‘Pick a team and stick with it for the summer’

Cricket365
October 29, 2015

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has urged selectors, one of whom happens to be his brother Mark, to pick a team to face New Zealand and then give those players enough time to settle in the side.

The Aussies will put forth a new-look side in the Tests against the Black Caps next month, with Cameron Bancroft set to open alongside David Warner, a new number three likely installed, and Adam Voges needing to make his place his own.

But Waugh, who only scored his first Test ton in his 27th match, feels that the new side needs time to gel, and that selectors mustn't panic if things don't go smoothly from the get-go.

Waugh told AAP: "A team coming together under a new captaincy, it's a great chance for Smith to mould his style of play and to get the team playing the style of cricket he wants.

"I don't know who is going to be picked, but Bancroft looks like he might play and if he plays that's great, a new kid playing for Australia and then (Usman) Khawaja (it's) almost a rebirth for him.

"I think our bowling is in pretty good shape, but we've got to get our batting settled. Whoever we pick, say `right, you guys are in for the season, so let's give you an extended run.'

"You've probably got to give them a little bit of leeway and let them find their feet, particularly a new captain and a new batting order.

"I'd give them this summer to bed the team down and then I think the honeymoon period might be over.

"Let's give them a chance to get established and if they fail a couple of times you've got to give them some breathing space."

Waugh was confident of the side's success at home though, and said it was probably a good thing that the tour to Bangladesh was cancelled, giving the new players the chance to start off in familiar conditions.

He added of the upcoming two series: "We'll beat the West Indies. I think that's almost a given and they will do well against New Zealand, so they've got a bit of time.

"In some ways, it's probably good they didn't go to Bangladesh first up. That would have been a tough assignment.

"They settle in Australian conditions. I think we'll do pretty well."