Test contenders.

[Donny]

Wade was 57 n.o. in Tasmania's 6 wicket win against Victoria. Hit 69 in the first innings.

Enough to retain his spot at #5 in the Test XI.

[Donny]

Sayers has 10 wickets, so far. 7 more chances.

[Donny]

What a match for Sayers.

8/64 & 5/67.

[Donny]

Hazlewood will be one of the first picked, whatever he did in this current SS match, but 6/35 will give his confidence a lift.

[Donny]

Stoinis 3/50 keeps his hopes alive for that vacant #6 spot.

[Donny]

Matt Wade has probably sewn up the #5 batting spot.

Unbeaten 57 today to go with his good recent form.

[K]

Matt Wade has probably sewn up the #5 batting spot.
...

Well, he's sewn together his keeping gloves.

[Donny]

He scored 89.

Joe Burns can look forward to playing the Bulls' last SS matches, after failing - again. 0 & 11 against Pakistan.

[Donny]

First Test team announced tomorrow.

[K]

Puck has joined Maddinson & Maxwell in being out of consideration for mental-health reasons.

[Donny]

Said to be the squad (not official yet):

David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, Cameron Bancroft, Tim Paine (capt), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Michael Neser

Truly appalling that Bancroft and (especially) Burns are included. I can't see the point of Burns being in the squad, just to be 12th. man, meaning he'll open with Warner and Bancroft will miss out - along with Neser & Pattinson.

[Donny]

Burns' last 11 first class innings: 226 runs @ 20 .54

Bancroft: 266 @ 24.18 Test average 26.23

[K]

"James Pattinson will not fight a charge of using abusive language in a Sheffield Shield match and will be ineligible for selection in the first Test against Pakistan this week.
...

Pattinson wasn't expecting to play the first Test at the Gabba anyway, which influenced his decision not to contest the charge.
...

Pattinson's situation follows a fine dished out to Steve Smith last week for showing dissent towards umpires during NSW's Shield match against Western Australia."

(The Age)

[Donny]

The XI is now finalised:

Warner
Burns
Labu
Smith
Wade
Head
Paine
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazlewood

[K]

In Fairfax article on Warner:

'"As a batter, it's all about confidence," Australia's batting coach Graeme Hick says. "The top players, white ball, red ball, it doesn't make too much of a difference."'



Bollocks!! If it's all about something, it's all about having your own conditions.