Adelaide Day 2

Day 1: Adelaide Test Match

I can honestly say that it was a great feeling getting up this morning on my way to yet another Test series at a ground I had always wanted to go to. Yes, it was early - a 4.30am alarm call to be picked up by Dad just after 5.00am, to also get Dan and then catch the 5.30am train from Oak Flats for the journey to the airport. Yes, it was the beginning of a very long but enjoyable day.

At the airport we met up with Bono and eventually worked our way in to the inner sanctum. Through a rookie error, both John and I were pulled over by airport security to have our bags searched again, because we had decided to pack aerosol sprays in our carry-on luggage. Great job us.

After that it was time to enjoy a couple of pre-flight beers - otherwise known as breakfast.

In honour of Phil Hughes, who had died exactly one year previous. his initials and Test number

In honour of our mate Tim Davies, his initials and his Kiama cricket Club 1st Grade number

Ready and excited for the 90 minute flight to Adelaide!

Bono lasted about 20 minutes before the inevitable snooze.

Having arrived and wended our way through the usual path to the taxi rank, our driver took us to our place of residence for the next four nights, the Adabco Boutique Hotel. Though it was 2.5 kilometres from the Adelaide Oval, I wanted it that way so we could walk through town every day to find a pub or bar to frequent, both on the way to the ground and on the way home. The walk wouldn't hurt any of us either.

Having stowed our gear (as it was only 11.30am and we couldn't get into our rooms yet) we walked into town for lunch, which we found in the food court off Rundle Mall. It wasn't long before Dan was already delving into his funds.

The walk up to the Adelaide Oval is picturesque indeed. It is even better once inside. I had bought tickets for the concourse in front of the old scoreboard for all three days, and it is even more spectacular in person.

214 Reasons To Pick Me For Victoria

Not sure how the Kiwis would be feeling heading into day two of their tour match against a Cricket Australia XI, but no doubt they're hoping to see less sun in the field than they did yesterday. With strike bowler Tim Southee out ill after just three overs, the support staff toiled hard on a road with no success. Aaron Finch had been overlooked for the Victorian Shield team in a somewhat controversial decision, while Ryan carters, despite his pedigree, was unable to force his way into a Test strength New South Wales team. Both took their non-selection out on the New Zealand bowlers, finishing the day unbeaten at 0/376. Finch is 214 and Carters 156.
What do both teams take out of this? New Zealand's support bowlers to Southee and Boult have bowled on roads in Canberra and Western Sydney now for almost no result. If nothing else, they will be match fit for Brisbane. While Finch and Carters will be ecstatic with their efforts, both will know they did well to get in, and then well to not throw their wickets away on the best strip they will see this season. While Carters has already shown he has the potential to follow in his Blues teammates - Haddin and Nevill - steps and go on to national selection as a wicketkeeper-batsman, Finch's breakthrough double century may well be the catalyst that gets his first class career on track.

In Finch's absence, Victoria have consolidated in their match against Queensland, with his nominal replacement Tom Dean unbeaten on 81 in his first class debut. Peter Handscomb, another rising potential national representative is on 46 not out. They have taken Victoria to 2/147 in reply to Queensland's 444, and an exciting day three is in prospect as both sides look to gain first innings points. Dean's innings was assured from the start, fully justifying his selection in the team, and both he and Handscomb will be looking to push on for a big score. Apart from Ben Cutting, who picked up both wickets, the bowling attack looked lacklustre, and no doubt Cutting and Cameron Boyce will be looked upon for a heavy workload on day three.

Michael Klinger pushed on to record another double century in his career, while Ashton Agar brought up a first class century as Western Australia finally declared at 8/432 in their match against Tasmania. Klinger finished on 202 not out, and if he is not chosen in the Test squad this weekend after that performance then he can assume his name has finally been crossed off the possibles list forever. He could not have been any more impressive. At the other end Agar was aggressive and solid, underlining his growing all rounder status as a possible return to the national line-up beckons. To do so he will need to take consistent wickets, an opportunity he may not get in this match, as Tasmania has already collapsed to 5/102 at stumps. Bailey and Paine are all that stands between a possible follow on. Mitch Johnson and Jason Behrendorff were the destroyers, taken two wickets apiece to rip through the top order. Much interest lay in the debut first class innings of wunderkind Jake Doran, but he found the going tough before being dismissed LBW for 5. WA are in the drivers seat, and Tasmania will need to play well to get themselves out of this match.

In Adelaide, the Australian team - here titled New South Wales - have put South Australia in a tough spot at the end of day two. Starting the day at 3/3, the Croweaters fell to 5/9 before Travis Head (37) and Adam Zampa (33*) were able to at least gain some respectability for the side by getting the score to 120, a deficit of 142. Mitch Starc was devastating, finishing with 5/28, with the other wickets being shared around. He was brilliant again, and you can only hope he takes this form into the Tests coming up. Then, just to show it can be done, New South wales finished on 1/217 at stumps. dave warne made another start before falling for 30, while Ed Cowan again did his best Michael Klinger impersonation in attempting a Test recall finishing on 82 not out. the star again was skipper Steve Smith, who accelerated through the final session to be 103 not out at stumps. Leading by 359 runs with 9 wickets in hand and two days to play, there appears no hope for SA to find a way back.

Crystal Ball-ing the 1st Test

The first Test of the summer commences in two weeks time, and while most of the remaining pieces in the team will again have their names read out when it comes time to announce the squad, the places left by the retirements over the winter are still anything but nailed down.
The cancellation of the Bangladesh tour meant that the opportunities for many fringe players may have gone, perhaps forever. With the career of Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers over, and the injury to Dave Warner's thumb ruling him out, at least three batsmen would have had the chance to play two Tests and perhaps secure their positions for the immediate future. That didn't happen, and so all of those plans have been thrown out the window.

So what does it mean for the first Tests of the Australian summer? Many players pick themselves. New skipper Steve Smith is still probably the only person in the top six who is absolutely assured of his spot. Vice captain Warner is also, but only if he has recovered from the broken thumb he sustained in England. Despite the fact that Adam Voges was named as interim vice captain for the Bangladesh trip, and appears to be favoured by the selectors to add some experience to what will be a fresh faced top six, it is no foregone conclusion that he will be at the 'Gabba. Peter Nevill will retain the keepers spot, while Mitch Johnson, Mitch Starc and Nathan Lyon will be the nucleus of the bowling attack. After that, well... it's take your pick.

My own opinion is that this summer is the right time to get new, young faces into the team, and not just stick with the players who have been around on the fringes for the past few years. Tests against New Zealand and then the West Indies provide the best basis for our young players to come in and show what they are capable of. The Black Caps may beat us no matter who we put on the park, while surely the Windies will be only the very slightest of threats. Better for our young players to get a taste now, before the return of South Africa, India and England over the next 2-3 summers.
For this reason, I would steer clear of going back to players such as Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh and the like. Both had their chance to nail in their spots over the winter, and neither was able to do so with any real authority. Without under-estimating the ability in the bowling attacks of both New Zealand and West Indies, the opportunity should be given to the next generation.
The three names that would be at the top of the list would be Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns. Bancroft appears to have been earmarked for the opening position left vacant by Chris Rogers, though there will be some pressure to see Shaun Marsh given (another) extended shot at the spot. Bancroft appears to tick most of the boxes. He is young, he has good recent form, a solid defense and can play off the front and back foot. Being a right hander would also be a benefit in an opening combination with Warner. The desire to find another long term combination at the top of the order should see him get the opportunity this summer. Khawaja has had time to mature since his last stint in the national side. Only injury probably stopped him from breaking back into the team 12 months ago, and his form in all forms has been top notch. He was somewhat unfortunate not to be given a shot in the ODI side in England, and the feeling remains that his fielding is costing him in those selection talks. With Steve Smith open to remaining at number four in the batting line-up, Khawaja would be the perfect fit to come in at number three - though again, the Shaun Marsh supporters will be pushing for him to be given the spot. Burns was almost wrongfully left out of the winter tours, after he had shown enough in his two Tests against India that he was comfortable at that level. His selfless batting in Sydney to set up a run chase for India should not have been rewarded with being left out of the West Indies tour. Thankfully, he has not let it affect his play. Though he spends most of his time at the to of the order for Queensland, his strokeplay appears well suited to number five, and would be where I would play him in the interim.
Of course, the selectors will not go down this road. There is little doubt both Shaun Marsh and Adam Voges will be chosen for the 1st Test, with Voges at number five and Marsh likely to be at first drop, leaving only Bancroft of these three to find his way into the team. I really believe this will be a lost opportunity. We need to rebuild this team's batting line up, and giving the younger players their chance for an entire summer is surely preferable to sticking with older players who have scored almost at will in domestic cricket, but have not transferred that to the Test arena.

Mitch Marsh will no doubt be retained at number six, and this summer will be of the utmost importance to him. To be at number six he has to score runs. He has to average at least 40 to be secure in that place in the batting line-up (yes, yes, Shane Watson didn't... I know... does anyone believe any cricketer will ever get the same beneficial selection bias again like Watto did?!). So as well as bowling his overs and getting nagging wickets, it is with the bat he must succeed, or he will have heat on his tail. Glenn Maxwell would do anything for a chance of the all rounders spot at number six, and given another six months, someone like Victoria's Marcus Stoinis may well be banging the door down for a chance.

With Johnson, Starc and Lyon certainties in the team, the final spot will most likely come from Josh Hazelwood and Peter Siddle, and both are likely to be in the XII for Brisbane. Hazelwood's figures in England were outstanding, even if at times he didn't appear on song, while Siddle's effort in the final Test was impossible to critique. You can toss a coin as to whom will play, but given the likely decision to stick with experience over youth in the top order, I think the same will occur in the bowling as well.

My team for Brisbane would be:
Dave Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Joe Burns, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazelwood, Peter Siddle (12th).

The selectors team for Brisbane is likely to be:
Dave Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Shaun Marsh, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazelwood (12th).