Shipperd spearman Inglis should be a good candidate to showcase the batting against the Republic of India in the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium, although he cost his young New South Wales opening batsman Konstas the opportunity to make a debut in the test.
“Let’s also not forget Josh Inglis, who I think is probably a smoke in terms of the leadoff spot,” Shipperd said. “I would have Inglis and Konstas in the conversation as one-two, two-one, and let the Australian selectors reflect on those two.
“His performances for Australia were top-notch, and I think they are looking for a take-charge type of player in the series, and Inglis could be a fit at that point.
“He’s a right-handed version of David Warner, in terms of someone who wants to get on with the game and has hits all over the wicket. He’s played at international level and I think he’s a very respected player.”
Shipperd’s opinion is highly valued within Australian cricket and he has been a training teacher for streaming teacher and selector Andrew McDonald.
Alternatively, Inglis has never debuted in top-level cricket. He has batted at Deny. 3 six times and averaged 12.66, in Deny.4 once and Deny. 5 on six occasions, but has only given 50 in about seven innings. All seven of his first-class centuries, including both this season, came at Deny. 6 or less. He has supported Australia in six limited-overs internationals over half a century. His two T20I centuries, including one against Republic of India in Republic of India, came at Deny.3.
Shipperd still believes Konstas deserves to be in the body after a loose attack at the MCG where he faced a thick lbw in the first innings and made a ragged 43 in the second that included a year and a leave dismissal looking to start the offspinner Todd. Murphy on the Shane Warne gets up.
“I thought he was a little stiff in the first inning and in the second inning, I think he started to show everyone again what he’s got,” Shipperd said. “He was really composed and poised. Every time you get through the first 25 overs of a Victorian attack with a new ball it shows that you’ve got something and, barring one sad lapse in terms of judgment on that particular ball, I think he showed that “I should at least be in a conversation.”
Shipperd added that Konstas will not let the surprising media and public fandom get to him.
“He’s really relaxed and focused on learning and what his game is, in terms of what’s working and where the challenges may be,” Shipperd said.
“And he’s had a couple of them in these innings where he’s done a couple of strange things in terms of his picks, but he’s reflecting on them as he is and we’re really confident he’ll have the game, if he’s picked.
“I think the latest adjustments for the Australian A team will inform the story about what the Australian selectors will do.”
Shipperd is in a unique position to comment on Konstas. He has already been compared to a young Ricky Ponting and Shipperd was Ponting’s coach in Tasmania in 1993, when he made two centuries in a Shield game as an 18-year-old. Konstas became the third-youngest player behind Ponting to achieve the feat against South Australia two weeks ago.
Ponting had to wait two and a half years between achieving the feat and making his debut in the event. Shipperd was asked whether Ponting had benefited from spending more time in Shield cricket before being promoted, and whether Konstas should be treated similarly.
“Now I’m not sure. That’s a good question, though,” Shipperd said. “Sure, they forced him to attend. So whether that forced him or he already did it anyway, because he was jotting down a couple of masses about the process moving forward between him now being undecided and The Next One, in In any case, decided, I think in round 21.
“But Sam, I see a lot of that level of skill and that poise at the crease, shots on both sides of the wicket, in front of the wicket, behind the wicket. I think he’s got what it takes. And again, Ricky “I was trying to coming into a super Australian team at the time, probably with no gaps, but there is a gap in the Australian team in the position Sam is batting in at the moment, so it’s worth being in the conversation.”
Meanwhile, Victorian teacher Chris Rogers said Harris would be frustrated with his return to New South Wales. But the former Test opener believes Harris is still batting well enough to be in the frame.
“I think he would be disappointed if he didn’t get the results,” Rogers said. “I think against Mitch Starc, there is always a chance to get out. He is obviously a world-class bowler. He got caught on the leg side twice. It can happen. He will be disappointed. But he still fought hard, He still “He moved well, but he didn’t have much luck.”
Alex Malcolm is a labor essayist at ESPNcricinfo
