Australian Tour to Sri Lanka - Jan 2025

[RB]

I don't think David Warner was ever dropped, per se.

Suspended for giving Joe Root a slap, then the sandpaper incident. But never dropped on form.

I think Adam Gilchrist and Rod Marsh can be added to the list of players who were never dropped (Marsh obviously missed a number of official tests while playing in WSC).

[spell_check]

Also Ian Healy; only missed one game due to injury. From September 1988 to January 2008 he and Gilchrist combined played in all but one of the 216 Tests played by Australia.

https://www.howstat.com/Cricket/Statist ... cutive.asp

[RB]

I excluded Healy because he was effectively dropped ahead of the 1999 series v Pakistan (i.e. and then retired).

[am Bays]

I was only talking about batsmen not keepers

The tradition in Australian cricket has generally been pick a keeper and stick to them

You can basically run a line from Carter, Oldfield, Tallon, Langley, Grout, Jarman Marsh, Healy, Gilchrist and Haddin for over 100 years

Yeah there’s been a few periodically like Maddocks, Taber, Wright, Rixon, Woolley, Phillips, Dyer, and Wade but the success rate of picking a keeper and giving them a long run at it has generally been pretty good by our Selectors

[RB]

Fair enough.

In that case, David Warner and Mike Hussey are the only examples I can think of in terms of specialist batsmen in recent-ish times for Australia that were never 'dropped'.

[spell_check]

I excluded Healy because he was effectively dropped ahead of the 1999 series v Pakistan (i.e. and then retired).

Oh yeah, kinda forgot - I was thinking about the epiphany both had; that they had to give it away upon dropping a simple catch

[Aerie]

Big fan of the lad, but this series could make or break Konstas. Not forever but potentially send him back to shield for a long spell. No doubting his talent, but he needs to show that he can build an innings.

McSweeney wasn't doing too badly and I believe they brought Konstas in as a circuit breaker against Bumrah, as much as anything. It paid off. His 1st innings in Melbourne was sensational and his 2nd innings in Sydney was important, regardless of how he lost his wicket.

I think they will go horses for courses. Connolly's inclusion is an interesting selection and it wouldn't surprise me if they open with Head and Khawaja and bat Connolly at 5. Bring a spinner (I'd choose the lefty Kuhnemann for variety) in for Cummins and that will be the XI for the 1st Test IMO.

Konstas, McSweeney, Connolly, Webster all with a taste of Test cricket over this summer. Green to come back into the XI. All of a sudden, our next generation isn't looking too bad and we'll be better for it going into the Ashes next summer.

Inglis to continue as the white ball keeper and to be ready to take over from Carey in the Test team if/when Carey has a form slump, but shouldn't play as a specialist batsman at Test level.

[robranisgod]

Spare a thought for Stuart Law
Made 54 not out on debut, and was dropped , but never made the test team again

I guess the LAW didn't win.

According to the media of the time Stuart Law had a very public feud with a most prominent Australian test player of the time.
There was even talk of Law becoming an English player due to his ancestry and the fact that he was playing county cricket consistently at the time.
He also allegedly had a decades long feud with a legendary Sheffield Shield player. That player is often cited as the greatest wicket keeper not to play a test for Australia.
Lastly, I often wondered whether Law was never forgiven for dropping a regulation outfield catch at a vital time in the 1996 World Cup 50 over final.

[Lightning McQueen]

Spare a thought for Stuart Law
Made 54 not out on debut, and was dropped , but never made the test team again

I guess the LAW didn't win.

According to the media of the time Stuart Law had a very public feud with a most prominent Australian test player of the time.
There was even talk of Law becoming an English player due to his ancestry and the fact that he was playing county cricket consistently at the time.
He also allegedly had a decades long feud with a legendary Sheffield Shield player. That player is often cited as the greatest wicket keeper not to play a test for Australia.
Lastly, I often wondered whether Law was never forgiven for dropping a regulation outfield catch at a vital time in the 1996 World Cup 50 over final.

He was up against some pretty decent competition for spots in the Aussie team at the time, I think you hit the nail on the head with your "feud" comments, he was pretty arrogant from what I've heard.

[The Dark Knight]

https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/aust ... mb-1470252
Kuhnemann cleared to travel to Sri Lanka.

[locky801]

Know it wont happen but how funny would it be in the Lankans prepared a green top seamer for the 1st test

[whufc]

Head confirmed as opening

[Jim05]

Head confirmed as opening

Was never in doubt

[locky801]

Head confirmed as opening

Terrible decision, guy dominates in the middle order in the red ball game

Bit like moving Tony Lockett to full back

[whufc]

Looks all but certain the top 6 will be

Head
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Inglis
Webster

The one I feel for a tad is Carey, the keeping spot has rightfully become his and isn’t in doubt even with Inglis in the side…..however his now under that added pressure of if Inglis goes on and hits a couple of tons and Carey all a sudden his position could be considered in doubt or at least that talk would exist.

I guess the positive is if he keeps well and out bats Inglis then he has a license to almost retire at his own choosing.

[amber_fluid]

I can’t see how Inglis is a better option than McSweeney or Konstas
Play your best batters

[locky801]

I can’t see how Inglis is a better option than McSweeney or Konstas
Play your best batters

Inglis has a very suspect technique, he will struggle over there if he gets a spot which i doubt

Carey is as safe as Chris Fagan in holding his spot, has had a great 12 months

[mal]

SL should be winning this series , quite possibly 2-0
Likely that the decks will have more spin than the Gee Whiz

[jackpot jim]

SL should be winning this series , quite possibly 2-0
Likely that the decks will have more spin than the Gee Whiz

I think the West Indies showed that the home team preparing "Gee Whiz" pitches doesn't mean certain success by knocking off Pakistan

NZ also clean Swept India on their Gee Whizzes 3 zip

Australia would be $1.01 if the series was played in Australia
I dont think a Gee Whiz pitch is necessarily enough to bridge the gap between the 2 teams.

[Lightning McQueen]

Head confirmed as opening

Terrible decision, guy dominates in the middle order in the red ball game

Bit like moving Tony Lockett to full back

I would've thought we should be looking at the future and settling positions.

Obviously I hope we succeed and Head is just as dominant as an opener but I feel as though it does nothing for Konstas' confidence nor for the team balance moving forward, I guess playing on such radical pitches and including up to 3 spinners throws it all into turmoil anyway.

Hoping they don't play Lyon and Potter, I think the 4-5 part time spin options provides enough variation in that department.