7 -11 148 runs. 1-6 153 runs. Pick the batsmen..

I have been at work today so could not watch but it quite clear Pujara was the difference between the sides. The Australian bowlers tried hard to make up the difference with the bat but failed.

Shaun Marsh top scored and probably the worst outcome is he has secured his place in the team but we lost. If he could not do this time when is he going to do it?

I don't think there is much difference in the attack seeing the Australian bowlers had to get out better batsmen and the Indian attack struggle to get through the Australian bowlers. Two good test attacks on the wicket that was a bit slow but offered a little bit for all bowlers.

I am not sure with his action he is going to have very long career. Who is the best ever Indian seam bowler now?

The was a hotspot that seemed to show there was decent chance the ball actually did brush Finch's glove. Not definitive but I do not think we can see he was definitely not out.

Our batting is in a seriously poor state when all top 7 have some serious flaws.

Finch struggles against the new ball.
Harris is unproved with not a good First Class average but he is improving.
Khawaja is good but i still don't trust him in away tests.
Marsh, don't need to say anything about him
Handscombe has a really poor technique and once again not a good first class average
Head does have a promising future, but at the moment not good enough to be relied upon.
Paine, he can get a start but is completely incapable of building a semi long innings and his average is dropping.

Handscombs FC is 39 which is one of the higher ones sadly. 

What do we change for second test? Knowing Burns should have been in over Harris do you chuck Burns in for Finch now? Marsh should still be out but that 60 probably secured his spot for the series. 

Handscomb and Harris have jsut come in so you have to give them some time. Khawaja is the best batsman in the side. Head has shown potential. 

They'll probably say we got so close, go in unchanged and get smashed. 

well everyone knows my position

6 highest fc averages play full stop

what has Travis Head's FC average by season been?

I did like Harris' technique this innings so i'd keep him for the series, not like we have many options. I'd dump Marsh because i feel we need to look to the future, so i'd drop Finch to the 4 and give him a final chance and bring in Burns. Handscombe on notice, because while i don't like his technique i do like his application.

Finch is not an opener, should not be an opener ever again.
Harris is improving, he was not hopeless in this test, definitely deserves another test or two to prove himself
Khawaja is a good test match batsman but he totally out of sorts in the second innings, needs to be doing better.
Marsh should be dropped
Handscomb perhaps a bit harsh but should be dropped
Head has done okay, has more talent than he has ever shown in my view, maybe he will show it at test level but it has got to be highly doubtful
Paine is there to stay, not the greatest wicketkeeper batman but well worth his spot.

Interestingly if Jake Lehmann ends up not out in the SA innings his season average will be over 50 and his career FC average will be over 40 with 1 century and 4 fifties. Of those who have a minimum of 6 innings (half the maximum) only Shaun Marsh, Harris, Wade and Neser would have higher averages in Shield this year.

That might now include Jake Lehmann, although he just got out so I think that ruins that idea.

Sheffield Shield averages are
2018/19 33.8
2017/18 46.12
2016/17 43.00
2015/16 36.05
2014/15 37.7
2013/14 36.00
2012/13 24.5
2011/12 27.37 
He was 18 when debuted in 2011/12. He also made an incredible number of 90s before he made his first century including at least once being stranded in the 90s.

hmmm was hoping for a sharp rise since he's 24

I think the 33.8 for this season is a bit misleading as he has only played 3 games with 5 innings. His overall average for all of the matches including the UAE tour against Pakistan is 42.45. So he has still done reasonably well this season. 

Top 10 currently available averages with over 20 innings as far as I can tell.

Usman Khawaja - 43.92
Shaun Marsh - 41.13
Glenn Maxwell - 41.10
Kurtis Patterson - 41.00
Joe Burns - 40.58
Cameron White - 40.38
Jake Lehmann - 39.62
Matthew Wade - 39.57
Peter Handscomb - 39.02
George Bailey - 38.80

Pucovski 49 and Short 42 have played less than 20 innings. 

If you take the top 6 then it would be Burns, Khawaja, Patterson, Marsh, White, Maxwell. 

that would be my top 6 till the big 2 return

You really want to go back tot he no show?

A huge problem I see is this:

Warner is 32 when he returns - 33 next home summer - he doesn't have long left as a hand eye player.

Khawaja, Smith and Warner - still leaves Australia with 3 spuds, which will soon be 4 spuds...

I think the next decade could be incredibly painful for Australia...

Smith will be 30 when the World Cup starts (his return) - so he clearly has a bit of time...

I think its time to start blooding in the future...

Amazing how Maxwell is consistently overlooked.

Yet he has a recent Test century in Asia,  he can bowl spin and is a better fielder than Marsh who has the same average!

They are also pretty low averages for top batters.

I left out Daniel Hughes, a big oversight. Also technically Chris Lynn belongs in there but has he has not played a FC game in the last two seasons it seems he has given up playing long form cricket.

No one seems to mention Pujara should have been out on 89, if Paine referred it.
I was amazed he did not, as at that point of the innings anything was worth a try.
Pujara went on to add another 30 odd & India another 40 odd - do the sums.
Extremely poor captaincy by Paine, have never agreed with a keeper / captain, as they are unable
to have the time to put their stamp on the game & would need an extremely good VC to advise what was going on.
Paine at best is only mediocre & until CA gets the team right, we are stuffed.
Interested to see Warnie put up Stoinis for the Perth test.
Perth is going to be hotter that Adelaide & an all rounder is essential.
For Adelaide they could have gone in with a spinner allrounder but need pace for Perth.
jaszyjim
 

Welcome to the forum. Provocative first post. I like it! 

In reply:

I think Paine is doing well given what he has brought into.

DRS is still fickle... Lyon managed to defeat DRS in Adelaide 3 years ago and cost NZ a win there... He admitted he smacked the leather off it, and despite hotspot - the third ump still did not give it out.

I am a Stoinis fan in limited overs, I believe that he is a huge talent, but I know sweet stuff all about him as a red ball player.

Harsh call on Paine. He has been terrific since taking over during a difficult time. You could count the number of keepers that have been Oz Test captains on two hands.. perhaps one. He is also the best keeper we have while his contributions with the bat have been substantial and vital most times. He has the reins as long as he wants them for mine. I also like the way he is promoting this new culture. Play hard but fair and nothing below the belt. 

Travis Head could have bowled some spin in Adelaide.
Stoinis is nowhere near good enough with the bat.
There is a huge lack of batsman who can bowl some tight, perhaps not overly dangerous, medium pace and who can be brought on to bowl a few overs. Were is the likes of Moody, Waugh, Blewett, Martyn, Hussey, Ben Johnson etc? Quite a few bowl spin of some sort but really the only two I can find who I would call specialist batsmen are Cartwright and Wade. Wade has bowled one over at test level and from that over can bowl at about 130km. He actually has a FC bowling average of 23.8 but has only taken 5 wickets.
So if you want someone who is batting really well at FC level and can bowl some overs of medium pace then pick Wade, don't pick Stoinis, Mitch Marsh or Wildermuth.