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Topic: God help me - the Test Cricket thread (Read 261001 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1410 –
Quote from: laj – on
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on

Bowling superb? or as the Saffies and NZ showed the Indian batting isnt that great, as ProfE said Cummins was woeful with the ball
and should be dropped but is saved by his captaincy role.
Pitch is good imo, some of our players just have poor techniques and/or lack discipline playing poor shots.

Not sure why Cummins didn't play any red ball cricket since the NZ series last summer. Looked so short of a gallop.
Been doing a big advertising campaign to attract Indian tourists to Australia, probably too busy to think about red ball cricket.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1411 –
Time to F the pretend all-rounder from WA off... apparently injured again! Beau Webster time I reckon.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1412 –
Quote from: spf – on
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
The Aus assistant coach Daniel Vettori didnt care though and decided the IPL auction was more important to his wallet than staying around for the finale of the test and even the commentary box has been short staffed with ex captain and coach Ponting and Langar departing for the land of the great Rupee and to hangout with their Indian Masters and miss calling the ending of the game.

Sign of the times. And also, one of the reasons why viewers are dropping off. It may entertain (briefly) the younger generation, but T20 has no real substance. Essentially our cricketers are now entertainers being paid to perform for Indian audiences. I get in era of professional cricket that you need to earn a living, but you cannot buy a legacy.

its funny how chummy-chummy they are now, with their indian opposition (i wonder why? maybe something to do with their back pockets?).   does this correlate with not being able to summon some hostile bowling when up against it in the 2nd dig?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1413 –
Quote from: laj – on
Marnus woefully out of touch, Smith is cooked. Marnus needs to be dropped, Smith tapped on the shoulder. I'd bring a new quick in too for Starc. He might be unlucky we have to refresh the team otherwise they retire all at once. Starc is about to turn 35 and we need blokes to get a run before the Ashes next year. I'd put in Spencer Johnson, Jhye Richardson or Lance Morris, who are all bowling really well in the current state game. Richardson was unplayable last night. A couple of massive in-swinging yorkers at 145k got wickets.

Henry Hunt to Open, 106 in the current game against Richardson and Morris, McSweeney at no.3 where he is better suited, Inglis at 4 and one of the quicks above in.

Richardson is a GUN - bowls quick, pitches it up and swings it.   if he had been fit over the last couple of years, he would have been just about our best bowler.  his test record is fantastic, when he has been able to play

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1414 –
Yep.  And given that Starc runs out of gas and has lost a yard Jye would be on my short list.  Consistent away movement always gets wickets.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1415 –
Richardson cant stay on the park , no doubt has talent but you couldnt pick him with any level of confidence that he could play two tests in a row. Id be looking at Lance Morris, Spencer Johnson and Perry from Victoria
Cummins is probably the worst performing bowler but cant be dropped for obvious reasons....
Looked at the English team for the NZ tests and they are introducing new young players and doing what we used to and thats rebuilding on the run rather than waiting for all their oldies to fade away together which is what we are doing.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1416 –
Phil Hughes passed and it was a tragedy.

I don't want to offend friends or family but I think one of the big problems in Australian Cricket is expressed in the ongoing unhealthy focus on the past in particular the glorification of that tragic event.

Of course people will want to take offence at the very idea we should let it go, but it's long past now, 10 years, and our squad is still loaded with players seemingly unable to move on, so it's time to move on with players who can let it go and focus on the task rather than the past.

The kid passed playing the sport he loved, kids die riding bikes, climbing trees, eating a peanut, everyday someone son or daughter falls somewhere and it's tragic, for the bulk of them they pass in anonymity.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1417 –
Don't be surprised if Bolo gets overlooked for Abbot or Webster, which will leave the side light on for bowling.... throwing team balance to the wind to cover for Marsh.  If you aren't fit DON'T PLAY.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1418 –
Quote from: Professer E – on
Don't be surprised if Bolo gets overlooked for Abbot or Webster, which will leave the side light on for bowling.... throwing team balance to the wind to cover for Marsh.  If you aren't fit DON'T PLAY.
I don't understand why we can't select fit players. Beau Webster, for example, bated and bowled well against India just recently and he isn't 35 in the shade.
Live Long and Prosper!

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1419 –
Because there's too many protected species in the current test team.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1420 –
There's a close correlation between Starc's figures and wins.  Basically, he's either very good or f*****g horrible.  We can't afford any more profligate, ineffective bowling from this bloke, which has far too often against India. Another under the microscope this test.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1421 –
Quote from: Professer E – on
There's a close correlation between Starc's figures and wins.  Basically, he's either very good or f*****g horrible.  We can't afford any more profligate, ineffective bowling from this bloke, which has far too often against India. Another under the microscope this test.
I thought I was the only one who saw it that way, he's the cause of both our terrific wins and horrendous losses, little has changed over the years.

I suppose if he doesn't know where the pill is heading, neither can the batsmen!
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1422 –
Not sure about two selections for this test.  One is the replacement for Hazelwood.  If Boland is only getting a test here and there, would be good to get a younger player in.  There are a few that seem to be taking wickets and bowling well in Shield.

The other is Marsh as a bat (although I did see somewhere that he is likely to bowl).  Webster should have been given the opportunity,  Without the all rounder option, 4 bowlers isn't enough.

I get the conversation around Starc - but if he were also to get dropped, there is too much change.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1423 –
While Ronnie McDonald/George Bailey are running the show I think there will be minimal changes, the players were very keen on Ronnie like they were John Buchanan back in the day as they are/were both loathe to upset the playing group and Cummins and crew know they can bully Ronnie and Bailey to pick their mates and find excuses to leave other form players out of the team.
Until the coach and head of selectors are replaced players like Starc will continue to be picked regardless of form and the best performing Shield players will be left wondering what they have to do to be picked.
I know Im from an older era but if you were not performing at Shield level you didnt get picked and even the Test regulars had to play in Shield games and produce but with the different formats, more games, contracted players dont have to perform at lower levels to maintain their positions in international teams and can rely on the mates club to keep picking them.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #1424 –
The attached image is why Starc is so polarising, it sums his career up perfectly, 1/3 class and 2/3rds poo!

"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"