I’m very impressed with him. I heard him interviewed this week and he sounded so mature. Very likeable. He left me with a very positive outlook about him and what he could develop into
Imo, Shield has been relegated to a backwater through deliberate - eg prioritising Big Bash through the key months of cricket - and less controllable realities like the short form of the game being lucrative for many more players and the heavy condensing of test tours into a few weeks. In the old days, a full Test tour of Australia would be going as late as Australia Day and beyond, and the tourists would play the state sides across the tour. Not any more. It’s all crammed into a few weeks with no meaningful tour matches. Meanwhile, the shield halts for much of December and January and you see the likes of Renshaw trying to become short form players when they should be locking in on long form cricket. Imo, this also shows up in the Shield being played on very early, and very late, season pitches which also compromises matters. Add to all of this falling numbers of junior cricketers and it’s a bit grim.
These are just my thoughts, and I realise that I am now just an old and behind the times spectator with a memory of how things once were. And likely won’t ever be again. I actually fear for the future of cricket as I know and love it. But that’s my problem, I know.
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i see Straker’s got himself 3-25 in 5ish overs against NSW
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Bring him in on name alone.
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Why is Renshaw not in the conversation?
He has a T 184 and three fiddies.
Because his form is garbage
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Just about everywhere you look at the moment the batting quality in this country seems pretty dire. Especially in red ball.
Aus A prospects look thin on the ground then you see NSW 5-60. Intriguing times.
Fair.
And not an argument I wish to have with you.
My Test XI
Khawaja
Renshaw/Bok Bok McGurk
Labuschagne
Head (born #4)
Smith (protect)
Maxwell (yeah, I said it)/ Stoinis (in the absence of Green)
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood
Respect your opinion and an interesting take but IMO McGurk isn’t shield standard currently and I’m not sure he ever gets there. Got a feeling he will be a white ball specialist only. I really liked Renshaw but his form disappeared for one reason or another and is 28 and getting to the point where his chances are next to nil.
I’m disappointed Hunt didn’t get a go in the tour match instead of Harris or Bancroft though.
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My view there is form is temporary.
Renshaw’s different version of the word form is very correct.
So go that way (and three years is not to be sniffed at) or throw caution to the wind and see if Bok Bok can score fifty off thirty while Khawaja and Lab graft.
Shunt Smith to the tired bowlers.
Hell.
Put Maxwell/Stoinis/Carey in front of him and let him bat the tail.
I think he’d enjoy that.
4/200 and Smith coming in is not a bad deal.
McGurk can’t get a game for SA in red ball cricket even with Trav and McSweeney missing and he failed in Premier cricket recently (reckon he got a pair). He just hasn’t got the technique for red ball cricket and refuses to take on advice so I’m not sure he will make it
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I know the Sheffield Shield isn’t in the greatest state but picking Fraser-McGurk would make a mockery of Shield cricket IMO.
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I’m Well aware that it’s a wild card.
But you know the competition isn’t there and you know that was Warner’s path.
But again. Happy with the correct player with a ton and three fifties.
But spare me Harris and Bancroft.
Getting back to Smith.
Do we let him be awesome against a weaker attack and bat him where S Waugh won us so many games?
Do we drop him back like Richards and Tendulkar and Lara?
Or do we destroy him like Chappell and Ponting?
What sort of batsman is McSweeney long term?
Warner always had a good defensive technique
I remember his first national T20 outta nowhere, and I’m not sure that’s true.
But anyway.
I respect your calls (even if I think they need to be directed), if not wild card Bok Bok with Khawaja and Lab…
Which batsman in this country would you back to see out his first hundred balls, regardless of what he scores.
I think he could end up pretty decent top order bat for Australia. He won’t go at 6 an over like people want but he has got gears. He is more of an accumulator who values his wicket and can bat for long periods. Very good temperament and will bat the same if it’s 1/0 or 1/200. Very rarely gets flustered and is a very good leader
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Says six to me.
If he does indeed have gears.
Edit: but not yet.
Look.
Call me out if I’m on a wrong ‘un.
But…JFC Bancroft is 32 before the first Test is played.
You think Renshaw is old?!?!
He’s a stone cold top 3 bat.
His red ball cricket this year
NSW
55 (164)
127no (283)
v QLD
37 (60)
72 (130)
v India A
39 (131)
So he hasn’t been dismissed under 60 balls this year batting at 3 in a poor SA side
He did make a run a ball 137 in the domestic one day comp last week too
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