Mediocre displays a testament to Australia’s lack of depth

How many people watched the Australia A versus New Zealand A series? There did not seem to be very many spectators at the ground most days.

Indeed, when the most recognisable name on the team sheet is Cameron Bancroft, only those truly invested show up. Nevertheless, the games were thrilling, pulsating affairs where momentum swung back and forth throughout. New Zealand A won the four-day matches; Australia A won the one-day matches.

Now move to South Africa where South Africa won an ODl series largely because Australia ran out of players towards the back-end of the series. Conceding 416 runs in a one-dayer is an anomaly, but then being unable to chase 306 in the following match shows that something is clearly amiss with the side’s depth. So, what’s the problem?

The biggest problem is Australia’s remarkable stability. Since Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have played together, Australia has won a remarkable 13 of 22 Tests. Since Lyon’s debut in 2011, just seven fast bowlers (not including Starc, Cummins, Hazlewood and variou

Full Story »