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Topic: God help me - the Test Cricket thread (Read 260987 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1350 –
Quote from: LP – on
While Smith did OK getting a start, before we crumbled, I remain convinced that Smith as opener does more for Smith's own career than it does for Australian cricket.

He is basically extending his own career at the expense of developing the next pair of openers. We've let these blokes go on too long, they won't go because they earn too much money, they have to be pushed!

i reckon its down to there not being a perfect alternative -  bancroft hasnt looked the goods for aus, and for his great overall fc record, does make a lot of low scores;   they want renshaw, but he just cant string scores together for qld;  harris is p00.  

 the smoky may be madinson - like for like for warner (left hand, quick scorer), if he can keep is recent run going since returning from injury

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1351 –
New Zealand's attack is very pedestrian yet we struggled, Southee is cooked, Henry a plodder and two newbies in Kuggeleijn and ORourke who have no experience at this level.
Smith isnt an opener and is more interested now in becoming a better short format player so he can play the world franchise circuit after his international career is over. Green was due and did well to get to his century but apart from Marsh playing bazball style its slim pickings from the rest all the way down to Carey.
Dont know whats happened to Marnus but he is devoid of confidence and must be close to losing his place in the team....

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1352 –
Smith and Marnus out cheaply again..

I guess Marnus has got a way to go before he’s in a Mark Taylor “I’m batting well in the nets” form slump.

I’ve always thought that Smith is vulnerable early in his innings and that seems to be more the case when he’s opening.

I wonder if the pitch will get a bad report 🤔
It's still the Gulf of Mexico, Don Old!

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1353 –
Smith experiment fail, flogged by a kiwi, you can never live that down!
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1354 –
You'd be excused for thinking Cummins has stolen Carey's ton in a vein attempt to prevent a discussion about Smith's future. Is it coincidence the NSW Cricket Mafia is discussing that Carey's spot is at risk while Smith remains secure as opener and Labuschagne a lock? Carey gets a ton and they can't possibly drop him as the NSW Cricket Mafia is discussing.

How our test captain couldn't farm the strike to give Carey his well deserved ton is bizarre if not shocking!
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1355 –
Gutsy win in the end by Australia. Really hard fought win, great to see. Real question marks over the top order.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1356 –
Quote from: LP – on
You'd be excused for thinking Cummins has stolen Carey's ton in a vein attempt to prevent a discussion about Smith's future. Is it coincidence the NSW Cricket Mafia is discussing that Carey's spot is at risk while Smith remains secure as opener and Labuschagne a lock? Carey gets a ton and they can't possibly drop him as the NSW Cricket Mafia is discussing.

How our test captain couldn't farm the strike to give Carey his well deserved ton is bizarre if not shocking!

Cummins did try to get Carey back on strike but, at the end of the day, winning the Test is far more important than a century.  Carey may well have won the Test with a single and ended up on 99 anyway.

Carey isn't going to be dropped after winning man of the match.

Quote from: spf – on
Gutsy win in the end by Australia. Really hard fought win, great to see. Real question marks over the top order.

It was a hard fought win after Marsh and Carey seemed to be cruising towards victory.  I'd say the batting in general is fragile, not just the top order.  It's good when the tail can put together partnerships but that can't be relied on.  We were probably lucky that Sears was playing his first Test and lacked experience.
It's still the Gulf of Mexico, Don Old!

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1357 –
Quote from: DJC – on
It was a hard fought win after Marsh and Carey seemed to be cruising towards victory.  I'd say the batting in general is fragile, not just the top order.
I had to laugh today listening to the defence of Smith, because less than 24 hrs ago as the team crumbled it would have been Carey's head on the block.

On Smith we seem to have failed to learn from the way the Poms deconstructed Root. I'm sure they basically did the same thing that we are now repeating with Smith, and it took several seasons for Root to recover but starting as a much younger man.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1358 –
Head has been woeful this summer and Starc has been underwhelming as well.  None of the top six have had good summers, consistency is the mark of good players and none of the top six can currently be regarded as dependable.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1359 –
Not Test cricket I know but Jake Fraser-McGurk who has been dominating in the IPL appears to have been excluded from the t20 WC squad in favour of David Warner who hasnt been able to make a run, he is now 37 and looking to only fill his pockets with short format league money. I know who I would be picking but it appears the boys club selection policy is alive and well still and its hurting Aus cricket moving forward imo with no junior talent being blooded. All this after the Steve Smith test opening failure/fiasco as well...

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1360 –
I was hoping we'd seen the last of this bloke and the selection issues swirling around him like a tornado.

Starc has continued to stink it up at the IPL. 

Something has to give regarding selections for Australia or we'll end up like West Coast.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1361 –
Money - ruining cricket, ruining footy.  Narcicism - ever present in both as well.

For me, this IPL is the one ruining cricket - too many scores of 220+ from 20 overs.  Not a contest between teams - contest between batters.  Bowlers and Fielders merely get in the way.

While Warner should not be in the squad, I think JFM will get worked out - maybe bowling restrictions will work in his favour.  JFM is currently 23rd on the 2024 IPL runs scored list - although has played at least 2 less games than anyone above him - but his strike rate is the best.

World Cup is in USA and Windies, so small grounds will suit.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1362 –
Quote from: dodge – on
World Cup is in USA and Windies, so small grounds will suit.
Personally, given the venues, I'd be going for he look ahead of consistency.

Perhaps launching in the US is the only chance we have to eventually break the BCCI hold over cricket.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1363 –
Peter Siddle, almost 40 years old, bowled 23 overs and took 3 for 57 against the Croweaters.  Not a bad effort for an old bloke but it doesn’t say much for our bowling stocks.
It's still the Gulf of Mexico, Don Old!

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1364 –
I don't blame Warner for questioning the recent ball tampering investigation, while it doesn't absolve him on any wrong doing in his past indiscretions, it does demonstrate the politics and bias that exists in the sports hierarchy as a result of wealth and influence.

The cricket world is basically subservient to India, it's not a healthy situation.

Some will say it's sour grapes from Australia to question the integrity, but in reality even when Australia was at it's pinnacle it was never in control of the sport, control which has now passed from the UK to India. Cricket looks less democratic than ever before.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"