45HG

It didn't take long, did it?

Demonland is proud to announce the signing of a future star of the MFC - Jasmine Garner! The 18 year old, who plays for the St Kilda Sharks, will make history as she dons the famous Red and Blue on the 29th of June to do battle in the inaugural Dees women's team. A profile of Garner can be read here and a summary of the donations page - including the official information of Demonland's involvement - here. We wish Jasmine all the best in the lead up to the game, a wonderful game on the day and a bright and prosperous career. Go Garner, Go Dees!

Too bad it was in an ODI, ey

Not sure about that. I think sides that keep match practice/fitness up and hit finals with momentum have a massive leg-up.

Kane Williamson is such a talent but he simply has to learnt to tick the runs over. Regularly he bats out 30/40+ deliveries only to be undone. Too often that's for about 5-10. He needs to tick the runs over to relieve pressure and place it on the opposition captain. I shudder to think what Broad and Anderson will do to our meek batting line up. We have to pray Starc, Cummins and Pattinson stay fit!

Whoever has Anderson...?

Chris Gayle / wow!

Good to see Kane Williamson chalk up 6.1 - 4 - 5 - 2

A win on this pitch with no Clarke could boost confidence. Not losing 4-0 is pretty big, too. But you're right, it won't change a great deal. Will the Haus play in the Ashes? Geez, if injuries go our way we could have a very strong bowling line up to take to England. I think we'll get fairly outplayed in England for the most (although, 2009 was much closer that it seemed IMO) but I think the return series here will be almost dead level - we need to find at least two quality bats in that time, however.

The last two balls are possibly the worst pair I've seen in Australian cricket. Mitchell Johnson throws at the keepers end when the batsman was in his crease, not looking for a run, the ball goes a meter of Wade's head for four. Pattinson bowls one a mile down legside, unlucky for Wade that it was called byes not wides.

No doubt about it, AB is a gun - my word Amla is a champion. Starc is a wonderful cricketer. He plays the game in a great spirit. Dangerous with the ball and shows wonderful application with the bat, whether he's trying to bat it out or play his shots. Pujara looks mighty impressive. Unlucky to be given out. It'll be interesting if Haddin plays (well) in the 4th...

Dhawan has also scored about 6000 first class runs as well.

Dhawan scores the fastest century on debut!

Starc one run short of a century. Vics 12 runs short of a final?

Haha knew it'd happen. Pushes for Clarke to move up for over a year. Bats three - gone first ball. Unlike Clarke to be so undone by spin - good bowling, poor batting, team imbalance distracting or a combination of them? Australia's No. 3 against spin: last 40 balls, 0 runs, five wickets Nasher!

Vic's 7/264

I just don't particularly think people skills were there forte. I think we're still coming to grips with how KOTD we were to have had the likes of McGrath, Waugh and Gilchrist - not even to mention Ponting and a couple of handy openers in Langer and Hayden. They made the two aforementioned captains look much better than they actually were in my opinion.

Ponting, Waugh, inclusive of all? Not from what I've gathered.

If two teammates went with Hussey, does that mean the other 10 or so went with Clarke?

My man Kumar has just notched up two centuries in a test on what, on paper, appears to be an incredibly grueling pitch that has tested most batsmen.

Southee bowling to Cook. Right hander getting good swing going, why he would come around the wicket is beyond me.

I don't think anyone is saying that. In fact, everyone seems to agree. Moving Clarke to 3 or four wouldn't be an attempt to procure better batsmen - that's only a relevant issue insofar as he is being moved up because our other bats are no good.

Agree with HT. It's all well and good to say find a good batsman who can play top 4. The reality is that we don't have one. Until we find one, we need our best batsmen in there. It is pointless for him to come in at 3 for not much before quickly losing any support. It worked better for him with Hussey at 6 but with him gone, the bottom has really fallen out I think. Our tail may start earlier now but that's more of a reflection of our poor batsmen. No use batting Clarke lower to preserve the back-end - we need him strengthening the top. A clear succession plan should've been in place long ago.

Here we go.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/623459.html - Wow!