The national selectors have named a 14-man squad for next week’s First Test against Pakistan at the Gabba.
The squad is: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Bancroft, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Tim Paine (c,wk), Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Michael Neser.
It looks like one fast bowler and one batsman will drop out, probably Neser from the bowlers and one of Burns, Bancroft or Head from the batsmen. Our ‘best guess’ batting line-up is: Warner, Burns, Labuschagne, Smith, Head, Wade, Paine, Cummins, Pattinson (or Starc), Lyon, Hazlewood.
What do you think of the squad as a whole, and what would your batting order be?
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Bancroft, Pattinson and Neser to miss out for mine, all subject to any injuries in the meantime.
Seems reasonable. Bancroft makes the most of these trial matches. Michael Neser must be close to selection and would like to see him debut at home on the Gabba. But he may need an injury to gain a spot.
The glaring omission………..no Marsh brother.
Agree with Ian but far from convinced about Burns and Head. And I’d really like to see Jimmy Pattinson get a Test gig somewhere soon at the expense of the first of the tired old foursome bowlers to drop form.
Dan, i see Neser being very similar to Hazlewood. Neser is impressive but i can only see him playing if Hazlewood is absent. Neser looks a lot like Ryan Harris.
One wonders about the purpose of the Australia A V Pakistan match . Was it a trial, or a …? Burns despite no form this summer is playing on his own ground, is a test centurion. Harris looks like a flat track bully , struggling away from Victoria. You can justify Burns on that basis. Head, vice captain, dropped from the Ashes side, despite having a better series than one noticeable team mate, has a mixed start to the season, then gets a test recall.
Pattinson will get a spot some point this summer, just when and in lieu of who, i can’t say.
No surprise if this two test series is drawn.
Glen!