Third Test Recap - Australia v Pakistan @ SCG

Australia Sweep Pakistan

Australia completed a convincing 220-run victory to claim a 3-0 clean sweep of Pakistan on Day 5 at the SCG. After a run of five consecutive losses, including being whitewashed in Sri Lanka and losing the opening two Tests and the series to South Africa, Australia has reason to be optimistic in the short term and for the long haul. Credit needs to be given to Australian captain Steve Smith and his troops, as well as the Australian selectors who took quite a few calculated gambles after the debacle at Blundstone Arena and series loss to South Africa. Despite some of their picks not paying off, you have to say they were right on the money with at least two of them, and the side has found a renewed confidence and balance in their play that was sadly lacking throughout much of 2016.

While Australia's bowling attack has had an air of familiarity about it all summer, the talking point has no doubt been the changes in the batting line up that has led to a revival of the team's fortunes. In opener Matt Renshaw and middle order player Peter Handscomb, Australia appear to have found a long term solution opening the batting and in a once brittle middle order. Pakistan, if we were being honest, were disappointing this summer given the side they had on paper and their results over the past two years. While you have to give Australia enormous credit for blunting their dangerous attack, including Mohammad Amir and Yasir Shah, the tourists looked flat most of the Summer, and the captaincy of Misbah-al-Haq was uninspiring to say the least. Australia can now take stock before a powder-keg four Test tour of India just around the corner, where happy memories of the end of this Summer could soon be banished if they don't learn from mistakes of the past. 

Renshaw Makes His Mark To Muddy The Waters For India

Firstly, hats off to 20 year old Matt Renshaw for an outstanding start to his Test career. The youngster has impressed immeasurably with his ability to smile and take things in his stride, but more so for his occupation of the crease and improvement in stroke play as the series progressed. I am a fan of having one or two old fashioned style players in your long form teams. Whilst it's a real advantage to have a Warner or Smith who can score quickly, turn games and become match winners, it's also a point of difference to have someone who can bat long periods of time, soak up pressure and ensure the team doesn't lose wickets in clumps. WIth 315 runs from his opening three Test matches, the Australian selectors and Renshaw can look back at a job well done so far. While his 34 n/o to steer Australia home against South Africa showed application, and his 71 in Brisbane against Pakistan showed promise, it was his unbelievable 184 at the SCG which made every cricket fan around the country take note. I'll be honest, I didn't think Renshaw had that sort of innings in him this early in his career, but he clearly has something special.

What is interesting is how this changes things for Australia's massive four Test tour of India in February. Shaun Marsh was clearly Australia's best batsman in their ill fated tour of Sri Lanka, and if it's a more flexible horses for courses policy, then he has to play on the raging turners in India. Renshaw would have been pretty easy to leave out had he not scored a massive hundred at the SCG. Now it creates a real dilemma, as you need five bowlers in India, so you can't just slot Marsh back in for Hilton Cartwright. India is a furnace, with searing temperatures and an intensity of Test Cricket and quality in their batting line up that dictates four bowlers is unlikely to be enough for Australia. What would I do? It's a real tricky one. However, I would be batting both Marsh and Renshaw at the top of the order in the Tour games, and taking things from there. 

Lyon Has Fighting Qualities 

I said in the lead up to Sydney, I would consider not playing Nathan Lyon in the Third Test and on the tour of India. In hindsight, I think I underestimated what a great fighter he is, and he really bounced back with crafty and gutsy displays on the final day in Melbourne and in the Sydney Test. Australia is a pretty unforgiving place for spinners, even high quality spinners. If you have a look through the records of some of the greats like Muttiah Muralithiran, Harbhajan Singh, Saqlain Mushtaq and now Yarir Shah, their records are unflattering out here to say the least. Lyon has struggled this summer, but no more so than some of the greats of the past have during, long hot tours of Australia. Lyon deserves to take his place as Australia's Number 1 spinner in India given his recent performances, and he is clearly a very popular and highly respected member of the team. You don't become the Number 1 off-spinner of all time in Australia without having a lot of quality.

My doubts around Lyon centred around whether he can build pressure in India and pin the Indians to the crease. In those searing temperatures and raging turners over there, you need your spinner to be able to bowl 30 overs straight, and I fancied Steven O'Keefe to do that more so. In fact I think O'Keefe did his chances no harm at all with a controlled and impressive performance at the SCG. It's clear Shane Warne does not rate O'Keefe, however I think that has as much to do with style as it does substance. Warnie loves to see spinners really give the ball a rip and turn the ball, whereas O'Keefe is not an attractive spinner to the eye. Warne slapped him with many backhanded compliments and down right put downs, however I think O'Keefe can play a role similar to Jadeja does for India on the turners over there. His economy rate was excellent again in this game as he pinned batsmen to the crease, with his unnerving accuracy building pressure at his end, and at the other end. Australia will probably take a third spinner to India, however Lyon and O'Keefe are certainties to be on the plane and have the front running for First Test selection.

Don't Give Handscomb The Gloves

I am sure there is a very valid reason Peter Handscomb has given up the gloves in the short term. Handscomb is much better than a part time wicketkeeper as he showcased on Day 3 at the SCG. However, you do not want to interrupt Handscomb's unbelievable vein of form and amazing start to his Test career. The likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Brendon McCullum and AB De Villiers were all very good glovemen that gave up keeping to focus solely on their batting. Wicket keeping is probably the most taxing and underestimated job in cricket - you can't do it in half measures. From the moment Handscomb strode to the crease in Adelaide, he has looked every inch a high quality Test batsman. He had a calmness that said to me he knew he belonged at this level and it was a matter of getting straight down to business. He has his own technique which he trusts and knows, he is an intelligent batsman, and he is Australia's long term Number 5.

While it would be foolish to compare him to Australia's Mr. Fix It, Michael Hussey, who ended up one of the greats, I think Handscomb has an air of calm and quality about him that I have not seen in Australia's middle order since Hussey.  By giving him the gloves now you give him a whole different focus on what would be the most gruelling tour for a gloveman in the world, being India. Handscomb is a luxury keeper at the moment if an injury or illness occurs, and that's the way it should remain. Unless he decides that he really wants to be the Australian wicketkeeper, then I think the selectors would be mad to push him into that role. 

Wade Should Stay For Now

Matthew Wade would have looked on in horror with Handscomb doing an impressive job behind the stumps on Day 3 in Sydney.  Wade's dicey batting form is a cause for concern, as are a couple of chances he has put down during his return to the side. His keeping is improving, however I wouldn't say that I am totally convinced about taking Wade to India as Australia's Number 1 wicketkeeper. However, having brought him back into the side, as much for his mongrel as for anything  else, and with the team having responded with four straight victories, I think I would stick with Wade even though I remain unconvinced as to whether he is the long term answer.

Wade is a pretty good player of spin, and did well on Australia's ODI tour of Sri Lanka, so I think he can make contributions with the bat over there. He is the sort of player who will thrive more coming in at 5/100 than he will at 5/400 and that might not be a bad quality to have over in India. Wade is a combative player and a fighter and coming in at 5/plenty as he was against Pakistan, he looked a bit like a fish out of water. Some players are like that - they respond better when the pressure is on and Wade looked like he couldn't really steel himself against Pakistan. Wade has left himself vulnerable to being dropped, but I think given his recall and the team's winning streak, he will be there come the First Test against India.