I wonder if Peter would write comparing Australia’s fringe Test players to some of those recently included in the Indian team due to incumbents’ injuries or family issues. Kohli, Rahul and co replaced by Jaiswal, Kahn, Jurel - the newcomers have performed astonishingly well, which makes one wonder if Australia’s system for producing new players to the Test team is ready to compete. The real test will be next summer’s series v India, but we’ve lost the last two home series v India.
It’s clear India’s cupboard is plentiful, but is Australia’s? Or will this “golden age” lead to a decline as in some past eras in Australian cricket? Certainly our fringe fast bowling stocks seem strong (Johnson for Starc, Bartlett for Hazelwood, and Richardson, Meredith, etc) but are the fringe batsmen and spinners really that strong? Would they dominate like Jaiswal and Khan?
It’d be great to learn your thoughts and GH’s after next week when the 8 month Test gap is dumped on us all.
It’s a good question Ben and one with no definitive answer. Do we have a Jaiswal in the wings? Almost certainly not, he looks like once a generational talent. Fact is India has way more depth because of scale. Puc had the potential to be a great, but fate conspired against him. Green is blossoming slowly but steadily. There’s some good kids around, but it seems a bit much to ask them to make an early impact like a Jaiswal or a Sarfaraz. Spinners? Murphy and Kuhnemann were great in India and M followed up to some degree at The Oval. It’s impossible to not feel sorry for the bowlers blocked from the game by the Big 4 from NSW. Fair to say that there looks like more bowling depth than batting, but when people haven’t had the chance it’s an unknown.
Is Josh Inglis really 'knocking the door down'? Looking back at his contribution to the World Cup win, I don't really believe he contributed anything over and above what Alex Carey would have done had he stayed in the team. I certainly don't believe Inglis made the team better.
Yes, he did score 136* in his last Shield game. Carey scored 49 and 90 in his. Meanwhile, despite Carey's 'run of outs' resulting in him being dropped from the ODI team, Inglis is still batting about ten runs per innings less than Carey in this format.
Would I like to see Carey make a few more runs at Test level? Absolutely, but having watched him at close quarters for over a decade (Test, state and club) I know just how good he can be. To my mind, Inglis has done nothing to demand Test selection, just like he hadn't done anything to demand ODI selection. I agree, however, the best way for Alex to put this argument to bed is to make some runs.
I’m a big fan of Carey (very decent bloke and talented sportsman) and hope he comes good, but talking to those who know more than me they say Inglis is not far behind him. C appears to be the most vulnerable in the side, but should be safe bc he is a great keeper and a decent bat. However, if Inglis shoots the lights out in the Shield at the start of next summer and C struggles I’d suggest there would be a discussion.
PL, was that a deliberate "worn", as in worn down from repetition of the warning? Or resisting some mode of poetry entering the prose - Warner worn, not Warner warn.
I wonder if Peter would write comparing Australia’s fringe Test players to some of those recently included in the Indian team due to incumbents’ injuries or family issues. Kohli, Rahul and co replaced by Jaiswal, Kahn, Jurel - the newcomers have performed astonishingly well, which makes one wonder if Australia’s system for producing new players to the Test team is ready to compete. The real test will be next summer’s series v India, but we’ve lost the last two home series v India.
It’s clear India’s cupboard is plentiful, but is Australia’s? Or will this “golden age” lead to a decline as in some past eras in Australian cricket? Certainly our fringe fast bowling stocks seem strong (Johnson for Starc, Bartlett for Hazelwood, and Richardson, Meredith, etc) but are the fringe batsmen and spinners really that strong? Would they dominate like Jaiswal and Khan?
It’d be great to learn your thoughts and GH’s after next week when the 8 month Test gap is dumped on us all.
It’s a good question Ben and one with no definitive answer. Do we have a Jaiswal in the wings? Almost certainly not, he looks like once a generational talent. Fact is India has way more depth because of scale. Puc had the potential to be a great, but fate conspired against him. Green is blossoming slowly but steadily. There’s some good kids around, but it seems a bit much to ask them to make an early impact like a Jaiswal or a Sarfaraz. Spinners? Murphy and Kuhnemann were great in India and M followed up to some degree at The Oval. It’s impossible to not feel sorry for the bowlers blocked from the game by the Big 4 from NSW. Fair to say that there looks like more bowling depth than batting, but when people haven’t had the chance it’s an unknown.
Peter,
Is Josh Inglis really 'knocking the door down'? Looking back at his contribution to the World Cup win, I don't really believe he contributed anything over and above what Alex Carey would have done had he stayed in the team. I certainly don't believe Inglis made the team better.
Yes, he did score 136* in his last Shield game. Carey scored 49 and 90 in his. Meanwhile, despite Carey's 'run of outs' resulting in him being dropped from the ODI team, Inglis is still batting about ten runs per innings less than Carey in this format.
Would I like to see Carey make a few more runs at Test level? Absolutely, but having watched him at close quarters for over a decade (Test, state and club) I know just how good he can be. To my mind, Inglis has done nothing to demand Test selection, just like he hadn't done anything to demand ODI selection. I agree, however, the best way for Alex to put this argument to bed is to make some runs.
I’m a big fan of Carey (very decent bloke and talented sportsman) and hope he comes good, but talking to those who know more than me they say Inglis is not far behind him. C appears to be the most vulnerable in the side, but should be safe bc he is a great keeper and a decent bat. However, if Inglis shoots the lights out in the Shield at the start of next summer and C struggles I’d suggest there would be a discussion.
PL, was that a deliberate "worn", as in worn down from repetition of the warning? Or resisting some mode of poetry entering the prose - Warner worn, not Warner warn.
I wish!
Hardie*