Cummins and Lyon also fast approaching pensioner age, as is Carey.
The bigger issue is the lack of clear, defined pathways for the replacements right now. We hear that thereās talent in the system, and maybe there is for some forms but itās not currently obvious in the long form, first class sense.
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In a way, itās worse than the Chappell , Lillee , Marsh retirement period. Because back then the aspiration was to play Test cricket for your country as the ultimate level to reach. Sure , we went through a period just after where the replacements werenāt up to the level, but we collectively lived and breathed it as a sporting culture and the talent would always emerge. Iām not sure thatās even remotely still the case anymore, you can get paid squillions for ever shorter forms of the game that are not compatible for many players 1st class prospects. And we will need to rebuild 3/4ās of this side in the next 2 or 3 years.
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Absolutely. As things stand right now, CA would have to be privately concerned that there really arenāt 4 or 5 test quality cricketers, especially batsmen, who are ready to go. Barely anyone has a shield average that stands out above the pack these days.
Nearly every name who we are spitballing in this thread we are clutching at straws with really. Every now and again a guy gets dropped into the fire of international test cricket and thrives beyond their domestic performances (i.e. Marnus for the first 4-5 years of his career) but itās relying on a bit of hope.
They havenāt helped themselves with some of the decisions around scheduling and sidelining shield cricket but I guess thatās the way world over and youāre swimming against the tide if you arenāt building around your domestic T20 stuff.
Thereās also the stuff that is just unfrortunately beyond your control. Will Pucovski is a genuine, talented first class batsman. He wants to be a first class / Test cricketer and has even opted to ignore the hit and giggle stuff to go play Grade and County cricket in preference. But for well documented reasons, heās unlikely to ever make it now. Thatās incredibly unfortunate.
But then thereās someone like Renshaw . Heās an unusual character that I suspect needed to grow up a bit and mature. His path seemed clear, a long form opener who was happy to occupy the crease early , build an innings and cash in once the hard work was done. Perfect. But he lost his way a bit, murmurings that he thought himself something that he wasnāt and the next thing I see heās batting in multiple spots in the order and trying to be a reverse sweeping slogger for the Brisbane Heat. Now heās neither one thing nor the other. Madness all round.
Some players can perform in all forms. Many many cannot. If Cricket Aus are going to persist with this (imo idiotic) mantra that Big Bash is the bankroll for the summer then they must use some of those funds to pay some select state players - who you think are your next Test candidates - to NOT play Big Bash. Of course, that doesnāt solve the issue that we put Shield in mothballs for December and Januaryā¦ FFS.
And whilst weāre on THAT , despite cramming 5 shield rounds in before December ( which may make the pitches less than ideal ) we have still seen most Test likely players opt to play in relatively few of them despite not playing a first class match for over six months.
Ultimately, the sad reality for those of us who grew up in a different era of cricket - and the priorities and mystique of the game at that time - is that the bulk of society is leaving Test cricket (and most things that arenāt of increasingly dwindling time , mindfulness and delayed gratification requirements) behind. And at some point in that, Cricket loses its purpose and meaning. Thatās just how itās going. And itās not in any way a good thing imo. And if Iām fortunate enough to get to the average lifespan age or beyond, Iāve a notion that I might see it happen. Thatās how quickly things are moving.
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Given sanity has prevailed, and he officially retired a few months ago, yesā¦ heās very, very unlikely to make it. As you say thoughā¦ incredibly unfortunateā¦ one of an increasingly select few who actually valued the long-form game and recognised it as where he wanted to be.
Edit: Actually, I take it backā¦ apparently he hasnāt formally retired yet. I couldāve sworn I read/heard it, but apparently not.
I thought he had too, but also couldnāt find a reference so I assume heās on another break from the game to see if / how he wants to have another crack.
Personally, I doubt he does. And kinda hope that he doesnāt. Thereās more going on than just the physical knocks to all of this.
This Aussie team has that old Geelong team vibe, but unlike Geelong, is falling off a cliff right now.
I just read that itās apparently all bogged-down in legalities. He canāt be āforced to retireā (legal & insurance ramifications), but then if he simply āretiresā, it reduces the compensation heāll receive. As such, there are protracted legal goings-on to determine how his exit from the game will be managed.
Is Steve Smith the Dyson Heppell of cricket? Do the Aussie selectors owe him an extra few years for his ban?
Thatās a bit grim. Somewhere along the line Iād had the impression that he was moving full time into commentary. Perhaps he still will (no pun).
If you play Hunt then MCS canāt be number 3. Itās too green in the top 3. Maybe Smith goes up to 3 or Head to 3.
Iād actually be fine with it.
Sink or swim. Put some heat on the newcomers and see if they can make the grade.
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I reckon we go back to Warner to open to get him away from the commentary box.
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Good thinking.
Warner and Hayden to open.
Langer at five.
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Trav canāt be the Test #3. Not up to it technically and maybe not mentally.
Itās as specialised a mindset and technique as opening imo.
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Yep. I support this.
Seems that way. Both him and Warner.
Yeah, he aināt batting 3. He will open in Sri Lanka but thatās about it
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Unpopular take
Ban all the IPL participation outside of the time WE require the players.
The BCCI is genuinely screwing the game.
Develop our players via Sheild- become the best test team. Period. Everything else is gimmick/ entertainment.
And before I hear " its their liveyhoodā¦" theyād mostly be running around as government clerks or tradies if it wasnt for the game. Cricket gives them a pathway to a very lucrative life- but pay it back. Coasting on big $$ is not on.
Test is the pinnicle.
The reason we play.
Time to get back to that mentality