Will kick off this topic seeing as though the Australian 2nd XI are currently playing Pakistan at Perth Stadium.
Not sure why James Pattinson wasnt chosen but our attack of Neser, Richardson, Abbott & Meredith have bowled with decent pace and bounce so far.
The Paki batsmen have looked well at home on the front foot and are currently just after lunch on Day 1- 3/119.
the selectors know what Pattinson’s got and aren’t risking another injury by the look
there’s a couple of spots up for grabs & there’ll be rotations in bowling
we might have a bit of faster bowling depth available
batting is suss and unstable apart from the Smith for mine
Babar Azam and Asad Shafiq are putting on a clinic with a near 200 run partnership now.
Azam looks a class act…should be a great contest between himself and the Aussie test attack…he looked good in the T20 stuff…
Whilst expensive Meridith looked good at times…be interested to see who makes runs v a very young Pakistan bowling attack…
There is an article on the fox sports website where Hussey rates him as highly as Smith, Kholi, Williamson and Root.
That’s a fairly high compliment from Mr. cricket
Does anyone want to open the batting for Australia in Test Cricket with Warner this Summer?
Harris- X
Burns- ?
Bancroft- X
Khawaja- ?
Others- ?
If Shaun Marsh makes a ton v Starc et al he will probably get selected on Wednesday…Labuschagne will go to opener…Marsh to 3, Smith 4…if Pucovski gets a 50 + today he will bat 5 and Wade six…if that happens just shows JL/Hohns haven’t got a clue who their top 6 are…esp with Burns, Harris, Head and Uzzie all missing out today…reckon JL/Hohns top six changes from week to week depending on who makes runs and who doesn’t…be interesting if Bancroft makes a ton batting at six…does that mean he will open next week v Pakistan…LOL
Pucovski is already out cheaply Freeze for Australia A as were Burns, Harris, Khawaja & Head to be 5/42.
Our batting depth stocks outside Smith, Warner & Labuschagne have never been shallower in all my time!
Yep… Carey’s turn now BH to get a baggy green…getting really messy now at 5 down…Labuschagne last two innings have been ducks too for Qld…might as well have Warner and Smith opening Paine at 3 then play 8 bowlers…Cummins, Starc, Pattinson, Hazlewood, Lyon, Sayers, Richardson and Neser…
Carey gone…seriously embarrassing…up to the bowlers now to get the team in to triple figures…
Bangers is leading a rearguard fightback from a laughable 9/57 to a now far more respectable 9/73 at Tea. :silly:
This is a Pakistan attack missing 2 of their best bowlers in Mohammed Abbas & Mohammed Amir too I might add! 
there are grounds for re-selecting Shaun Marsh both on form and record.
AR a part of me would love to see SOS picked for the 1st Test at the Gabba just to watch the meltdown from the Vics! :lol:
What a reality check that was for the Australian team and selectors. On the basis of that performance against an attack that was hardly world beating, you wouldnt be picking any of that top 6 for the first test. Too many technical deficiencies and plain dumb shots. At least Cam Bancroft fought it out but to be honest he hasnt done enough in shield cricket to justify selection. When your number 11 is 2nd top in both runs scored and balls faced you know it has been an abysmal innings. I don’t think Pakistan will be doing them any favours with an early declaration as they will want to give the guys that missed out in the first innings a hit. In fact they may not declare at all or just wait till the evening session to give their bowlers another trundle.
Shaun Marsh is very much in the reckoning, especially if he can produce another score in Sydney.
Pakistan played that well…be interesting to see who gets picked out of that fiasco of a performance by the Aust selectors…Harris is the incumbent and no one else really has delivered so far in the shield season..bar Maddinson as an opener…Pucovski or Head?..right v left…what is the best balance for the team…if a 16 yr old boy, away from home, with the sudden death of his mother can step up with a performance like that…surely it’s time to blood Pucovski?..Head will no doubt replace the 30 something Wade at some point…but Pucovski looks special and no better time than a home series v Pakistan and NZ to see what the kid can do…
It looks like young Will Pucovski has made himself unavailable for selection citing his ongoing battle with his mental health concerns.
Big call by the young bloke but courageous to make hopefully he can get on top of his issue soon as he obviously has some batting talent.
Here is my attempt at picking the Test XI in batting order before it is officially announced at 11am-
David Warner
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Matthew Wade
Tim Paine (C)
Pat Cummins (VC)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
James Pattinson (12th man)
Joe Burns (13th man)
Not necessarily the side I would want but more who I believe the selectors will go for.
Cheers BH just read the CA article now…tough one this…every time he is on the cusp of selection, the young fella seems to step away…obviously a lot of expectation on the young lads shoulders, hopefully all concerned can rally behind the kid…I know majority of Aust cricket fans can’t wait to see the young man don the Baggy Green…
Think that side of yours is spot on…few fellas out of form there with the bat…but that sums up the state of Aust batting depth at present…fark all TBH…lots of lefties again…
It looks like young Will Pucovski has made himself unavailable for selection citing his ongoing battle with his mental health concerns.
Big call by the young bloke but courageous to make hopefully he can get on top of his issue soon as he obviously has some batting talent.
Here is my attempt at picking the Test XI in batting order before it is officially announced at 11am-
David Warner
Usman Khawaja
Marnus Labuschagne
Steve Smith
Travis Head
Matthew Wade
Tim Paine (C)
Pat Cummins (VC)
Mitchell Starc
Nathan Lyon
Josh Hazlewood
James Pattinson (12th man)
Joe Burns (13th man)
Not necessarily the side I would want but more who I believe the selectors will go for.
[/quote]
Close BH but substitute Burns for Khawaja according to today’s paper.
add Burnes Bancroft Patterson and Nesser to the other 10 listed above
Uzzie was not considered.
They have a squad of 14
add Burnes Bancroft Patterson and Nesser to the other 10 listed above
Uzzie was not considered.
They have a squad of 14
[/quote]
I did have Joe Burns & James Pattinson in my 13 man squad listed above PH.
Looks like Uzzie has had his card marked now at 33.