Australian Test cricket’s Forgotten XI who have fallen off the radar
From veteran quicks to an injury-hit one, and from out-of-form bats to rising stocks, this is Australia’s Forgotten Test XI. DO YOU AGREE?
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Meet the Aussie XI seemingly forgotten by Test selectors.
From a one-cap wonder to veterans fighting for another chance, these are the largely invisible national representatives running around in the Sheffield Shield.
Australia is expected to make light work of the West Indies in the two-Test series starting in Perth on Wednesday.
That means opportunities are unlikely to come for players like Matt Renshaw, Peter Handscomb and Michael Neser - despite prolific starts to the summer.
Veteran Tassie quick Jackson Bird, meanwhile, looks set to stay on nine Test caps forever despite his ridiculous first class record, capped by a man of the match effort in November’s latest Shield round.
Then there’s spinner Jon Holland, who has slipped well down the pecking order.
As the first Test starts, take a look at Australian Test cricket’s Forgotten XI and vote which player you’d most love to see return to action.
Matt Renshaw (Qld)
Tests: 11 Batting average: 33.47
His recent double hundred - backed up by a ton for the Prime Minister’s XI - tossed the 26-year-old’s name back into the spotlight, but in all honesty he hasn’t been in the Test conversation for a few seasons.
Is still young enough and now has 17 first class centuries to his name.
Add to that and he could truly re-emerge.
Chances of Test return: 8/10
Joe Burns (Qld)
Tests: 23 Batting average: 36.97
After a stop-start Test career his chances look to have gone, especially given selectors may opt for someone younger than Burns, 33, to eventually replace David Warner.
Still contributes to Queensland but would need an Adam Voges-style late-career flourish to really join the debate again.
Voges, of course, enjoyed a breakout 2014/15 season which catapulted the 35-year-old into a Test debut and a belated baggy green career.
Chances of Test return: 3/10
Kurtis Patterson (NSW)
Tests: 2 Batting average: 144
Averages a trivia-inducing 144 at Test level thanks to his century in one of only two knocks across two Tests. Better than Bradman, if you don’t mind.
Despite that, his first class average has slowly been sliding from low 40s to high 30s in the past few seasons and, like many, would need a strong run of form to enter the chat.
Has had a slow start to the summer.
Chances of Test return: 5/10
Peter Handscomb (Vic)
Tests: 16 Batting average: 38.91
Perhaps the best batting bet among this XI to get another shot, Handscomb has taken his game to another level and looks to be back in the mix.
That quirky technique, and the pub chatter that comes with it, will return if selected, however all he can do is score runs.
Takes the wicketkeeping gloves in this side.
Chances of Test return: 8/10
Nic Maddinson (NSW)
Tests: 3 Batting average: 6.75
Another to earn a shot after the 2016 Hobart debacle against South Africa, Maddinson has become a star since switching to Victoria three years ago.
His average sat at more than 70 for a while however he would have liked more runs during his English County stint as well as the start to this Shield season.
At 30 has time but looks a roughy for now.
Chances of Test return: 6/10
Moises Henriques (NSW)
Tests: 4 Batting average: 23.42 Bowling average: 82
At 35 he looks unlikely to add to his four Test caps, however stranger things have happened.
The bowling average has slowly risen as he has largely given up the ball in recent seasons, however his batting has emerged from allrounder status to genuine Shield star.
Would need a few injuries and potentially a subcontinent tour, but remains a bankable weapon for NSW.
Chances of Test return: 2/10
Hilton Cartwright (WA)
Tests: 2 Batting average: 27.5 Bowling average: -
Owns the mantle as perhaps the most forgotten man of the lot.
Has been a steady performer without quite delivering that compelling case for Western Australia since earning two Test caps more than five years ago.
Cartwright, 30, started the Shield season well but looks to have fallen to No.3 allrounder in the WA rankings, let alone Aussie standings.
Chances of Test return: 3/10
Michael Neser (Qld)
Tests: 1 Batting average: 19 Bowling average: 30.5
Has been the biggest loser in the wake of Scott Boland’s emergence.
Was the Andy Bichel of this generation, always on the fringes without too many games, but now seems to have slipped further thanks to Boland’s stunning introduction.
Even at 32, will remain in the frame and already has a ton and five-for this Shield season, but may need injuries to others to add to his sole Test cap.
Chances of Test return: 6/10
Jhye Richardson (WA)
Tests: 3 Bowling average: 22.09
Injuries have hurt Richardson, who would be pressing the big three each match now for a start.
At 26 he remains a gun for Western Australia and only injuries and bad timing can stop him ultimately taking over the reigns as Australia’s answer to Dale Steyn.
Chances of Test return: 9/10
Jackson Bird (Tas)
Tests: 9 Bowling average: 30.64
Now a decade on from his Test debut, Bird has just nine caps despite a freakish first class record.
He has never been the quickest or the trendiest, meaning he has long been left out of conversations no matter how many wickets he takes.
At 35 looks a long way down the pecking order for a recall.
Chances of Test return: 1/10
Jon Holland (Vic)
Tests: 4 Bowling average: 63.77
Like NSW’s Steve O’Keefe, Holland has long chipped away with a strong domestic record without really threatening to unseat Nathan Lyon as Australia’s spin top dog.
Has played four Tests but the batting of Ashton Agar and the leg-spin of Mitchell Swepson means Holland, 35, is unlikely to add too many more caps.
Chances of Test return: 2/10
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Originally published as Australian Test cricket’s Forgotten XI who have fallen off the radar
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