1st Test Border Gavaskar Trophy November 22-26 1350hrs @ Perth Stadium

[Nuggetz]

Flemmo and Katich on SEN are going off

 

[Nuggetz]

Mcdonald getting called out by Katich. He's flown under the radar. Can't hide in the back anymore, need to show his coaching credentials now.

 

[PhatBoy]

Lol Langer skinny

Yes.

 

[PhatBoy]

Big fat Justin langer acknowledges another landmark after the opposition throws the ball into his bat out of nothing more than fear

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Justin Fat Camp Langer strolling out to the crease

 

[Bletch]

First class matches played so far this Australian season:

McSweeney 4 (2 for Aus-A)
Khawaja 3
Labuschagne 1
Smith 1
Head 1
Marsh 2
Carey 2
Starc 1
Cummins 0
Lyon 2
Hazlewood 1

And yet, there have been 4 rounds of the Sheffield Shield played. The 5th round is playing concurrrently with this test, and 6th round will run concurrently with the second test. 7th round? February.

Beyond first class matches, our preparation was a series of t20 & ODIs v Scotland and England in September, and more of the same v Pakistan in November - that most of our test side sat out of. No test cricket over our winter.

Meanwhile, India's prep was a 3 test series v NZ.

Are we surprised at what is happening?

 

[SC_Power]

I made my 8 year old nephew bowl to me for 4 hours in heat yesterday (I counted my own runs and ended up on well over 1000) and by the end he was still sending down deliveries with more effort than Mitch marshs 118kph powder puffs

Your 8yo had the easy bit.

Getting the 3yo twins to stand at silly mid off and silly mid on with protective gear on, and then having to fetch the 6’s from over the fence was a bit much.

 

[PhatBoy]

The funniest part is that perhaps aside from Hayden, the next 3 best openers between the Taylor/Slater period to the Warner/Khawaja period, are Langer, and probably Katich (shorter than McSweeney) and Chris Rogers, a trio who between them look about as physically imposing as an ice skating team.

 

[Blue1980]

I blame CA and George Bailey/ Ronnie McDonald specially for our present predicament by playing favorites and letting Warner stay past his used by date. They set a precedent doing that and now we are stuck with a fast ageing team that look as tho the modern game has passed them by. The BBCI saw the writing on the wall and jettisoned some former greats past their best to send us arguably their least experienced batting lineup in ages. With only Kohli from the old guard here as the team mentor.

We don’t have the depth of talent India have with batting especially.

Though I agree we have waited too long and it looks like it’s all caught up with us at once.

It happens, happened to England when they came here 2013-14.

 

[akkaps]

Had a quick listen to SEN.

Liked how they said that there was pressure on the spots on the Indian side, because there are players due to come in later this series. With Australia, there is no pressure of the likes of Lab, Smith, and Head for spots; and no one pushing for their spots if they fail.

Also the ownership and accountability for their results. Hoping that the Aussie side will come good. The players need to understand that they have underperformed and hence CAN be replaced.

 

[Blue1980]

I really want to be able to see some test cricket tonight after work.

Hope you’re finishing at 2:30, or live in NZ

 

[BGman]

None of our test team should of been part of the ODI or T20 series against the Pakistanis. All our test players should of played 3 shield games each.

Pertinent point and one I have been pushing for ages. How is four overs seen as sufficient for a Test quick to get sufficient kms into his legs. Josh Hazlewood insisted he play at least one shield game to get that. White ball cricket is the worst prep for a Test batsman. Steve smith was given one shield match. Ussie one too, Marnus tho played a couple.

 

[Blue1980]

I would have thought Bancroft's technical difficult would be even more found out by a guy like Bumrah TBH.

The idea that if Bancroft was picked last summer would have meant he wouldn’t have lost form this year is bizarre.

He’s averaging like 5 in first class cricket this year over an extended period, test quality batsmen don’t do that, especially not ones supposed to be at their peak in their early 30s

 

[jannissary]

it's comedic to think that the size of a batsmen matters in the slightest to a bowler. dumb theory that has no basis in reality

 

[Carn The Berries]

I don't think he was ever small and skinny looking. And didn't play well early on either.

Fact is Australian sides have had better batting success with imposing players opening.

Marcus Stoinis on the phone to George Bailey as we speak...

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

The idea that if Bancroft was picked last summer would have meant he wouldn’t have lost form this year is bizarre.

He’s averaging like 5 in first class cricket this year over an extended period, test quality batsmen don’t do that, especially not ones supposed to be at their peak in their early 30s

Maybe a drop in confidence from having it shown to him, quite starkly, that no matter how many runs he scores hes got limited chances to get into the side??

The guy was making runs for fun the prior to seasons in all forms, and when an openers spot came up, he got looked over for Smith.

 

[Blue1980]

Bill Lawry would like a word.

Was Justin langer some big imposing guy? Michael slater? Chris Rogers?

 

[Bletch]

Pertinent point and one I have been pushing for ages. How is four overs seen as sufficient time for a Test quick to get sufficient kms into his legs. Josh Hazlewood insisted he play at least one shield game to get that. White ball cricket is the worst prep for a Test batsman. Steve smith was given one shield match. Ussie one too, Marnus tho played a couple.

Exactly.

To make it even worse, it dilutes the quality of the shield matches. Test players sit them out. We then run a short-form series v Pakistan, and all of those players sit out of shield as well. Not only are these players missing out on valuable red-ball cricket, but the Shield players aren't getting exposed to test quality opposition.

 

[Blue1980]

Most bowlers with an incredibly high strike rate do bowl a lot of trash.

That’s what comes with throwing the ball up

Bowlers like Bumrah are a rarity who have a low strike rate and are also hard to hit

Cummins too, as much as some are writing him off in this thread.

 

[Blue1980]

That is fair 100% there, can't rate him more than a B though he makes me pull my hair out!

I see him as about level with Mitchell Johnson without the dramatic highs and lows.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

My concern is the players run the show. They're established and the selectors/coach dont have the power to make the changes needed. Last year a classic example. Should have brought in an opener and given him a couple of summers to cement himself, instead they went with Smith (this after gifting warner a farewell tour despite poor form). Then this season, Smith seems to decide opening isn't that fun and moves back to 4, and we expose a debutant whos never opened in first class cricket to the new ball against one of the best quicks of his generation.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Cummins too, as much as some are writing him off in this thread.

He’s not Bumrah very very good bowler though. Bumrah is better though. There is a level he has that Cummins doesn’t

 

[eltrain]

Lalor on SEN saying that former Aus players apparently blowing up behind the scenes about Khawaja not facing the first ball yesterday

 

[Blue1980]

Yeah call be old fashioned but I'm a results kinda guy and like it when players make runs.

Pfft you’re just a soft soy sipping woke cuck.

We just need big guys in the team!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Maybe we name every fat bloke

Ben Manenti should get a call up lol