TOPIC:

I think this says a lot though when you consider India is the opponent next summer. I hope shield cricket starts the first weekend of October and regardless of the ODI tour of England in September and the Pakistan ODI tour at the start of next summer, if they are going with these guys as top order batters then then need to play red ball cricket.

Test batting average during New Zealand tour
79.33 — Cameron Green
41.66 — Alex Carey
30.00 — Mitchell Marsh
24.75 — Marnus Labuschagne
22.00 — Usman Khawaja1
7.25 — Travis Head
12.75 — Steve Smith

Steve Smith has passed 12 twice in eight Test knocks, averaging 28.50 during that period as an opener. Against the swinging Kookaburra, the New South Welshman has been trapped LBW in single figures on three occasions, a worrying trend for a cricketer who was once impenetrable on the pads.

Travis Head has mustered just one 50+ score in his 16 most recent Test innings, while Marsh suffered consecutive ducks against the Black Caps in New Zealand.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja has not scored a hundred in 23 Test innings, while fellow Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne has been dismissed in single figures in five of his six most recent Test knocks.

There’s a few Aussies that will be thanking the Pakis, WI & NZ for a leg up.

Gee wiz the Kiwis blew this test.Credit to the Aussies for finding a way to win.
The kiwi batsman tried to take the long handle.In the middle order+ tail..It wasn't that kind of wicket.The big kiwi partnerships where done by good batting and hard work.
wicket.Losing 7/83.
Had the Aussies 4 in the shed with over 200 runs to win.Drop Mitch Marsh in a sitter.Henry came on to late in the day.Carey and Marsh where set at the wicket.Well done to Cummins ,again.
Fantastic TestMatch would love to see a 3rd test
Thats it for the Aussies till the 6:th of June.We play Oman in the opener of the T20 WC in Barbados.

the era is done and there is a pressing need to blood - a generation has been pretty much lost so some raw stuff will have to be played now

premiership hangover wrote:

I think this says a lot though when you consider India is the opponent next summer. I hope shield cricket starts the first weekend of October and regardless of the ODI tour of England in September and the Pakistan ODI tour at the start of next summer, if they are going with these guys as top order batters then then need to play red ball cricket.

Test batting average during New Zealand tour
79.33 — Cameron Green
41.66 — Alex Carey
30.00 — Mitchell Marsh
24.75 — Marnus Labuschagne
22.00 — Usman Khawaja1
7.25 — Travis Head
12.75 — Steve Smith

Steve Smith has passed 12 twice in eight Test knocks, averaging 28.50 during that period as an opener. Against the swinging Kookaburra, the New South Welshman has been trapped LBW in single figures on three occasions, a worrying trend for a cricketer who was once impenetrable on the pads.

Travis Head has mustered just one 50+ score in his 16 most recent Test innings, while Marsh suffered consecutive ducks against the Black Caps in New Zealand.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja has not scored a hundred in 23 Test innings, while fellow Queenslander Marnus Labuschagne has been dismissed in single figures in five of his six most recent Test knocks..

Steve Who? This is where the NSW Cartel really show's it's true colours. Smith's form is embarrassing yet his spot is safe as houses. If it's Cameron Bancroft he would have been waived on long ago. Sadly Bancroft is out of form too since it was made obvious he wasn't going to be selected to replace Warner.

With Uzzie  being the oldest, he surely is on thr gun if he fails v India over summer. Smith like Ponting, S Waugh G Chappell etc before him, has scored so many test runs, they go when they decide to sadly.....it's frustrating, but very much the Australia way....Aust keep winning so I guess that is the baseline criteria on any decision to be made, ..not saying the best criteria, but a plausible one.

Future selections for a new generation of Aust cricketers seems like  young NSW youngster Davies, and SA lad McSweeney and WA's Hardie.....3, 5 and 6 right there...sadly Pucovski would of been an opener, but the kids short ball technique is not there.....perhaps some temps in Bancroft and Renshaw until young U19 openers Konstas , Dixon and WA Wyllie find their feet in 3 years time.......Vidler looks like a good prospect....hopefully .Bartlett, Richardson and Morris can stay fit....and Rocchiccioli  along with Murphy and Sangha  should be Aust next trio of sub continent bowlers