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91
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Quote from: DJC – on


Both unlucky, particularly Neser after his five for.

I don't mind Bazball - both as a concept and a spectacle - but you do need a plan B.
Bazball is an excuse for poor technique and a lack of willingness to grind when necessary with both bat and ball which also indicates poor/lazy application. Throwing the bat at everything vs good line and length bowling works 1/10 times and having a plan B bowling strategy of 6 bouncers an over might work vs hapless teams like the Windies but wont vs the better teams.

The basic philosophy - removing fear of failure - is fine, but that doesn't compensate for poor technique, tactics or decision-making.

Apparently, Warnie is the inspiration for Bazball, but the way the Poms are going about it lacks Warnie's understanding of the game situation and appreciating the nuances of the game.  Jim Maxwell summed it up with his "Baz Bollocks" comment.
92
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: DJC – on
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Neser and Doggett, need the specialist spinner and extra pace/bouncer ability on a flatter track which will help England's flat track bully batsman more.
Bazball might be history by the end of the series along with its architects...

Both unlucky, particularly Neser after his five for.

I don't mind Bazball - both as a concept and a spectacle - but you do need a plan B.
Bazball is an excuse for poor technique and a lack of willingness to grind when necessary with both bat and ball which also indicates poor/lazy application. Throwing the bat at everything vs good line and length bowling works 1/10 times and having a plan B bowling strategy of 6 bouncers an over might work vs hapless teams like the Windies but wont vs the better teams.

93
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by LP -
Adelaide is usually a batting wicket, they may swap Doggett for Cummins and bring Lyon in for someone like Inglis, Inglis is wasted at 7 anyway and Cummins isn't a spud.

That leaves them Lyon with a chop out from Head for the spin variations.

Of course maybe Starc needs a rest, but to do that you'd have to be willing to load up Cummins.
94
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by LP -
Quote from: DJC – on
I don't mind Bazball - both as a concept and a spectacle - but you do need a plan B.
Yes, they've mistakenly taken the Dougie Walters / Adam Gilchrist "100 in a session" spirit and tried to turn it into the default game tactic. But you just can't ride your luck for that long, especially given that the bowlers are now better prepared than ever before to deal with such tactics.

Also, Test Cricket does not get played on ODI or T20 pitches, so for me the Bazball style should always be selectively applied.
95
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by DJC -
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Neser and Doggett, need the specialist spinner and extra pace/bouncer ability on a flatter track which will help England's flat track bully batsman more.
Bazball might be history by the end of the series along with its architects...

Both unlucky, particularly Neser after his five for.

I don't mind Bazball - both as a concept and a spectacle - but you do need a plan B.
96
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by ElwoodBlues1 -
Quote from: DJC – on
Comprehensive win as was always the most likely outcome. 

Excellent bowling from Neser in the Poms' second innings and Steve Smith certainly seemed to have an important engagement that he he was keen to get to ASAP.

Pat Cummins will be back for the Adelaide Test and Lyon will probably pass the drinks tray to someone else.  Which two bowlers will miss out?
Neser and Doggett, need the specialist spinner and extra pace/bouncer ability on a flatter track which will help England's flat track bully batsman more.
Bazball might be history by the end of the series along with its architects...
97
The Sports Desk / Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread
Last post by DJC -
Comprehensive win as was always the most likely outcome. 

Excellent bowling from Neser in the Poms' second innings and Steve Smith certainly seemed to have an important engagement that he he was keen to get to ASAP.

Pat Cummins will be back for the Adelaide Test and Lyon will probably pass the drinks tray to someone else.  Which two bowlers will miss out?
98
Robert Heatley Stand / Re: List Building - More than one way to skin a cat
Last post by DJC -
It's easy to underestimate the importance of our NGA in building our list. Yes, we have two highly-rated draft picks in Harry Dean and Jack Ison who are yet to play a game , but they're not unknown quantities.

Dean, in particular, has been at Princes Park for years, spent much of his rehab from a broken shoulder there, has had Nic Newman working with him on his video reviews and has been following the club dietician's eating plan for a couple of years,  He knows most of the players well and has taken part in training drills and match sims for years.  Ison hasn't had quite the same exposure, and he doesn't have a club legend father.  He is still known around the club, knows the players and the training drills and has been mentored by Sam Walsh. The fact that neither Dean nor Ison are newbies walking into Princes Park for the first time gives them an advantage over Talor Byrne, and many other youngsters who were taken in this draft.  The club also knew exactly what it was getting when if committed to both lads, and that's another advantage.

They still have to put in the work and hope for good fortune but they're ahead of the field.

Cody Walker is following a similar path to Dean and should have a seamless transition to senior footy - provided the AFL doesn't screw us with its changes to father-son rules.
99
The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by LP -
Quote from: Thryleon – on
I dont get all the fuss.  Sure, Piastris fortunes were somewhat out of his own hands, but he had a bit of an ordinary run that saw him back back to the field. 

Its as much a bottle job as anything else.
Yes, I tend to agree, which is why I was barracking for Max in the end.

But it's stuff like the below image that is the slightly distasteful residue, keeping in mind other drivers were penalised for the same or less, some you may recall were even penalised for this happening after contact while cornering, they hadn't voluntarily driven off the track.

Runoff zones and margins are there for safety, not a shortcut. If Norris hadn't regained that place by driving off the track, Max wins the title! My concern is that Norris has done similar several times and not been penalised, while others have a one strike policy applied!
100
The Sports Desk / Re: Formula 1
Last post by Thryleon -
I dont get all the fuss.  Sure, Piastris fortunes were somewhat out of his own hands, but he had a bit of an ordinary run that saw him back back to the field. 

Its as much a bottle job as anything else.