Richie said:

One wonders then why our nong selectors did not follow up on this. Perhaps they will now as Heads days as opener are numbered.

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I'm not sure about Kellaway and Peake's FC records? A few experts tend to think they look the most capable. I would have thought Konstas looks to have a high ceiling too.

Also, that young NSW opener l met at Kangaroo Bay, playing for the NSW second eleven looks the part too. You know his name.

Decentric said:

Im not sure on Kellaway and Peake's FC records?

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Either am I. Both look more suited to shorter formats. If one of the two will eventually make it as a Test batsman, I'd choose Peake. But neither at the moment, yet the word is Peake has been chosen for the A tour of India. To be fair he made big runs last A tour to the sub continent but at a fast clip with plenty of loose shot making. Jason Sangha should also go as he made a superbly paced double hundred on the same tour with barely a loose shot. His defensive spin play was top shelf, best I have seen in a long time from an Aussie.

Richie said:

Either am I. Both look more suited to shorter formats. If one of the two will eventually make it as a Test batsman, I'd choose Peake. But neither at the moment, yet the word is Peake has been chosen for the A tour of India. To be fair he made big runs last A tour to the sub continent but at a fast clip with plenty of loose shot making. Jason Sangha should also go as he made a superbly paced double hundred on the same tour with barely a loose shot. His defensive spin play was top shelf, best I have seen in a long time from an Aussie.

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Sangha, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t had successive seasons averaging over 40 with the bat.

Richie said:

Webster does not have the technique needed to bat above 7, so a good idea to have Head #6 and he #7,as you say the bowlers difficulty given their differing elevation.

One wonders then why our nong selectors did not follow up on this. Perhaps they will now as Heads days as opener are numbered. He has the eye but has never had the technique..

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I had Head at 3 simply becuase I think Green and Smithy are working well at 4 and 5.

I would like too see more off spin from Webster, on a wicket favouring pace we could perhaps play him instead of Lyon.

IMO on wickets favouring pace bowlers Head openning at Webster at 6/7 means we are very dependent on Smithy and Green to make the runs.

Worse still, Smithy and Green could be exposed to the new ball, fresh energetic bowlers, and a wicket offering a lot of assistance.

If we stick with this formula, a few more batting collapses seem inevitable.

I can see a case for Webster and Lyon, if it is a flat pitch or a wicket favouring spin. In that case, Webster at 6/7 isn't a problem.

On a wicket favouring pace, I would rather have a better batter at 6.

Decentric said:

Sadly, there aren’t players in the age 20 cohort with Test experience to replace them.

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Correct. So we use the likes of experienced bowlers Richardson our new leader, Bartlett, Thornton, Perry as an interum attack, introducing the promising next genners, Anderson, Thompson, Beardman etc, gradually over the next two/three yrs when they are seen as international ready. Liam Haskett a little sooner. Ditto with the slowies, Rocco first cab off the rank for the past it Nathan Lyon as soon as the New Years India tour or my bolter Raf McMillan, then either Kuhnemann or Joel Davies (my choice), Murphy or Tanveer Sangha to cover sub continent tours...

Decentric said:

Sangha, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t had successive seasons averaging over 40 with the bat.

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In '24/25 he averaged hi 50s along with Tim Ward. Sangha , same as all the top 10 averaged a similar mid @30s last season due to the bowler friendly pitches..

Sam Konstas remains in CA Test plans with his expected Aussie A selection in both red and white ball sides in September. Oliver Peake will also join him in both squads. While Konstas has several shield 100s Peake is yet to hit one, so his selection comes as a surprise, tho he has had success in a previous home A series under his belt..

Australia's ODI squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa tours​

Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (SA only), Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (SA only), Adam Zampa

Australia A four-day squad: Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott.

Australia A one-day squad: Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw.

My starting choices in bold.

Has Copper Connolly been doing anything useful recently?

He seems like a guy who could bat 6 in tests, bowl a bit of handy spin, and be good in the field.

I doubt that his bowling would be good enough for long spells in tests.

Richie said:

Australia's ODI squad for Zimbabwe and South Africa tours​

Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (SA only), Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc (SA only), Adam Zampa

Australia A four-day squad: Brendan Doggett, Jack Edwards, Peter Handscomb, Sam Harper, Liam Hatcher, Campbell Kellaway, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Fergus O'Neill, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Corey Rocchiccioli, Jason Sangha, Liam Scott.

Australia A one-day squad: Mahli Beardman, Nikhil Chaudhary, Ben Dwarshuis, Jack Edwards, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitch Owen, Josh Philippe, Tanveer Sangha, Liam Scott, Lachlan Shaw.

My starting choices in bold.

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What do you think about Jack Edwards and Liam Hatcher's selections, Baggers?

Haven't looked up Hatcher's age, but he looks old.

Perry for Vic bowled very well for Vic at Bellerive in a Shield game last season. Hadn't seen him before.

For the red ball Aus A squad, not sure what I think of the 4 pace bowlers, Doggett, Hatcher, O'Neill and Richardson?

O'Neill has the figures on helpful Aussie pitches for pace, but only bowls 125 - 130 kph. My only concern about Jhye R is the durability of his body. He has the quality when fit though.

Hounddog said:

Has Copper Connolly been doing anything useful recently?

He seems like a guy who could bat 6 in tests, bowl a bit of handy spin, and be good in the field.

I doubt that his bowling would be good enough for long spells in tests.

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I'm worried about the selectors' love for CC, whilst they have opposite feelings for CC's WA teammate, Corey R, who has done everything right as an off spinner for the last 2 seasons.