As the Sheffield Shield season goes on, some players are starting to establish themselves as key heading into the highly anticipated Ashes series. The first Test starts on November 21 in Perth. Teams are making last-minute roster moves and still watching the injury bug like a hawk. Strong Australian cricket backdrop points the attack and up-and-coming batting talent. It looks forward to the launch of its next class of talent.
Mitchell Swepson is still Australia’s main leggie, playing 11 Shield games last season. His deep experience would make him the top choice if selection is required. The likes of Lloyd Pope and Tanveer Sangha are pushing through the ranks and making a name for themselves. Both are keen to leave their stamp on the Australian Test side.
Bowling Lineup and Injury Concerns
The Australian bowling attack is in doubt with captain Pat Cummins injured with a lower back injury. If he does miss the first Test, it will likely be Scott Boland to replace him. If he takes one more, his career tally will leap to 62 from just 14 Tests.
Nathan Lyon, a veteran of 508 Test wickets, said he had no doubt Boland would rise to the occasion if called upon. He stated, “If I’m going to miss a Test for anyone, it’s going to be Scott Boland.” This feeling in many ways speaks to Boland’s treasured place on the team.
Sean Abbott, who had been a favorite of as the club’s No. He had previously toured the West Indies as an injury replacement for Brendan Doggett, alongside Boland. He certainly has to be a leading candidate to make the US side. He had 33 wickets last season despite missing the first Shield game due to a hamstring strain.
Batting Prospects
On the batting front, Usman Khawaja is expected to secure an opening spot despite facing some recent struggles with form. His experience will be invaluable as Australia looks for some stability at the top of the order. Sam Konstas is a promising young player who recently turned 20. He’s coming off a year where he was the incumbent opener and wants to be the guy that locks down their opening day lineup.
Nathan McSweeney has taken the news by scoring 74 and then an unbeaten 85. He did this in the shadow of these achievements, while captaining South Australia on their recent Australia A tour to India. His debates and campaign thus far have made him a contender to finish among the top three contenders.
Kurtis Patterson is one other player that’ll be interesting to keep an eye on. His recent return of form would give Australia more leverage to have the luxury of selectors considering their best batting options in the lead up to the Ashes.
Emerging Talent and Previous Performances
Cameron Green had a breakout Sheffield Shield season early this year. He finished as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 906 runs and an astonishing average of 50. His reliability will be front and centre as Australia look to create a strong platform of runs.
Marnus Labuschange opened the batting during the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June. He was released soon after that cameo appearance. Now, his performances this season are set to decide whether he gets another shot or stays below the top order, forsaken to grind elsewhere.
George Bailey noted Green’s potential impact, saying, “So, if he starts the year as he had last year, he’ll be well in the mix.” The move speaks to the selectors’ faith in Green’s talent and what they want from him as the season begins.
Pat Cummins highlighted another player’s potential impact, stating about one of the rising stars: “I think he proved over in the West Indies that he has the potential to be the long-term number three.” This comment underlines the importance of creating pipeline diversity by promoting younger talent in addition to more senior names.
