Now that I’ve dropped Cameron White and David Hussey, the search has begun for a new number 6 and 7 in the Aussie ODI squad. I’ve taken a look at the scorecards from our Domestic F50 competition and compiled a list of all the batting performances where more than 20 are scored at greater than a run a ball. The most recent performances are listed first.

Birt, TR 86(66), 94(80), 67(56), 25(15)
Smith, DLR 29*(13), 28*(26)
Manou, GA 48* (39)
Warner 31(20), 97(54), 165*(112)
MG Dighton 59(58), 87(76)
Klinger 133*(128)
Ferguson, C 52(35), 32(26), 101(83)
Hopes J 76(61), 42(40)
Bailey, GJ 32(28)
Divin, MA 38(31)
Ronchi, L 80(64)
AK, Heal 43(34)
Quiney 42(40), 16(15), 92(85), 73(63)
Crosthwaite, AJ 52(49), 29(17)
Thornely, DJ 108(90)
Doropoulos, TP 92(75)
Henriques, MC 41(37)
Borgas, CJ 39(35)

I’ve quite possibly missed some, if anyone can point me towards a tool that pulls out domestic data rather than having to manually read the scorecards, that would be most appreciated.

Looking purely at the numbers, the standout domestic performers are:

Travis Birt from Tasmania

Travis is the form pinch hitter in the domestic T50 competition with his 7 innings yielding 363 runs at 60.5 and at a strike rate of 122! His returns this year are:

• 1/11/08 56*(37) vs SA
• 12/11/08 25(15) vs Vic
• 29/11/08 34(38) vs NSW (the game where Warner scored 165*(112)
• 07/12/08 67(56) vs NSW
• 10/12/08 94(80) vs SA
• 14/12/08 1(5) vs QLD
• 07/02/08 86(66) vs VIC (this low scoring game Tas made 197 and VIC made 189)

David Warner from NSW

Dave has already been given a shot in the national setup with promising signs but too many failures. From his 8 starts there have been 3 good innings, yielding 89(43) on debut, 69(60) in his 4th match, and 22(29) in his 6th match when he was very unlucky to be run-out.

Combine these scores with Dave’s domestic highlights of 31(20), 97(54), 165*(112) and it’s easy to agree he has the destructive power hitting would really dominate the batting powerplay without the additional pressure of opening. I’d like to see Dave given a go down the order, where he’ll have a chance to perform without the added pressure of opening.

Callum Ferguson from South Australia

His stand out performances include 52(35), 32(26) and 101(83). It’s good to see him given a shot in the Aussie side, though I would have picked Birt first purely on the numbers. Callum played well last night before a Bucknor howler cut short his opportunity. Who did the BCCI ask to wipe him from their fixtures, and can we please be added to this list?

James Hopes from Queensland

In the two games that Hopes played for Queensland he’s opened in both, scoring 76(61) and 42(40). I’d like to see him given an extended run at the top of our order, his tight straight bowling will keep him in the squad regardless. Ideally we’d have a run of 2 or maybe even 3 ODI’s without changing our openers, wouldn’t that be nice.

Adam Voges from Western Australia

Conversely, Adam Voges has made the squad without topping a run a ball all year. Now he’s the one our selectors have picked to apply ‘pressure’ to Hussey and White, yet even if he were to continue his domestic results at the higher lever I don’t believe this would be enough. His 295 runs at 49.2 certainly doesn’t constitute bad numbers, but his strike rate of just 70.2 is not get our 300+ mojo back.

• 8/10/08 13(35) vs NSW

• 24/10/08 56(78) vs Tas
• 16/11/08 104(119) vs SA
• 26/11/08 39(72) vs VIC
• 20/12/08 78(108) vs VIC
• 23/12/08 5(8) vs NSW

If we were after a reliable batsman then Simon Katich would have to be the first picked, selecting Voges in this form to me makes little sense.