5th Test Border Gavaskar Trophy January 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG

[beatnik]

He has a test average that everyone could only dream of.

Fact is it has been achieved, as brilliantly as he has bowled, almost entirely on favourable surfaces with a couple of exceptions, across a sample size of 13 matches, 3 countries (one of which he went wicketless in, the other of which he averages 48 in) while Josh Hazlewood has earned his over a sample size of nearly 80 tests and has four countries where he averages mid-20s or less and another couple where he has managed a respectable 32 (India and Sri Lanka).

Boland has done an absolutely exceptional job. That can’t be argued.

But that’s not ‘equality’ or ‘superiority’ yet.

For all of the talk about Bumrah, Boland has a better bowling average and 50 wickets is not a small sample size

 

[Cataholic]

Which is completely understandable. Why they're not tapped on the shoulder is harder to explain.

Absolutely.

Sports people are surrounded by coaches, sports scientists, psychologists etc so there's plenty of opportunity for pragmatism and honesty.

But I suppose the person involved is often their mate and bread and butter too, so values are compromised.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

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This was 10 years ago when Smudge got the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Sunny was told that he would do the honours if India kept the BGT and AB would present the trophy if Australia won the series to win the silverware back. I don't see why they can't have both men hand the trophy over.

Same.

Wonder why they changed it up this time.

 

[troybe]

In what way?

His knowledge of diving

 

[to1994]

Not sure what we do with Labuschagne if this form continues for much longer.

To be fair I think he won us the MCG Test. His 50s went a bit under the radar but he produced in both innings and without them we probably lose, especially in the second.

I've been critical of some our bats also, but the series does need to be put into perspective. If we believe the talk that Bumrah is possibly the best ever fast bowler playing his best ever series then we also have to keep that in mind when evaluating how our team went.

Based on what's in the cupboard, Marnus probably passes for me. Khawaja's innings today got us over the line so he probably stays given we won't want an extremely inexperienced opening partnership for the WTC final.

 

[evolved2]

He managed to get out of his form slump. His final 40 Test innings yielded 1719 runs at an average of 47.75 with seven 50s and five 100s.

Interesting stats. How did you find that?

I remember him hitting an unbeaten 330 or thereabouts on a dead Pakistan pitch nearing the end. Remove that and you still have an average under 40.

 

[grumbleguts]

My thoughts from the series:

I'm loving
1. the bowler-friendly pitches that we've served up lately. Test cricket in Australia was slowly dying for a time.
2. Aggressive young batsmen - Jaiswal is a gun and I love what Konstas has shown thus far.

Not sure I like:
1. The batting of both sides doesn't fill me with confidence. England will be viewing both teams as beatable.
2. Our ageing stars. We don't transition the side well.

England shouldn't view any team as beatable.

 

[grumbleguts]

What's wrong with that? Why would a neutral want poor bowling?

She shouldn't be talking about want. You describe what you see happen you don't talk about your desires. She is utter tripe.

 

[tombomb]

Yep, it's a bit of a clique.

Harder to be dropped than make it in the first instance.

Kind of like a boxer going on too long. Except this time it's selectors who can't or won't admit when someone's time is up.

It shouldn't be that big of a deal for someone like Marnus to have to go back to first class for a while to get some form back.

There is this weird culture with cricket that a batsmen can be out of form for two years but to be dropped would be the end of the world. Whereas bowlers couldn't suck for more than a couple of tests and not be under pressure to retain their spot. Even Warne got dropped for poor form in 1999.

 

[ABAB]

Not sure what we do with Labuschagne if this form continues for much longer.

He made some important runs so has found some form, the problem is how he continue to get out playing that stupid flick cut. Had Jaiswal taken the catch in the 2nd innings of the last Test, he would have gotten out 3 times in a row with that shot and you can see how pissed off he was and yet continue to play it.

 

[sherb]

Sunny stunned at being snubbed for the presentation. Apologies if already posted

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I found that odd.

He still has the highest score for any Australian batsman outside Australia (334*).

Equal highest score.

 

[evolved2]

England shouldn't view any team as beatable.

They recently beat NZ away. I suspect they'll comfortably beat India at home this year. Our batting is a concern and I think England will trouble us this time around.

 

[western royboy]

So where are all the bed wetters from yesterday?

Chasing the free money that was apparently on offer

 

[The hands of stone]

im not buying that.
I agree 100 per cent they were scratching their heads during the first innings in Melbourne thinking what the hell do we do here and they tried a few plans with the ball, then tried to get in his face etc.

But if you have an opponent 3-36, and 1-20 after 7, the guy hasn’t had much of a negative impact on your approach as a bowling unit.

Today maybe you could argue it but even then I’d say it’s more because of his actual approach itself than the fact that he personally was annoying them.

I would be looking at the impact he had without using stats and instead the eye test

• Kohli bumps him
• India mock his arm waving geeing up the crowd gestures - they practically never do this with anyone else
• Bumrah is geed up by him - again have never seen him like this
• Bumrah again seems agitated by him when he intervenes with Khawaja facing up
• Khawaja dismissal - they charge him as the non striker
• Ghambir basically calls him soft at a media presser after today

He was 110% in their head and distracted them. There is a good argument he took their focus off the game enough that helped Australia win - beyond his momentum changing innings Boxing day.

His batting he showed is not sustainable but he certainly had a very big hand ( beyond runs ) in Australia winning.

 

[Xtreme]

King Kohli with a sense of humour

get around him

 

[Donuts_]

Gambhir hasn’t changed. Probably a bit salty as well.

India coach labels Aussies 'soft' amid Konstas furore

'He had no right to be talking'

www.nine.com.au

Gambhir has always been a major tosser but he makes some good points here. Konstas didn't need to get involved but (I assume) he took his whacks when it blew back his way.

McDonald is a bit like mum standing up for you in a schoolyard fight when you just wanted to deal with it yourself. Konstas is probably embarrassed by it since he doesn't strike me as the type to go running to the coach.

I do think the Indians' response to Khawaja's dismissal was over the top and on the ugly side but Konstas does like to kick the tyres and it hardly warranted the coach moaning to the world about it. 'Soft' is right.

 

[ABAB]

They recently beat NZ away. I suspect they'll comfortably beat India at home this year. Our batting is a concern and I think England will trouble us this time around.

Given the MCG and SCG pitches aren't flat anymore, Bazball won't be as effective here.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Feels like a long time since we played South Africa

 

[western royboy]

They recently beat NZ away. I suspect they'll comfortably beat India at home this year. Our batting is a concern and I think England will trouble us this time around.

Australian pitches are a but different to what’s being and was dished up in England in recent times. There batsman are all super aggressive (bar Root) if there is anywhere near the seam movement next season as their was this summer - we could be in for a very wild ride. A lot if water to flow between now and then. Out team / squad could and should look very different.

 

[Gavin Excell]

I gotta say, this series has been the most fun to watch for me since the 06/07 ashes series.

Was a ripper
I think Border Gavaskar is now superior to the Ashes personally

 

[western royboy]

Over Green? Or include both?

Green’s bowling will be very limited at best.

 

[Donuts_]

If McDonald was going to have a proper whinge it should have been about the laughable penalty Kohli got for his shoulder bump.

 

[ABAB]

Gambhir has always been a major tosser but he makes some good points here. Konstas didn't need to get involved but (I assume) he took his whacks when it blew back his way.

McDonald is a bit like mum standing up for you in a schoolyard fight when you just wanted to deal with it yourself. Konstas is probably embarrassed by it since he doesn't strike me as the type to go running to the coach.

I do think the Indians' response to Khawaja's dismissal was over the top and on the ugly side but Konstas does like to kick the tyres and it hardly warranted the coach moaning to the world about it. 'Soft' is right.

Why not? Bumrah had his arm open asking the question so Kontas answered him with "he is not ready". Did he say anything aggressive??? Had Bumrah stood there tossing the ball in the air, you think Kontas would have said anything given there was no question asked.

 

[PhatBoy]

For all of the talk about Bumrah, Boland has a better bowling average and 50 wickets is not a small sample size

Jasprit Bumrah has played test cricket in 6 nations and excluding NZ where he played 2 matches - and still managed 6 wickets at 31, mind you, five years ago, his WORST record, is in England where he boasts 37 wickets at 26 with two five wicket hauls.

Sample size or not, I know what holds more weight for the time being.

 

[Westend]

Green’s bowling will be very limited at best.

Why ?? probably be better