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Topic: God help me - the Test Cricket thread (Read 260985 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #420 –
Yes, Pucovski is a must.

Warner still has another season or two in him yet.
I spent most of my money on Women and grog.
The rest I just wasted.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #421 –
Quote from: dodge – on
Stoinis won't contribute - certainly not consistently.  While there is no doubt he can hit the ball hard, he has no idea about rotating the strike, getting the singles and taking pressure off.

Ponting seemed to be able to get the best out of him in the IPL.... not sure langer gets the best out of anyone

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #422 –
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Ian Chappell has slammed Khawaja as a good player vs ordinary bowling and reckons the English will be all over him if he gets picked in the test series.. Tend to agree.
Pucovski has to play and learn how to deal with the short stuff..

Ussie averages 53 in Australia. England bowlers won't worry him much. No green seaming English pitches, no clouds, no English bowlers.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #423 –
Quote from: laj – on
Ussie averages 53 in Australia. England bowlers won't worry him much. No green seaming English pitches, no clouds, no English bowlers.
More about the future maybe with Pucovski, Khawaja is also an ordinary fielder IMO as well  @34 I'd be looking at youth first.
If Archer was fit and playing then I might think different with him and Wood going at 150k but with only Wood on tour who plays every second game then I think we need to look ahead and have a younger partner for Warner.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #424 –
Warner was gone two years ago.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #425 –
Massive no to khawaja.

Might average 50+ in oz versus average bowling but his overall record suggests a mediocre player,  and his record versus finger spin (that innings aside) is appallingly bad.   Plus,  is a very average fielder.   I'd prefer him to Harris,  but only just.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #426 –
I think based on his recent comments Joe Root might be a thorn in our side this Ashes tour.

It's interesting that he made a statement about 'wanting it too much' in the past which degraded his performance. Root is already a very very good player, and if he can play without emotional overload he'll become very consistent and dogmatic, not unlike Smith on his last tour of the UK.

I've a mate who thinks that Steve Smith's work ethic coupled with his chronic insomnia is a big reason he bats at such a consistent level, he is probably physically fit but emotionally drained, so by the time he gets to bat, despite having all those ticks and twitches, he is probably quite calm by his normal standards of nervousness.

I know from my own sporting past, I always performed at my very best when I was cold and calculating about it. A great tip I got from some previous sporting stars set me on the right path, "When you get there, act like you've been there many times before, and deliver your performance cold!"

Federer said something similar, he basically attributes losing his youthful hot headed ways as the key to him becoming a consistent high performer.

I wonder if this is in someway connected to the old fable, "Beware the injured opponent!", is it because the injury removes the nerves?
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #427 –
I'd expect the bowling from Aus to be on the shorter side than what England have faced recently. A lot of England's top order don't like the chin music, Root included.
Stokes is the exception and he will need more traditional methods of dismissal.
Woakes is a key player these days with both ball and bat and I'd also expect him to cop the short stuff to unnerve him both with bat and trying to get him to lose focus with the ball too. Bit surprised Livingstone hasn't been included as he plays pace well, is a handy leggie and while a short format player in the main I could see him making it at test level if given the opportunity especially out here where he knows the conditions.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #428 –
Our weakness last summer was an unsettled opening combination,  then persisting with bowlers that were tired or horribly out of sorts.  The T20 side is suffering from selection issues as well .  I fear selection issues are going to plague us again this summer.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #429 –
Quote from: Professer E – on
Our weakness last summer was an unsettled opening combination,  then persisting with bowlers that were tired or horribly out of sorts.  The T20 side is suffering from selection issues as well .  I fear selection issues are going to plague us again this summer.
Is it selection or the lack of selection?

Players who are rusted on because their best is very very good, even though their best is very very rare or very very ancient!

CA needs to address the issue of player security, it makes as much if not more money than the AFL but contracts only a few dozen players in total compared to over 700 AFL players.
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #430 –
Both.

I'd like to know how Starc keeps getting games.  Has been mediocre for 18 months,  down on pace and bowls two four balls every over.  Patterson was clearly told, or read the writing on the wall,  you just won't be selected.   Neser is another in selection limbo. When are other blokes going to get a look in, we're just flogging the same quartet.

T20 batting selections that are simply weird.

Warner is another rusted-on selection, his selection in last summer's test series was an ego-driven disaster.

I agree selection ain't easy with the lack of batting talent pushing through,  but surely we need to give others a try.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #431 –
Looks like Patto is going to do a "Kolpak" and consider country cricket
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #432 –
Reckon if Starc was a right arm quick from Victoria he wouldn't be playing.
Being left arm gives him a point of difference and he is a bit quicker than the others. But as Thakur for India showed when he gets hit around he loses it and bowls repeated Pies even to tailenders..Cummins will think it through but Starc doesn't have a plan B.

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #433 –
Quote from: ElwoodBlues1 – on
Reckon if Starc was a right arm quick from Victoria he wouldn't be playing.
Being left arm gives him a point of difference and he is a bit quicker than the others. But as Thakur for India showed when he gets hit around he loses it and bowls repeated Pies even to tailenders..Cummins will think it through but Starc doesn't have a plan B.
I watched some highlights the other night and both Hazelwood and Cummins were bowling faster than Starc who was going half-rat pace!

But it must be tough for bowlers when no matter when the bowl, first or second innings, they have to restrict an opposition to under 130 to have a 50/50 chance of winning!

Overall, the current T20 is showing Australia's specialist T20 - ODI - Test selection policies to be bogus, I can't see the coach surviving he's done!
"Extremists on either side will always meet in the Middle!"

Re: God help me - the Test Cricket thread

Reply #434 –
I reckon Warner and Finch are both very close to the end,  there's a pair of elephants in the short overs room.   Then specific T20 openers can get a gig.
DrE is no more... you ok with that harmonica man?