A comparison of Australia's Ashes batting hopefuls

There are two issues with comparing raw FC numbers in Australia:

1. The youth policy
2. Some players have played a lot of Test cricket, some have played none

We can rectify both of these by comparing players on a level field. In this instance here is a table of the current Australia hopefuls, from their 23rd birthday onwards, in FC outside Tests:

Player	Age	Mat	Inns	Runs	Ave	100s	50s
Smith	30	28	46	2468	60.20	9	13
Warner	32	27	46	2203	50.07	7	8
Harris	26	39	70	3181	48.20	9	16
S Marsh	36	87	151	6200	46.97	13	25
Wade	31	69	110	4224	46.93	11	25
Khawaja	32	81	145	5728	43.73	17	27
Head	25	31	58	2324	43.04	4	15
M Marsh	27	29	50	1962	42.65	7	5
Handscomb	28	59	97	3873	42.56	11	21
Labuschagne	25	33	62	2461	42.43	7	13
Bancroft	26	55	103	3895	42.34	9	17
Maxwell	30	51	88	3287	41.09	5	20
Patterson	26	38	68	2481	40.02	3	18
Burns	29	78	140	5067	39.28	10	31
Carey	27	26	47	1352	32.19	2	7
Paine	34	82	138	3396	28.54	0	21
Neser	29	39	60	1414	27.19	0	10

Note that Pucovski is not on this list as he is not 23 years of age. An interesting point here is that comparing the three main incumbent's Test average to the above average reveals that this could well be a decent measure. Warner (50.07 compared to 48.20), Smith (60.20 compared to 61.37) and Khawaja (43.73 compared to 42.53). That said, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh and Matty Wade do not fit this pattern particularly well.

On the above, the best XI for Australia for the Ashes would be:

1. Warner
2. Harris
3. Khawaja
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Wade

With Handscomb or Labuschagne coming in if Khawaja is injured.

Assuming that Shaun Marsh isn't in contention. This is very similar to the general feeling around the place.

Of the players here, the two young guns of their day, Patterson and Burns both don't look overly impressive. This isn't surprising as both had slumps in their mid 20s, part of the reason they've struggled for selection.

This isn't meant to be a replacement to other judgement of course, but rather a different perspective on the players in contention.

For the record, my personal side for this Ashes would be:

1. Warner
2. Burns
3. Khawaja
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Patterson

With Harris coming in to open and Burns to 3 if Khawaja is unavailable. I'd suggest this on the basis that Burns and Patterson have been impressive in their Test careers so far, and that Patterson has shown a particular characteristic that is useful for us at 6; whilst generally unimpressive, he's generally always still getting 50s. I suspect the side I suggested from the list will be closer to the side for the first Test however.

submitted by /u/Anothergen
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