{"id":358819,"date":"2024-01-10T02:36:31","date_gmt":"2024-01-10T03:36:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=358819"},"modified":"2024-01-10T06:02:52","modified_gmt":"2024-01-10T06:02:52","slug":"aussie-agenda-claim-after-shocking-test-snub","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=358819","title":{"rendered":"Aussie 'agenda' claim after 'shocking' Test snub"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia<\/a>'s selectors have unveiled a 13-player Test<\/a> squad for the two-match series against the West Indies<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The decision on who would replace David Warner<\/a> as opening batter was never going to be easy, but it's fair to say the announcement has divided opinion.<\/p>\n

\ufeffHere are the biggest questions raised by Wednesday's squad reveal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> \ufeffStar's recall adds mystery to Aussie selection battle<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Origin gun snubs rivals to sign 'richest ever' Knights deal<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Labuschagne endorses potential Smith move<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

W\ufeffHY WAS CAMERON BANCROFT SNUBBED?<\/h3>\n

The West Australian batter appeared to be leading the race to replace David Warner based on form in the Sheffield Shield alone.<\/p>\n

Bancroft has hit eight centuries in the last two and a half Shield seasons, \ufeffand averages close to 60 since the start of the 2022-23 campaign.<\/p>\n

\"Cameron<\/p>\n

This season alone he has belted 512 runs at 56.89 for WA, including two tons.<\/p>\n

By comparison Renshaw is struggling this season for Queensland.<\/p>\n

The tall left-hander has accumulated 348 runs at 31.64 in six matches. Last season he averaged 51.67, although only recorded one triple-figure score.<\/p>\n

Marcus Harris – the other batter considered a contender to replace Warner – has struggled in recent seasons, averaging less than 40 in Shield cricket since a blockbuster 2018-19 campaign.<\/p>\n

But it is Bancroft's form this season that calls into question the Renshaw recall.<\/p>\n

That is despite chief selector George Bailey claiming, "We have selected a team we believe contains the best six batters in the country".\ufeff<\/p>\n

Bancroft played eight Tests for Australia\ufeff before being banned for his part in the 2018 Cape Town ball-tampering scandal.<\/p>\n

He was briefly recalled to play two Ashes matches in England in 2019, but hasn't been seen in the team since.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/TomMoodyCricket\/status\/1744678333445726225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw<\/a><\/p>\n

On Sunday he was forced to deny suggestions of a rift between he and Australian players, specifically the bowling quartet following comments in 2018.<\/p>\n

After being caught rubbing sandpaper on the ball in South Africa, Bancroft suggested the team's bowlers knew he and David Warner had planned to do it. The bowlers then issued a joint statement denying any knowledge.<\/p>\n

Former Test captain Ian Chappell told Wide World of Sports this week even if Bancroft's relationship with some teammates is frosty<\/a>, it should not impact his selection in the squad.\ufeff<\/p>\n

Former opening batter and Test coach Justin Langer also struggled to understand the snub.\ufeff<\/p>\n

"The non-selection of Cameron Bancroft for this next test match against the West Indies is disappointing. He will be gutted," Langer wrote for The West Australian.<\/p>\n

"The mantra for all selectors is to tell aspiring players to score runs, take wickets, knock down the door. Be so good we can't ignore you. Bancroft was given this message. All players are. He has taken the advice.<\/p>\n

"His numbers are outstanding."<\/p>\n

\"Matt<\/p>\n

WHEN WILL RENSHAW GET A START?\ufeff<\/h3>\n

Chief selector George Bailey has basically already told Renshaw he won't be picked in the XI for Adelaide.<\/p>\n

That means – barring his last-minute inclusion due to injury or some other factor – the earliest \ufeffhe can make his Test return is in Brisbane on January 25.<\/p>\n

It does seem bizarre to recall a player to the squad and tell him at the same time he hasn't made the team.<\/p>\n

\ufeffAn explanation could be if selectors plan on testing multiple combinations at the top of the order during the two-match series.<\/p>\n

Steve Smith will open the batting in Adelaide, with recalled Cameron Green slotting in at No.2.<\/p>\n

If Renshaw fails to get a start against the Windies, the next Test opportunity is against New Zealand from February 29.\ufeff<\/p>\n

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE 'WILD THING'?\ufeff<\/h3>\n

\ufeffWest Australian speed demon Lance Morris<\/a> has been in the Test squad previously, but didn't make the cut this time around.<\/p>\n

He has been included in the Aussie ODI squad\ufeff, but his omission from the red-ball set-up is sure to baffle former Test captain Ian Chappell.<\/p>\n

Morris was on the list ahead of the first Test of the summer in Perth, but was then released ahead of Boxing Day so he could resume BBL duties.<\/p>\n

"I just hope at some point they don't just pick Morris in a squad \u2014 they actually pick him in the team and find out what he can do," Chappell told Wide World of Sports<\/a> in December.<\/p>\n

\ufeffMorris can bowl heat and has been lighting up state cricket and the BBL, but is yet to be seen on the international scene.<\/p>\n

\"Speed<\/p>\n

WILL THE BOWLERS GET A REST?<\/h3>\n

Australia undoubtedly boasts the best bowling attack in the world and one of the best this country has ever seen.<\/p>\n

Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc sending down rockets, complemented by Australia's greatest ever off-spinner Nathan Lyon – it's an all-star cast.<\/p>\n

But the inclusion of quick Scott Boland in the squad suggests there might be a rotation of sorts across the two Tests.<\/p>\n

Hazlewood in particular has been injury-prone in recent years and would no doubt enjoy a rest following an ODI World Cup and a three-match series against Pakistan.<\/p>\n

He seems the most likely to miss out on the XI for the Adelaide match, which will be played with a pink ball.\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"Scott<\/p>\n

Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins have, though, been afforded a break once the white-ball stuff starts after the Test series.<\/p>\n

\ufeffFormer Test batter Simon Katich can't see any of the four incumbents making way for Boland.<\/p>\n

"The tricky part is that if they are looking to the future when there will be opportunities, you're guessing because it comes down to injury or maybe a lack of form," Katich told SEN Breakfast radio.<\/p>\n

"These three and Nathan Lyon are some of our all-time greats. So, form is never really an issue with any of them because they're all so consistent.<\/p>\n

"It'd be nice to see Lance (Morris) or Scotty Boland get another run, but I can't see it happening unless there's a niggle after the Adelaide Test."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Australia's selectors have unveiled a 13-player Test squad for the two-match series against the West Indies. The decision on who would replace David Warner as […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":358821,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358819"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=358819"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358819\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":358823,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358819\/revisions\/358823"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/358821"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=358819"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=358819"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=358819"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}