Australia announce 14-man squad for 2-match Test series against Pakistan

[MenInG]

Cameron Bancroft has won a recall to Test ranks despite his own reservations about his recent form, as Australia opts for flexibility in the upcoming two-match Domain Test Series against Pakistan.

Bancroft is one of three specialist openers in the 14-man squad unveiled today, alongside former Test vice-captain David Warner and Queensland's Joe Burns.

With young Victoria batter Will Pucovski advising of his unavailability for selection due to mental health concerns, Travis Head seems set to regain the middle-order batting berth he surrendered during the Ashes.

And while the starting XI for the first Test and batting order are yet to be finalised, it is expected Ashes revelation Marnus Labuschagne will remain at number three followed by Steve Smith at four.

Selectors also named a fleet of five fast bowlers for the Tests in Brisbane (starting next Thursday) and Adelaide (November 29), while Ashes tourists Usman Khawaja, Marcus Harris and Peter Siddle have been overlooked.

In addition to the four-pronged pace battery of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and James Pattinson who were rotated with great effect through this year's Ashes campaign, uncapped seamer Michael Neser has also been included.

Australia squad for Domain Test Series v Pakistan – Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins (vc), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head (vc), Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Bancroft was a late addition to the Australia A line-up for this week's tour game against Pakistan in Perth, earning a call-up when Victoria batter Nic Maddinson withdrew on mental health grounds.

The Western Australia opener had lost his Test place to Harris after the second Ashes Test at Lord's earlier this year, and had scored 57 runs at an average of 11.4 in his three first-class matches prior to the tour game.

However, the right-hander top-scored in an otherwise dismal batting effort by Australia A in the face of Pakistan's potent pace and spin bowlling, posting 49 from 155 balls faced in the unfamiliar role of number six.

In the wake of that innings, Bancroft claimed he did not feel he had performed sufficiently well to gain a recall to the Test squad.

But the flexibility he affords, especially now that like-for-like concussion substitutes are permitted in Test cricket, through his capacity to adapt and bat anywhere in the top six adds to his value within the 14-man squad.

Left-handers Matthew Wade and Head seem set to fill the number five and six berths, with Wade posting a patient 89 in this week's Marsh Sheffield Shield match against South Australia in Adelaide.

Head has also been in strong first-class form, with his SA coach Jamie Siddons rating the Redbacks' captain's century against a Test-strength New South Wales attack earlier this month as "the best hundred I've seen for the year".

"Travis Head scored a hundred against a very good New South Wales attack just a few weeks ago and also offers the option of part-time off-spin," said national selector Trevor Hohns. "Matthew Wade was superb as a specialist batsman through last summer, had a solid Ashes Series with two hundreds and strong start to the current domestic season. "We anticipate Matthew and Travis will give us a strong middle order in support of the top four. Cameron Bancroft is someone who has the ingredients of what we believe makes a good Test cricketer and rounds out our batting group in the squad."

Victoria pair Harris and Siddle, along with injured WA all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (broken hand) are the casualties from Australia's previous Test match, against England at The Oval last September.

Khawaja was part of the Ashes touring party, but has also been overlooked for the first two Tests of the Australia summer after scoring 59 runs at an average of 11.8 in his five Marsh Sheffield Shield innings of 2019-20.

Burns appears set to reunite with Warner at the top of the order, the first time the pair have opened together in Tests since the disastrous 2016 defeat to South Africa at Hobart that brought widespread upheaval to Australia's line-up.

Despite scores of 0 and 11 against Pakistan in Perth this week, Burns has averaged 40 in Shield cricket so far this summer and posted an imperious 180 in his most recent Test outing, against Sri Lanka at Canberra last February.

Domain Test Series v Pakistan

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c), Cameron Bancroft, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner

Pakistan squad: Azhar Ali (c), Abid Ali, Asad Shafiq, Babar Azam, Haris Sohail, Imam-ul-Haq, Imran Khan Snr, Iftikhar Ahmed, Kashif Bhatti, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Musa Khan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shan Masood, Yasir Shah.

Warm-up match: v Australia A, November 11-13, Perth Stadium (d/n)

Warm-up match: v Cricket Australia XI, November 15-16, WACA Ground

First Test: November 21-25, Gabba (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

Second Test: November 29 – December 3, Adelaide (d/n) (Seven, Fox & Kayo)

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/aus...eser-burns-head-paine-smith-warner/2019-11-14

 

[MMHS]

They have picked best possible squad, no excuses now. This will be their starting XI

1. Warner
2. Burns
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Wade
7. *Paine+
8. Cummins
9. Starc
10. Hazlewood
11. Lyon

Quite strong XI for Gabba.

 

[sweep_shot]

Strong Aussie side.

Pakistan have to play really well to beat this team at their own backyard.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Interesting that they went with Bancroft. He was almost out of contention prior to the AUS A game. Poor test and domestic performances recently. Only picked because of his 49 in AUS A game. And he was a late replacement for that too for Nic Maddinson.

Dare I say AUS for all their chatter about form and consistency, have just pulled a Pakistan?

 

[Titan24]

Really feel for Will Pucovski. His mental health issues are really causing issues for his international career.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Shock inclusion for Australia’s first cricket Test against Pakistan

Australia’s selectors have sprung huge surprise by naming Cameron Bancroft in a 14-man squad for the first cricket Test of the summer against Pakistan next week, while excluding Usman Khawaja and Marcus Harris.

Bancroft has made the cut despite a series of underwhelming efforts for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield this season.

Bancroft has been included alongside Queenslander Joe Burns, who is a frontrunner to open the batting with David Warner after unluckily missing out on selection in the Ashes squad.

“Obviously it’s his home ground and he generally performs pretty well there,” Chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns told reporters in Perth.

“Joe in the past years when he has been given the opportunity to play for Australia, his record is not too bad.

“He was desperately unlucky not to be included in that Ashes squad. But we consider now is the right time for him to come back, try to form a good partnership at the top with David Warner.

“They know each other well, they’re good friends and left and right-handed (opening combination) is pretty useful in our view.”

Travis Head was also names and will likely bat in the middle order after his main competitor Will Pucovski asked not to be picked because of mental health issues.

However, Bancroft — who has played all 10 of his Tests as an opener — may also be considered for the middle order after top-scoring for Australia A in the recently completed warm-up match against Pakistan in Perth.

Bancroft only played that game because he was called up as a late replacement for Victorian batsman Nic Maddinson, who pulled out of the clash for mental health reasons. Batting at No. 6, the 26-year-old scored 49 out of a dismal first innings total of 122, making him the only player for the hosts to reach 20.

Bancroft returned to the Australian side in the Ashes after serving his nine-month suspension for ball tampering but was dropped after two Tests.

He’s had a rough time of it in Shield cricket this season, scoring just 57 runs in six innings at an average of 11.4 with a top score of 30.

Numbers like those would make his inclusion in the starting XI even more of a surprise.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/amp.new...n/news-story/bf24f03f2c6042324b1e21bfb6cb7b27

 

[angrypathan]

Rough for Khawaja

 

[sweep_shot]

The National Selection Panel (NSP) has announced the following 14-player Australian squad for the Domain two-Test Series against Pakistan at The Gabba in Brisbane from November 21-26 and the day/night fixture at the Adelaide Oval from November 29-December 3:

Australia

Tim Paine (c) (Tasmania)
Cameron Bancroft (Western Australia)
Joe Burns (Queensland)
Pat Cummins (vc) (New South Wales)
Josh Hazelwood (New South Wales)
Travis Head (vc) (South Australia)
Marnus Labuschagne (Queensland)
Nathan Lyon (New South Wales)
Michael Neser (Queensland)
James Pattinson (Victoria)
Steven Smith (New South Wales)
Mitchell Starc (New South Wales)
Matthew Wade (Tasmania)
David Warner (New South Wales)

National selector Trevor Hohns said: “In selecting this squad we have strived to maintain the core group which performed so well for us during the Ashes. This is a well credentialled squad and one we hope will serve us well throughout the summer.

“As always there were players who were unlucky to miss the squad. Those players remain firmly in the national selection frame and will continue to be monitored closely.

“We look forward to the team continuing the momentum from a superb performance in retaining the Ashes in England and the unbeaten Gillette T20 International Series.

“David Warner and Steven Smith are in magical touch. We also welcome Joe Burns into the squad who we feel was unlucky to miss the Ashes squad. Joe’s record speaks for itself, he has Test hundreds on the board and has combined very well with David (Warner) in the past. We also like the feel of a right-hand, left-hand combination at the top of the order. Marnus’ performances in England and at the start of this season demanded his selection.

“Travis scored a hundred against a very good New South Wales attack just a few weeks ago and also offers the option of part-time off-spin. Matthew Wade was superb as a specialist batsman through last summer, had a solid Ashes Series with two hundreds and strong start to the current domestic season.

“We anticipate Matthew and Travis will give us a strong middle order in support of the top four. Cameron Bancroft is someone who has the ingredients of what we believe makes a good Test cricketer and rounds out our batting group in the squad.

“We are blessed to have four of the best fast bowlers in the world challenging each other for spots and most importantly playing as a group. Cummins, Starc, Hazelwood and Pattinson are daunting pace prospects for any opposition, particularly at home. Michael Neser adds to that group with his ability move the ball both ways, giving the team another bowling option depending on the conditions.”

Tim Paine captains the side with Pat Cummins and Travis Head his vice-captains. The Test squad for the Domain Test Series against New Zealand will be announced following the Pakistan Series.

Australia plays Pakistan beginning at the Gabba on Thursday November 21 with the Domain Test Series concluding with a day-night fixture at Adelaide Oval from Friday, November 29.

The Domain Test Series against Pakistan:

November 21-25 – First Domain Test, The Gabba

Source: https://www.miragenews.com/australian-test-squad-for-domain-test-series-against-pakistan/.

 

[Boiz Played Well]

Rough for Khawaja

He’s in pretty poor form at the moment. Averaging 17.25 across nine innings in the Sheffield. Plus poor Ashes before that. If he would’ve scored with AUS A I’m sure he would’ve been an option.

 

[Naveedahmed1]

How many mental health drop outs are there - maxwell, nic and will ?

 

[Xoib]

Good Khwaja is not there he bats well vs us I think we can give this side a fight inshallah

 

[ARK Rafay]

Good Khwaja is not there he bats well vs us I think we can give this side a fight inshallah

I was just thinking about this. And in the last innings even though got hit by Naseem but he was still there and getting his form up

 

[Hasan123]

Strong team for Australian conditions. Thought they would experiment with a new player at 6. But they clearly see a lot in Travis Head.

 

[IAJ]

I am glad Finch is not there. Even though he is considered as LOI player he is in such good form that he would have given us a tough time.

 

[MenInG]

"Probably highly unlikely, I would have thought," Bancroft said when asked about his prospects of playing the first Test at the Gabba from next Thursday.

"But if you're not winning, you're learning, aren't you? I learned a lot today, had a lot of positive little wins out there with my batting.

"I walk away and keep being positive, keep looking to improve. That's all you can do."

Bancroft spoke after making 49 for Australia A in their dismal first innings of 122 against Pakistan, who blasted out the home side's top five for a combined total of just 40 runs.

The right-hander was not initially selected for the tour game but was a late call-up after Victoria's Nic Maddinson withdrew from the match for mental health reasons.

Bancroft played the first two Ashes Tests before being dropped for Marcus Harris – who missed Test selection today – and has battled form and technical issues this summer.

In his three Marsh Sheffield Shield matches this summer before facing Pakistan, Bancroft had managed 57 runs at 11.4 and was caught at leg-slip three times in a row, with sides seemingly aware he's prone to hitting the ball in the air through that region.

But in Bancroft, the selectors see a player who has what it takes to succeed at the highest level without taking his chances.

"He has the ingredients to be a very good Test player, he just has to put the performance on the board when he is given that opportunity," national selector Trevor Hohns said today, adding that Bancroft will likely be the back-up batsman in the squad.

"Everything else about him is the sort of thing that Justin Langer and the selection panel want from a player.

"He's the ideal person to have in our squad. He's a hard worker. He was left out in England after a couple of Test matches, but he's had the bit between his teeth, he's worked very, very hard on his game and the improvement in his game is quite noticeable."

In 18 Test innings, the 26-year-old has passed 50 three times for an average of 26.23 but is unlikely to add to those figures at the Gabba.

Bancroft was named as one of seven specialist batters in the 14-man squad, alongside Travis Head and Matthew Wade who are expected to occupy the two positions under Steve Smith at No.4.

Head's inclusion as vice-captain is a "fair indication" the left-hander will return to the Test XI after making way for allrounder Mitch Marsh for the final Test of the Ashes in September.

"Travis has immense experience as a young leader for his state," Hohns said.

"He's certainly back in the mix to play and we also like how he goes about his business around the team and the leadership skills he has to offer."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/cam...-gabba-adelaide-wa-technique-hohns/2019-11-14

 

[Amjid Javed]

Refreshing to see that bancroft didnt think he had earnt right to a recall, yet our players seem to think they should be retained time and time again despite failures.

 

[Danyaalr01]

What is the Aussie selector up to. Burns looked embarassing against Pakistan. Bancroft has been very poor lately and has a poor technique. They should have gone with Marcus Harris as opener and Khawaja over Bancroft.

 

[arehaan]

What is the Aussie selector up to. Burns looked embarassing against Pakistan. Bancroft has been very poor lately and has a poor technique. They should have gone with Marcus Harris as opener and Khawaja over Bancroft.

Well said, Khawaja is someone we always have trouble dislodging so not much to complaint.
Anyways it will always be Smith Vs. Pakistan if we can somehow get through him this series may will be a cracker.

 

[JibranAnsari]

Better batting , better bowing and their bowlers can score runs too.


Pakistan last 4 can't bat to save their life. Our batting is dependent upon Babar azam , shafiq and iftikhar and iftikhar has only played one test match so far. Pakistan will need a miracle to avoid a very big defeat.

 

[Danyaalr01]

It is Smith vs Pakistan and we need to get everyone around him out. Warner will give Pakistan chances if they keep it tight. Labuschagne will be another one that may be difficult to get out. The Aussie selector has made the job a tiny bit easier though if Bancroft or Burns are opening. Burns looks in bad touch and Bancroft is very flawed. Head is another one who has a clear weakness and he will also gove you chances with his attacking shots.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

So it's

Burns
Warner
Smith
Labuschagne
Head
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Josh

That's quite a good team for the red ball match atleast.

 

[Danyaalr01]

So it's

Burns
Warner
Smith
Labuschagne
Head
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Josh

That's quite a good team for the red ball match atleast.

Under lights I would expect Burns, Warner, Head, Wade and Paine to struggle.

 

[shortbread]

I am glad Finch is not there. Even though he is considered as LOI player he is in such good form that he would have given us a tough time.

Finch prospered in limited overs due to our own stupidity. He is a spectacular back foot player and the three things he loves is to pull, hook and cut. The pace attack obliged and gave him exactly what he wanted. A short ball barrage and kept trying to bounce him out, terrible management/captaincy.

The moment the ball moves and is kept up there, Finch begins to struggle. Langer knows this all too well. The Aussies needs an opener to accompany Warner that is capable in seeing off the new ball, so that when Smith and Labuschagne arrive at the crease they can go about their business with little hassle.

 

[Nikhil_cric]

Under lights I would expect Burns, Warner, Head, Wade and Paine to struggle.

Yes that's why I said the red ball match. Australia are terrible against swing. If the Pakistani bowlers swing the pink ball , it's advantage Pakistan in Adelaide.

 

[Danyaalr01]

Yes that's why I said the red ball match. Australia are terrible against swing. If the Pakistani bowlers swing the pink ball , it's advantage Pakistan in Adelaide.

Yes. Adelaide is kind of about luck too. If you end up bowling with the new ball under lights then you have a huge advantage, but if it's the other way around then it could go very wrong.

 

[MenInG]

Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has backed the return of opener Joe Burns to Australia's Test side and says the right-hander can help David Warner get back to his best this summer.

Ponting says there were "no real surprise" in Australia's squad announced today, adding the return to a left-handed and right-handed opening combination could be crucial as the Aussies look to avoid a repeat of the top-order woes that plagued them during the Ashes.

The return of Burns and the omissions of Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja means Australia will field three right-handers in their top four for the first Test against Pakistan in Brisbane next week, compared to the three left-handers they had in the top three at one stage during the Ashes.

Ponting says the variety at the top will make it more difficult for Pakistan's impressive fast-bowling attack to get into a rhythm like Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer did in England, where they terrorised Australia's lefties from round the wicket.

"The left-hand, right-hand combination at the top is a good thing," Ponting told cricket.com.au today.

"We saw in England that right-armers going around the wicket created a lot of issues to our lefties at the top.

"With Burns being there now … if they want to go around the wicket to Warner, they'll have to go over the wicket to Burns. So it just makes the bowler's job a little bit more difficult.

"We saw the dominance Broad had against the lefties and if they had a right-hander there (in England), it might have been a bit easier for him and the other left-hander as well."

Ponting said Burns, who has four centuries from 16 Tests, is a "proven Test performer" and deserves his spot, although the former Test skipper lamented the poor performance of Australia's fringe batsmen during their tour match against Pakistan this week.

"The underlying thing through it all was just how disappointing the batsmen were in the tour game," Ponting said of the Australia A game in Perth, where Burns posted scores of 0 and 11.

"It was talked about for a couple of weeks as a bat-off and a showdown, and it didn't turn out that way because none of the batters made any, apart from (Cameron) Bancroft.

"I think (Burns) is a good selection.

"Looking back to the Ashes squad, he was probably the most-unlucky omission from that.

"Things didn't work out for him in the tour game, but he'll obviously get a lot of confidence out of being back.

"He's got a proven track record, averages about 40 in Test cricket and hopefully that will continue."

Ponting also predicted Warner to be "one of the players of the summer" after his horror Ashes campaign, where he averaged just 9.5 for the series in the face of Broad's round-the-wicket approach.

Warner averages almost 60 in home Tests and Ponting says the left-hander is good enough to respond to his Ashes slump and the same line of attack that Pakistan will no doubt look to exploit.

"I know what sort of a bloke he is," Ponting said of Warner, whom he worked closely with during the World Cup this year.

"He's very competitive, he wants to win, and he wants to have success. And he's very meticulous in his preparation, he knows how teams are going to bowl to him and what he has to work on.

"The hunger and desire will certainly be there. If he gets off to a good start in the first Test, it could be a big summer for him."

But Ponting also warned Australia's top order they will be in for a tough examination against a Pakistan attack that's expected to include impressive seamer Mohammad Abbas, left-armer Shaheen Afridi and uncapped 16-year-old speedster Naseem Shah.

"I think from what we saw in Perth, Pakistan will put out a pretty good bowling attack," he said.

"In conditions in Brisbane that will give them something, and (under lights) in Adelaide as well, it's going to be hard work from them."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ric...s-warner-pakistan-gabba-first-test/2019-11-14

 

[TeamPak95]

Strong Aussie squad. There are some players for Pak I'm excited to see in this series, but a single drawn test will be an accomplishment in my eyes.

 

[fight_club]

Thia is arguably weakest test batting side pakistan has faced. Pakistan manage to keep smith in check they can have a good chance.

 

[PakLFC]

I don't know much about the Aussie Test side. Our performance against their A side gives me a lot of hope.

 

[The_Odd_One]

An excellent bowling unit but a below average batting unit which looks pretty thin after Smith at #4.

 

[MenInG]

The 14-man Australian squad selected for the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba has left plenty of people baffled, including Cameron Bancroft himself.

In a surprise move, Bancroft was selected in the squad for the season, despite last week admitting it would be “highly unlikely” he would make the squad.

Hohns said Bancroft was picked as the extra batsman due to his ability to bat anywhere from opener to no. 6 but the decision has still baffled legends and fans alike.

Bancroft scored 49 in the first innings of the Australia A tour match against Pakistan as the side were bowled out for 122.

He only had the opportunity after Nic Maddison withdrew for mental health reasons.

Despite being a club teammate of Bancroft, former Aussie star Brad Hogg said he was as shocked as the Western Australian star himself that he was selected in the squad.

“I’m absolutely surprised that he’s been picked because he’s had a technical flaw since the Ashes series and I don’t feel as though he’s rectified it and I don’t feel as though he’s spent enough time in the middle in Shield cricket,” he told SEN.

“I think a few others have been hard done by. I think Pucovski would have been in front of him if it wasn’t for the mental issues that he’s pulled himself out with as well. Big call to put Bancroft in.”

The decision saw Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja dropped — despite Bancroft’s miserable start to the season.

While Harris has 266 runs in five innings at an average of 53.20, Khawaja has a horror record of 59 runs at 11.80.

But even that surpasses Bancroft’s 57 runs at 11.40 to start the Shield season which had some fans baffled.

Hogg believes Khawaja is a spent force for Australia — unless he can put a mountain of runs of the board.

But Hogg’s biggest criticism came in for Joe Burns with “too much between bat and pad for an opener”.

Burns has 202 runs at an average of 40.40 this year but he was cleaned bowled for a golden duck in the first innings with Hogg saying Pakistan were “all over him in the second innings as well”.

While he admitted he wanted Burns in the team, he felt for Harris.

Hogg said while Burns has often been praised for his four centuries in 16 Tests, he has had plenty of scores under 10.

“I don’t understand why they’ve gone back to (Joe) Burns when Burns hasn’t really knocked the house down with a mountain of runs,” Hogg told SEN Afternoons.

“Harris is in form in Shield cricket, he is scoring runs left, right and centre at Shield level. You pick Australian teams from performances at Shield level and they haven’t done this – I don’t think Joe Burns is ready with the technique as I said earlier today.

“With the bowling that Pakistan have got, I just think they’ll be licking their lips with Joe Burns at the top of the order hoping they can get into Steve Smith with a hard new ball.”

Former Australian spinner Gavin Robertson spoke to Fox Sports News and admitted that he though Langer would back Bancroft and he would open the batting during the Test at the expense of Burns.

But he said it was difficult situation for the likes of Marcus Harris, who scored just under 1200 runs at just under 70 last season but couldn’t force his way back into the team.

“To me, they’re probably saying ‘we don’t know if Harris can handle Test cricket’ but I believe they think Bancroft can,” he said.

“No one has an answer (about what the selection criteria is). I think it is causing for the 30-35 year-old people up to 70 who have watched cricket for a long period are lost.

“It’s an interesting way selections is coming about coming about and I think the public is generally confused. We’ve gone from having the public go from how cricket teams were selected to we don’t care any more. They have to deal with so much cricket and we do have a top six that doesn’t own it anymore.”

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor told the Wide World of Sports while there will be debate over the side, it shows just where the side is at the moment with the impressive Maddinson and Pucovski withdrawing from selection.

“Unfortunately it’s the landscape we find ourselves in,” Taylor said. “It’s hard to hold Trevor Hohns to account, because he’s waiting for guys to make runs. I got the feeling Trevor was looking to play Will Pucovski in this match, but unfortunately he’s had to make himself unavailable.

“And once again Trevor and the selectors are left with slim pickings, because there’s not a lot of guys making a lot of runs. Our batting depth is not great.”

Fellow former captain Ian Chappell also told WWOS “it’s an indication of how muddy the water is at the moment”.

Australia’s 14-man squad: Tim Paine (captain), David Warner, Joe Burns, Cameron Bancroft, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Michael Neser.

https://www.news.com.au/sport/crick...n/news-story/6365b314d331e0259d9c453e14e9bcda

 

[sindhiboy]

bancroft is being severely underestimated. yes, he had a bad ashes, but he will prove to be one of australia's main test batsmen in the coming years.

 

[JaDed]

Pakistan usually does well in shorter series , Aus has weak batting plus Pak has had good practice too this time around, drawn series seems very good possibility.

 

[Bewal Express]

Their bowling is very strong but the batting is vulnerable. Let's see the likes of AA, AS, Haris and Babar stand up and be counted. We are normally beaten against Aus before we even get on to the pitch. Let's play with passion and without fear. It's time to turn history on its head.

 

[MenInG]

Pattinson and Starc, who both made their Test debuts at the Gabba when Ponting was captain eight years ago, and uncapped Queenslander Michael Neser are seemingly battling for just one bowling vacancy for the first Test behind NSW trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.

Starc has out-performed Pattinson in the early rounds of the Marsh Sheffield Shield this season – he's taken 17 wickets at an average of just 17 compared to Pattinson's 11 wickets at 29 – but Ponting believes selectors have already shown their hand during the Ashes.

"I absolutely love everything that Mitchell Starc brings to the table," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"But at the same time, they've been reluctant to play him in the last few series. He only played the one Ashes Test match and he did OK in that game.

"Pattinson's got a good record in Brisbane as well (he has 29 first-class wickets at 20 at the Gabba compared to 38 at 31 for Starc).

"That's the other thing that might go in his favour; in a place where the ball does swing a bit, he generally pitches it up and takes it away from the right-handers.

"It's a tough one but thinking about where they've come from and their reluctance to play Starc, I think they might lean Pattinson's way again.

"I think (Starc) will have to do something pretty special at training to be part of that team."

Ponting believes the absence of an allrounder in Brisbane may also count against Starc, whose attacking lines and lengths can sometimes lead to a high economy rate and require a fifth-bowling option to steady the run rate.

However, the former Test skipper added Starc's non-selection for the final Ashes Test at The Oval conflicts that theory.

"There was a bit of contradiction going on there during the Ashes," he said.

"They talked about only playing Starc when they had an allrounder, but then they brought Mitchell Marsh in for the last Test and they still didn't play Starc.

"So if I was him, I'd be asking what he has to do to stay in or get into the side."

Ponting said the hot form of Cummins and Hazlewood during the Ashes, where they took wickets at regular intervals and also kept the run rate to a minimum, could hold the key for their state teammate to win a spot.

And he added selectors were in an enviable position given the depth of fast-bowling talent they have to choose from.

"Whichever way they go with Pattinson, Starc or even Neser in his home conditions, none of those guys are going to let you down," he said.

"The reluctance to play Starc (in the past) has been that he has generally leaked runs.

"But what we know with Hazlewood and Cummins is they're not leaking runs and they've been outstanding for a long time now. Not only are they getting guys out, they're making it harder to score as well.

"So maybe with those two on top of their games, there's a chance to play someone like Starc as more of an out-and-out wicket-taker that might leak a few runs."

Pattinson said this week he has had no indication from selectors about who will play in Brisbane, but he expected the NSW trio of Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc to get the nod.

"It will be pretty tough to get a gig in that team ... I think those three probably get the first look in," he said.

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/ric...hell-starc-james-pattinson-cummins/2019-11-16

 

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Statement from Cricket Australia: James Pattinson

James Pattinson has been found guilty of a level two breach of Article 2.1.3 of Cricket Australia’s Code of Conduct for personal abuse of a player while fielding during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.

Pattinson admitted to the breach, which had been reported by umpires John Ward and Shawn Craig to match referee David Talalla. Pattinson apologised immediately and unreservedly to the opponent and the umpires and did not contest the charge.

Pattinson had previously been found guilty of two level one Code of Conduct breaches over the past year for which he received a reprimand (Article 2.1.2, March 14, Sheffield Shield, versus New South Wales) and a 100% match fee fine (Article 2.1.4, March 21, Sheffield Shield, versus South Australia).

Having accumulated three Code of Conduct breaches within an 18 month period, Pattinson has received two suspension points and will subsequently miss the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.

Sean Carroll, Cricket Australia’s Head of Integrity and Security, said the decision to hand Pattinson two suspension points was the appropriate course of action.

“We have a duty to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the action taken in this matter demonstrates that,” Carroll said. “On this occasion, James acknowledges he fell short of that expectation.”

Pattinson said he accepted the breach and apologised unreservedly.

“I made a mistake in the heat of the moment,” Pattinson said. “Straight away I realised I was in the wrong, and I apologised immediately, both to the opponent and to the umpires.

“I have done the wrong thing and accept the penalty. I’m gutted to miss a Test match, but the standards are there for a reason and the fault is mine.”

No replacement will be called into the Test squad ahead of the first Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.

 

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The Test selection of Cameron Bancroft has mystified former Australia quick Geoff Lawson who described his recall as “nonsensical”.
Bancroft was picked in Australia’s 14-man squad for the first Test against Pakistan after scoring a gritty 49 in a tour match when all other trialists failed.

But Lawson said Bancroft’s struggles in the Sheffield Shield and a poor showing at the Ashes should have already ruled him out of contention.

“Among the plots and subplots rushing the game toward the first Test of the summer is the nonsensical selection of Western Australian and fellow Aquinas College alumnus of Justin Langer in Cameron Bancroft,” Lawson wrote in a column for Sydney Morning Herald.

“Chief selector Trevor Hohns must be watching a Bancroft doppelganger if he has observed that ‘the improvement in his game is quite noticeable’. It certainly isn’t reflected in the only currency in which it counts – making runs.

“We may as well cancel the Sheffield Shield as a proving ground for Test cricketers if this is the rationale to be used by the national selection panel, which at the moment constitutes only Langer and Hohns because Cricket Australia hasn’t gotten around to making the third appointment even though they have had several months to sort it out ahead of the international summer.”

Bancroft was considered to be out of the Test reckoning last month when he wasn’t picked in the Australia A side to face Pakistan in Perth.

The phone rang, however, when Nic Maddinson withdrew from the match on mental health grounds two days before it began. His withdrawal was followed by Will Pucovski — also considered above Bancroft in the Test pecking order — asking to not be picked for Australia as part of his mental wellbeing management.

Both incidents opened the door to Bancroft, who’s made just 57 runs at 11.40 in the Shield this season. The poor display follows on from an equally disappointing Ashes series in which he made 44 runs at 11.00.

He also doesn’t have a strong Test record to lean on (446 runs at 26.23), unlike Usman Khawaja who didn’t make the squad despite an average of 52.97 in Australia.

“Khawaja has had a statistically slightly better start to the Australian summer than Bancroft and averages 60 in home Tests but hasn’t “improved quite noticeably”, so he was cut from the squad even though the first Test is at his home ground (the Gabba),” Lawson wrote.

The left-hander has similarly struggled at the start of the Shield season, scoring 59 runs at 11.80. He has, however, scored two centuries in the One-Day Cup and an unbeaten 37 for Australia A against Pakistan.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...n/news-story/55ff4139af1fdbdbca19be4816aa7b55