The Ashes hopefuls who missed the cut

The races for the No.6 batting and wicketkeeping spots in the Australian Magellan Ashes Test squad were considered wide open, and so it proved.

Following the selection of Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh alongside Cameron Bancroft in today’s announcement, we take a look at those players who missed the cut.

Glenn Maxwell

Sheffield Shield stats | 6 innings | 200 runs | 40 average | 64 high score

The Victorian right-hand bat was keen to shake the ‘X-factor’ tag as the No.6 spot came under scrutiny in Ashes discussions, but a rain-interrupted JLT Sheffield Shield match against TasmaniaT at the MCG this week cruelled his final bid to retain his spot in the Australia XI.

The 29-year-old’s efforts to push his case for selection resulted in returns of 7, 20, 60, 64, 4 and 45* across six innings, but with no outstanding performance he was ultimately overlooked in favour of veteran Shaun Marsh.

Maxwell is yet to play a Test on home soil, with his seven appearances in international cricket’s longest format – four of which came in 2017 – taking place in India and Bangladesh.

Hilton Cartwright

Sheffield Shield stats | 6 innings | 152 runs | 25.33 average | 61 high score

The Alcohol.Think Again Western Warriors allrounder did his Ashes chances no favours with a pair of ducks against the NSW Blues in the second round of the Shield, and offered up just one half-century from six innings in the domestic first-class competition as his rivals jostled for selectors’ attention. He claimed one wicket with the ball.

Cartwright has fronted up at the crease just twice in his two Test matches for Australia, making 37 against Pakistan back in January and 18 against Bangladesh in his most recent outing at Chittagong. He failed to take a wicket and, though still relatively inexpensive, had one of Australia’s higher economy rates in his short spells.

His form in ODIs was underwhelming, with matching one-run efforts in two matches against India in September.

Matthew Renshaw

Sheffield Shield Stats | 6 innings | 70 runs | 11.67 average | 19 high score

David Warner’s regular opening Test partner over the past 12 months made a lacklustre case to retain his spot in the Australia side across three Shield matches for myFootDr Queensland Bulls. He failed to get beyond 19 in six knocks and averaged 11.67, twice making just one run. Meanwhile, usurper Cameron Bancroft made 442 at 110.5, including an unbeaten 228 against the West End Redbacks this week.

Out of form and overlooked for the cauldron of the Ashes, Renshaw is far from done. He has made 623 at 36.64 across six Tests for Australia, but has not reached a half-century in his past nine innings for his country. Leading up to the squad announcement, Renshaw had the backing of a number of Test teammates, but selectors have instead asked he find touch in domestic cricket and knock the door down with weight of runs to resume his Test career.

Matthew Wade

Sheffield Shield stats | 5 innings | 38 runs | 7.6 average | 17 high score

Wade did his Ashes aspirations no favours in the Shield, hitting double figures just once across six innings, paving the way for Tasmanian teammate Tim Paine’s recall, more than seven years after his previous Test appearance.

His most recent outings for the national team have been likewise uninspiring, making just 17 runs across three Test innings against Bangladesh in September. Across his last 25 innings for Australia, he has made just two half-centuries and one century, being dismissed for single-figures on 10 occasions and also making a duck.

Wade knew better than anyone that his future in the Test team depended on runs. They continued to desert him in the Shield rounds. 

And while his glovework was solid, that was not going to be enough to persuade selectors he was the man for the job against England.

Peter Nevill

Sheffield Shield stats | 4 innings | 80 runs | 26.67 average | 32 high score

Largely regarded as the biggest threat to Wade’s position in the Australia XI leading into the Ashes, Nevill was solid behind the stumps for NSW, but with selectors demanding runs he too was unable to post a standout score.  

His opportunity to push his case with the bat may have been limited with NSW fielding its Australia stars Warner and Steve Smith above him in the XI, but he failed to set the world alight when at the crease, posting 80 runs across four innings. He took seven catches as NSW cruised to a six-wicket win against Queensland in their most recent Sheffield Shield outing to underline his credentials with the gloves.

The NSW keeper made his debut during the 2015 Ashes and held his spot until the disastrous team effort against South Africa last November, with many observers expecting him to reclaim the position ahead of this Ashes series.

Jake Weatherald

Sheffield Shield stats | 6 innings | 419 runs | 69.83 average | 152 high score

The uncapped West End Redbacks opener may have missed the boat for this Test series, but put his name in the frame with a devastating pair of centuries against WA at the WACA this week. He made 152 in the first innings and to prove it wasn’t a flash in the pan followed up with 143 in the next.

But as impressive as the performance was, it had followed from a mediocre showing against Victoria at the MCG where he produced knocks of two and 21.

However, should that form run continue, the 23-year-old would undoubtedly hover in selection speculation for the final three Ashes Tests should any of the selected players have form desert them. if he can produce more of what he did against the Warriors.

Callum Ferguson

Sheffield Shield stats | 6 innings | 343 runs | 68.6 average | 182no high score

Ferguson made his single Test appearance in 2016 before becoming another victim of the post-Hobart cleanout. Although he didn’t exactly seize the opportunity with both hands – making scores of 3 and 1 – few of Australia’s batsmen could hold their heads high after the innings-and-80-runs loss.

The 32-year-old offered selectors a timely reminder of his potential this month, making an unbeaten 182 against Victoria at the MCG and following up with solid knocks of 33 and 88 against WA. It was a much-needed recovery after a duck in his first Shield innings for the summer.

Across his 114 first-class appearances, Fergusson has made 7473 runs at 38.92, including 17 centuries and 38 half-centuries.

2017-18 International Fixtures:

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

Gillette T20 INTL Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 13

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21