test after flying in just two days before the match after a stellar Shield season, but not required for the next tour. It’s pretty ordinary stuff if you ask me.
3. Aaron Finch is going to be the main beneficiary of David Warner’s exile from national colours. He must be odds on to become ODI captain and lead Australia to next years World Cup, and now on white ball form almost alone he has found his way into the Test squad. Everyone will hope that he succeeds, but we all see the same deficiencies in his defensive technique that are likely to be exposed at the highest level in Test cricket. The interesting thing to see is will he open alongside Renshaw, or will he slot into the middle order, with Khawaja opening and Shaun Marsh at three perhaps? Whatever happens, he has the opportunity now to lock down his place for years to come with a big 12 months in all forms of the game.
4. I haven’t seen enough of Brendan Doggett or Michael Neser, but if either is more deserving of a place in this squad than Chris Tremain then I am an extremely bad judge. And that is quite possible. I saw bits and pieces of both in last seasons BBL and the last Shield games streamed on CA app, and while they look handy they didn’t seem to be anywhere near ready for this step. Tremain on the other hand has topped the Shield aggregates for the past two seasons, and when I’ve seen him up close at the SCG he is frightening. Along with pretty good returns in the recent A tour in India, I cannot believe he is not in the team to open the bowling with Starc given the absence of Hazelwood and Cummins. It is a staggering decision, given they have also recalled Peter Siddle. Which brings me to this…
5. Peter Siddle, the ‘People’s Champ’, has had a great season In English County cricket, taking plenty of wickets and doing a great job for his county. But that has been on seaming wickets in helpful conditions with a Duke ball. Australia is going to the UAE on dead wickets in 40+ degree heat. No help there. Is Siddle the best option for those conditions? Is he just going because the team needs and experienced campaigner? I don’t know, and while I am not completely against his selection in the squad, I wonder if he is going to be just carrying baggage.
6. Three spinners have been chosen, and don’t think for a moment that the selectors aren’t think about playing all three of them, and relying on Agar’s improving batting to act as an all round option. The wickets will dictate what the balance is, but given Australia has struggled to score runs from anyone whose names isn’t Smith or Warner they will be look to get runs from wherever they can. Nathan Lyon will be the fulcrum of the attack, but as to whether Holland or Agar or both play will be another selection crucial to the outcome of the series.
7. Tim Paine retains the keepers role and the captaincy, though his holding of either role in 6 months time still seems to be being debated. The advancement of Carey as keeper and Mitch Marsh as captain is being kept warm through innuendo of those that have an ear close to the selectors, so Paine will be looking to not only continue his clean keeping, but also keep adding to his run tally – and better yet, win the series!
What does this squad say about the direction the leaders of the team are heading? It opens a lot of questions that are yet to be answered definitively, and it looks as though there is a lot left to faith in regards to some selections. It does at least bring a lot to look forward to when the series starts on October 7.
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