Australia in South Africa (postponed) and in NZ SQUADs 2021

[TheParraboy]

Updated 27/1

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...uad-tanveer-sangha-earns-t20i-call-up-1249335

Matthew Wade dropped from Test squad, Tanveer Sangha earns T20I call-up
Alex Carey and Mark Steketee have been included for the South Africa tour which is still awaiting final approval from the two boards

T20I squad Aaron Finch (capt), Matthew Wade (vc), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa

Test squad Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins (vc), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Will Pucovski, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mark Steketee, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner






So far plan is for the first test to be on Feb 18

Which means no Shield for anyone (recommences 12/2) , only BBL cricket

I suspect the current test XI would need a break, but guys wanting to make a claim for the squad ?

You would imagine at least an 18 man squad min would be sent over due to covid bubble and protocol, maybe more

Do we make any glaring omissions? Do we pick any left field guys?


10 Locks IMO

Warner
Pucovski
Labuschagne
Smith
Paine (I think he will be there)
Hazlewood
Lyon
Starc
Cummins
Pattinson




https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/...nd-watered-down-t20i-team-to-pakistan-1247805

South Africa could be forced to field a second-string T20I side on their upcoming tour of Pakistan as the bulk of the squad will have to return home to prepare for three Tests against Australia.

Although the fixtures and venues for the Australia series are yet to be confirmed, provisional dates have the first Test scheduled to start on February 18, four days after the tour to Pakistan ends. The short turnaround could mean that some red-ball players, including temporary Test captain Quinton de Kock, could return home on February 8, after the second Test, in order to prepare for Australia.

 

[Twizzle]

we need some Sheffield Shield games ffs, this scheduling is f**ked

 

[undertaker]

I posted this in the match-day thread:


For the 18-20 man squad going to South Africa, I'd choose:

Batsmen: Pucovski, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, McDermott + 2 more*
All-rounders/part-time fast bowling options: Green, Abbott, Henriques
Wicketkeeper: Carey, Inglis
Fast bowlers: Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson, Neser, Bird
Specialist spinners: Swepson, Agar

Regarding +2 more*, if better batsmen than Warner and Harris be found, they get the gig.

 

[undertaker]

we need some Sheffield Shield games ffs, this scheduling is f**ked

T20 cricket is what has screwed over the scheduling.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/argus-report-reveals-trouble-at-home-20110823-1wt9p.html

It's interesting that even before the number of T20 fixtures in the calendar year substantially increased, the concerns over the effect T20 cricket could have on test match performances was clearly pointed out in the Argus Review nearly a decade ago.

AND YET....

CA administration not only don't learn from their mistakes of the past, but amplify them by extending the BBL to a full home-and-away season, hence expanding the duration of the tournament and therefore Sheffield Shield is shoved into the Australian summer in two windows: before the first test match, and after the BBL has finished.

 

[Mr Spock!]

I posted this in the match-day thread:


For the 18-20 man squad going to South Africa, I'd choose:

Batsmen: Pucovski, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, McDermott + 2 more*
All-rounders/part-time fast bowling options: Green, Abbott, Henriques
Wicketkeeper: Carey, Inglis
Fast bowlers: Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson, Neser, Bird
Specialist spinners: Swepson, Agar

Regarding +2 more*, if better batsmen than Warner and Harris be found, they get the gig.

Have Neser and Abbott been playing cricket or just carrying drinks for the past 2 months?

And honestly is Agar better than Lyon?

 

[undertaker]

Have Neser and Abbott been playing cricket or just carrying drinks for the past 2 months?

Since players entered the COVID bubble just before the first test in Adelaide, all players who've remained in the 18 man test squad throughout the series haven't played other forms of cricket due to the COVID protocols (Henriques, Abbott, Neser, Swepson). They're not allowed to exit the test players bubble/hub to play for their state/BBL side, and then immediately come back into test squad from what I know under the COVID protocol.

This is going to be one of the biggest problems for as long as COVID bubbles/hubs remain: lack of flexibility.

In the past, players could just get plucked out of nowhere to play at higher levels (e.g. if the test wicketkeeper was injured on the eve of a match, someone from state level immediately came into the test team to replace him), or players in the squad who weren't selected to play for Australia could be released from the squad to play state/grade cricket/BBL etc. When the announcement came that Stuart MacGill was going to make his test debut in Adelaide in 1998, he was playing a grade cricket match at North Sydney Oval at the time (i.e. he wasn't in the Aussie test squad) and then flew to Adelaide after his grade cricket match to play the test match vs South Africa.

Now, the starting XI must be selected from whoever was in the squad at the start of the series (players who join the squad during the series have to self-isolate for a period before joining the bio-secure hub), hence why an extended 18 man squad was selected for this Australia vs India test series, instead of the 13-15 players from years gone by. For overseas tours, the touring squad post COVID-19 outbreak is obviously more, about 20-22 players, as you've got to factor in injuries and the mandatory 2 week quarantine players have to undertake upon arrival in the foreign country. So, gone are the day of players getting called up at the 11th hour to take an international flight to play for Australia, like what happened with Matt Renshaw when he flew to South Africa after Sandpapergate to play the final test match in Johannesburg after Warner, Bancroft and Smith were immediately sent home.

Now for international test tours, players in the extended squad not playing test matches isn't an issue because as you know, the touring side also plays tour matches against other teams either before or between test matches. So, there's obviously opportunities for those players not playing in the test matches to still get semi-regular match practice and maintain their fitness.

But for home test series in Australia where Australia are just playing test matches and not playing other teams between the test matches, this will be an issue for those players in the COVID bubble who then suddenly are selected to play later in the test series and they may've not had any match practice for several weeks.

Say hypothetically COVID bubbles still remain for next summer's 5 test Ashes series in Australia. In the 4th test, the Aussie fast bowlers break down with injuries, and Neser (who's been in the squad from the beginning of the Ashes, but hasn't played a test thus far) was selected to replace Josh Hazlewood. Well, Neser has been in the squad since mid-November or so, hasn't played a single game for anyone since he joined the test squad, and now all of a sudden in early January gets selected to play at the SCG on stinking hot 35-40 degree days, Ashes series is 2-1 to England and in a must-win game for Australia, Neser as a fast bowler is expected to bowl 15-20 overs/day in match conditions......and the last time he may've bowled in any cricket game was at least 2 months or so earlier in a Shield/grade cricket match.

More injuries waiting to happen....

 

[undertaker]

And honestly is Agar better than Lyon?

Regarding spinners:

Agar is currently equal 7th (2nd highest spinner) in the leading wicket-takers in Shield cricket this season:

https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e..._wickets_career.html?id=13741;type=tournament

I'd only have Agar in the side as a back-up spinner, Swepson would definitely be first choice spinner, taking 23 wickets @ 21.17 so far in Shield season.

 

[Twizzle]

T20 cricket is what has screwed over the scheduling.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/argus-report-reveals-trouble-at-home-20110823-1wt9p.html

It's interesting that even before the number of T20 fixtures in the calendar year substantially increased, the concerns over the effect T20 cricket could have on test match performances was clearly pointed out in the Argus Review nearly a decade ago.

AND YET....

CA administration not only don't learn from their mistakes of the past, but amplify them by extending the BBL to a full home-and-away season, hence expanding the duration of the tournament and therefore Sheffield Shield is shoved into the Australian summer in two windows: before the first test match, and after the BBL has finished.

The T/20 I have no doubt is all about the money, it has very little to do with cricket. If CA rake in the cash they get bonuses and get to keep their job.

 

[TIGER14]

First thing I would be doing is giving the captaincy back to Steve Smith.

 

[TheParraboy]

I posted this in the match-day thread:


For the 18-20 man squad going to South Africa, I'd choose:

Batsmen: Pucovski, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, McDermott + 2 more*
All-rounders/part-time fast bowling options: Green, Abbott, Henriques
Wicketkeeper: Carey, Inglis
Fast bowlers: Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson, Neser, Bird
Specialist spinners: Swepson, Agar

Regarding +2 more*, if better batsmen than Warner and Harris be found, they get the gig.

This is not a question just for undertaker, but us all

Do we think Sam Whiteman could be the next 5+ year test keeper. Currently he is 28yr old

Scored 3 tons last year in Shield. and from reports his keeping is sound

Worth taking , maybe as backup keeper on the SA tour. Has represented CA XI last year so in their sights

Born a pom, the only worry

 

[TheParraboy]

Since players entered the COVID bubble just before the first test in Adelaide, all players who've remained in the 18 man test squad throughout the series haven't played other forms of cricket due to the COVID protocols (Henriques, Abbott, Neser, Swepson). They're not allowed to exit the test players bubble/hub to play for their state/BBL side, and then immediately come back into test squad from what I know under the COVID protocol.

This is going to be one of the biggest problems for as long as COVID bubbles/hubs remain: lack of flexibility.

In the past, players could just get plucked out of nowhere to play at higher levels (e.g. if the test wicketkeeper was injured on the eve of a match, someone from state level immediately came into the test team to replace him), or players in the squad who weren't selected to play for Australia could be released from the squad to play state/grade cricket/BBL etc. When the announcement came that Stuart MacGill was going to make his test debut in Adelaide in 1998, he was playing a grade cricket match at North Sydney Oval at the time (i.e. he wasn't in the Aussie test squad) and then flew to Adelaide after his grade cricket match to play the test match vs South Africa.

Now, the starting XI must be selected from whoever was in the squad at the start of the series (players who join the squad during the series have to self-isolate for a period before joining the bio-secure hub), hence why an extended 18 man squad was selected for this Australia vs India test series, instead of the 13-15 players from years gone by. For overseas tours, the touring squad post COVID-19 outbreak is obviously more, about 20-22 players, as you've got to factor in injuries and the mandatory 2 week quarantine players have to undertake upon arrival in the foreign country. So, gone are the day of players getting called up at the 11th hour to take an international flight to play for Australia, like what happened with Matt Renshaw when he flew to South Africa after Sandpapergate to play the final test match in Johannesburg after Warner, Bancroft and Smith were immediately sent home.

Now for international test tours, players in the extended squad not playing test matches isn't an issue because as you know, the touring side also plays tour matches against other teams either before or between test matches. So, there's obviously opportunities for those players not playing in the test matches to still get semi-regular match practice and maintain their fitness.

But for home test series in Australia where Australia are just playing test matches and not playing other teams between the test matches, this will be an issue for those players in the COVID bubble who then suddenly are selected to play later in the test series and they may've not had any match practice for several weeks.

Say hypothetically COVID bubbles still remain for next summer's 5 test Ashes series in Australia. In the 4th test, the Aussie fast bowlers break down with injuries, and Neser (who's been in the squad from the beginning of the Ashes, but hasn't played a test thus far) was selected to replace Josh Hazlewood. Well, Neser has been in the squad since mid-November or so, hasn't played a single game for anyone since he joined the test squad, and now all of a sudden in early January gets selected to play at the SCG on stinking hot 35-40 degree days, Ashes series is 2-1 to England and in a must-win game for Australia, Neser as a fast bowler is expected to bowl 15-20 overs/day in match conditions......and the last time he may've bowled in any cricket game was at least 2 months or so earlier in a Shield/grade cricket match.

More injuries waiting to happen....

One other main reason they need an extended squad is net bowlers and batsman

Your in a bubble for weeks on end, and the inability to draft someone in quickly

 

[Bazal]

This is not a question just for undertaker, but us all

Do we think Sam Whiteman could be the next 5+ year test keeper. Currently he is 28yr old

Scored 3 tons last year in Shield. and from reports his keeping is sound

Worth taking , maybe as backup keeper on the SA tour. Has represented CA XI last year so in their sights

Born a pom, the only worry

Not even keeping for WA is he, it's been Inglis. Smashed his hand a while back and I don't believe has kept since?

Some are suggesting Ben McDermott also, which is laughable when he's behind Paine, Doran, Wade for Tassie.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Team needs a mini shake up.

Starc’s average in the last 3 years vs England, NZ, India and SA is 37. He’s gotta sit out.

Paine to me should be done as captain, his keeping is also on the slide. Turns 37 this year.

Wade has to go, just doesn’t bring the test match smarts needed for batting.


My team for the first test

Pucovski
Warner
Labs
Smith
Green
Carey
McDermott
Cummins
J.Richardson (Nesser if Richardson isn’t considered match fit)
Pattinson
Hazlewood

Left Lyon out as well because the venues aren’t good for spin, the worst in fact.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Only two options for keeper. Inglis or Carey.

 

[Old tiger 79]

Team needs a mini shake up.

Starc’s average in the last 3 years vs England, NZ, India and SA is 37. He’s gotta sit out.

Paine to me should be done as captain, his keeping is also on the slide. Turns 37 this year.

Wade has to go, just doesn’t bring the test match smarts needed for batting.


My team for the first test

Pucovski
Warner
Labs
Smith
Green
Carey
McDermott
Cummins
J.Richardson (Nesser if Richardson isn’t considered match fit)
Pattinson
Hazlewood

Left Lyon out as well because the venues aren’t good for spin, the worst in fact.

Lyon will go for sure, the bloke is captaincy material really

 

[herbert henry1908]

I posted this in the match-day thread:


For the 18-20 man squad going to South Africa, I'd choose:

Batsmen: Pucovski, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, McDermott + 2 more*
All-rounders/part-time fast bowling options: Green, Abbott, Henriques
Wicketkeeper: Carey, Inglis
Fast bowlers: Cummins, Hazlewood, Pattinson, Neser, Bird
Specialist spinners: Swepson, Agar

Regarding +2 more*, if better batsmen than Warner and Harris be found, they get the gig.

Who’s better than Warner? His record in South Africa is actually pretty good, he must be in the team.

Abbott shouldn’t be anywhere near the squad. He sucks.

Plus J.Richardson must be there if match fit.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Lyon will go for sure, the bloke is captaincy material really

He’ll tour, but I wouldn’t play him. Centurion and Johannesburg are terrible grounds for spinners. Labs will have to bowl some overs.

 

[Incorrect]

When the announcement came that Stuart MacGill was going to make his test debut in Adelaide in 1998, he was playing a grade cricket match at North Sydney Oval at the time (i.e. he wasn't in the Aussie test squad) and then flew to Adelaide after his grade cricket match to play the test match vs South Africa.

Maybe we could do the opposite with Lyon and send him back to grade cricket this weekend, never to return....

 

[TheParraboy]

Not even keeping for WA is he, it's been Inglis. Smashed his hand a while back and I don't believe has kept since?

yup your right, played 4 Shield games before the break in schedule as bat , in Oct/Nov (2 tons and a 50)

Could be right about his hand injury and not keeping, shame. Was considered a gun keeper

Was in the Scorchers BBL squad last year, unseen this year

 

[TheParraboy]

Only two options for keeper. Inglis or Carey.

Seems that way

If its Carey, They most likely stick with him for a couple of years, 3 formats might be too much for him

Enter Phillipe for T20 ? Though the nugget Admiral is the incumbent keeper