‘Who would you pick?’: selection questions hang over Australians

Australia has pencilled in a flight to South Africa for February 24, but who will board the plane for that three Test series?

Tasmanian batsman Ben McDermott is a strong contender to make the upcoming tour of South Africa Picture: Getty Images

Australia has pencilled in a flight to South Africa for February 24, but who will board the plane for that three Test series, how they will go about it and in what frame of mind are all unknowns.

The series is complicated and compromised by a five concurrent T20 matches in New Zealand and the current absence of Sheffield Shield cricket which is on hold while the BBL circus plays out its kazoo rendition of Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

There’s no certainty Australia will go to South Africa, but there is a strong desire on this end, from players at least, to get them to come here. There are, however obligations incumbent on players to keep cricket going.

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There have been anxieties about the case numbers until it was pointed out that a tour of the UK – highest per capita mortality rate in the world – went ahead last year.

If Australia goes it will take a large touring party. India’s used 20 players in the four Test series here after listing just 18 in the squad for the first two Tests.

All focus in the aftermath of that win has been on India but coming has been a tsunami of criticism for the Australians and their performance.

Batsmen didn’t make enough runs. Bowlers didn’t take enough wickets. Fielders didn’t hold enough catches.

Coaches have to ask why they did not get the best out of the group, a captain will be examining the things he got wrong.

Where two Tests ago Justin Langer and Tim Paine looked like they could write their own cheques, their futures are not as certain if they stumble in South Africa and miss the Test championship.

It was, from all reports, a pretty solemn last evening in quarantine for the Australian squad and there was little relief for many of them on Wednesday who have gone back into a biosecurity bubble to prepare for the last notes of the aforementioned BBL ring cycle.

Toys get thrown out of prams by fans and pundits after a performance like that, but some degree of common sense must remain.

India’s performance will not go down in history because they beat a poor side, but because they beat a good side – and they had to come from behind to do it.

India’s coach Ravi Shastri said later “the whole world will stand up and salute you”. The scale and significance of the victory is in some ways a compliment to the vanquished.

It’s not often a cricket series gets written up in the New York Times but this one did.

Called on to justify the performance of his bowlers after they failed on day five in two successive Tests, Langer countered by asking “tell me who you would’ve picked?”.

It’s a great question because even with the 2020 vision provided by hindsight there are no obvious answers.

The three seamers are all top 10 ranked and the spinner is world class. Mitchell Starc was a little off but you get that with bowlers like him. Mitchell Johnson had similar patches, but both usually prove to be a slight adjustment away from their best.

Nathan Lyon had a disappointing series, but it would have been improved had a few catches been held and Indian batsmen eat off spinners for breakfast.

As for the batting, Will Pucovski obviously comes back into the top order, while Matthew Wade may well find himself outside of thinking for South Africa, but again who do you bring in? Travis Head? He was dropped in this series. Usman Khawaja who has been out of sight and mind since the Ashes?

Ben McDermott is shaping up as a candidate on the back of a decent century against India A and rising performances in other forms.

Many of the top 10 performers in the Sheffield Shield over the past two and half seasons have been tried, discarded or face an uncertain future including Wade, Head, Marcus Harris, Nic Maddinson and Shaun Marsh.

Web graphic on Sheffield Shield

Jhye Richardson should get a look in as another bowling option.

It is easy to dismiss at the BBL and fret over its impact on first class cricket, but you could argue that the IPL enhanced India’s Test performance and provided crucial experience for that Brisbane run chase.

Washington Sundar is 21 and has not played a first class game since he was 17. What does that tell you about experience against the red ball?

When Rishabh Pant was brought in to replace Wriddhiman Saha after the first Test eyes rolled at the inclusion of a weaker keeper, but his performance with the bat was something to behold. His 97 at the SCG almost stole the match from Australia and his 89no at the Gabba did steal that game and the series from the home team.

It was the approach to the match situation that most impressed. Pant and those around him set about the run chase with the sort of two speed certainty MS Dhoni was renowned for in the short form of the game. They never panicked, their top order, particularly Cheteshwar Pujara, set the platform and their hitters batted as if they were setting off fireworks in the IPL.

Through that tournament they have had exposure to pressure and experience at run chases. They know how to strike the right tempo.

You still won’t convince me the BBL does anything more than attract kids and cash for Australian cricket – both of which are important – but it is hard to see how it has improved the performance of the Test side.

If anyone was to make that leap it will be a Glenn Maxwell or a Josh Philippe, but it is yet to be made and the pressure in a BBL match in front of modest Manuka crowds is well short of the same in the IPL.