SO this is where we are at: Jackson Bird, a player recently dropped from a Test match, can now only prove his worth to the national selection committee through the BBL.

Twenty20 cricket is a format that offers almost no conventional or reverse swing, and where the predictability of a Test match line and length will see you belted out of the attack and watching the rest of the tournament on the sidelines through perceived poor performance.

Is this a problem or are we content with the compromised schedule to ensure maximum commercial return?

Me? Fuming.

Fuming that these words can be strung together in someone’s head as a logical thought. That someone within the cricketing world believes strong BBL form translates into success against the red ball, anywhere in the world — let alone India — is a sign that cricket in Australia is headed towards an unhealthy place.

And don’t get me started on the mixed messages coming from Darren Lehmann.

How can it be that Matt Renshaw — coming off a Test match 184 at the only ground in Australia that still turns, against one of the better spinners in world cricket — is no certainty for the Indian tour?

That makes me mighty angry, confused, and uncertain about the direction we are taking as a cricket nation.

Matt Renshaw has been given no guarantees about his Test spot. Source: AAP

Call me old fashioned, but give me the phenomenal performance of anyone against the red ball over the strong power game of some basher in the shorter forms.

That there’s no Shield cricket between now and young Renshaw arriving at the departure lounge for India should guarantee him his place in the team.

He hasn’t had the chance to fail and no one has had the chance to outplay him. Lock him in.

Here is a young man that has the same physical attributes as the one Australian who has found a high level of success in Indian conditions — Matthew Hayden — and has started his Test career with even better numbers; albeit from a smaller sample size.

PREPARATION IS KEY

THE preparation of the teams and individuals that toured India as part of the 2001 and 2004 series have become folklore, and I am sure have gathered a certain amount of pepper, as is the nature of stories from former players as they get older.

Before the 2001 tour, Hayden spent six months without sleep hitting sweep shots on a ruggedly prepared practice wicket that emulated the conditions waiting for him in India.

Matthew Hayden spent weeks working on his sweep shot ahead of the 2001 tour of India Source: News Limited

The sleep thing might be covered in pepper, but I am told that Hayden would replicate a full day’s play by having spinners bowl to him for two hours from 10:30 to 12:30 — before stopping for a 40 minute lunch and going again for a two-hour session.

After a 20-minute break for scones and tea the final two-hour session wrapped his day of practice at 5:30.

This level of preparation gave Hayden access to an average of more than 100 for the series and provided a blueprint for Australians to find success on Indian wickets. It also kickstarted one of the great Australian cricket careers.

And while the team fell over in that 2001 series, it was not through a lack of preparation or poor performance.

The unforgettable 376-run partnership in the second Test between Dravid and Laxman, in response to the enforced follow-on as a result of Australia’s three-day dominance, gave India all the momentum and this flowed into a gripping third Test that India won by a nailbiting two wickets; giving them a 2-1 series win.

It amazes me when I hear cricket people talk about the once-in-a-generation talent of Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting and co. that went on to win the only series victory from an Australian team played in India in the last 40 years.

Touring in India is no easy task — even with a star-studded team. Source: News Limited

This level of talent and success is not reliant on a fortunate gene pool. This is straight up hard work with a grinding toughness that we just haven’t seen on Indian soil since.

In this instance, there is actually a silver bullet.

Before any Indian tour, there has to be domestic red ball cricket.

Players can not be asked to find their Indian touch in a format that could not be any further removed from the cricketing hell that is a Test tour of India.

ODIS CAN’T PREPARE YOU FOR TESTS

INTERNATIONAL one day fixtures are great but, again, offer absolutely nothing to a series that Australia has to be mentally, technically and physically ready for if they are to find any level of success.

The BBL is a raging success and will be printing enough money for all involved at CA — yes, even the players, once CA understand that their management teams are not the game’s product — to be extremely rich and happy.

I am not a great watcher of cricket and even I find myself sitting on my couch post-dinner enjoying the entertainment of watching the embarrassment from the bowlers as they are disrespected by a continual flow of 100m sixes. It makes me so happy. Even my aching back smiles.

Money makes the world go round; I get that. But man, I love Test match cricket and it makes my eyes water when I see it disrespected by the ugly rich cousin who gets all the attention at family reunions.

Let’s look at how the teams, as the run to the finals starts to spice up.

Heat

The loss of Chris Lynn to national duties is enormous. It’s a vicious cycle. The timing of the BBL and the schedule ruins Test cricket; yet the squad for the borderline irrelevant five one day games v Pakistan was selected based on BBL form, removing the key products to the success of the Big Bash so far. I’m lost. Which is more important? BBL or national?

Scorchers

Loss of Willey is always going to be a concern. It’s just not something you can lose and recover from.

Jackson Bird will try to cement his Test case with BBL form. Source: News Corp Australia

Sixers

The team that benefits most from the return of those preparing for India. Nathan Lyon and Jackson Bird will return and provide a huge boost to a team well placed at the top of the table.

Stars

Losing Glenn Maxwell to national duties is better than losing him to being suspended for foolish behaviour. Geez he can play though and I would take him to India.

Renegades

Aaron Finch stays in the BBL after a tough ten-game stint in Australian colours. Aaron is the perfect example of white ball cricket not translating into automatic red ball success. He finds himself out the best Victorian Shield XI, but is one of the best-performed T20 cricketers in the world. Brad Hogg is on fire and you feel that this could be their year.

The Renegades will benefit from Aaron Finch’s dumping from the Australian team. Source: News Corp Australia

Strikers

Dear Brad Hodge — I love, love, love, love, love you. And whoever got the Ben Dunk trade over the line must feel loved by the Strikers fans.

Hurricanes

Speaking of the Ben Dunk trade — whoever signed off on the Dunk trade; Hobart hates you. What were you thinking?

Thunder

WATTO!! Here they come. Write them off at your peril. To be honest, I have written them off. Two wins and four losses is too far to climb. Great story if it happens though. Like the Sandlot kids.