Anyone for cricket?

[titan_uranus 25,255]

Classic Australian Test squad selection. We've picked Cummins to replace Starc. Despite Cummins having played one first class game since his only Test in late-2011.

Bird deserves Starc's spot more than Cummins does but I'm now expecting Cummins to play instead.

[picket fence 18,184]

Cummins a lot quicker than pedestrian Bird, Good selection IMV

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

On 14/06/2008 at 9:01 AM, Whispering_Jack said:

How do we get that Chanderpaul out?

Here we go again.

Chanderpaul father-son duo make history

 

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

With Mitch Starc injured, I reckon James Pattinson would have to be close to the best pace bowler going around. 

Let's hope our young pace bowlers can stay healthy for a change.

[titan_uranus 25,255]

Despite making 451 in the first innings, we have been batted out of this Test. We can't win from here, but we can easily lose. The bigger India's lead, the more likely we are to fall apart with the bat.

[titan_uranus 25,255]

8 overs to bat out tonight, 152 behind.

I smell a collapse coming up.

[Diamond_Jim 12,772]

Good to see a little resistance

13 runs behind ...... 20 minutes until tea on the last day and six wickets in hand

the next hour's play will be fascinating

As an aside... I know we don't play Khawaja because of his difficulty with spin ... but Warner's tour has been diabolical

Edited March 20, 2017 by Diamond_Jim

[titan_uranus 25,255]

I genuinely thought we were no chance of batting out the day. Handscomb and Marsh haven't been amazing this tour so far but they stood up when needed. We should take some confidence from that performance, not a typical Australian Day 5 batting performance on the subcontinent.

Kept the bowlers off the field all day too, extra day's rest, given the next Test starts at the end of the week.

[Whispering_Jack 31,368]

Virat Kohli ruled out of the fourth and final test.

[titan_uranus 25,255]

After three Tests and two days of hard work to put ourselves in with a chance to win a series in India, or at least draw it, one bad day of cricket means it's all over.

Getting bowled out for just 127 in well under a day is a brutal way to end what has otherwise been a strong series.

The Saha-Jadeja partnership gave India a lot of confidence in circumstances where, if Renshaw had held that catch, they might have been all out by stumps last night 50 runs behind. 

Finally, if we're going to drop an in-form Khawaja from the series to play a "specialist" in S Marsh (who played, what, one innings of note in four Tests?), we should be dropping Warner the next time. Literally one decent innings from him all series.

[Macca 17,127]

Here's a more than decent podcast made recently by the BBC about Kerry Packer and the World Series Cricket days ...

5 Live Sport Specials - Kerry Packer: The revolution that changed cricket

[Rogue 585]

Anyone interested in the upcoming Champions Trophy?

AUSTRALIA SQUAD: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade, John Hastings, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

A potentially lethal pace battery, but I don't know that they'll all play together in the Champions Trophy.

Faulkner, Bailey and Khawaja are notable outs. I was surprised to see Hastings back and Henriques make the cut.

Full squads here (India TBA Monday): http://www.cricket.com.au/news/champions-trophy-full-squads-2017-fixtures-australia-england-india-pakistan/2017-04-26

On 27/03/2017 at 10:36 PM, titan_uranus said:

Finally, if we're going to drop an in-form Khawaja from the series to play a "specialist" in S Marsh (who played, what, one innings of note in four Tests?), we should be dropping Warner the next time. Literally one decent innings from him all series.

I'm a bit late to the party, but I agree with this.

[MadAsHell 4,217]

This one slipped under the radar;

http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/afghanistan-ireland-granted-test-status-spells-aussie-uae-return-20170622-gwwurv.html

Welcome Ireland & Afghanistan. Afghanistan will have to play in the UAE, however Ireland will just have to bring some venues up to standard.

Wonder if this means we'll have to start with the top end tours again????

Edited June 28, 2017 by MadAsHell

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,825]

Does anyone know if Kristen Beams, the Aust women's team legspinner is Ben Beams' sister.?

Ben was a talented cricketer who once made a triple century in a 50 over Club game in Hobart.

Ben was a last minute replacement for Cam Bruce in the 2000 GF.

I know Kristen is a Tasmanian, too. She's 33, and he's about 38.

[Macca 17,127]

We'll do well to not lose this series to Bangladesh 2-0

This time last year we lost to Sri Lanka 3-0,  then lost at home to South Africa, saved a bit of face at home against Pakistan but then, we lost another series in India.

We haven't won in England since 2001 and have won just 1 series in India since the late 1960's.  Gone are the days when we were an all-powerful outfit. 

[Macca 17,127]

Here's a couple of recent podcasts from the BBC that are worth a listen...

 

The Inside Story of the 2013-14 Ashes Whitewash ... Officially ranked as their worst ever tour to Australia - why did it go so horribly wrong? (various players from both teams relive the moments from that series)

 

England Don't Need to Announce Vice-Captain - Michael Vaughan .... Mark Butcher & Glenn McGrath join Michael Vaughan & Eleanor Oldroyd to preview the Ashes.

 

 

 

 

 

.

Edited November 8, 2017 by Macca

[ding 5,126]

How the F does Shaun Marsh get ANOTHER chance to embarrass himself. I am absolutely gobsmacked that this turnip gets a cap yet again.

Bloke is not, and will never be a number 6.

Totally defies logic.

[Macca 17,127]

We'll do well to get out of this Test without losing.  By my reckoning we need to get to 360-380 in our first innings just to square things up.  And that is a long way off (currently 7-209)

Chasing 320+ in the fourth innings here will be a difficult assignment (if that ends up being the target)

And next up is the day/night Test in Adelaide (which can suit their bowling attack) 

[Macca 17,127]

A day later and we now hold the advantage ... that's Test cricket!

The pitch is taking turn but Moeen Ali is no world-beater.  If we can keep their lead to under 200 we should achieve a victory.  But any wicket lost can lead to another quick wicket or 2 so this match may well go down to the wire. 

 

[Bonkers 994]

Pretty entertaining and interesting first test so far. There's not much between the two sides. Anything around 200 will be difficult to chase down from the Aussies perspective, especially as the pitch detiorates. 

It will be interesting to see how Anderson pulls up after the 1st innings of bowling. It looked like he was carrying a niggle and spent some time off the ground. 

[Bonkers 994]

On 17/11/2017 at 11:13 AM, ding said:

How the F does Shaun Marsh get ANOTHER chance to embarrass himself. I am absolutely gobsmacked that this turnip gets a cap yet again.

Bloke is not, and will never be a number 6.

Totally defies logic.

He actually played quite a good knock. Second top scorer and if it wasn't for him and Cummins supporting Smith we'd be in strife. 

[Macca 17,127]

1 hour ago, Bonkers said:

He actually played quite a good knock. Second top scorer and if it wasn't for him and Cummins supporting Smith we'd be in strife. 

Yeah,  credit where it's due hey. 

I didn't have Marsh in the team and would have preferred if we'd stuck with Renshaw opening and blooded Bancroft down the order. 

But Marsh's 50 was vital in the whole scheme of things and he batted well.  Cummins batted very well as well ... Smith was just superlative. 

England are now 9/195 and lead by 169.  Advantage Australia (but that could change!)

[Diamond_Jim 12,772]

Almost posted a two hours back that this session could well determine the Ashes but thought it a little trite.

Had England scored a 100 for the loss of none or one wicket it might have been hard for Australia.

Now for one of those pesky small run chases. Unfortunately for us older people we will still remember the difficulties some Australian teams have had in knocking off such totals.

Some interesting views on the Ali stumping:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21560783/twitter-reacts-moeen-close-stumping

It is being suggested that the crease line was not straight !

Edited November 26, 2017 by Diamond_Jim

[Macca 17,127]

1 minute ago, Diamond_Jim said:

Almost posted a two hours back that this session could well determine the Ashes but thought it a little trite.

Had England scored a 100 for the loss of none or one wicket it might have been hard for Australia.

Now for one of those pesky small run chases. Unfortunately for us older people we will still rermember the difficulties some Australian teams have had in knocking off such totals/

I reckon a lot of other Test nations and their supporters could say the same thing ... it's not just unique to Australia.  Reasonable 4th innings targets are notoriously difficult to chase down often because of the state of the wicket.  The history books tell us that too. 

If England had another recognised spinner in their team they might prove a handful right now.  Did they need 4 quicks? 

[Bonkers 994]

33 minutes ago, Macca said:

Yeah,  credit where it's due hey. 

I didn't have Marsh in the team and would have preferred if we'd stuck with Renshaw opening and blooded Bancroft down the order. 

But Marsh's 50 was vital in the whole scheme of things and he batted well.  Cummins batted very well as well ... Smith was just superlative. 

England are now 9/195 and lead by 169.  Advantage Australia (but that could change!)

Yeh I don't see much point in dropping Renshaw either. He's been quite reliable so far. Seems to have a good head on his shoulders for a young bloke. It will be interesting if the selectors are willing to drop anyone else if they have some scratchy form. Probably more benefit with your idea of Bancroft at 6 I'd agree.