The search for a Baggy Green Pinch Hitter starts here

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Travis Birt, Unlucky

Travis Birt, Unlucky

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.

8 thoughts on “The search for a Baggy Green Pinch Hitter starts here”

  2. Birt’s knock on the weekend, like many of his contributions, pulled Tassie out of a great big hole. His runs are nearly always scored when the team needs them most. I’d have him in for DHussey in an instant although Voges deserves a go first.

    I’d keep White for his tactical nous, excellent catching and as long as he is used sparingly, his wristspin. If you need to buy a wicket he is the go to man.

    I’ve had enough of DHussey. He has had a decent run and done little. Keep up the pressure Mo. I’d even pick Thornley before Mike’s younger brother!

  4. No more Cameron White! He has contributed absolutely nothing to the team ever. I would love to be a fly on the wall in the selectors meeting room and listen to their justification of keeping him in the side. It would be hilarious. I want Birt. He could probably bowl legspin better than White anyway.

    Captain Carnage’s last blog post..Going too far?

  5. Hopes has been about our best bowler this one-day season. Bracken, Johnson and the Hilf are chucking pies, David Hussey and Clarke are stop gap. Whenever Hopes comes on, the batsmen never look comfortable against his accuracy and nagging bounce.

    Tony T’s last blog post..CHADLEE MCG

  6. As far as getting the scores, Australia is far behind. I am putting together a project at the moment and have to manually do most of it at Cricinfo.

    Here’s the Ford Ranger Cup statistics for the year:

    Birt and Dighton are really good young players. Throw Birt in for White and you have a really solid team.
    Shame that a couple of the more touted guys have fallen off a cliff. I’m sure that the selectors were hoping that Pomersbach was ready to fill that role this year… It’s boring but not many guys have had seasons like the manchild this year.

  7. Birt has been really solid this year. Can’t argue with putting him in for White and seeing what you have. I’m sure that the Australian selectors were hoping that Pomersbach was going to be ready for the role this year. He is not.

    He might not fit the middle order blaster role, and it is a really boring concept but the manchild has been sensational this year in the Ford Ranger Cup.

    As for getting cricket stats, everything is available at cricinfo. Just really hard to get. And never in the form that you like. And not really available.

    Professor Chaos’s last blog post..Going too far?

  8. Can’t believe Moses is your cousin!

    IMHO he’s started to prove himself in domestic cricket and its about time he was called up to play for Australia. He’s got the speed and strength to deliver.

    Your scorecard analysis is fab. I agree with all of your domestic standout players with the exception of Adam Voges who I think has yet to prove himself.

    On a side note, I thought I’d let you and readers of Beer and Sport know that we’re running a comp for Aussie cricket fans giving peeps a chance to win a money-can’t-buy trip around the globe. If you want to enter, you’ve got until Friday 13th to submit an entry for your chance to go on an epic 80 day cricket tour around the world – from Australia to Lord’s – with Johnnie Walker picking up the tab.

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    Love your blog, by the way!