Geoff Lawson has accused Australia's Test selectors of undermining the national team by ignoring performances in the Sheffield Shield. Writing on October 25, he argues that Australia's batting struggles in the crushing second Test loss to South Africa in Gqeberha are a direct consequence of the selection panel's approach. The victory in the first Test in Durban, he says, had "papered over some hefty cracks".
The central target of the criticism is the selection of Nic Maddinson. Lawson notes that Maddinson did not play any Sheffield Shield last season and had minimal appearances the year before, yet was elevated to open the batting. He scored four runs across two innings. Lawson writes that the selection has "rendered the entire Sheffield Shield competition irrelevant".
The column also questions the place of Marnus Labuschagne, whom it claims is no longer producing runs and has not done so for several years. Captain Pat Cummins is quoted defending Labuschagne, saying he is "hitting the ball well", a view the columnist disputes, arguing that output, not technical style, should determine a Test batter's place.
Lawson extends his criticism to the philosophy of the selection panel: George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide, Andrew McDonald and Cummins on tour. He notes that when Dodemaide was general manager of Cricket Victoria, he pushed to restrict the Sheffield Shield to a single round because of cost. The columnist argues that the readiness to pick Maddinson from white-ball cricket, and a reported suggestion that Mitchell Marsh was in line for selection despite retiring from first-class cricket, show the selectors' "low regard" for the Shield.
Despite the criticism of the selectors, Lawson acknowledges the Sheffield Shield itself is in strong health, "going gangbusters" in its opening rounds. He urges the national panel to take note, warning that a non-competitive Test team would lose support, crowds, sponsorships and media rights, creating a "self-fulfilling prophecy".