Australia v Pakistan, 1st Test, Brisbane, 21-25 November, 2019

OK, time to have a stab at the likely XI for Aus for T1 of the summer.

I reckon the NSP will go with:

Warner
Harris
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood

Only possible changes might be Bog for Head, and maybe A.Nother for Harris.

With Jhye Richardson or Sayers in the squad too, I think.

I'm still thinking they'll choose Pucovski over Head, and I'm not sure Harris will get in over Burns. I suspect Burns, Harris, Khawaja, Bancroft, and Marsh (in that order of merit) are in a pure bat-off over the next few days, for that last spot.

... and poor Matt Renshaw has faded from view, completely. Bryce Street may even take his Shield spot.

The decline of Wrench was sad, but not unprecedented. Look at Matt Elliott.

Very similar; I had the same thought.

At least they tasted success, unlike Les Joslin, Jock Irvine, or Allan Shiell, all of whom promised so much but faded into obscurity incredibly rapidly.

LES JOSLIN

probably worth a 'One And Done' thread at some stage

While looking at Shield partnership records (after Weatherald and Hunt's effort for SA yesty) and noted the Shield record 6th wicket stand is still held by Neil Marks and Grahame Thomas (332 v SA on 5/12/1958).

Marks had a meteoric start to his FC career, then faded quickly. This from an old SMH article:

"Down in Sydney, NSW were hosting South Australia. The Blues, with their usual five in the Test team, had called upon new blood. On the second afternoon of the match, the fight for first innings points was evenly balanced: the home team 5-200 in reply to 303.

With a couple of unproven 20-year-olds now at the wicket, the South Australians might reasonably have felt they were on top. The newcomers were Grahame Thomas, who had played two games the previous season, and a debutant named Neil Marks.

History was at hand. By the time the tyros were separated the following afternoon, the score was 532. Their partnership of 332 still stands, 60 years on, as Shield cricket's sixth-wicket record. Thomas made 189 and, at the eventual declaration, Marks was unbeaten on 180.

It didn't end there. My recollection of that long summer holiday is of ABC radio's cricket summaries, over weeks, reporting further heroics from Neil Marks. While the young memory is inclined to magnify, the statistics don't lie.

In his second match, against Victoria at the MCG, Marks made another first-innings century. There followed, in subsequent weeks, first innings contributions of 54, 88, and 63. A brilliant new star was climbing.

When NSW travelled to Adelaide for the return engagement with South Australia, Marks – along with Richie Benaud and Jim Burke – was invited to the Bradman residence for dinner. That his father, Alec, had been a state teammate – indeed a room-mate – of The Don was no doubt a factor. But the son of Alec Marks had arrived on the scene like few before him and this was ultimate recognition.

By season's end – and excluding Ray Stokes, who was dismissed once in making 84 runs for Tasmania – Neil Marks was at the top of the national first-class averages: 548 runs at 68.5.

Not even his host on that memorable night in Adelaide had achieved this in his first season. Nor did other renowned run-machines Harvey, Walters, Greg Chappell, Hayden, or Ponting.

And then it was over. By the second-last day of 1959, Neil Marks had played his last first-class game. In the first three games of the new season he'd made just 20 runs. The end was inglorious: a "pair" against Victoria in the post-Christmas match at the MCG.

But this wasn't simply a case of second-year blues and lost form. At 21, Marks was seriously ill. He had a congenital condition described as "a hole in the heart". It was life-threatening.

His parents had known of it since his infancy and had been given medical advice not to let him play sport. They took the view, though, that such drastic action might "kill" their son before the heart condition did.

Thus, he played on, unaware of anything amiss. His first sense of something not being right came early in that 1959-60 season. In the opening match he'd been struck on the chest by a ball from Queensland paceman, Barry Fisher, and was forced to retire hurt.

"I noticed I was slowing down," Marks says. This was reinforced a couple of weeks later when team-mate, Brian Booth, struck him at the WACA nets bowling his occasional, gentle medium-pacers. The game after Perth would be his last.

Through 1960 and into '61, Marks formed a new ambition: to stay alive.

He underwent two unsuccessful operations in Australia where the corrective measure for conditions such as his had not been perfected. It had been developed, though, at Minnesota's Mayo Clinic in the United States. Arrangements were made for Marks to go there. A fundraiser conducted by Sydney's Sun newspaper enabled his mother and father to travel with him.

Described in American reports as Australia's Babe Ruth, Marks now underwent major heart surgery. Happily, it was successful. When he asked his surgeon could he play cricket again, the answer was: "No ... golf or horse-riding perhaps."

Yet by the mid-1960s Marks was again playing first-grade for Northern District and continued until he was 35. Then he dropped a grade and played on into his early-40s. He became a state selector for 12 years and regularly managed teams that travelled interstate.

In September this year, Neil "Harpo" Marks reached 80. It's been an extraordinary cricket journey. He's able to tell of the legendary Charlie McCartney, a friend of his father, coming to the family home for dinner.

"What are you going to do, Neil?" the legendary "Governor-General" asked. The answer: "Play for Australia."

Which he didn't. So, does he feel robbed?

"No ... I lived,"he says. "I'm happily married with three kids, grandkids, one playing 2nd grade. I'm glad I continued with cricket in other ways. A friend I went to school with fell under a truck and died ..."

So, what advice would the now 80-year-old give to young players who, like him, arrive on the scene with a bang?

"Enjoy every day you play,"says Marks. "Don't be looking towards tomorrow. Don't be silly, don't sledge."

He pauses, then adds: "They're your mates."

This wisdom comes from a man who knows cricket is a great game but who also knows there's a bigger one. It's the one called life and death."

Sorry for the length, but it's an interesting read.

His brother Lynn wasn't bad, either.

Another one with enormous early promise was Mark O'Neill, son of Norman.

Ta for the great yarn. I have vague memories of the BD match with your Spivs. I am pretty sure I went there for at least one day.

,The BD Shield Game was huge in those days.

Golden Gozzer probably rules out Monty

lardbucket wrote:With Jhye Richardson or Sayers in the squad too, I think.

I'm still thinking they'll choose Pucovski over Head, and I'm not sure Harris will get in over Burns.  I suspect Burns, Harris, Khawaja, Bancroft, and Marsh (in that order of merit) are in a pure bat-off over the next few days, for that last spot.

Well with Burns failing I'd suggest pucovski the only change to team.

doesn't feel like Harris, Head or Khawaja are up to the task either

4 for 40

no one wants to play

Puke and Bangers to fight it out

lardbucket wrote:LES JOSLIN

probably worth a 'One And Done' thread at some stage

Another bloke on the 68 tour who seemed destined for great things was Paul Sheahan.

embee wrote:4 for 40

no one wants to play

Puke and Bangers to fight it out

better keep my phone switched on then

6/44, bunch of spuds

Nath wrote:

embee wrote:4 for 40

no one wants to play

Puke and Bangers to fight it out

better keep my phone switched on then

Keep the summer free, Nath

Jesus that's not a bad a side on paper.  We might be deep in it all summer.

With all the "A" players failing, Bog might be given another chance in Brisvegas.

I'd stick with your side on the whole without the pensioner.

I can't understand the obsession with Puke. He's seriously inconsistent.

The first test will again be Smith + Marnus + bowlers v Opposition.

Wackie bowlers made a mess of Aus A today. Should be a competitive series.

skully wrote:Wackie bowlers made a mess of Aus A today. Should be a competitive series.

Wackies are paying 25s!

On a sporty Gabba track, them's good odds.