Australian Cricket - Crisis, What Crisis ??

[laj]

Agree with Kevin Pietersen, Glen Maxwell should be in the test tsquad, pity he isnt in sync with the establishment and some of the key personnel because he is a very talented player. He got carried away with himself for sure and his attitude was that of a knob who thought he had made it but he deserves a second chance IMO and I'd be taking him to India.
Okeefe is a one day bowler IMO ...Agar is an unknown to me, clearly has talent but I hope the 20/20 game doesnt ruin his skills for test cricket...I'd be picking Agar ahead of Okeefe and using India as a training camp for him to improve his spin bowling..

Actually O'Keefe has the outstanding bowling average of 23 in First Class cricket and 55 in the one day game so don't be listening to Warnie on that one. His batting average is 30, higher than Agar's too, which is 26. On figures he's actually well ahead of Agar on both counts. If we go a 2nd spinner it'd be O'Keefe for sure IMO. Actually have him ahead of Lyon. Prefer the 3 quicks with one spinner in Sydney though. That's where we go best.

I'd like Maxwell to hold down no.6 as an all rounder as his off-spin would allow us to hit the Poms with all 4 pace bowlers, Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins and Pattinson, which could be lethal.

Just hope he could hold that position down.

[laj]

I think Agar as we are playing in Sydney and then heading to India. We need our best team for the conditions.
O'Keefe is no certainty to see out the tour and at 32??? Is not getting any younger.
Wade is not up to it. Hasn't made the runs he was brought in to make. Not a great keeper and will be exposed in India.

Wade will eventually bat well. Has 2 Test centuries, five 50s and averaged 34 in Tests before he was bought back. He's just out of touch but will come good. Likely to bat ok in India but on spinning tracks his keeping could be scary as you suggested. Agar's well behind O'Keefe on first class figures, batting or bowling, especially bowling with averages of 23 v 40. On a first class average here of 40 Agar will get spanked in India. Both Agar and O'Keefe played in India in the two-match 'A' series in Chennai between the two nations last year. O'Keefe took 14 wickets at 20 in the two matches and Agar three at 31 from one.

Anyway, no-one wins in India, everyone gets a flogging. If we get close they'll just produce a dirty, dry dusty turner next Test. We will get smacked 4-0 so i'm just focused ahead on next years Ashes. We flog India the next time they are here. The result in India won't affect my judgement of the team at all. Last time we lost in India 4-0 we pumped the Poms later that year 5-0.

[JonHenry]

Wade will eventually bat well. Has 2 Test centuries, five 50s and averaged 34 in Tests before he was bought back. He's just out of touch but will come good. Likely to bat ok in India but on spinning tracks his keeping could be scary as you suggested. Agar's well behind O'Keefe on first class figures, batting or bowling, especially bowling with averages of 23 v 40. On a first class average here of 40 Agar will get spanked in India.

Anyway, no-one wins in India, everyone gets a flogging. If we get close they'll just produce a dirty, dry dusty turner next Test. We will get smacked 4-0 so i'm just focused ahead on next years Ashes. We flog India the next time they are here. The result in India won't affect my judgement of the team at all. Last time we lost in India 4-0 we pumped the Poms later that year 5-0.

The reason I prefer Agar is his height and also being a left Armer.
Indian conditions are just as often about bounce as they are spin.
We could potentially play all 3 in India though.
At present we are getting nothing out of number 6 and haven't for some time.
Wades keeping will cost more wickets in India than Neville. Wickets you can't afford to miss.
I agree it's the toughest of tours but you have to turn up to compete with your best side.
They are tougher and fitter than ever, so cutting of boundaries like we did in the series when Gilchrist captained won't be the answer but it might be a start.

[Professer E]

Wade must just about to be handed a ticket on the last coach outta town..... Maybe we could look at Whiteman or somebody else for Syd-nee?

[laj]

The reason I prefer Agar is his height and also being a left Armer.
Indian conditions are just as often about bounce as they are spin.
We could potentially play all 3 in India though.
At present we are getting nothing out of number 6 and haven't for some time.
Wades keeping will cost more wickets in India than Neville. Wickets you can't afford to miss.
I agree it's the toughest of tours but you have to turn up to compete with your best side.
They are tougher and fitter than ever, so cutting of boundaries like we did in the series when Gilchrist captained won't be the answer but it might be a start.

Do agree on plenty then, although i'm still more to with O'Keefe.

I had a more long-winded reply but after clearing our my rum bottle last night I was starting to dribble shite...lol!

[laj]

Wade must just about to be handed a ticket on the last coach outta town..... Maybe we could look at Whiteman or somebody else for Syd-nee?

Too late, Wade is in...lol. Sure his batting will pick up though. It'll be his last Test for a while though as while his keeping has been ok here this year, India is not the place for him to keep.

[DJC]

O'Keefe preferred over Agar - no surprise given their home states  :

It will be interesting to see how Cartwright goes.

[Professer E]

After watching the BB last night I can't see S. Marsh getting a gig at test level in the near future. Awful.

[crashlander]

Too late, Wade is in...lol. Sure his batting will pick up though. It'll be his last Test for a while though as while his keeping has been ok here this year, India is not the place for him to keep.

Wade has struggled in India before. Even with his work ethic, I can't see him making the stumping that wins a test match.
It will be interesting to see if his batting can come good, as he is more than useful with the bat. But his form with the willow has been less than outstanding this season.

Once upon a time Tim Paine would have been considered to be the answer, but he has not managed to find anything like the form he would require to be considered as yet. And, as a batsman, he has always disappointed. He has much more talent than he has shown in test cricket, or at any level since his return from injury.

The wicket keeping spot must make the selectors lose sleep.

[JonHenry]

Geez that Stanlake was impressive for the Strikers