I suppose it works both ways, in selection in the past, players have been picked on their averages such as players like Ramprakash and Hick who were superb at county level and a lot better average than say Trescothick and Vaughan yet no where near as successful.
However you right too other players with possible technical faults and good averages have been successful as well at test level, so guess no perfect way for selection and that’s why selectors have a job rather than just picking the players with the best county championship averages.
I totally agree with Burns but not sure about Sibley yet tbh, he has played on very flat pitches against a bowling attack very much below par for me, where as Burns played very well in English conditions in the Ashes against a very good bowling attack on top of their game, not sure Sibley would have been anywhere near as good against the Aussie attack,but that’s opinion and that’s why selection sometime diffcult.
My point was I prefer as a cricket watcher somebody who can adapt their game to the game situation when needed rather than just playing the same way all the time, and not many as good as Stokes for that.
I think you right the difference now between county level and test level is massive and that is a problem deciding whether somebody can make the step up and of course averages have to be a guide,