On what basis? I'd bring in Alex Carey, or if you want a safer option, Peter Nevill.
Have you even been following the first few rounds of Sheffield Shield? Wade has failed in both innings in the match he played, but still there's a few matches to go before selection. Coulter Nile bowled well as well, got I think about 6 wickets in the match and scored a handy 41 down the order. He is an ideal backup for Cummins or the other bowlers. He is one of those guys unfortunate to miss out playing in Tests. I don't know what need is for a spin bowling all-rounder like Maxi, he hasn't been in good form and isn't necessary on fast tracks like the Gabba and WACA. Obviously there's about 2-3 matches to go until Ashes selection, but even then I think Nevill or Carey will come to the side.
Would be a massive blow for England if he cannot play. He has a been instrumental in almost every England victory in the home summer.
Cameron Bancroft
|
none
| 3983 runs @ 36.54 (10 centuries)
Alex Carey
|
none
| 810 runs @ 24.54
Peter Handscomb
| 743 runs @ 53.07 (2 centuries) | 5210 runs @ 40.70 (12 centuries)
Peter Nevill
| 468 runs @ 22.28 | 4284 runs @ 40.03 (9 centuries)
Tim Paine
| 287 runs @ 25.87 | 3949 runs @ 28.82 (1 century)
Matthew Wade
| 886 runs @ 28.58 (2 centuries) | 5193 runs @ 37.09 (9 centuries)
I find that to be a worrying thing for Smith to request in all honesty, especially as he seems to be prioritising it above the actual wicket-keeping skills of the candidates in question.
The present incumbent averages less than twenty with the bat since his return to the team, and his predecessor has a career average of 22. There aren't any big runs coming from the number seven spot at the moment, so logically it makes sense to look for the best gloveman. So who are the candidates exactly?
Candidate | Test career | First-class career
Six viable candidates across six different states would suggest that Australia need to decide exactly what it is they're looking for in a wicket-keeper. Do they want...
- A batsman who keeps?
- One option is Peter Handscomb; already established in the Test team, having started his career impressively as a specialist batsman. He has also kept wicket for Australia in three ODIs, and scored 7, 0 and 3 - perhaps a sign he needs to be given only one job to focus on. Verdict: Plays, but as a batsman.
- Cameron Bancroft has combined the roles of opening batsman and wicket-keeper quite effectively for Western Australia in recent years. Also in the habit of really pushing on when he gets in the runs. But in his one appearance for Australia, he kept with very hard hands. Verdict: Neither one thing nor the other yet.
- A specialist wicket-keeper?
- The logical choice for this position would be Tim Paine; he's already the Australian incumbent in one format, but worryingly for him, he has not been able to break into the Tasmanian eleven on his return from India. Given that he's not played a red ball game since March, it's hard to pick him. Verdict: Undercooked.
- A name that has been bandied about, despite his inexperience, is Alex Carey. He has shown himself to be very good at a very specific job: taking catches stood back from the stumps to the South Australian battery of 82-mph seam bowlers. I doubt he's Test-ready yet. Verdict: Maybe next Ashes.
- A leader in the ranks?
- The candidate of choice for Cricket Australia and Steve Smith seems to be Matthew Wade. For the life of me, I'm not sure why - he's very loud, needlessly so in my opinion, and often seems to put more effort into that than catching cricket balls. And he's not been scoring runs either. Verdict: Please no.
- Which leaves Peter Nevill, the man that Smith wants to be louder, and more of a leader on the field. This is odd for me, because when Smith's not around, Nevill is the New South Wales captain. Add that to his invisible wicket-keeping and resilient batting, and you have my choice for the Ashes. Verdict: Get him in.
Our chances of winning just increased a bit......
. Stoneman and Vince batting well at the moment.
