Such has been Australia's plight in Tests recently that coach Darren Lehmann went to the extent of warning that none except David Warner, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are guaranteed of a spot in the squad. It means that 9 of the 13 in the squad are on short notice and may be dropped before the day-night Test at Adelaide starting on 24th.
Australia have already lost the series. Worryingly, they have lost their last 5 Tests and last 5 ODIs. Skipper Smith went to the extent of stating in a press conference after the second Test, "I am embarrassed to be sitting here to be perfectly honest with you.”
There is no stopping Australia's free fall. At a time, they were threatening India, England and South Africa for the top ranking in Tests. Now, a draw, let alone a win, looks a bonus with this line-up. The pre-series talk and chirps from the cordon have ended. Shoulders have drooped and a worried Smith could be seen biting his nails during the fag end of the Hobart Test.
There is a lot to worry, so much so that it is confusing where to start with. That Australia need fresh personnel is common opinion and given the form of players like Nathan Lyon, Peter Nevill and Adam Voges, it is a necessity at the moment. They did bring in two debutants for Hobart but neither contributed much to the cause.
There has been talk about the inclusion of some players who have been outstanding in the Sheffield Shield, yet has gone under the selector’s radar. Let us take a glance at 5 contenders who could come into reckoning when the selectors meet to pick the team for Adelaide.
#5 Kurtis Patterson
In 2011, an 18-year-old Patterson became the youngest person to score a century on debut in the Sheffield Shield, when he notched up an unbeaten 157 for New South Wales against Western Australia.
It took him a whole two seasons to figure in New South Wales' plans again. But 2015-16 was a turnaround season for the youngster. He amassed 737 runs in the season, including two hundreds, and was the leading run-scorer for his side and sixth overall.
In 32 first class matches, he has 2171 runs at an average of 42.5. Given Australia's middle order woes, Patterson's current form could be just the medicine their middle order needs. He is just 23 and could become a long-term option in the middle order if given a fair run.
#4 Peter Handscomb
Peter Nevill might be the best keeper in the country. But, despite his defiant batting display in the two Tests, he isn't a good enough option in Tests as a batsman. Handscomb has been a revelation ever since his debut season for Victoria and even earned a call-up to the ODI squad in 2015 but did not earn a debut.
While he is just an occasional keeper, he could contribute vital runs for Australia down the order and could strengthen the lower middle order that looks pretty weak at the moment. In 60 first class matches, Handscomb has an average of 38.71 with 8 hundreds and 24 fifties.
In the 2015-16 Sheffield season, he finished as the third highest run-getter, scoring 784 runs at an average of 43.55. Handscomb's current form could auger well for an Australian team in search of solid batsmen.
#3 Chadd Sayers
There was a huge outcry when Joe Mennie was called up to the national squad to replace Peter Siddle at Hobart. In spite of Mennie topping the wicket charts in the previous Sheffield season, Sayers’ ability to swing the ball at will made him a better candidate, according to pundits and fans.
He came into the limelight in the 2012-13 Sheffield Shield with his ability to swing the ball late. He topped the wicket charts and was South Australia's player of the season. A call up to the Test squad came in 2016 when Australia toured New Zealand but he remained on the bench.
In 46 first class games, Sayers has 184 wickets at an average of 23.8 including 10 five wicket hauls. That he is one of the best swing bowlers in the domestic circuit is without an iota of doubt. But why he wasn't selected earlier will forever remain a mystery. Surely his time has come.
#2 Jake Lehmann
The coach's son and a prolific run-scorer for South Australia, Jake Lehmann was earmarked as a special talent pretty early. He came to the forefront in the last Sheffield season where he amassed 623 runs at an average of 44.5 including three hundreds.
He ensured that he carried on after getting a century and notched up his first double hundred, a 205 against Tasmania. In 18 matches, Lehmann has 1322 runs at an average of 48.96, including five centuries.
If anything, what Australia require right now is players with a never-say-die attitude and good temperament. Lehmann seems to possess both of that, very much like his father. He is on the back of an unbeaten 129 against Tasmania last week and is in very good nick. Though the coach, Darren Lehmann, has revealed he will not be part of any discussions involving his son’s selection, Jake seems to be a good choice in a disorganised middle order.
#1 Cameron Bancroft
A solid batsman, with a sound technique, Bancroft has earned a good reputation in the domestic circuit for his temperament. A breakthrough 2014-15 Sheffield Season saw him pile up 896 runs at an average of 47.15.
Bancroft was picked in Australia's squad for the abandoned Test tour of Bangladesh in 2015. The youngster produced a productive Shield season with 732 runs at 45.75. Former Australian opener, Justin Langer regards Bancroft as one of the best openers in the country, yet he has never earned a chance to play a Test.
Given Joe Burns’ twin failures at Hobart and several vacancies in the middle order, Bancroft could be a good pick for Australia. He can also keep which is an added advantage given Nevill's form. In 44 first class games, Bancroft has 2782 runs at an average of 37.22 with 7 hundreds. A chance is all he requires to make a name for himself and it may arrive sooner than expected.
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
