Aussies head to Tassie with weird but wonderful selection dilemmas

TALK about the majesty of Test cricket … A Test played after the fate of the series was over had so much drama it was if a cricketing sheep station was on the line. Every day threw up a different hero and an epic human story in a match which has revived the previously lost magic of Sydney Test matches and added another epic chapter to Ashes folklore. A magnificent Test match has left Australia heading to Hobart with selection issues that are truly beyond the bizarre. When you are mulling over how to squeeze in a batsman who has scored two centuries in a Test or a fast bowler who’s average is floating around eight runs per wicket, you know you are doing OK, despite the fact that the chance of a whitewash is gone. Let’s tackle the lingering questions: Should Usman Khawaja replace Marcus Harris for the last Test in Hobart? Common sense dictates Australia must make this change but it’s worth remembering opening is not Khawaja’s preferred position, despite the fact he averages more than 90 there in Tests. Khawaja prefers the middle order, where he has settled nicely for Queensland and Australia. Very few players move up the order to open at age 35. Countless have moved in the opposite direction. It would defy all sorts of conventions for Khawaja to switch to opener but with Travis Head certain to be retained in the middle order, there is no other spot and the prospect of dropping Khawaja is absurd. Australia’s selection criteria should be to choose the top order they want for the first Test in Pakistan in March when Khawaja must play. Will Scott Boland hold his place for Hobart?

As the most threatening member of the attack, he’s a “must play’’. His numbers are so extraordinary that Australia should just keep him rolling, if possible into the tour of Pakistan where he could be the high workload seamer. That is a setback to the very promising Jhye Richardson but he still has time on his side.

Is Alex Carey’s place under threat from Josh Inglis?

Yes, but not immediately. Carey will play the last Test in Hobart and both will tour Pakistan, where Carey will start but would not want to have an early shocker for the push for Inglis is ever-present.

Interestingly, the one keeping area where Carey has struggled in this series – diving right at full extension – was an area which some former keepers were worried about after watching him keep to average South Australian Sheffield Shield attacks several rungs below the high voltage Australian attacks.

They feared his game might not have been tuned for the big ”speccy.’’

Carey’s keeping to spin has been excellent – a good sign for Pakistan – but his batting form was surprisingly modest.

Most decent keepers – Ian Healy and Rod Marsh among them – improve the longer they stay at Test level so Carey will probably get better as he settles.

Does the controversial SCG wicket get a pass mark?

Yes, because it woke from its slumber of recent years to provide a fair contest between bat and ball.

As great as it was to see bowlers kings in the early Tests the joy of seeing three epic centuries was welcome and well timed. SCG regulars will never forget the explosion of joy that greeted two Khawaja centuries while Jonny Bairstow’s look towards the heavens and his late father was a massive moment.

Did Pat Cummins get his declaration wrong?

The result suggests he did but it was a tricky one as he wanted Khawaja to get his second Test century. Australia has now learnt that day five in Sydney is hard work so anything less that four sessions to bowl a side out can be risky business.