Australia's Ashes 2019 top 3 struggles

[Firebat]

The top order of any cricket team usually consists of the best batsmen of the team, and it is upon them that the most responsibility for run-scoring is usually placed. However, the top 3 of Australia throughout the 2019 Ashes series so far have failed miserably, leaving them to rely on their middle order, the likes of Head, Wade and especially Steve Smith, for the majority of their runs.

Australia's top 3 for the 1st and 2nd test were Bancroft, Warner and Khawaja. In the 1st test, these 3 collectively scored 78 of the 771 runs Australia scored in the match. In the 2nd test, these 3 collectively scored 75 of the 404 runs Australia scored in the match.

For these two matches combined, Warner averaged 4.5, Bancroft averaged 11 and Khawaja averaged 22.8.

This morning, for the 3rd test, Australia decided to drop Bancroft for Marcus Harris. However, in this first innings, he was dismissed for 8 and Khawaja has been dismissed also for 8, while as I write this Warner remains not out for 18, looking slightly more convincing than before. Still, in the first innings of this 3rd test, 2 of Australia's top 3 have let them down once again.

These numbers do not make for good reading at all, which should be a major concern for Australia. They tried to change it up by introducing Harris, but he lost his wicket early too (though it's hard to judge him on one innings). What should Australia do from here? Should they persist with Warner, Harris and Khawaja? Should they bring back Bancroft and persist with him? Should they bring another batsman into the top 3, maybe someone else in the squad or promoting a batsman from the middle order? What do you guys think.

 

[MenInG]

The top order of any cricket team usually consists of the best batsmen of the team, and it is upon them that the most responsibility for run-scoring is usually placed. However, the top 3 of Australia throughout the 2019 Ashes series so far have failed miserably, leaving them to rely on their middle order, the likes of Head, Wade and especially Steve Smith, for the majority of their runs.

Australia's top 3 for the 1st and 2nd test were Bancroft, Warner and Khawaja. In the 1st test, these 3 collectively scored 78 of the 771 runs Australia scored in the match. In the 2nd test, these 3 collectively scored 75 of the 404 runs Australia scored in the match.

For these two matches combined, Warner averaged 4.5, Bancroft averaged 11 and Khawaja averaged 22.8.

This morning, for the 3rd test, Australia decided to drop Bancroft for Marcus Harris. However, in this first innings, he was dismissed for 8 and Khawaja has been dismissed also for 8, while as I write this Warner remains not out for 18, looking slightly more convincing than before. Still, in the first innings of this 3rd test, 2 of Australia's top 3 have let them down once again.

These numbers do not make for good reading at all, which should be a major concern for Australia. They tried to change it up by introducing Harris, but he lost his wicket early too (though it's hard to judge him on one innings). What should Australia do from here? Should they persist with Warner, Harris and Khawaja? Should they bring back Bancroft and persist with him? Should they bring another batsman into the top 3, maybe someone else in the squad or promoting a batsman from the middle order? What do you guys think.

Or maybe the English bowling attack is too good?

 

[ishtiaq_ctg]

whoever watched cricket in the era of 2000, will always enjoy the struggles of Australian top 3
Back in those days,Australian scorecard used to be like 200-1 with guys like waugh bros,martyn, and a certain Adam Gilchrist waiting to smash. Those were depressing days for the oppositions

 

[Sir-fraz]

Aussies just dont look the same as they used to, especially after that ball tampering ban. they are trying to recover face. because of that they look soft

 

[Joseph Gomes]

whoever watched cricket in the era of 2000, will always enjoy the struggles of Australian top 3������
Back in those days,Australian scorecard used to be like 200-1 with guys like waugh bros,martyn, and a certain Adam Gilchrist waiting to smash. Those were depressing days for the oppositions����

You forgot Hayden and Ponting, the best batsmen for Aus in early and mid 2000s.

 

[Hasan123]

Khawaja should be dropped .

 

[MenInG]

Khawaja should be dropped .

He just seems to hang in there for that batting position but his luck is running out...fast

 

[Hasan123]

He just seems to hang in there for that batting position but his luck is running out...fast

Has laziness about him which I don’t like. He is weak against spin and doesn’t look any better against swing and seam. Time to move on from him.

 

[topspin]

Khawaja should be dropped .

He has turned into Australia's Asad Shafiq. 1 x inconsequential test ton every series (after a flurry of failures) is what's keeping his place in the test side.

 

[Hasan123]

He has turned into Australia's Asad Shafiq. 1 x inconsequential test ton every series (after a flurry of failures) is what's keeping his place in the test side.

Would be shocked if he is in Australia’s long terms plan with Labuschange and Head looking good.

 

[MenInG]

Another chance for top 3 to make a mark.

 

[Amjid Javed]

Another chance for top 3 to make a mark.

Warners chance has gone again. Back up players in sqaud arent much better either.

 

[Firebat]

With Steve Smith expected to return for the 4th test, the question is who should be dropped. Clearly Labuschagne has sealed his place for the series, Warner most likely won't be dropped, Harris has only played one match, so that surely means Khawaja would be the one to make way and Smith would slot into number 3.

 

[Ab Fan]

A good batting lineup has atleast two world class elite players and maybe 1-2 more players who are in good form.

India have Pujara and Kohli.NZ have Taylor and Kane. SA had Amla and ABD. SL used to have Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Pakistan had Younis and Misbah but latter should have done more.

Australia have Steven Smith and David Warner. Now, if Warner doesn't perform away from home,this is where Australia starts struggling because batting will be heavily dependent on one man only- Steven Smith.

It's not necessarily a top 3 but the two elite batsmen in your team should be batting at top 4. It's either a no.3 and a no.4 or an opener and a no.3/no.4. Australia need David Warner to score big to win games away from home. Smith is still to fail in the series and eventually he will have a failure. It's to be seen who helps Australia in that case.

 

[Ab Fan]

With Steve Smith expected to return for the 4th test, the question is who should be dropped. Clearly Labuschagne has sealed his place for the series, Warner most likely won't be dropped, Harris has only played one match, so that surely means Khawaja would be the one to make way and Smith would slot into number 3.

It has to be:-

Warner
Harris
Smith
Labuschagne
Head
Wade
Paine(c)
Starc
Cummins/Pattinson( A break for Cummins maybe risky but think Hazlewood is doing well Vs a new ball)
Lyon
Hazlewood

 

[James]

Khawaja is in dire trouble for the 4th Test - he might get lucky and see Travis Head get sacrificed for the return of Smith instead, but on merit it should really be Khawaja who goes. I have never rated him personally, but even against those expectations he looks particularly bad at the moment.

 

[Firebat]

Khawaja is in dire trouble for the 4th Test - he might get lucky and see Travis Head get sacrificed for the return of Smith instead, but on merit it should really be Khawaja who goes. I have never rated him personally, but even against those expectations he looks particularly bad at the moment.

Don't think Head or anyone else deserves to be dropped before Khawaja. At least Head has contributed sufficiently, a couple of fifties including a good innings in the fourth innings of the 2nd test to help Australia survive. IMO Khawaja has to be the one to go. However, I fear the fact that he has been made captain for the tour game vs Derbyshire is a sign that he'll keep his place.

 

[Manunited18]

I'd drop paine, he offers absolute nothing, wade keep, bring in either a allrounder or extra bat

 

[MenInG]

While it might be hard to change a winning team, Australia coach Justin Langer says his side's batters must perform to keep their place despite retaining the Ashes in Manchester.

But Langer has called for patience with an inexperienced crop of batters who are still finding their way at international level.

Australia head to The Oval for the fifth Test having secured the Ashes urn despite only two batters averaging more than 28 – Steve Smith with 134.2 and Marnus Labuschagne with 58.2.

The rest of Australia's specialist batters have found the going tougher, particularly the left-handers facing England's right-arm bowlers from round the wicket.

Travis Head (average 27.28), Matthew Wade (25.12), Usman Khawaja (20.33), Marcus Harris (11.5), Cameron Bancroft (11) and veteran David Warner (9.87) have struggled in a series that has been dominated by two world class bowling attacks.

The saving grace for Australia has been Smith, who has scored 671 runs in his return to Test cricket, the fifth most by an Australian in an Ashes series on UK soil.

Since the last Ashes in the England in 2015, Smith has carried the batting group, scoring 15 of Australia's 53 Test centuries, with Warner contributing nine hundreds.

But even Smith battled in his formative years as a Test cricketer and now Langer wants the same faith installed in his young troop as it was with the current No.1 Test batter in the world.

"He (Smith) has done a lot for Australian cricket for the last few years actually, and so has Dave Warner," Langer said in the wake of Australia's win in Manchester.

"But we've also got to remember, Travis Head is new to Test cricket, Marnus (Labuschagne) is new to Test cricket, Marcus Harris is new to Test cricket, Cameron Bancroft is new to Test cricket.

"You can't just give them that experience, they've got to earn that and we're very thankful to have Steve batting (like he is).

"We're lucky to have him but Test cricket takes time. We've got to respect that, it takes a lot of time.

"Davey hasn't had a great series but imagine how good the team will be when he starts having a great series and we're hopeful he'll do that in the next Test match.

"The other guys are learning as they go and that's all part of the experience."

But Langer says the faith will only go so far.

The National Selection Panel has made it clear they are willing to make bold choices if it means giving Australia the best chance of winning.

The NSP dropped Bancroft after only two Tests this series and then made the huge call of omitting senior batter Khawaja for the fourth Test to make room for Smith.

Khawaja, in the past four years since the last away Ashes tour, averages 44.82 with eight hundreds, a record that is only fractionally beaten by Warner (average of 45.04 with nine centuries).

But in six Tests in England, Khawaja has averaged just 19.66, which was not enough to keep him in the side for the Manchester clash.

It is why Australia's batters must keep producing even if they have contributed in retaining the Ashes.

"As Australian Test cricketers, you've still got to perform but … whether it makes a difference that we won the Ashes or not, time will tell," Langer said.

"You've still got to perform whether you're young or a veteran but we also have to recognise they are young batsmen and it's a really tough school and hopefully they'll come through at some point."

While Australia's batting unit appears set to remain unchanged, the fast bowling attack could be reshuffled for a fifth straight Test.

Pat Cummins has played the entire series and Josh Hazlewood the last three, but the pair have been the pick of the bowlers this series with 24 and 18 wickets each, respectively.

The NSP has interchanged Australia's quicks to meet the demands of the playing conditions and workload management, and that philosophy will not change for the last Test of the tour.

Fortunately for Langer and the selectors, the visitors have three fresh fast bowlers waiting on the sidelines in James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and uncapped Queenslander Michael Neser.

Should Cummins and/or Hazlewood need a rest, the NSP can be assured they have quality replacements in reserve.

"I know we've got James Pattinson literally jumping out of his skin to play the next Test," Langer said.

"Peter Siddle, his first two Tests, he was probably the standout bowler actually – a great professional and a ripping person to have in the team.

"So they're all jumping out of their skin.

"It'll be fascinating to see how they (Cummins and Hazlewood) pull up.

"I know a lot goes into winning a Test match like that so we'll see how they pull up.

"Whatever happens we're lucky to have a couple of other guys who are raring to go if we need them."

https://www.cricket.com.au/news/jus...a-batters-dropped-fifth-ashes-test/2019-09-10