5 hours ago, Jumping Jack Clennett said:

Watching Australia play India is like watching a district team playing a Test team.

Dont be too confident about Sri Lanka..... let alone the Poms.

Do we have the worst captain ever in Paine. Not a great keeper and woeful with the bat. Pant and Buttler can make runs but do you think he can? no.

He has to be replaced by either Wade or Carey he is a burden to the team.

I know we have our problems now but when Smith and Warner come back we will be a lot better. We are a disgrace without them.

HARRIS

WARNER

KHAWAJA

SMITH

HEAD

HANDSCOMB

CAREY

CUMMINS

STARC

LYON

HAZLEWOOD

 

That doesn't look that bad a team. It will be interesting to see how they go in England.

 

7 left -handers, I note.

Our batting is rubbish and it's potentially impacting our bowling, which was well below what we all should have expected from them during the series. We struggled to take wickets on our home pitches, Starc was nowhere near his best and Hazlewood wasn't great either. Granted, India's batsmen were very good, but we've bowled out strong batting sides before and kept ourselves in games with the ball.

The SL Tests will be interesting. We really need to be focusing on players we think can play all five Ashes Tests and score runs. I'd like to see us move past both Marsh brothers permanently but I fear that we'll see S Marsh in the SL Tests and in the Ashes squad, as they're keen for his "experience".

I'm not sure where I stand on Warner but I think we'll see Smith walk back into the XI once his ban isup. So my Ashes XI at this point is: Harris, Warner/Burns/Hughes, Khawaja, Smith, Head, Handscomb/Maxwell/Wade, Paine (c), Cummins, Starc, Lyon, Hazlewood.

For SL, I'd be opening with Burns or Daniel Hughes alongside Harris, I'd be returning Khawaja to number 3 (we can't bat Labuschagne there, that's absolutely ridiculous, he shouldn't be playing at all let alone batting first drop), and I'd be getting Maxwell and/or Wade into the middle order (Wade deserves a batting spot, but Maxwell is a better all-rounder than Labuschagne or M Marsh if we're that desperate to get relief overs out of someone in the top 6). Paine stays, his captaincy is one of the things that is working at the moment I think, his keeping is good and his batting isn't as bad as most of the batsmen over the past 12 months (however, one first class 100 in his entire career is a problem).

Harris and Head were probably the only two positives to come out of the India series. I hope one or both can make a century against SL to confirm their Ashes spots and to get them some further confidence.

It’s a pity we opted for Paine as skipper.

Wade is no worse as a keeper( though both are ordinary), but he’s a much better bat. Our batting would look much stronger with Wade at 7 instead of Paine, and someone else captaining(? Hazlewood), till Smith is available as capt. again.

I like the look of the squad announced for the Sri Lanka tests with the additions of Burns,  Renshaw & Pucovski and sticking with Labuschagne is also pleasing.  Head has got a few technical issues but he is young enough to iron out those deficiencies.  And Harris looks to have a future as well. 

The squad has a real youthful look to it but Pucovski is the only real pup.  Renshaw at 22 is also quite young as well but he has been on the first class scene for close on 3 years now.  He is another one with good technique.  Burns deserves another chance whilst Labuschagne has got some talent as well. 

It has that Greg Chappell stamp about it as he has always been big on youth.  Refreshing to see.  But the Australian public need to be patient with these young blokes and let's hope that happens.

7 batsmen in the squad but the Ashes squad might only have 8 batsmen or even 7 batsmen only so with the return of Smith and the probable return of Warner,  1 or 2 might be in this squad for these Sri Lanka tests alone. 

I'd like to see the 20yo Pucovski play so that we can have a look at him and the reports are that he has a very good technique ... here is his cricinfo profile

Test Squad

• Tim Paine
• Josh Hazlewood
• Joe Burns
• Pat Cummins
• Marcus Harris
• Travis Head
• Usman Khawaja
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Nathan Lyon
• Will Pucovski
• Matt Renshaw
• Mitchell Starc
• Peter Siddle

Our biggest problem is that we get starts and no one goes on with it. Those 20's and 30's need to go big for us to improve.

20 hours ago, Macca said:

I like the look of the squad announced for the Sri Lanka tests with the additions of Burns,  Renshaw & Pucovski and sticking with Labuschagne is also pleasing.  Head has got a few technical issues but he is young enough to iron out those deficiencies.  And Harris looks to have a future as well. 

The squad has a real youthful look to it but Pucovski is the only real pup.  Renshaw at 22 is also quite young as well but he has been on the first class scene for close on 3 years now.  He is another one with good technique.  Burns deserves another chance whilst Labuschagne has got some talent as well. 

It has that Greg Chappell stamp about it as he has always been big on youth.  Refreshing to see.  But the Australian public need to be patient with these young blokes and let's hope that happens.

7 batsmen in the squad but the Ashes squad might only have 8 batsmen or even 7 batsmen only so with the return of Smith and the probable return of Warner,  1 or 2 might be in this squad for these Sri Lanka tests alone. 

I'd like to see the 20yo Pucovski play so that we can have a look at him and the reports are that he has a very good technique ... here is his cricinfo profile

Test Squad

• Tim Paine
• Josh Hazlewood
• Joe Burns
• Pat Cummins
• Marcus Harris
• Travis Head
• Usman Khawaja
• Marnus Labuschagne
• Nathan Lyon
• Will Pucovski
• Matt Renshaw
• Mitchell Starc
• Peter Siddle

I hate Paine only in the side because he is captain his form has been terrible.

HARRIS

RENSHAW

KHAWAJA

LABUSCHAGNE

HEAD

PUCOVSKI

PAINE

CUMMINS

STARC

LYON

HAZLEWOOD

1 hour ago, WERRIDEE said:

I have Paine only in the side because he is captain his form has been terrible.

HARRIS

RENSHAW

KHAWAJA

LABUSCHAGNE

HEAD

PUCOVSKI

PAINE

CUMMINS

STARC

LYON

HAZLEWOOD

Paine is an excellent keeper and would probably make more runs in a better side.  As for the captaincy,  there aren't any real alternatives.  Smith is ineligible for another 15 months and Khawaja doesn't seem the type.  Nor do any of the bowlers. 

The real issue is the batting and it is going to take quite some time to build a solid top 6.  Because of that situation,  the captaincy becomes somewhat of a non factor.  "If it is to be it is up to me" has to be the motto for any batsman - anytime.  For any team.  The captain can't bat for them.  Overall talent = Wins.   

Edited January 10, 20196 yr by Macca

3 hours ago, Macca said:

Paine is an excellent keeper and would probably make more runs in a better side.  As for the captaincy,  there aren't any real alternatives.  Smith is ineligible for another 15 months and Khawaja doesn't seem the type.  Nor do any of the bowlers. 

The real issue is the batting and it is going to take quite some time to build a solid top 6.  Because of that situation,  the captaincy becomes somewhat of a non factor.  "If it is to be it is up to me" has to be the motto for any batsman - anytime.  For any team.  The captain can't bat for them.  Overall talent = Wins.   

Can't agree with Paine but is going to take a long time for the top 6 to make runs consistently. It looks very young with Renshaw and Pucovski in the side. When Warner and Smith come back it will make a huge difference those 2 carry the team on their back.

15 minutes ago, WERRIDEE said:

Can't agree with Paine but is going to take a long time for the top 6 to make runs consistently. It looks very young with Renshaw and Pucovski in the side. When Warner and Smith come back it will make a huge difference those 2 carry the team on their back.

Before you know it we'll be a good side again ... and it may happen quicker than many think.  Out of all these young blokes we only have to produce 2 or 3 gems and then away you go.  Bancroft is in the mix as well whilst players like Maddinson,  Silk and 1 or 2 others might make it.  If our Demons can come good then so too can the Australian test side.

After the Ashes are completed in September,  Pakistan & NZ are here next summer for 2 & 3 tests respectively followed by 2 tests against Bangladesh in early 2020.  A bit easier but ... there is a gap before India are here again in the summer of 2020/21 for another 4 Tests.  If I recall correctly,  we went to India twice in the recent past without a return series here in the middle of those 2 series.  So that is probably the reason why we are playing them twice in a row on Aussie soil. 

By the way,  CA make a stack of money selling the broadcast rights whenever we play India ... it is an absolute cash-cow in real terms.  That is why we play them at International level every year.  Business is business. 

And we'll be able to judge Paine better if he has a much better team to work with.  Let's face it,  Langer isn't being scrutinised that harshly as most have come to the realisation that we aren't all that talented (more so with the batting)

Lol at those that compares Paine’s wicketkeeping with Wades. No idea.

Good to see Jhye Richardson play well keep it up son.

Just as a matter of interest, anyone know why we didn't play India in Brisbane, which is what we normally do. Was that at India's request? Were we pandering to them? 

4 hours ago, Jara said:

Just as a matter of interest, anyone know why we didn't play India in Brisbane, which is what we normally do.

Brisbane as a venue is 5th in preference with a decent gap to 4th (Perth)  Mainly because they can't pull a decent crowd up there for the test matches and haven't done so for quite some time. 

Fair enough. Ta (I just like us playing the first Test there because we normally seem to win - I know we're sheizenhausen at present, but so much of the summer seemed to depend upon who won the toss).

32 minutes ago, Jara said:

Fair enough. Ta (I just like us playing the first Test there because we normally seem to win - I know we're sheizenhausen at present, but so much of the summer seemed to depend upon who won the toss).

Like most sports cricket is money driven so the advantage we often have in Brisbane was passed up because they can't pull a crowd.

India were miles too good anyway and we were no match.  They are the Superpower of cricket and that won't be changing in a hurry.

On 1/29/2019 at 8:53 AM, Jara said:

 I know we're sheizenhausen at present

Track watchers might say our form lines are starting to take a bit of an uptick atm, given the 2-0 shellacking Sri Lanka’s  just handed out to the home team in the Test series in South Africa. 

What about those Vic. cricketers!!!

Home Shield Final, probably v. NSW.

Going for a clean sweep of the trophies!

Pattinson was venomous in the 2nd dig. Don't know how Tremain can get back in the team.

I'm worried about our CWC game tonight v. Bangladesh.

Their batting was superb v. WI earlier this week.     WI attack not too bad. Once Starc and Cummins are off, our  other bowlers are all very vulnerable to being smashed.

Kiwis heavily favoured to make it through to the final ... India 119-6 off 35 overs chasing 240 with Dhoni & Jadeja batting.

15 overs to score 121.  It's achievable but one wicket changes everything.

On 7/10/2019 at 10:42 PM, Macca said:

Kiwis heavily favoured to make it through to the final ... India 119-6 off 35 overs chasing 240 with Dhoni & Jadeja batting.

15 overs to score 121.  It's achievable but one wicket changes everything.

That was an incredible match. Guptill won it for the Kiwis with his amazing catch and run out.

Aussies doing it tough against England. Where would we be without Steve Smith.

10 hours ago, Wadda We Sing said:

That was an incredible match. Guptill won it for the Kiwis with his amazing catch and run out.

Aussies doing it tough against England. Where would we be without Steve Smith.

We're no longer the powerhouse ... lots of good or decent players but short on A grade elite class.  Which is what you need to be a powerhouse

The bowling is good enough periodically but it's not McGrath,  Lee,  Gillespie & Warne.

England were superb last night so credit where credit is due.  We never looked like winning.

But go the Kiwis hey Wadda!  England should win the final but New Zealand are a determined bunch.

Not at all unhappy with us being beaten in the Semi.

What DH came up with the lame brained idea that walking on the ground with bare feet would absorb the grounds "Energy"?

All that did was subject us to well deserved ridicule. 

Next addition to the squad will be a Homeopath i suppose. 

Off with the fairies this lot.

 

 

Kiwis have started nicely ... 1-91 off the first 20 overs.  Hard to know what a competitive score might be (all things considered)

Anything over 250/260?  The rule of thumb is often touted as you double the score of a team from the 30 over mark (with enough wickets intact of course)

So if the Kiwis could get to 150 off 30 overs they might end up with 300.

 

Edit:  Kiwis are now 4-152 after 35 overs (lost 3-61 off their last 14 overs)

250-260 would be a good result from their position now.

Edited July 14, 20195 yr by Macca

1 hour ago, Macca said:

Kiwis have started nicely ... 1-91 off the first 20 overs.  Hard to know what a competitive score might be (all things considered)

Anything over 250/260?  The rule of thumb is often touted as you double the score of a team from the 30 over mark (with enough wickets intact of course)

So if the Kiwis could get to 150 off 30 overs they might end up with 300. 

Still going ok although that last LBW was a howler. Cant believe Roy is allowed to play after his dissent he showed by flat out refusing to walk after being given out and had to be shown the direction of the changerooms by the umpire in the game against us. Was the worst one ive ever seen. He also should have known there were no reviews left. Pissant.