Young Australians

[GVGjr]

I'd love to see the Australian test side take on a young Australians side over a 4 day game.

The make up of the young Australian side would look something like:

Phil Hughes
Usman Khawaja
Cameron White (Captain)
Moises Henriques
Mitchell Marsh
Steven Smith
Matthew Wade
John Hastings
Jon Holland
Peter George
Josh Hazlewood

Can you think of any others players that should be in a young Australian side?

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Young Australians

Ben Cutting.

[GVGjr]

Re: Young Australians

Ben Cutting.

It came down to either him or Hastings and in hindsight Cutting would have been the better selection

[Mantis]

Re: Young Australians

Too many all-rounders for my liking.

I would include Bailey instead of Henriques for one.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Young Australians

Too many all-rounders for my liking.

I would include Bailey instead of Henriques for one.

I was thinking Bailey but where do you draw the line for young? Bailey is 27 and White 26. You would want at least one of them to lead the side.

[comrade]

Re: Young Australians

We've never had so many young all-rounders vying for international selection.

Whether they turn out any good is yet to be seen.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Young Australians

Mark Cosgrove is only 25 and would definitely be a consideration if you just want them to win/compete but I also would not want to reward/validate his work.

[GVGjr]

Re: Young Australians

I was thinking Bailey but where do you draw the line for young? Bailey is 27 and White 26. You would want at least one of them to lead the side.

I really wanted an under 25's side but realised we need at least one of the more experienced leaders. Bailey was just too old.

Mantis, I wanted the all-rounders because Henriques has been good with the bat and would help lighten the load for the young quick bowlers (mainly Hazlewood) and Smith would get to roll the arm over as a second spinner. White wouldn't bowl.

[GVGjr]

Re: Young Australians

Mark Cosgrove is only 25 and would definitely be a consideration if you just want them to win/compete but I also would not want to reward/validate his work.

I thought of Cosgrove but just couldn't find a spot for him.
Hughes, Marsh, Henriques, Smith, Wade (or Paine), Holland and George were all automatic selections.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Young Australians

Shaun Marsh is another bat is would just be over that 25 cut off (he is 26).

I have no issues with playing multiple all-rounders if they can just about warrant a spot in the side on their batting or bowling alone. I don't like more than one player being them on an accumulated batting and bowling value.

I definitely think Hastings deserves his spot. He has taken 21 wickets @ 19 this season and has had to carry the pace bowling attack in games due to our injuries/national call ups.

[GVGjr]

Re: Young Australians

We've never had so many young all-rounders vying for international selection.

Whether they turn out any good is yet to be seen.

Good point. In the past though we have normally had a lot of batsman who bowled a bit more than genuine all-rounders.

I'm not sure Smith's bowling is up to it but his batting has been sound and his bowling handy.
Henriques could be a genuine all-rounder but I tend to think he will need to make it primarily as a batsman like Watson has.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Young Australians

Another point on the all-rounder issue-

This side's primary objective would not be to win but to help develop players. Having a couple of all-rounders might actually be beneficial, allowing more players to get a go/benefit from the opportunity to develop their game. All relative to what you see this XI as, a development team or a team that is out there to win.

[GVGjr]

Re: Young Australians

Shaun Marsh is another bat is would just be over that 25 cut off (he is 26).

I have no issues with playing multiple all-rounders if they can just about warrant a spot in the side on their batting or bowling alone. I don't like more than one player being them on an accumulated batting and bowling value.

I definitely think Hastings deserves his spot. He has taken 21 wickets @ 19 this season and has had to carry the pace bowling attack in games due to our injuries/national call ups.

Marsh was right in the mix and we could argue to really test the Australian side he should be included. I just thought he was a little old for this sort of concept. White was a better option for a young Australian side than Marsh or Bailey.

To me, Hazlewood and George need to be played because they have the sort of ability that could be worth an Australian test spot in a few seasons.
Hastings is somewhat limited with the ball in that he probably can't get a lot better. He's effective now but not anywhere near a test standard.
Cutting has more upside than Hastings.

[Dogs 24/7]

Re: Young Australians

Ben Cutting.

Hard to go past him when selecting a young side.