From Langer's comments lately - I don't think there was ever any doubt. 

No doubt. Teacher's pets the Marsh boys.

It will be interesting to see how Handscomb goes in the Victorian second innings against Tasmania.

I have had a rethink over my team for First Test. 
Finch/Doolan
Harris
Khawaja
Doolan/Finch
S Marsh
M Marsh
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

Tremain, Bosisto, Agar, Wildermuth/Labuchagne.

Doolan averages 34 in FC cricket? And less than 24 in test cricket?

Why not go with Lehmann Junior?

JS Lehmann (2017/18)

10

20

1

536

103

28.21

825

64.96

1

2

That is the reason. Probably the reason CA wont either. His three FC seasons have been topsy turvy.

Doolan deserves a recall after being unfairly booted  after only four tests. Last two being in the UAE where most Oz batsmen fail.
His season is presenting a fairly strong case. His last 10 FC  innings are : 82, 27,46,115,10,76,6,90,53,94. Averaging a little over @55
Langer has made it clear he will be picking blokes who are performing in the Shield. In addition,  Doolan's experience with 99 FC matches under his belt compared to Lehmanns 41 would be invaluable. 

I am not convinced. The 2014 UAE pitches were flat. But it seems he only played one test there.

I just don't think 34 in FC career is good enough for a test player. 

The danger is, Sri Lanka are going to serve up absolute pies - so whoever is in the team then will feast and look like Bradman and be retained for the Ashes. So Langer really needs to try and get this right versus India. Because Mike Whitney would look like Allan Border against the Sri Lanka seam attack.

I just don't think 34 in FC career is good enough for a test player.  It is not.. but he is in form. Is there a better opener currently than he and Harris? I suspect CA will reassess the side after the India series. 
Havent seen your team?

I don't have one for Australia. I have one for India, though. Given India is without its seamer allrounder in Hardik Pandya, balance is more difficult for them, but I think India should play:

1 Vijay 2 Shaw 3 Pujara 4 Kohli 5 Rahane 6 R Sharma/Rahul 7 Pant+ 8 Yadav (dropped on grassy pitches if any and replaced by Shami or Kumar) 9 I Sharma 10 Shami/Kumar 11 Bumrah. The only spinner I'd bring in for Sydney would be Kuldeep Yadav - the Chinaman. 

I would simply task this team to bat Australia out of the game, and hope at some point the Aussie team collapses.

But I think they will actually play:

1 Vijay/Dhawan/Rahul 2 Shaw 3 Pujara 4 Kohli 5 Rahane 6 Pant+ 7 Jadeja/Ashwin 8 Yadav 9 I Sharma 10 Shami 11 Bumrah


So India will expose itself with a long tail for finger spin bowlers that won't get wickets in Australia. I think he knows that after England playing both Jadeja and Ashwin on seamer tracks is a dumb move and he needs 4 big quicks. But you never know with Kohli, he may play both these 2 finger spinners (instead of wristie Kuldeep Yadav) and only have 3 quicks. And let Australia score big.

Kohli so often starts these tours with the wrong team. They don't get it sorted out for a few tests, if ever. He'll give the new ball to Yadav even when if there was any swing it would be better used by Shami. I think Rahul will be fine in Australia - but he will pick spinners who are not the best for Australian conditions. Dhawan blows hot and cold, he is just as likely to score a duck with a stupid swipe slog as he is to have a 100 before lunch. Vijay, Rahul and Dhawan all sucked in England. They could not handle swing bowling at all. Which is a shame for Rahul, because he really is a graceful batsman to watch when he gets going. 

1 Dhawan 2 Sharma 3 Kohli 4 Rahul 5 Pant 6 Karthik 7 K Pandya 8 B Kumar 9 K Yadav 10 Ahmed11 Bumrah

Good luck K Pandya. Now is your time to shine. I have no idea what Karthik is doing there - he has been so out of form this year that India has many better options (Rayudu is an obvious one).

Go BCCI!

(I don't know who I will support in the tests yet, but in limited overs: t20i and odi  - I am unashamedly supporting India).

I still wanna see your preferred Oz side.

Keep seeing Shaun Marsh listed as a certainty and with both Marshes in theyre more than likely of making it.

What I expect

Finch
Renshaw/ Harris
Khawaja
S. Marsh
Head
M. Marsh
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

They love a bolter so maybe Harris opening with Finch or even Finch and Khawaja staying as openers with Harris at 3?
What Id prefer

Renshaw
Burns
Khawaja
Handscomb
Finch
Stoinis
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

Burns had had consistency at a level the last few years I didnt realise. Harris has one good 250* thats boosting his numbers this season. Renshaw is one of the most talented Aussie batsmen and deserves a spot. Handscomb shouldnt have been dropped. Id still expect this team to lose to India though.

As for the T20 and ODIs, India are one of the best and only really England match them. Id honestly be surprised if we won more than a game

I don't have one for the tests. Most of the side is going to be the norm I imagine.

1 Finch
2 Kahwaja
3
4 SMarsh
5
6 MMarsh
7 T Paine
8 Cummins
9 Starc
10 Lyon
11 Hazelwood

So Aus just need to pick two guys who they think is up to the task. I'd like to see Sangha and Lehmann given a go. Australia seems to seriously lack batsmen averaging over 40 in the FC scene. Even Callum Fergusson and George Bailey aren't averaging 40. White is, but only just. I don't really know what has happened to the Aus domestic scene. There was a time that Australia A (second team) had better batting than the England team. In fact, Australia B would have pushed the batting into a contest with England also.

Even more recently David Hussey couldn't get a look in to the test team - FC average over 50.

But now - there really don't seem to be much depth in Australia.

NZ has often had this problem of not enough runs being scored at FC. It is odd for Australia to have it, though. Even in the mid 80's - Wessells, Wood, Jones, Boon, Swampy, Mathews etc were scoring runs domestically. Even Velleta, Marsh, Wood etc if you exclude their tests averaged  over 40 in FC.

Its simply a case of player focusing on ODI/T20s where the money is and developing looser techniques and less grit to tough out long innings. Sheild centuries are way way down

Disagree. This is where the money is for NZ, WI, SA, SL players. This is not where the money is for English or Australian players.

The BBL pays peanuts compared to the domestic contracts - let alone the national contracts.

Aus, Eng and Indian players (who then get more at the IPL auction anyway once being an Indian star) - are all about getting that huuuuuuuuuge national contract. IPL deals are a nice sweetener on top. But Starc repeatedly turns his down when CA ask him too. Because CA pays him more handsomely enough anyway.

CA and ECB pays big big money to its players. It is where the money is. Why do you think Kevin Pietseron tried so damn hard to get back into the England team? Or why English players flee the IPL at the drop of a hat when the ECB asks them to? Ditto for Australian players. Whereas NZ'ers, WI's SL's and SA's like McCullum, Gayle, Bravo, Pollard, Russell, Malinga, ABdV, MMorkel, Abbott... "retire"  or are "unavailable" because of t20 domestic earning potential.

The money argument simply does not work for India, England Australia. There is millions and millions to be made from representing Australia in test cricket. 

Packer's ODI carnival has been around since the late 1970's. I think it is more simply that this is not the best crop - and in a few years, you'll be spoiled for riches again. 

But as a Kiwi - I am getting tired of the IPL and t20 stealing the best coaches... Hesson, Bond, Flemming (stuff Vettori).

Did Moody even apply for the Australian coach's job? I think he is one of the best cricketing brains around... Of course SRH pays him accordingly in the IPL...

Well here we go. Big loss coming I think. 

Lynn with three lovely sixes off Ahmed in one over

Oz has some power hitters in that middle order. Finally some Lynnsanity. Then there is Maxie, Stoinis and McDermott. That foursome could win us a T20 World Cup.

This will be shortened match now. Reckon Oz has sufficient to cover the Duckworth Lewis scenario.

Pity our ODI boys dont wear the same uniform as the T20 ones. It actually has some style and the colors are far more striking than that garish yellow.

I read a piece the other day about how Kohli and his batting mates are preparing for the bouncier Oz decks. They evidently have the worlds best throwdown bowler. A small bloke by the name of Raghu (see pic).  BCCI swears by him as he is frequently credited with improving the performances of India’s batting overseas. Their secret weapon so to speak. My only question  has Kohli and his cricket bosses done their homework. The WACA has gone the way of the dinosaur so that leaves only the Gabba as a bouncy, fast track that could give the Indians some grief. We are hoping that the new Perth Stadium has some of the characteristics of the old WACA.. preferrably without the massive cracks.

Oz quicks will need to lift their game after leaking runs against the Saffers.. Have they all forgotten how to bowl the yorker.  

Oz in front now. Zampa has been the difference.

Stoinis at the death? I am not qriting off India yet.

Writing..

Now I will write India off..

Superb win that. Didn’t think Stoinis had the cool for that but did superbly. Zampa Stoinis and Maxwel absolutely superb.

Yes a rare T20 win by our boys. Need to pick and stick now. Form a spine for the next world cup.

I love the way the scribes wax lyrical when Maxie actually produces a "big show". He needs to keep doing it and prove to us and himself he has wiped inconsistency from his game.

Evidently CA will hang onto its batting lineup from the disastrous UAE series...plus Matthew Renshaw.  So once again Shield form means zilch when it comes to selection.  Langer intimated the opposite. Has Hohns overidden him? Bit of a smack in the teeth for red hot men like Harris and Doolan while Renshaw is struggling


I agree with "Ronnie" McDonald.  Finch should bat in the middle order. 

Former national coach Darren Lehmann believes Victoria opener Marcus Harris has done enough to open for Australia in the First Test. Harris is the second leading run scorer in the JLT Sheffield Shield this season and Lehmann thinks the uncapped left-hander should be rewarded for his good form.

Lehmann likened Harris to former Australia opener and current national coach Justin Langer and thinks Adelaide Oval is the perfect venue for the 26-year-old to debut at.

"Harris is the in-form player of the competition and has an outstanding record over the last two years."

Boof is also concerned by the possibility of having too many left handers in Australia’ top order and only wants Travis Head to bat at five if Ravi Jadeja is selected by India ahead of veteran spinner Ravi Ashwin. If so he wants Peter Handscomb who he says" negates Ashwin".

Gotta  agree with Boof over Handscomb. Without Smith Handscomb is our best player of spin.. so even tho he is not is super form we need his abilities against the turning ball.