dee-luded
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Posts posted by dee-luded
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Tough luck re: Faulkner. Great finishing record with the bat. Looks as though Clarke will be back to take the helm. Whilst Bailey hasn't got a great batting record of late in his last several knocks (short knocks). Thoughts ?
My thoughts are if he is fit to go, he plays - despite his absence in the ODI arena.
Not a bad Summer to date result wise with the exception of the sad loss to Phillip Hughes.
NZ have got a terrific record at home, almost a monty for the Semi's one would suggest.
we need Clark back as captain for now... Smith looks great but still lacks a little maturity, & more discretion, less negative body language.
12 - 18 months should do clark IMO.
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You might be onto something there DL,
It's a shame really, I remember 10+ years ago pretty much all the grounds had their unique nature and played slightly differently. Now they're all the same pretty much. Even the GABBA & WACA, although they still off a bit more bounce, after Day 1 he wickets there seem to flatten out. Melbourne & Adelaide from Day 4 the pitches slowed down a heap and the odd ball would keep really low. That seems to eb a thing of the past also.
As for this match, just like Boxing Day, Australia don't deserve to win if they're going to waste the few chances we have on the flat wickets. We missed chances off Rahane & Kohli in Melbourne which cost us more then 50 runs to each batsman & the same thing has now happened in Sydney with Kohli & Rahul. Kohli wouldn't be such a thorn in our side if we could hold a ctach.....
Oh for the days with Taylor, M. Waugh & Warne in the slips, S. Waugh at gully, Ponting in the point/cover area, Slater at mid on/off & McGrath down at fine leg!
I don't think its the drop in idea thats wrong, IMO its more likely they haven't got the science & engineering right? the way the mioisture is supplied & the rate of loss, etc. surely to have such shallow boxes means they have to supply moisture & nutrients differently, than was the case Pre Drop-Ins.
also our weather has changed down south in recent years, & we are getting a lot of tropical troughs delivering us warm nights & more rain???
I think they should reconsider the depth of the drop-in boxes make them deeper, even if heavier to transport, & try to make them more real life as it were.
currently they would suit T-20
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... drop in pitches, I suspect/wonder if they are too shallow; so the moisture must be ideal, but maybe not for traditional cricket??? maybe they need to be deeper, so the roots are longer, & the surface moisture loss is more noticeable, as the test match days pass by.
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Totally agree.
Its the same premature condemnation that was levelled at Johnson.
Sharma is looking a right goose now.
Points to Mitch with bat and ball.
I never wrote off Mitch Johnson, to the contrary I was always a supporter of Mitch thru his years,,, as I was also with Warner in his early rambunctious years, & also patient with Lyon. & of Watson
sadly, not so of Hughes rip, & of others in their particular roles.
... and I certainly am not writing off starc, but he has to continue to get harder in his mind. he's improved since day one this test. IMO he needs to have to be forced to fight for his spot.
Harris should be back for Melbourne IMO.
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Edited by dee-luded
I do like Faulkner. He's an automatic selection for mine in the ODI & T20 teams. Would have to be in consideration as a replacement for Mitch Marsh for the remaining tests.
His batting seems to be going ok so far this first class season which seems to be the thing that's held him back from the test team. He's scored 166 runs @ 41.50 with one 50 and three other stars with only one failure with the bat so far for Tassie. Love his aggresion and competative streak.
As for Hazlewood, he looks very impressive. Think we've found the new ball partner for James Pattinson for the next generation with Pat Cummins coming on first change. Love his bounce and swing with that late movement he seems to get.
I don't follow the stats, but I liked seeing Faulkner bowling a slower ball pre Test series. thought it was very skillful & dangerous. one sign of maturing imo.
with MJohnson as a genuine strike bowler who happens to bat a bit
plus Hazlewood, & Patto when he's ready, we have the future with us. add Harris for Melbourne & were looking strong with the ball, getting exciting once again,,, like the melbourne future.Rogers
Warner
Watson
Smith
sMarsh
Haddin
Johnson
Faulkner
Hazlewood
Harris
Lyon
drinks...mMarsh (inj)
...edit: Hazlewood's bowling inline with movement was great to see, with some almost unplayables. like pigeon
edit: I like the game date running into Christmas
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Avoided the follow on, so that's something. Along with a much needed 50 to Rogers & Smith continuing his good form.
If we can add at least another 100 odd runs then we're right in the contest. Mitch Starc will be bowling for his short term career in the 2nd Innings. He was very ordinary again this morning.
I don't think he's mature enough yet.
Faulkner deserves a go. I think he's matured. looked good before the test series.
hasn't hazelwood excelled so far this summer.
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Poor day for the Aussies.
Shaun (selectors new pet) Marsh dropping not just one but two catches, Mitch Marsh does his hamstring, Hazlewood limps off the field towards the end of play and both Stac and Johnson looking stiff also. I'm already thinking we may need to hope for as much rain as possible over these next 4 days.
So Harris & possibly even Siddle could be finding themselves back in the XI by boxing day depending on how Hazlewood & Starc are given the quick turn around. Also the question will be asked of who comes in for Mitch Marsh. Personally I'd go with Voges. Bat him at 5, move Shaun Marsh to 3 and move Watson down to 6 as he'll need to do more bowling now with Mitch Marsh likely gone for the remaining tests.
I think they planned the rotation since the Brisbane test was jammed into the slot between Adelaide & Melbourne tests. Harris most likely wouldn't get thru the 3 tests & still be OK. I think Siddle was dropped & stark was fillin for Harris.
Would like to see Faulkner in for Melbourne.
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Fantastic effort from Lyon. Always coming under largely unwarranted criticism but stood up when needed. Should have had both Vijay and Kohli out well before they actually got out too, two horrendous decisions from Erasmus with those non-lbws (of course, Dhawan and Rahane didn't hit the ball either so it evens out).
Amazing that Dave Warner could hit centuries in both innings and probably only be the third best player in the match.
Clarke won't play again this series you wouldn't think, which will probably mean Rogers will save his spot for now. S Marsh might get Clarke's spot since he was in the squad, must be next in line. Siddle is also in trouble - he really doesn't threaten anywhere near as much as he needs to.
maybe Siddle needs the Paleo diet. to get his old aggression back.
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The team for the first test in Adelaide - 1 Chris Rogers, 2 David Warner, 3 Shane Watson, 4 Michael Clarke (capt), 5 Steven Smith, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Nathan Lyon.
Hazlewood unlucky whilst Lyon needs to show something on a track that should suit, his form has been horrible.
suited alright, well done Lyon
well done Warner, & Smith
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Fox played highlights of Phil's magnificent ton against South Africa tonight, jeez I found it hard to watch.
maybe this is why our koori's have image warnings for deceased brothers. hard to take
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Been rumoured before that MC does not enjoy the full support of the entire group.
Past incidents with Katich, Symonds, Watson and Hussey have not helped his cause.
Great batsman yes, leader maybe not.
.... wait for it
Steve Smith: I was sledging not chatting to Pakistan batsmanAustralian batsman Steve Smith says his captain Michael Clarke may have misinterpreted his conversation with Pakistan batsman Azhar Ali during the second Test in Abu Dhabi as friendly chit chat.
But in reality, he was having a good old fashioned Australian sledge.
Early in Parkistan's first innings, Clarke was clearly unimpressed with Smith, who was fielding close to the pitch and Azhar, and engaging in discussions with the opposition's number 3 batsman. The Australian captain gave Smith a rocket and reportedly told him that Azhar's friends were upstairs in the Pakistan changerooms and not down on the field. Azhar was on 14 at the time and went on to score 109 (which he followed up with 100 in the second innings) in Pakistan's 356-run demolition of Australia.
Pakistan had earlier won the First Test just as comfortably, by 221 runs.
Arriving in Perth on Monday to prepare for Australia's two one-day internationals against South Africa at the WACA Ground starting on Friday, Smith appeared to be surprised to have caught the ire of his skipper.
"Yeah I'm not sure what happened there. I was actually getting into him," Smith said. "So it wasn't what I expected, but that happens I guess."
When asked if Clarke had misinterpreted the conversation that was taking place, Smith said: "I think that's how it was," and suggested that talking to opposition batsmen in a productive manner would continue.
"We like to play good, hard, tough, aggressive cricket when we're out in the field," he said. "That's the way we like to play, so we'll continue to do that."
Australia is currently ranked number three in the ODI arena on 114 points, behind South Africa (115) and India (116).
As well as trying to recapture the top ranking, the Aussies are also looking for a positive start to its preparation for the World Cup, which it is hosting, starting February 14. They will play the Proteas at the WACA on Friday and again on Sunday before playing one game each in Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney.
The First Test against India then starts at the Gabba on December 4.
Smith says time is running out for players to cement their spots for the World Cup.
"I think it's (a) pretty important (series)," he said. "I think they are trying, obviously, to get the team that they will be playing in the World Cup and there's not too many games before then. "There's plenty of work to do and all of the boys are trying to get a spot in the team. "We're very excited to be back in Australia and I guess playing on wickets that we're accustomed to.
It's going to be nice to get out there and bat on something with a bit of bounce and pace on it.
"I was pretty happy with the way I batted in the one-dayers in the UAE. Hopefully I can carry on my form in this form of the game and keep trying to get as many runs as I can and putting my case forward as much as I can as well."
While Australia looked every part a fish out of water in the two-Test series in the UAE, Smith doesn't think South Africa will have the same issues adjusting to conditions in their upcoming series. He says he's sure the visiting fast-bowling pair of Dale Steyn and Mornel Morkel will also enjoy the bounce of the Australian wickets.
"They are a very good outfit and I think our conditions are very similar to theirs back home in South Africa as well," he said. "So look, it's going to be a tough challenge and the boys are looking forward to it. "I'm sure they're going to be coming out playing some extremely hard cricket. "We recently played the tri-series in Zimbabwe where they got the better of us. It's another chance for us to come out and try to improve and get one over the top of them."
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Been rumoured before that MC does not enjoy the full support of the entire group.
Past incidents with Katich, Symonds, Watson and Hussey have not helped his cause.
Great batsman yes, leader maybe not.
I suspect this is the issue, that the players are trying to follow someone they're not really in full admiration of. Obviously they respect his skills batting against spin, but maybe it doesn't go far past this.
I think we are spiritually rudderless, apart from the off field cricket dept'. because it appears we are playing that way. when we go well, its on the back of individuals performances which I put down to Boof's input. Lyons, MJohnston, SSmith,
When we show real grit as a team, when our backs are up against it, then I'll know that things are well.
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A few observations
Clarke's captaincy and batting were woeful
Lyon is not a spinners bootlace, , if you cannot get wickets on turners what is the use of you Discard have never thought he was much chop!
Maxwell has played his one and only test disgraceful dismissal in the second innings . Park Cricketer at best
Haddin career over time to find another
O Keefe I don't think is up to it !
Starc also abysmal selection
Time to build your team around Smith, Warner, Johnson, Piddle ( possibly) Agar, Wade( possibly) Rogers is good on fast decks and the rest are a toss up.
Not sure I would want the injury prone Watson back !
Time for an overhaul!
clark is a capitarn, field positions, bowling changes OK mostly..... but He's no Leader... this is the issue with our team IMO. the cubs are following the dots on the field dropped from our leopard capitarn.
the quicker they remove him from captain, to maybe VC? the better.
we need to find Leaders with true grit & real love for the baggy green, & team orientation first & last. we have not had a great leader since Steve Waugh... Border - Taylor - SWaugh - ????????
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Once again look at the application from some of our so called top bats.
You cant be rated agood batsman unless you can somehow find a way to last more than an hour in these conditions.
Flat slow wicket.
I still sense the lack of something in the teams chemistry. the team that plays together stays together... this mob seem to get blown in the breeze away from home.
I've seen similar or less talented Aussie sides perform with real Aussie grit, even standing the barrage of the hostile WIndies 4 man pace attack bowling bodyline @ 150+klms an hour, one after the other.
this mob seem all lost in their heads. yet marsh & smith seem to have more rhythm & slow timing in the batting swing.... stroking the ball.
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Anyone for cricket?
in Other Sports
but nine, & other commercial media aren't selling the game, they're selling their own brand, 'prestige', as it sells to like minded people, who buy status buy the shyte bucketfull.
the people learn superficiality from such an early age these days, they don't know the difference from 'pre$tige/$tatu$' & basic Integrity.