Nasher

Bailey is busy scoring billions of runs with the Australian ODI squad. 169 of 114 balls last night if you don't mind.

Wha, there was a ODI series on? I switched off literally the minute the last Test finished.

Ashley Mallett said Ashton Agar was easily the best spinner in Australia. He may be eventually, but he isn't yet. Shane Warne once said Bryce McGain was the best spinner in Australia. You might forgive me if I don't take MacGill's word as gospel.

Agree on those changes, Rhino. Would also like to add some man love for Ryan Harris. Considering that at 30 he looked a journeyman Shield bowler who had never been and would never be anywhere near Test cricket, his rise to first rate international bowler is amazing. His bowling Test average is superior to his first class record, and his batting is comparable. Let's just hope the string and chewy holding his body together can hold out a year or two more.

What about the idea of not using it for the line/impact elements of LBW? I.e. the pitching, bounce, impact part of the LBW are just always set to "umpire's call", and the DRS can only be used to determine if the batsman hit it or not. I think this would solve the problem of the players overusing it (i.e. batsman like Cook and Watson seemingly believing that they are immune to getting out LBW), and it takes away the annoyance of LBW decisions being reversed all the time when it's a marginal call. LBW is the only way to get out in the game where the decision is not black and white, i.e. requires judgement from the umpire, so my view is to leave that judgement with the umpire. For everything else (caught, bowled, stumped, run out, the "I hit it" aspect of LBW), it's clear cut: you hit it or you didn't, you were over the line or you weren't etc; the DRS should be able to manage that quite sufficiently without creating the problematic grey areas we are currently seeing in LBW decisions.

...for England? He's playing as a non-international player and has retired from Cricket in Australia. He could be the next Darren Pattinson.

Quick, rush Ed Cowan back!We're gone. The cupboard is completely bare. It's the Aussie equivalent of out: Pedersen in: Dunn.

What are your grounds for claiming that? He had a lengthy time out, but for the latter half of the Shield season he was a regular feature. His form isn't much at the moment, but there's not much doubt about his fitness. I expect that within the next 12 months he'll be pressing for Test selection once again.

I thought the same thing about an MFC parallel. The results are similar too, gallant enough in defeat to give you some heart, followed up in the next match with a crushingly pathetic performance that makes you think there is just no hope. Jeez I'm tired of supporting rubbish sport teams.

Jackson Bird should play purely because we're clearly lacking a genuine number 11

I thought he hit it. I was definitely in denial for the first few minutes, but he hit it. Still, feels like it's ended on a technicality rather than drawing to its natural conclusion.

That is absolutely devastating. I feel completely crushed.

Agar's good for another 97 or so you'd think

Exactly. The whole purpose of the review is to eliminate clear errors. Even if we pretend for a moment that the LBW decision was line ball - if teams are choosing to roll the dice and use reviews on line ball decisions in the off chance they might get overturned and aren't successful, then they have no right to complain when there are no reviews left to use on the genuine mistake.

Tell you what, it'll be awfully disappointing if it turns out that he's an ordinary bowler.

I switched the telly off at 9/117. Checked the scores at lunch, and aborted plans for going to sleep (which I really, really needed to do!) and switched it back on. So glad I did. Such an amazing innings. Phil Hughes I thought was Mike Hussey-esque - Hussey was a specialist for playing near-flawless innings while in the shadow of someone else. Fair to say Agar won't ever bat at 11 again. All the quicks failed with the bat yesterday, but on paper they are all decent, and we'd have an embarrassment of riches having James Pattinson bat at 11.

Jack Watts? Does a player have to be small to be a small forward?

Premiers.

How about young Jordan Silk? It's a tad early, but he's now in his third first class match (for Tasmania) and already has two centuries in his belt including one in the final. Ripping start to a first class career if nothing else.

There's a bloke called Ricky or something making a mountain of runs in the Shield. Anyone heard of him? :-)

Shane Watson goes home, the openers make a 100 stand. Coincidence?

If we were to draw a parallel to the MFC, then Doherty is James Magner. Available, mature, plays a role, will bust a gut, but ultimately no good. He certainly doesn't belong in the "talented youngster" group at 30.

No doubt to tell us all that cricketers should just play and not have to worry about all that professionalism stuff. I wouldn't expect anything less. Am I the only one who couldn't GAF what the players think on issues like this one?

Wow, tough. I'm torn between demanding standards and "they're just simple cricketers, let them play cricket". Gods, I can hear Ian Chappell moaning about it from here. That alone makes me feel compelled to side with the opposing view.

I think your joke-o-meter needs adjusting H_T