Going to Sri Lanka

As recent history has shown us, the batsmen who find their feet quickly internationally are the ones who have spent years in first class cricket honing their technique, shot selection and concentration; what the players call “getting comfortable with my own game”. Conversely there are younger batsmen whose confidence has been ruined by being exposed too early, by having flaws repeatedly exploited, and thus magnified, by ruthless professionals; exposure does not automatically equal improvement. For batsmen Test cricket is a rare game in that way: It rewards judgement over athleticism, nous over force, and experience over exuberance.

Unlike batsmen, for bowlers (and particularly pacemen) youth and vigour are prerequisites; there will be time aplenty to bowl cutters and slower balls later; at 25 years of age push off the back fence and try to take someone’s head off. Bowlers also have a larger margin for error; make a mistake and you may get hit to the boundary but you live to bowl again, a luxury not afforded batsmen. For this reason repetition and experience against the very best, and importantly, in varied conditions around the world, are vital for bowlers.

In both regards recent Australian selection has been much improved.

It was reassuring to see Josh Hazelwood, retake his place in the Australian side after a recent dead-rubber lay-off. Peter Siddle has been, and probably still is, a good Test bowler but Hazelwood will be a much more dangerous prospect on his second visit to England, a trip that Siddle will not make. (Note: Hazelwood also benefitted from some more conservative field placement from the new skipper, something that coupled with Hazelwood’s and Lyon’s consistency was able to give the Australian’s some control when they needed to curtail the flow of runs.) Evidence of this policy can be seen in Mitchell Starc, who a looks massively improved player after a year of international bowling. And should either of them need a spell, I am thoroughly looking forward to the return of James Pattinson, who should be the very next in line (although we may seem Siddle back for the notorious flat track of Adelaide).

Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns, both given previous looks at international level, returned to state cricket, grafted away and came back better players. Finding a strong top order player to partner with Warner (who has carried this team for two years) and Smith is a must, and hopefully both, if not one, have forged their games strong enough to withstand the heat of the Test arena. Both should be given the summer to establish their spots and build confidence against two average bowling attacks. If required, and if Shaun Marsh is indeed done (George Bailey too), then the forgotten Alex Doolan or Callum Ferguson could provide experience to an inexperienced middle order.

It has long been my theory that an all-rounder must be able to justify his position in a Test team as a specialist first – wicketkeepers included – and anything after that is gravy. Australia’s incumbent no 6, Mitchell Marsh, does not currently fit this requirement and will thus come under selection pressure sooner rather than later. James Faulkner and Glenn Maxwell should have spent all winter in the nets, because although neither suit my criteria any better than Marsh, (life is, above all, about accepting one’s contradictions) they are both scrappers and both bring a uniqueness of talent to the table. Failing this, one either Ferguson or Doolan should bat 6; a fifth bowler should be well down the list of Test team priorities, or at the very least should be the impetus for Steve Smith to roll the arm over occasionally.

The Australian cricket team has quietly undergone massive change in the past 12 months. Gone from last summer’s first test team are: former captain Michael Clarke, former vice-captain Brad Haddin, perennial underachiever Shane Watson, colour blind Chris Rogers, HTS sufferer Peter Siddle, and one-legged workhorse Ryan Harris. For those not counting along, that’s over half the team. And if we add to that Mitchell Johnson’s apparently constant thoughts of retirement, Adam Voges and Peter Nevill feeling under pressure for their spots, then next summer the selectors will have some more decisions to make

There will be some teething problems, particularly overseas, but if they follow the above formula they will have built a new Test team all under the age of 30, and a platform for another period of sustained success.