You could be right that India have  a mental block.

I'm scarred from watching all the test cricket we've played in Asia though!

So many of our batsmen have been inconsistent and rarely bat well together. I'm also a big fan of Renshaw, but it seems he is often out of form at the wrong time in recent home series. This guy can bat time under extreme pressure.  Renshaw also has a good defensive technique. He has done performed under extreme pressure in Asia at only 21 years of age.

I'm counting on the Marshes to fail as usual.

I aint writing off our boys yet. We still have a world class bowling attack. Remember too India has a mental block going into the series knowing they have still to beat us at home from ..would you believe..11 previous attempts..in fact since 1947/48 when they won independence from Britain.

Looking at that batting line up, India look good to win the series.

The bowlers need some first class match conditioning, or they will run out of gas if they need to bowl long spells.

I am reading some disappointment from Pat Cummins comments re our Test attack being "rested" for the next Shield game. I can see where he is coming from. Cummo did not have the best outing last game. Looks short of a gallop to me.. as does Starc.  But CA in its eternal wisdom (haha) continues with its softly softly approach towards our bowlers.

Now looks like Head has been locked in for first two tests so the only available spot is between newbie Harris and Handscomb. Is CA aware they have chosen almost all leftie batsmen? For this reason alone Handscomb must play. What we have to avoid is having the three opening bats all lefties. I  dont want Finch opening so Handscomb goes to #3. Having said that.. is Finch a stone cold certainty to pad up?
My batting order:
Khawaja/Handscomb
Harris
Handscomb/Khawaja
Head
S Marsh 
M Marsh.
I havta say I see some brittleness in that middle order without the rocklike Steve Smith.  Smith's stats 2014/15:  769 r. 4 centuries @128.  How do you replace a phenomenon like that. Between he and Davey Warner we lose almost 1200 runs.

McGrath went ok in India but not so well in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. That seems to be the case with specialist seam bowlers on sub continental decks. Hazlewood has also under performed over there. Those quicks who mix up their deliveries such as Gillespie, Kasper and Starc usually find a way to take wickets.

Perplexing?

It should be selected  after the next Shield game.

I've seen too much cricket in Asia to know many Aussie pace bowlers struggle there, apart from our top class ones like Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood.

In the past McGrath, Gillespie and Kasprowicz have done well too. I'm thinking of the series we won under Pointing/Gilchrist. Or did Lee and Reiffel play in that one?

I am baffled why the selection of two reserve pacemen, Tremain and Siddle? 

This is interesting coming from Justin Langer.

The Aussie coach believes the announcement of the extended 14-man First and Second Test squad was probably premature. He says it perhaps should have been after the next Shield game. 

"I would say let's just name it after the next Shield game, give the other guys who did miss out or the guys who are in a good chance, that'd be perfect, but it's a more complex world than it probably needs to be". And Alfie that is a fairly ambiguous statement:P

Reason I said he is in likely due to his ability against spin. I did say he was lucky..and he is. 

I think Tremain is yet another mediocre Aussie bowler who looks good  in the Shield, but will prove to be innocuous overseas.

You are a hard marker DC. So being the leading Shield bowler makes him mediocre does it?  Hazlewood does not exactly kill em overseas either. They are similar bowlers. Would you call Hazey a mediocre bowler?

When you said Langer wanted Shield runs from his top 6, Handscomb failed twice in Hobart last week.

Agree. Labu was one of the few that carried the battle to the enemy in the UAE. Plus he scored a half ton against our Test attack. Yet he has been left out. Odd. 
Harris and Tremain fully deserve their elevation into a Baggy green cap. Their records speak for themselves. Tremain will only carry drinks but great experience for him. Sorry Harris replaces Renshaw but Langer said he wanted Shield runs from his top six and Renners simply has not delivered them. Handscomb is the luckiest player of the squad. He and Siddle. You could say tho that Handscomb is a horses for courses selection given his ability against spin. Head may also be seen as lucky but he was effective against the Pakistani spinners. But what of the others against spin? Even on Aussie decks Ashwin, Jadeja and any other Indian tweaker are a handful. 
This squad is for only the first two tests. So the fringe batsmen need to add some serious scores in the remaining Shield games before the team is picked for the last two Tests.

Australia's squad for first two Tests against India: Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh (vc), Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (c, wk), Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle.

He did look good against Pakistan.

We need more spin in Aussie wickets so Labu can develop.

Watching Vic against Tas live, it was difficult to pick between Tremain, Boland and Siddle.

I think Tremain is yet another mediocre Aussie bowler who looks good  in the Shield, but will prove to be innocuous overseas.

As an opponent, Harris batted very well against Tas in the second innings. Most knowledgeable spectators and former Shield players thought Harris was a prospect for the  1st Test. He might have a long term low average, but is much better this season.

Doolan and Wade are much older than Harris too.

Hmmm. 

Squad confirmed as posted above without Siddle. Im ropable with that. Harris has a FC of 35 and one 250*. Burns averages I think around 50 this year and Renshaw 46. Also means Finch will most likely open which is not the right decision. 

Theyre saying the squad of 14: 
Possible Australia squad: Aaron Finch, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh (vc), Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine (c,wk), Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain, Peter Siddle.

He looked alright against Pakistan and had a decent inings against our first choice bowling attack. Either way i'd only select him for a Sydney test maybe where a 2nd spinner could be helpful.

I do not understand how Labuchagne is a selection possible. He averages 32 in FC. 

This is sounding like the squad according to the Tele.
Renshaw
Finch
Khawaja
Head/Labuchagne
S Marsh
M Marsh
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood.

I agree with Lehmann. Dont pick too may lefties if Ashwin plays.

Give that top 6 two tests to prove themselves. Then try one or two of the informers such as Harris, Doolan or Wade.

Maxwells a major confidence player who also seems to get dropped within a few games. I fully expect him to dropped if not by the third t20 then in our next series. Give him the responsibility and back him for a few games and he delivers.

As for Hsad or Handscomb- they’ll go head but handscomb should be there. Much like I expect them to open with finch despite all evidence saying put him st 5

On second notion I have to agree with Handscomb due to his ability against spin. Horses for courses.

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.

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. 

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.

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

Now I will write India off..