Selectors’ patience faces test

CRICKET: Australian selectors better be happy with their Test lot because the Sheffield Shield shop window for finding replacements has closed.

The conclusion of three state games on Monday marked the beginning of the nation-wide spread of players to their Big Bash franchises and their minds turn to getting a quick fix.

Plenty of pundits have called for stability at Test level and to give the inexperienced team time to grow together, whatever the results may be.

But every innings without return, from the batsmen in particular, will intensity calls for change.

When stumps was called in the Shield games earlier this week would-be Test opener Matt Renshaw had still failed to make an irresistible case.

The Queenslander is averaging just 20 through five games, and Marnus Labuschange, dropped after his Test debut against Pakistan, is not much better at 28.

After a blistering start to the season which thrust his name back into the national frame, Tasmanian Alex Doolan, also a former Test player, has four single figure scores in a row.

The leading run scorer in the domestic competition is former Test keeper Matthew Wade, who has dropped the gloves, taken up the Tigers captaincy, and thrived.

Wade has said many times this summer he doubts he will ever get another Test look-in, but has still piled on 571 runs at 63, with five half-centuries, to best all others.

There are unlikely to be any changes for the second Test starting Friday in Perth and spinner Nathan Lyon, the most experienced player in the team, said now was the time for patience, not another purge.

“We are a very young cricket side, and we are building, and we are working our backside off to be the best cricket team we possibly can be,” Lyon said.

“We are challenging ourselves against the number one Test side. I have been extremely impressed with Marcus Harris and especially Travis Head.

“It’s a massive learning curve for all of us, and it’s exciting.”

– Russell Gould