Australia batsman George Bailey has questioned the place of Hilton Cartwright in the current Test squad as the former T20I skipper thinks that Australian batting line-up is sorted and it is the bowling line-up that needs sort of normalcy. “They’re getting a better output from their entire batting line up and not just Smith and Warner, so I think that’s sorted the batting problems that upset the South African series,” Bailey said.
“I think the all-rounder’s role, the key is their bowling.
“Even looking ahead as far as India. I’m not sure — and I probably don’t know Hilton’s game well enough — I’m not sure his game or even just a guy at that age is ready to take on India in India.”
According to Bailey, Australian team needs to strengthen their bowling line-up. He thinks the team have some better options than Cartwright at the moment and they need to work upon them to glean benefits out of their experience, “I know (Glenn Maxwell’s) name has been mentioned a hell of a lot. He probably hasn’t done himself lots of favours over the past couple of years with his Shield batting,” Bailey said.
“But I think James Faulkner has been outstanding this year with his Shield 100 and a 70.
“Even someone like a Dan Christian. Guys that are phenomenal all-rounders who have been putting some good numbers on the board for a long time.”
The former skipper backed Mitchell Marsh and said, “I’d love to see Mitch Marsh get another crack. I think he’s a phenomenal cricketer. The selectors would probably argue he had more chances than most would get.”
Cartwright’s inclusion in the ODI and Test squad came as a surprise as he was selected in the squad out of nowhere. His maiden international call-up came during for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against New Zealand in December last year. Though, he did not get a game there but was called up in the Test squad for the second Test against Pakistan and retained his spot in the final Test as well.