Bevan and Elliott - flawed stars?

[Donny]

Bevan and Elliott - flawed stars?

By Grandstand's Dan Lonergan


In recent years Australian cricket - especially in the batting stocks - has enjoyed a pool of talent that any other cricketing nation would crave.

It has often being mentioned that Australia could field a second XI which would test and even beat most first teams from the other countries.

Australia's second tier batting six is quite capable of producing big scores against quality bowling attacks.

The current Australian Test batting line-up includes superstars like Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, and Steve Waugh, along with excellent contributors Justin Langer and Damien Martyn, and the improving Simon Katich.

They have all been performing well so it is hard for a batsman to break into the side.

But there are some fine players that would be more than suitable replacements for the rest of this current Indian series - and beyond.

Martin Love and Michael Clarke are two that come to mind and will certainly be in contention to replace soon-to-retire skipper Waugh.

Darren Lehmann, who had filled the number six batting spot for nearly 12 months, is on his way back from a serious injury and would be considered a good chance of forcing his way back in, maybe at the expense of Katich.

Two of Australia's most experienced cricketers are also making lots of runs in our four-day domestic competition and have previously played Test cricket only to lose their spots.

Those players are Victorian opener Matthew Elliott and New South Wales run machine Michael Bevan.

Elliott belted 182 against Western Australia at the WACCA over the weekend and in general has been pretty consistent over the past few seasons for the Bushrangers.

He played 20 Tests for Australia - and when you consider his talent he should have played many more.

Elliott was capable of showing that he belonged in the Test arena, but lapses at critical times - including during his last Test series in the West Indies nearly five years ago - have proved costly.

However, there are other countries that would love to have the tall, slim, wonderfully-gifted left-hander at the top of their batting order. Elliott is one of the keys in Victoria's quest to win its first four-day domestic final for 13
seasons.

Bevan is still representing Australia in one-day cricket and is regarded as one of the best one-day players of all time, but I'm sure it frustrates him that he has played only 17 Tests.

As with Elliott, there are plenty of countries who would find a place for Bevan's batting skill in the middle order of their Test line-ups.

But in this country Bevan seems to have had his papers marked "Never To Play Test Cricket Again" after being exposed by short-pitched bowling in the mid 1990s.

Yet Bevan keeps making runs. He reeled off another double century for New South Wales over the weekend and is in great form. But at this stage it looks like his international career will be restricted to the one-dayers.

Elliott and Bevan are more than capable of dominating the domestic cricket scene for a while yet, but I bet they would have loved to dominate the Test arena.

However, opportunity knocks and history will tell us that these two left-handers didn't quite take their chances at the highest level.

They now stand - or bat - in a long queue of those batsmen who are good enough to play Test cricket but seem destined to be ignored again.

I'm sure other countries would be green with envy.

[Donny]

For anyone wondering.

Bevan played 18 Tests for an average of 29.07 with no centuries and 7 fifties.

Elliott played 20 Tests for an average of 35.48 with 3 centuries and 4 fifties.

Bevan's first class average is a healthy 57.45 with 59 centuries and 73 fifties.

Elliott's average is 49.40 with 38 centuries and 59 fifties.

[piedys]

Does anybody agree that Elliott would have been recalled to Aussie XI IF either Langer or Hayden had failed to capitalise on their openers berth going back say 4-5 seasons?

Dyso

[commonwombat]

Do agree, but that chance has sadly now passed although there doesn't look to be any great YOUNG opening talent about.

[piedys]

Then we'd better start cloning these two in a hurry!

dyso

[commonwombat]

Why, do you have the Australian phone number for the Raelians???

[piedys]

No, but i'll try to google them! Then we can clone Bucks and Clemo and Dids and Taz.....

dyso