by FlyingHigh » Fri Nov 17, 2017 8:25 am
If we have a genuine all-rounder such a Stokes you pick him, it's a no-brainer, but if you don't, don't try to manufacture one.
Australia has a tradition of having a genuine batsman with a bit of a cavalier, gambling attitude to their cricket who can bowl a few relief overs, preferably of medium pace, and coz it's not their main job they don't care about runs, combined with the way they play the game, often brings a wicket - think Dougie Walters, Mark Waugh, Blewett, Symonds, Ponting, Clarke (spinner I know), even Watto. Hussey's bowling, funnily enough, mirrored his batting, solid and steady but not as threatening. Mitchell Marsh has it with his bowling, but his batting isn't good enough.
This is why I would start Cartwright at 6.
I was a big fan of Tim Paine, but can't believe they would go back to him, nor play Bancroft as a keeper, ahead of Nevill.
Similarly, big fan of Bancroft as a batsmen, but Renshaw has to be given first go. I'd back him as the sort of player that would turn it around in a big environment.