Cricket - 5 Takeaways From the Ashes Team for the 1st test
1. Paine Elevation A Real Stunner
The odd person had come up to me in the past couple of weeks and said Tim Paine was the bolter for the Ashes side. I must admit I didn't really think they were having anything other than a stab in the dark, but they proved spot on. Maybe we all should have read the tealeaves when Paine was picked as the glovesman and Captain for an otherwise rookie CA XI that played England last week, before being reinstated to the Tasmanian side last week as a batsman. Scores of 52 for the CA XI and 71 not out for Tasmania, plus a polished performance with the gloves against England, were enough to see Paine ahead of stuttering past incumbents in Peter Neville and Matthew Wade.
I must admit I did not think it was a realistic proposition given Paine had been left out of Tasmania's first two Shield games and had failed to score a First Class century since 2006. In fact Paine's batting numbers have been fairly disastrous at Shield level over the past three seasons, averaging just 16, making his recall a real stunner. What can't be disputed is that Paine is considered the cleanest keeper in the county and did average 35 with the bat in his four Test match appearances in 2010. Whilst a couple of serious finger injury might have robbed him of the best years of his career, Paine has now been given a stunning recall when he was on the verge of quitting First Class cricket just a few months ago.
2. Wade and Neville May Not Play Test Cricket Again
The harsh reality for both Matthew Wade and Peter Neville is they have been snubbed for an older keeper and may never play Test Cricket again. Whilst Wade is still only 29, and Neville the same age as the recalled Tim Paine at 32, it appears the next move will be for a younger keeper, with Paine likely to take up the role for the foreseeable future, while the likes of Alex Carey and Sam Whiteman develop their games at State Level. There may even be some times when part-time wicket keepers within the Test side in Peter Handscomb or Cameron Bancroft become full time options if Paine were to struggle.
While you do have to feel for Neville and Wade to some extent, I have to say both left the door well and truly ajar with their form for both the Test side and their Shield sides across the first three rounds of the domestic season. Neville had failed to notch a score higher than 33 in four innings, whilst Wade could muster 20 through six innings, sealing his fate. With mixed reviews of their keeping performances, and with average Test records, I think whilst it’s harsh on both, the message is clear, we are moving in another direction.
3. Renshaw axing no real surprise
I forecast a few weeks ago Matthew Renshaw could be in trouble given the way he was batting, and that came to fruition last night when he was axed after a lean start to the Shield Summer. The fact Renshaw averages over 60 in Australia in Tests, as well as making some handy scores in devilishly tricky conditions in the sub-continent against India and Bangladesh means this is a harsh axing at face value. Many perhaps rightly presumed this would be enough to at least give him first crack this Summer. However, the irresistible form of Cameron Bancroft, and the fact Renshaw should manage just 70 runs at 11, for me, made the decision a fairly straightforward one.
I thought on purely the eye test Renshaw looked a limited player in some respects that perhaps overachieved and a slump was just around the corner. Whilst his grit and temperament are real and tangible strengths, technically he looked to have some holes in his game and now is the perfect time to go away and work on those. Players far better than Renshaw like Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden were dropped early in their career, so I don’t see this as anything more than a stumbling block for a good young player.
4. Is Shaun Marsh The Cat With Nine Lives?
This is now the eighth time Shaun Marsh has been recalled to the Australian Test team, which is outrageous when you think about it, given cats are the ones that are meant to have nine lives, not Test batsmen. Let me say that I think Marsh is a very classy batsman and, if we were judging purely on class, ability and technique, he would clearly be in the Top 6 batsmen in the country. However, for mine, I think the decision is a head scratcher because Marsh has proved time and time again his body can't last Test matches in quick succession.
Whilst Marsh has been dropped a few times for poor form, he has been left out more times because of his dodgy back or hamstrings or broken fingers and I can't for the life of me see those things disappearing at the age of 34. At a time in Australian cricket when many accomplished bats in their mid-30s like Ed Cowan, George Bailey, Michel Klinger and Cameron Ferguson appear to have the red line permanently through their name, Marsh remains one of the selectors’ favourites.
5. Steve Smith Wields Enormous Power
My gut feeling is the skipper played a role in the elevation of Tim Paine in particular. Cast your minds back twelve months and Smith was desperate for more fight and mongrel in the Australian team, which was a huge factor in the recall of Matthew Wade. Given Wade couldn't possibly be retained on form, Smith and the selectors have opted for a similarly vocal keeper in Tim Paine. Paine might not be the real scrapper Wade is, but he is no shrinking violet, and will be expected to lead the Australian body language and noise in the field. I do think this counted s against Peter Neville, the fact he is relatively quiet for a keeper.
I also think Smith played a role in the axing of Renshaw. David Warner and Steve Smith both like to dominate attacks and get plenty of the strike, and I think were frustrated at times by Matt Renshaw’s inability to get off strike. Now Smith must focus on the task of winning his first Ashes series as captain, one where Australia are have favourites in our own backyard, which in itself brings its own pressure with it.