Champion Blues
For years now the New South Wales Blues have held a majority in the makeup of the Australian national side. In the first test against New Zealand, 6 Blues took to the field in Baggy Greens. It is often suggested that Blues players are more favoured over their interstate counterparts when it comes to national selection, perhaps highlighted by the recent choice of Starc over Cutting. So with all these champion New South Welshman around at the moment, I thought it would be interesting to try and pick a top New South Wales XI – who I would have playing a Shield game if all were fit and available.
1. Phil Jaques
2. Phil Hughes
3. Simon Katich (c)
4. Usman Khawaja
5. Michael Clarke
6. Shane Watson
7. Brad Haddin
8. Steve O’Keefe
9. Pat Cummins
10. Trent Copeland
11. Doug Bollinger
12. David Warner
The first thing that is highly amusing about this side is that there are 2 current test players absent from the line-up. At this point in time Warner does not replace any of those batsmen, and the same goes with Starc and the bowlers.
There is also a former test player in Steve Smith who misses out, he is clearly not a better batsman than any of those guys and his spin is trumped by O’Keefe. Don’t forgot Hauritz either, another former test player who doesn’t make the cut.
Phil Jaques is a forgotten man in Australian cricket. In his 11 tests he scored 3 centuries and averaged 47 before he was struck down with injury. He was never dropped, he had no form slump; he just got unlucky. While out of the game Australia solidified other options at the top of the order. Now that there is opportunity again, youth has been favoured instead of him. After only 2 shield matches this season, he remains solid averaging 43.5 thus far.
Steve O’Keefe is an easy selection. I would argue that he is the most effective spinner in Australia currently, averaging 25.55 his figures are far better than any of the spinners picked for Australia.
Starc is a vastly overrated bowler. He has youth on his side, but to be picked to play tests is a joke. Trent Copeland with his amazing FC average of 24, the experience of Bollinger and the explosiveness of young Pat Cummins are way ahead of Starc on my list. Starc wouldn’t even be next in line – Josh Hazlewood comes in (in fact him and Cummins are pretty close).
Haddin is lucky to hold his spot, his 80 the other day was just enough to keep him in. I am a big fan of Peter Nevill and he has been in great form for NSW.
I am confident that side would go very close to beating the current Australia Test side (if, magically, duplicate players played in both teams).
So what about a second XI? It has an amazing amount of potential and also a bit of experience. This side is closer to resembling the current NSW shield side.
1. David Warner
2. Nic Madinson
3. Kurtis Patterson
4. Ben Rohrer (c)
5. Steve Smith
6. Moises Henriques
7. Peter Nevill
8. Nathan Hauritz
9. Mitchell Starc
10. Josh Hazlewood
11. Josh Lalor