Massive Australian Test squad a sign of uncertainty, writes Robert Craddock
When it comes to cricket squads, bigger rarely means better. Cue the marathon selection discussions to come, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.
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When it comes to cricket squads, bigger rarely means better.
When a 14-man squad is named for a Test or two it is normally a sign of marathon selection discussions, the occasional niggling injury and a selection panel so unsure of the pecking order they want to give themselves as many options as possible.
All these factors were there in Australia’s first Test squad of the summer.
The lack of strident protests over omitted players told the simple story that while there were a few players mildly unlucky to miss out there are no heartbreak kids.
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Matt Renshaw was being lined up for a place in the team but one score above 21 in his last eight first class innings could not get him over the line despite a robust finish to last summer’s Sheffield Shield and a prosperous English county season.
Some Queensland players sense there has been a gulf between Renshaw and Justin Langer since a Sheffield Shield match last year when Renshaw had plenty to say in the field against the Langer coached Western Australia.
No matter who is to blame, the one certainty is that if there is an issue between Renshaw and Langer it’s Renshaw’s problem.
He’s the one who has to change.
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Competition for batting places was modest yet intense.
If it was a race field it would be the Mudgee Cup not the Melbourne Cup.
You could take three batsmen out of the team and put Alex Doolan, Joe Burns and Renshaw in and probably lose nothing for Australia is stocked with batsmen who average between 34 and 40 but few who score first class runs consistently.
New opener Marcus Harris earned his place on the back of three years of solid results.
Seasoned judges watching him this year say he seems to look the same at the start of most innings — a sign of calm control and a repeatable technique.
Victoria’s early plan for next week’s Sheffield Shield match was to bat Aaron Finch down the list even though he is likely to open for Australia.
Surely that must change now his opening partner Harris is a state team-mate.
If they don’t open together for Victoria next week it would be an inexcusable waste of the chance for them to get the feel of batting together.
But nothing in Australian cricket at the moment seems certain — that’s why you pick 14-man squads.
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