Subscribe and 🔔 to Fox Cricket YouTube 👉 https://bit.ly/2VvEesb
Stream Fox Cricket 👉 https://kayosports.app.link/aSVUWQbbc7
Follow us on social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/foxcricket
Twitter: https://twitter.com/foxcricket
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/foxcricket
Uh yeah I can it’s I guess given it’s a little unusual that we’ve actually announced the the 11 as we’re announcing the squad um so chatting with with Ron and Pat this morning they’ve uh given the all clear for me to um yeah let you know that um they’ve decided that Steve
Smith will be opening the batting and Cameron green will come into the number four position which is fantastic Regard in which we we hold Cameron um and um I think the way the the rest of that batting order is is functioning um left us feeling like that we have someone who
We think is pretty talented who potentially was going to find it hard to to get any test Cricket in in the next um in the next period 12 months or so so um you know trying to trying to work out a way and and not and you know I don’t
Think that’s going to be particularly beneficial for for grainy and I think we can get a lot of benefits out of him playing so working through through some of the solutions to that and how he could potentially slot in and where that could be um I mean Steve Steve’s
Obviously motivated and energized and Keen to do it there were plenty uh plenty within the team who uh were pretty Keen to go on record and say that they weren’t ke to do it so it was refreshing that um Steve had come forward and and said he wanted it and it
Was something that you know we’d been chatting about in the background as a as a selection panel um with the coaches as well and with Pat just around you know who if you were going to rejig at what some of the potential options were George is this an experiment or is this
Something that you’re looking at being set for the long term tongue and cheeky I could say m that everything’s an experiment isn’t it um there been some pretty good experiments yeah no no me you know that’s that’s been part of the discussions I believe with Steve that
You know he’s he’s Keen for this to be uh you know significant chapter in his career um as far as the panel goes I mean I think we’ve been pretty consistent in in saying that we you know we don’t look too far ahead we’ve obviously got these two test matches
Against the West Indies uh we go to New Zealand different conditions different challenge um we’ll have more information then um we’ve clearly got a big gap of of test Cricket then and then India over the summer but um for all intents and purposes um now this is where this is
Where Steve wants to wants to stay so it’s not an experiment uh no well it’s not as far as as far as any any change or any uh putting any player in no it’s not is there any issue between any members of the squad and bangers
That you know um I guess exclude him from selection no I glad you asked that because I wanted to touch on it categorically no and I’ve shared this with Cameron on on a number of occasions um it has never at any stage been discussed as a from the panel’s
Perspective uh it’s purely a cricketing decision there is not a member of the team that would have an issue um with with Cam playing we we certainly don’t have an issue with it um I think a lot of people tend to forget the fact that Cam’s actually played test Cricket since
Returning from the ban it was a long time ago um we’ve all moved well past that um you know I’d be disappointed if that’s why if if people were looking to that as a as a reason um and you know all I can do is is reiterate to you and and and to
Cam um that that’s that’s not the case um never has been and never will be it’s it’s an interesting one because I I feel like over the last couple of weeks I’ve heard the line specialist opener more than I’ve ever heard it in my life and I
Think if you go back historically and look at the last 30 35 Australian openers um I reckon over 50% of them um actually weren’t openers or didn’t start as openers so I don’t know what comes first the specialist bit or or the opportunity to perform um and it
Probably says to me that your best batters are are generally your best batters um and your best problem solvers and um and technically your most most proficient as well and they they find a way to adapt but um so you know I think you know ultimately the results will be
The judge of it but um you know the opportunity will will decide whether um we end up talking about Steve Smith as someone who um has the admiration and and respect as as some of those um former Australian openers who who we look upon as openers and can’t remember
Batting anywhere else but actually started their careers in different positions as well and usman’s a great example at the other end of the the of the Wicket to him who actually still bats at four for Queensland
50 Comments
What about Hunt or Pucovski??
If I was Captain I would like to have this team. The Captain picks the batting order.
Advantage opposition teams- particularly India and England…
Plz GO ahead Australia..
Bancroft must be gutted.
Can see snowflakes here banging on some stats that is either irrelevant or only partly relevant at international stage. The only numbers that matter is the results and that this selection panel has results to show for (just in 2023, World Test championship, Ashes and a World Cup). I would trust their judgement more than the judgement of any of these snowflakes.
Let's not forget that Smith is a cheat! Should never have been allowed to play for Australia after what that cheating dog and his 2 mates did. Disgraceful.
What Ben Mcdermott for ODI series He is Solid block
Rude to Warner? He is a cheat like Smith and co.
If willing to allow back into team. Then your okay with an Australian cricket captain cheating!!!!
Unbelievable
Marsh should open
Wow
I wonder if they'd be doing the same thing if they were facing stronger opposition. You might get away with playing Smith out of position against a weaker side, and doing so allows Green to get some more test matches under his belt.
What a joke that renshaw being in the squad over Bancroft
Still no Maxwell what a disgrace !!!
If they want to open with Smudge and bat Greeny at 4, I get it. Smudge is a legend and has earnt the right to play where he wants to. But to pick Matt Renshaw in the squad and not Cameron Bancroft… You can't justify it. Screams politics.
I think that it is a good move. Smith's batting in the last couple of years has looked less confident and convincing than previously. A new challenge at the top of the order might be just what he needs. Time will tell.
George Bailey needs to provide a reason why they have continually overlooked Bancroft.
If it isn't a change room issue or his prior comments re sandpaper gate and the bowling group well then why is it?
Spill the beans George.
Greenie is a freak he must be in the team!
I think it's a perfect decision. Cameron Bancroft has major technical issues facing the red ball. Bancroft has played over 10 Test Matches with the highest score of 82. Renshaw is far better. He performed quite well in the sub-continent. With Steve Smith opening, Australia can now play both Cameron Green & Mitch Marsh together while Matt Renshaw best being the back up option. Usman Khawaja, 37 years old, the next in line to retire, giving Renshaw ample time to replace him at the top.
dont like it
Bancroft should’ve been selected. No excuses!
Bancroft sucks great decision cry everybody 😂
It's a difficult one, I think Smith will do well as an opener and I like that he's put his hand up to try it. I'd take Bancroft over Renshaw if it was for the opener's spot but not to come in at 5 or 6, so seeing as that isn't the case I think they've actually made the right call. Green offers too much in all aspects of the game to not pick him, so unfortunately for Bancroft he's just not quite what the team needs right now..
Smiths gonna fail big time as an opener against quality teams 😊 he's merely been a shadow of himself after Sandpaper scandal
Bancroft absolutely robbed here seriously what has the guy got to do.
George Bailey is hot
Bailey thinks his sh## doesn’t stink after selecting head with a broken hand for the World Cup. Very sad that the most talented and shafted batsman with greatest mental strength (aka Banfield) will never be selected into the Australian side.
Anything to green in the side… coz he’s part of the club… let’s not mention that he’s done nothing special in all his chances… none of that matters… he’s in the club so we need to find a spot for him
So the selectors have decided to shift one of our greatest batsmen from 4 to 1 just so they can fit in Green at 4 who rightfully lost his place at 6 just 6 months ago and has played one shield game since. And they’ve added Renshaw to the squad who averages about 20 less this season and wasn’t within 300 runs of Bancroft last season.Makes complete sense to me.
Be interesting to see smith go as an opener has he opened for NSW and im not talking of white ball cricket, but unfair to sheild players as Bancroft should get another go or try Travis Head maybe
Bancroft sucks lol. All you boomers have no clue. He has a flawed technique that’s be constantly exposed at Test level and he hasn’t fixed it. His best seasons in Shield have average lower than Cam Green’s Shield career.
Just so everyone's aware:
Renshaw has made 4 hundreds and a few 50's in 8 dig's for Aus-A/the pm's XI against borderline international quality attacks in AUS and NZ, and made runs in county. Bancroft didn't pass 50 vs nz-A, didn't get past 50 on an absolute dead manuka pitch vs PAK and shat the bed in county cricket last time he went over there. His WA opening partner, sam whiteman, had a better season. ESPNcricinfo did an article on this recently, and in the past 3 years bancroft and renshaw have near identical FC averages (~43 from memory, you can find the article if you want). Difference is Renshaw is younger and has actually made harder runs than bancroft recently.
The reason bancroft is missing out over renshaw isn't some grand conspiracy. He's missing out because he's 4 years older than renshaw and has failed to step up vs the moving ball and against international-ish attacks when given the chance.
Cam bancroft should have been picked
Great to see so many players available for selection. Aus cricket is looking awesome! Will always support Aus team and will miss Davey W. Smudge as always will stand up and give 100%+ for the team as to wear the baggy green is not just a cap it is the pinnacle of Aus sport!
I can see some people saying that this a risky move, So when Mr Sachin Tendulkar moved to opening was that a tad risky as well?
George Bailey – the cricketer who had a mind so scrambled that he faced up to the bowler with his ass facing the umpire – is now making massive selection decisions that affect Australian cricket. Who on earth thought that was a good idea?
Why not get some sensible cricket brains and respected past cricketers on the selection panel? Taylor, Ponting, Haddin would be a good start.
Don’t take up poker George you are not a good liar.
Green better suited to opening, where he can take his time. Smith may struggle against the new ball.
Bancroft shafted!
Bancroft has been the leader run scorer in Shield over the last 2 season and has a better average then Renshaw. Can't understand it and it is a poor decision!
Bailey is a good "yes man" selector, you can put any spin on it you want, this is the NSW mafia and CA taking aim at Bancroft who all the stats say deserves his chance as shield cricket is the pinnacle feeder system. Renshaw would have been a good second choice, not Harris, very average fielder, the other two are top notch. The West Indies will not be a strong bowling team, this sends the wrong message at so many levels of all sport and life, purple circles and boys club have the power.
George too many umms and errs, stammers etc to convince me you are talking the truth. Lots still well hidden about the sand paper incident. More players knew about this than the 3 that got hammered. Re Smith picks himself in any current world X1 but not as an opener.
We can’t pick Bancroft again because he was our scapegoat
Renshaw is an A grade flog
Good decision. Renshaw, Bancroft, Harris are all mediocre but Renshaw scoring runs in county, Aus A vs NZ A gave him the edge to be selected as the 12th man , plus he is younger.
Gatekeepers. It’s a club, and you ain’t in it.
Why does Bancroft deserve to be picked – he was below average when he played test cricket for Aust
Test Averages
Bancroft: 26 (No hundreds) 25 home, 26 away
Harris: 25 (No Hundreds) 30 home, 9 away
Renshaw 29 (1 Hundred) 64 home, 19 away
To be fair, none of these averages are good enough to cement a test spot. They all have between 10+ test matches worth of experience too.
Performance at test level matters. There are many players who did very well at Shield level but it never translated into the test arena.
Cameron Green is someone they are developing and investing a lot of time and effort into building his confidence and talent. He trumps all the other options, and if that means Smith, probably the best since Bradman, opens, then it's an easy choice.
Great call CA – this selection and management team is calm and ingenious.
Who made them selectors. Just look at their careers before giving them such big posts. Australia has had so many good players over the years. I think this is the main reason cricket Australia is going down. Australian players should ask him what his batting stats are. And I am not Australian by the way. But the Australian team was the main reason I started watching cricket.
Kim Hughes is spot on, Smith is No Way an opener and the selectors are out of touch!
There are Batsmen and an individual Batsman, they are not Batters! Batter is an American Baseball term that like a woke virus infected the cricket language.