Nasher

I'd like to see Paine play a game of cricket some time in the future before backing him in. I do think he's still in the frame for life after Haddin and frankly I think this is a good problem to have, but his recovery from this injury has not been encouraging so far.

Uhh, you realise this guy is essentially just a spotter, right? This is essentially an entry-level position in to the footy industry for those who don't have a passage in through playing. All the clubs have lots of guys on the payroll like this, both full time and part time, including ours. There's a guy who used to be a regular on Demonland that made his way in to the footy industry this way. The "tried and proven" candidates all have better jobs. Asking for Pelchen or "the Geelong guy" to fill this role would be like asking for George Calombaris to apply for the role of kitchen hand.

Damn, shame I missed it. I was out of bed at the right hour too. Shame Clarke didn't sent Lyon in to get the last couple of runs with Harris - that would've been fitting! It's not often that a specialist bowler wins MOTM for his outstanding performance with the bat - absolutely no doubt Harris (ably supported by Lyon) was chiefly responsible for this win with that innings. Edit: Also, seems laughable that it wasn't that long ago that Bob and I were bemoaning the lack of batting power in the tail. In the last six months, every single one of Siddle, Harris, Lyon and Pattinson have contributed an important innings with the bat - and Hilfy is capable of an amusing cameo of unconvincing fours when the mood suits.

Warner's first test wicket! Wouldn't it be funny if after all this dicking around looking for a spinner post-Warne, Warner turns out to be a test-grade leggie? Ok, fanciful thinking (especially since the ball that took the wicket was rubbish) but I got a chuckle out of it.

It was a great final in the end that came right down to the wire even though there was a full day to spare. The chase was absolutely gripping: Butterworth and Faulkner had them absolutely on the ropes after taking 5/5 on their middle order. Tassie only needed one more wicket before being in to the bunny tail of Boyce and McDermott, before that lumbering goof Magoffin managed to nick enough 4s to chase down the total in the end. Faulkner and Krezja were bowling to them for the last 10 runs and were both so bloody close to taking wickets without success that it was making me feel sick. Chris Hartley on the other hand is all class and thoroughly deserved his MOTM for the victory. I'd say he and Eddie Cowan were the only two batsman who looked solid for the whole match. Also I think a "well done" to the Gabba curators are in order, the pitch was the reason this was such a great match. They could quite easily have prepared a road so that Queensland could just but for three days and set Tasmania an unchasable target and have the match peter out in to a boring draw giving QLD the Shield, but it was nothing like that. It had lots in it for the bowlers, which was to the strength of both teams. Bloody glad Foxtel backflipped on their decision not to televise it, too.

Centuries to Cowan (what an amazing two seasons he's had) and Ponting (his three scores since being given the axe from the ODI side have been 75*, 130 and 111), WA dismissed for 241 in the second innings. Tassie's total for outright victory is 21 - pretty sure they can manage that Jackson Bird's figures for the match were 11/95. You'd think the bowler would win the MOTM award - not that any of you care Oh, and some guy from India retired the other day.

If Tassie can roll WA in the Shield in the next three days then they'll hit the top of the Shield table, and where they play just depends on the result of the Queensland/SA game. Looking good so far after skittling WA out for 142 and are 1/72 in reply. How great would it be to have Ponting lead Tassie to a Shield victory?

My advice: elope.

Beer has disappeared from the scene, but that's hardly surprising. He was always a left field selection and had barely played any first class cricket when he got the callup, and I think he was just as surprised as anyone. Just another selection out of desperation rather than merit, but then again, the same could probably be said of Lyon.

It might not sound like much, but I reckon that's asking a lot Macca. There weren't very many top class leggies around in the world pre-Warne and not much since (the fact that we managed to produce Stuey Macgill at the same time was rotten luck timing wise). I don't reckon we'd be counting on one turning up any time soon.

You were saying? On those totals, we could've enforced the follow on and won by an innings. I picked it, dammit, but Clarke blew it for me

Reckon Zaheer Khan could look Virat Kohli in the eye after that effort? Edit: And on that note, why does Ishant Sharma bat after Zaheer? Obviously he's not great with the bat, but at least he treats his wicket with some regard. I know which of the two I'd prefer to have down the other end. If he can learn to cope with those bouncers, I don't see a reason why he couldn't become passable with the bat like Peter Siddle or Ryan Harris.

Chances of Michael Clarke beating his highest test score?

Yeah, it's the fact that it's India we're playing that made me ask the question. You're right, their batting has been sensational* this summer. They've definitely* proven they have the ability to bat for any length of time. The only point I'll concede is the track. I've got no belief whatsoever in their batting though.

Premature I realise, but what are the chances of Australia beating India by an innings three times in a row?

The Ponting-Clarke partnership is really (finally) blossoming, now that we're right at the tail of Ponting's career (or maybe not, if current form holds). Never too late, I guess. Both commented during the other mega partnership that they'd hardly spent any time together in the middle at all in two otherwise successful careers. Great to see them leading from the front.

Just goes to show how seriously they're taking the T20, really.

I don't watch a great deal of cricket outside of Australian matches except for the odd bits here and there in SA series (and only because they're on TV at a convenient time). Therefore I hardly see Pakistan play - but each time I have they've been bordering on diabolical (like the last series here). I'll have to take your word for it if you believe they're underrated in general. That said, it's nice to see them bring the poms down a peg. If you read any cricket forums online, you'll know their supporters are bloody unbearable when they're up. The world cricket equivalent of Collingwood.

It was - he left Tassie because he was behind Paine in the pecking order. http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/293443.html

Wade actually has a more favourable first class record than Paine. He also looks tidy enough with the gloves - I don't see why he couldn't take the next step. If Paine came good I don't he's so far ahead of Wade that he'd be able to waltz right in and take Wade's spot, especially if Wade found good form in the mean time. The big question is, Tassie has produced the two heir apparents for the keeping job - what the heck are you other states doing? :-)

I've read a few articles in the local rag that indicate Paine is a while off after setbacks with his finger. I expect he'll miss the remainder of this Shield season when it kicks off again, so I can't see him getting a real lot of miles in the legs between now and Windies, and he's missed a tonne of cricket as it is. If they give Haddin the arse, it'll be Wade that goes, not Paine.

Seems an extreme punishment for slow overrates in a Test that finished in under three days.

I'd like them to keep their mitts off the opening partnership for a while. It seems to be working, so leave it alone.

Agree. If I was an Indian fan and they'd dropped Kohli for Sharma I'd have been livid. One of the struggling oldies must go and you'd think Laxman would be first cab off the rank. I think Kohli will (or should) blossom in to a good batsman, but won't do that unless he's given some milage.

I prefer the term "dry humour" over sarcasm (or killjoy)! It was an absolute ripper.