Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[sandsmere]

One change for the Boxing Day test.

Maddinson out and Travis Head in. A bloody good batsman and an OK sort of extra bowler.
Future captain material too.

[LP]

Why is Smith getting pumped over his captaincy? I'd be asking Starc why he bowls crap and serves up soft runs and messes up whatever plan is being organised.

I know it can seem like an excuse to target Smith, but some significant portion of the playing performances are attributable to the tactics being used on the field. It could of course be deliberate, in that perhaps Smith hasn't got the team he wants and he is manipulating the situation like Waugh did previously, but that would be extreme to almost cause a world record loss!

If you want to know who to listen to then freely ignore me and listen to Mark "Tubby" Taylor's criticism of Smith. Taylor is the best captain Australia's had in the last 40 years, and by some margin!

Smith is lucky Richie Benaud is gone because Richie would have torn him a new one!

[crashlander]

One change for the Boxing Day test.

Maddinson out and Travis Head in. A bloody good batsman and an OK sort of extra bowler.
Future captain material too.

Travis Head does come with the ability to bowl a bit and the willingness to do it. That is something, because we have a number of guys who can but won't. head is also the sort of middle order player who can play a number of roles: he is not just a smash and crash player.
Maddinson works better at the top of the order, for what it is worth. He looks lost at #6. His issues against the moving ball make a interesting question as to where, or if, to play him.

I can't see the selectors making changes unless there is an injury, but that is one of the problems with Australian Cricket: we only learn from failure.

[DJC]

Travis Head does come with the ability to bowl a bit and the willingness to do it. That is something, because we have a number of guys who can but won't. head is also the sort of middle order player who can play a number of roles: he is not just a smash and crash player.
Maddinson works better at the top of the order, for what it is worth. He looks lost at #6. His issues against the moving ball make a interesting question as to where, or if, to play him.

I can't see the selectors making changes unless there is an injury, but that is one of the problems with Australian Cricket: we only learn from failure.

It has always been harder to get out of the test team than to get in.  I really don't understand why they don't just pick the best team for the occasion.

[ElwoodBlues1]

Maddinson is a one day player, zero technique, wont make a run in England against the moving ball...
Head is probably is a bit tighter in defense and capable of building an innings, wouldnt get too carried away with his bowling though....I keep seeing Kholi batting and the ball disappearing into a sea of Indian spectators...
Handscomb is another player I have concerns about vs the moving ball in English conditions, has that strange stance which is working for him here and allows for his favourite back cut but vs the Poms who bowl on the money outswing I can a lot of slips fielders getting plenty of work.

[LP]

Handscomb has been exposed to English conditions several times, and was previously signed by Gloucestershire for the 2015 season. So I would reserve judgement.

If we are worried about Handscomb we should be petrified for Warner, Smith and Wade. Yet they have also done well in the UK in previous seasons.

[laj]

Yep and Hilton Cartwright is a much more impressive name than Mitch Marsh ..apologies to anyone named Mitch on the forum
I like Cartwright also but I think Stoinis from Victoria on his home deck might be first in line....

Cartwright has been added to the squad now.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-20/ca...tion=sport

[ElwoodBlues1]

Cartwright has been added to the squad now.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-20/ca...tion=sport

Bit of a punt, but good aussie selection policy has always seen young players promoted on talent and sometimes not a long shield career of consistent results.
Good luck to him and I think he should play in place of Maddinson...

[laj]

Bit of a punt, but good aussie selection policy has always seen young players promoted on talent and sometimes not a long shield career of consistent results.
Good luck to him and I think he should play in place of Maddinson...

He has a Shield average of 44.5 so hopefully he'll do the job as a batting all rounder. Yes, certainly should replace Maddinson.

[laj]

That was some win out of no-where. We've been alot better since Hobart.

Agar and O'Keefe have been selected for the next Test replacing Maddinson and Sayers in the 13 man squad.