Joff is definitely bowling better, after smith riled him up in the 4th dig in brisbane. but, geez the aus batsmen would be pretty upset about the way they have got out - gifted him each of his 3 wickets, after putting in the hard yards to see out his good stuff (except Green who lasted 2 balls). they have left some runs out there on a flat track
Saad Weeters Cowan Newy Haynes Dean Cez Crippa Cottrell Ainsworth Gov Hayward Zac W H Motlop Pitto Hewitt Walsh
int from : Skull, Lord, Frankie, Acres, Moir, OHollands, EHollands, Florent, Caroll, Jaga, Kemp, LYoung (12 players with a decent claim on the final 5 spots)
That leaves - Boyd, Fogarty, Chesser, Wilson, Campo x2, Ison, Reidy, FYoung, Charleston as 10 capable players that are very much depth
Inj - OFarrell
The depth looks healthier than in a long while, but the starting 18 is definitely lower on "stars" than it was 12 months ago.
Mark Wood bowled 8 overs in the lilac hill game and has been sent for scans on his hamstring after experiencing tightness. Can't see him playing in the 1st test ,and if he does then he won't see out the game.
Stokes took 6 wickets............... every single one of them a slog caught on the fence!!! The B Team, with only 4 specialist batsmen in the line up made 370odd at 5 an over, against the test attack. this is their only warm up game
having said that - they will probably all be on fire for the 1st test
Kinda like Mark Waugh and more than a few others from that state. Consistency sets the greats apart from the also rans. I don't see what the selectors see in Green, Webster is a heart and soul team man. He may not have Greens talent but he's stood up when required thus far.
Agree on Green, he is no number three and very over hyped as an all-rounder given he hardly ever bowls. Webster is a more reliable cricketer and I'd be picking him over Green for the No 6 spot.
Everyone always says to pick the best performed shield players. Green has been the best batter by a long way over the past feew years, at shield level. his bowling is a bonus
Yeah, a few pundits (esp the English ones) have talked down the Aussie team. But, if Marnus is back to his old self at 3, and Green is fit and in form as an allrounder, then the real only issue is the openners - Uzzie is not up to it anymore against raw pace and a debutant. The attack takes care of itself. Its a pretty good and set team, that are used to exploiting the Aus conditions
The Poms chances could swing wildly. If Wood and Archer are fit and firing, then their attack (with Atkinson, Carse and Stokes) will trouble the Aussies. If Brook can work out the Aus pitches he is class. If Root finally breaks thru in Aus, he could score a mountain of runs. I reckon each of Crawley and Duckett will have one dig each where they go off. Still not sure about Bazball on bigger grounds and not playing on freeways
One factor may be the pitches - the Poms have loaded up with pace and bounce and tall bowlers, which suits Aus pitches from 10 years ago. But the last couple of years it hasnt been so much raw pace and bounce that has done well on the slower but livelier pitches.
No Gov, no three rucks and TDK will get his name on the locker. I suspect that he'll look back on that with more pride than the next stage in his footy career.
Not sure I would have given TDK the opportunity to have his name on the locker, the club are very generous. Dylan Shiel playing his last game for the Bombers after being told DCM.
The chain of possessions in that resulted in Zac's goal was like watching a glimpse of '23 all over again.... Sort of exemplified the day with players continually running past, shorter but pinpoint kicks, and not blazing away but finding a team mate in a better position. But my question is "where has this been all year?", they even got a standing ovation from the Carltonian section at half time.
a lot of stuff (handballs, knock ons, short chip kicks etc) out the front of the pack or to a guy running past. whereas, this year has been a lot of handballing to blokes standing still, or backwards. makes a big difference
He's already had the hip surgery. He's still fighting on but only he knows how he's feeling. Turning 29 soon, and may have peaked.
Can we do a Matty Hogg/Adrain Whitehead and turn him into a back pocket? Got a few attacking back pocket/flankers, but no-one to actually sit on a dangerous small fwd
Cripps was smashed ... by the umpires! If only he got a smidgeon of the care that the umpires show towards Rowell. Cripps got one free and was penalised three times. Rowell got five frees and was penalised twice. Both laid eight tackles and copped much the same treatment without the ball. If Rowell's five frees were there, Crippa should have got eight.
The 50m penalty was an absolute joke - no wonder Cripps looked puzzled and frustrated.
yeah cripps was tackled off the ball in that one, but I think what was paid was a late tackle on the suns player after getting kicked it forward.
and then, about 5mins later, we get a free for a late hit, a clear downfield (about 30 out in front) - but, no, bring it back, no downfield free...
Jack reiwolt on the fox after show giving Ben king props, which is fair enough. But lost me when he said that he kicked 6 on weeters. As he was saying it, the highlights were running, showing king taking half a dozen grabs over Lewis young. Do these guys, making half a million a year actually watch the matches they talk dribble about??
