Batting Barometer: ranking the batsmen vying for Australian Test selection in Sheffield Shield

With Test batting places up for grabs, we rank every Test hopeful as their stocks rise (*Shaun Marsh, *Daniel Hughes) and fall (just about everyone else).

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Two rounds into the Sheffield Shield, the Aussie Test team for the upcoming series against Pakistan seems no closer to being resolved.

Key contenders have struggled to hit the mark, while some forgotten stars are making waves with big scores - but have they left it too late?

The likes of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw and Peter Handscomb need to find form while more runs from Nic Maddinson and Daniel Hughes might mean a surprise or two could be in order at The Gabba next month.

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Here we rank the chances of each batting contender:

DAVID WARNER

David Warner endured the worst series of his otherwise successful career in England this winter.

A century in his first knock back on Aussie soil at The Gabba aside, Warner looks just as uncertain against honest, probing bowling as he did in England.

Whether it’s a lack of confidence or a technical flaw that has been exposed, it’s difficult to tell but his lack of runs ahead of the start of the T20 series against Sri Lanka this weekend must be concerning.

After scoring just one and 15 not out in the Sheffield Shield clash at Drummoyne Oval over the weekend, Warner failed again in the Marsh Cup clash against Tasmania on Wednesday. .

Current odds of selection: 10/10 (would be less if challengers were performing)

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USMAN KHAWAJA

Usman Khawaja needs to assert his quality on Australian wickets to secure his Test place.

What’s happened to Uzzy? He returned home from a disappointing Ashes to blaze two centuries in the early one-day games, but has been stuck in a worrying rut ever since.

A few of his Shield dismissals have been considered unlucky but with each failure comes an obvious lack of confidence - as was shown in his dismissal against South Australia in a one day game on Wednesday.

While state teammate Marnus Labuschagne has gone from strength to strength, Khawaja is dropping right out of consideration.

Current odds of selection: 5/10 (down almost two points)

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MATTHEW WADE

Matthew Wade struck two centuries in England to back up his consistent form in the Shield.

Looks likely to be included for the first Test but nothing he’s done in the early part of the domestic season points to a long run in the Test team this summer.

He has got a few starts but has failed to go with the job.

His century in the final Ashes Test at The Oval will surely give him a bit of credit in the bank but he will need to fire up soon if he’s to avoid being the centre of drop speculation

Current odds of selection: 8/10

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MARCUS HARRIS

Marcus Harris had a difficult Ashes but hasn’t missed a beat in Victorian colours.

He has scored plenty of runs since returning from England but is probably no closer to nailing down one of the opening roles.

He scored 116 - admittedly on a road against South Australia a fortnight ago - and 69 at the WACA last week but needs to sustain it over the next three weeks or so to firm up his role,.

Current odds of selection: 8.5/10

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WILL PUCOVSKI

Will Pucovski has long been viewed as a Test star in the making, despite his inexperience.

Pucovski will surely be earmarked to play Tests at some stage trhis summer but he may be reserved for the New Zealand series in December.

The young gun has done all that’s asked of him as far runs are concerned but the manner in which he’s accumulated them may be suggests he’s not quite ready for the big stage just yet.

His three Shield innings so far this season have shown he’s a bit scratchy early.

Current odds of selection: 7/10 (down from 7.5)

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TRAVIS HEAD

Travis Head has been a solid if unspectacular presence in Australia’s middle order.

If anyone needed to hit the ground running after the Ashes it was Head.

But the South Australian skipper hasn’t produced anything yet that suggests a recall is one the cards any time soon.

He was knocked over for 24-ball duck at the Gabba last week.

Still a bit of time to state his case but it’s getting more and more unlikely.

Current odds of selection: 4.5/10 (down from 5.5)

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JOE BURNS

Joe Burns was desperately unlucky to miss out on selection for the recent Ashes squad.

Queenslanders - aside from Marnus Labuschagne - are really struggling to make their mark.

Burns has been presented with a great opportunity to regain his Test place but isn’t making the most of it.

Australia need substance at the top of the order and cameos aren’t going to get it done.

Current odds of selection: 6.5/10

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NIC MADDINSON

Nic Maddinson continued his fine Victorian form of last season in to the new one.

Maddinson appeared on the professional cricket scrap heap a year ago but thumped 224 - his first first-class double century - over two days opening the batting at Junction Oval to start his season off in grand style.

Looked decent in two knocks at the WACA over the weekend but fell both times when well set.

He’s probably not the first in line for a national Test call at the moment but more runs will certainly remind selectors later in the summer when the Kiwis arrive.

Current odds of selection: 4/10 (down from 5.5)

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KURTIS PATTERSON

Kurtis Patterson has a Test average of 144 (albeit from just two knocks).

Like Burns, Patterson can feel slightly hard done by to have missed out on an Ashes berth despite going past three figures in his last outing for the Test side. But injury looks to has cruelled any chance of a recall.

A left quad injury forced him to miss the opening game against Queensland and he re-aggravated it against Tasmania - bravely coming in to bat at No.11 with a runner, scoring 16 not out.

Current odds of selection: 3.5/10

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MITCH MARSH

Mitchell Marsh showed his quality with the ball in England but was unconvincing with the bat.

Oh, Mitch! What have you done.

He is going to miss four-to-six weeks with a broken hand after punching a wall that will not only rob him of pushing his Test claims further but also puts him in doubt for the entire Pakistan series.

Current odds of selection: 1/10

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CAMERON BANCROFT

Cameron Bancroft wasted the unexpected chance he was given in the recent Ashes.

His stock has fallen alarmingly since returning home.

He has failed to fire in Western Australia’s two Shield games to date, falling into traps and looking far from ther player who demanded Test selection against England two years ago.

Current odds of selection: 1/10

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PETER HANDSCOMB

Peter Handscomb has struggled to hold down a place since making the Test team.

Another who can’t afford to live on cameos alone.

With his natural position being Steve Smith’s No.4 slot he needs to convince selectors he is adaptable enough to fill a hole elsewhere.

Which, unfortunately, he has failed to do for Victoria in a match that has produced over 1200 runs against South Australia earlier this month. His 30, considering all the other scores, will be viewed as a failure. As will his first innings 12 at the WACA this weekend.

Current odds of selection: 1.5/10

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MATT RENSHAW

Matthew Renshaw looked like a long term Test opener three years ago.

If anyone can do with a big score it’s this guy. But the runs just aren’t coming for Queensland’s other forgotten opener.

Renshaw was the coming force back in 2016 when he was one part of a solution to a previous batting crisis and took to the stage with alacrity despite only a dozen first-class matches behind him.

But the runs have dried up in recent times and he seems a long way from the player Australia had hoped they had landed.

Current odds of selection: 0/10 (down from 1.5)

DANIEL HUGHES

Daniel Hughes could benefit from the struggles of Australia’s other candidates.

Might be a smoky for the first Test, and has support in the selection room because after the failures of all Australia’s opening batsmen in England the field is wide open again.

Hughes has a deceptively strong record in domestic cricket.

Fresh from massive back-to-back hundreds in the one-day competition, Hughes also averages a very acceptable 38 in the four-day format of the game.

Current odds of selection: 4/10 (climbing gradually)

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ALEX CAREY

Alex Carey may have to bide his time for a crack at Test cricket.

Having won a place in the 2019 World Cup team of the tournament as a keeper-batsman Carey, 28, is entering his prime.

However, his route to a Test berth is currently blocked by Tim Paine and so he will have to bide his time.

He is making runs but won’t be considered purely as a batsman so will only feature if Paine is injured

Current odds of selection: 1.5/10

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SHAUN MARSH

Could another comeback be on the cards for Shaun Marsh? Picture: AAP

He has had plenty of opportunities without ever grasping his spot.

And yet... his 214 against Victoria - on a pitch where no other batsman reached three figures - was the sort which could easily grab the attention of Justin Langer and co.

Could Australia go back to the well one last time? Or has the final nail been hammered into Marsh’s Test career?

Current odds of selection: 3/10

Originally published as Batting Barometer: ranking the batsmen vying for Australian Test selection in Sheffield Shield