MadAsHell

Think Mendis is still doing decent things in T20, but unsure where he is with his test match playing? They have a series coming up against Pakistan, so we may see him there? Taylor dropped for the 2nd time today, this time on 122 and a much simpler chance then when he was on 0. The wheels are falling off for the Windies...

Tea Day 1: New Zealand 3/186 R. Taylor 70* K. Williamson 45 B. McCullum 37* T. Best 2/47 (11) D. Sammy 1/63 (18) N. Deonarine 0/5 (2) Well disaster for the Windies winning the toss and bowling and the opposition being 3/186 at tea on a greentop. Ross Taylor dropped on 0 has hurt them, but they were very ordinary in that second session. The problem the Windies seem to have is their bowling is very ordinary. I understand both Roach & Rampaul are injured, but surely there are others out there better then Best & Gabriel. Fidel Edwards & Sheldon Cottrell for starters. Also Darren Sammy isn't a threatening enough bowler to be 1st change and his batting isn't good enough to be top 6, so it puts a question mark on his position as a whole?

Haha, not far off P-Man. Which is a shame, cause they've got the makings of a decent team New Zealand. Their quicks just need a bit more penetration, they have some talented batsmen around. Edit: Spelling

Lunch Day 1: New Zealand 2/79 R. Taylor 32* K. Williamson 21* H. Rutherford 11 D. Sammy 1/20 (8) T. Best 1/33 (6) S. Gabriel 0/6 (8) Pretty good session for the black caps considersing they've been sent in on a greentop. Fulton out LBW first ball but then overturned on review. Windies have dropped two catches including Taylor in single figures who they're still yet to dismiss this series. Horrible bolwing by Tino Best, I know Roach & Rampaul are injured, but how he gets a gig I don't know? They'd be better off going back to Fidel Edwards or with the raw Sheldon Cottrell in my opinion. If New Zealand can still be batting by stumps tonight you'd have to say the day's belonged to them!

For those of us champing at the bit for more cricket leading up to the 3rd test, the 2nd Test between New Zealand & West Indies starts in Wellington in the net 15 minutes or so. It appears the Windies have won the toss ona green top and are sending New Zealand in. Windies unchanged from the last test it appears and for New Zealand Kane Willimason returns from injury at the expense of Redmond. I'm suprised New Zealand didn't bring any fresh bowlers in given the bowled for 8.5 sessions straight in the last test. Was a great effort from the West Indies to save that match (help from the weather gods also I know). Two pretty even matched sides, so could be an interesting remainder of the series. On a further note to this match, I know it's a green top and that's why the Windies have ellected to bolw obviously. But given the amount of work the New Zealand bowlers had to do in the last test and they haven't made any changes, I wonder if Sammy's missed a trick here by not electing to bat and hope to catch the Kiwis a little flat?

My bowlers have done ok, I had Rhino Harris, Ravi Ashwin & Morne Morkel, but apart from that I've struggled. I had Cook & Sehwag openning, Cook's hit struggle street and Sehwag's finished. Younis Khan at 3 who's been ok and Angelo Mathews at 4 who's only just approaching test match since I selected him now! Colin Munro at 5 hasn't added to his 1 test, Matty Wade as the keeper at 6 lost his spot and Dwayne Bravo at 7 hasn't got back into the Windies team. I also had Abdul Rehman who hasn't played a test for some time! Fair to say my XI hasn't been far from England's level over the last two tests....

Australia surely to be unchanged for Perth. England I'm sure will rush Bresnan back, for Panesar, then just a question of whether they look to bolster their batting by bringing Ballance or Bairstow in for Stokes or pin their hopes on Prior's form turning around, bat Bresnan at 7 and bring in Finn or Rankin for a bit of pace x factor in Perth and having 5 bowlers. No easy answers for England, but their depth with both bat and ball is certainly starting to look a little thin.

Yeah I'm not a fan either, I'm missing the days of Benaud, Lawry, Chappeli and even Greig more then I thought I would. Why they didn't go hard for either Fleming or Blewett from Foxtel I have no idea. Both very good commentators, and Fleming is a crack up to go with it!

What a day of cricket yesterday, was absolutely unbelievable! Can't believe the turn around in Mitch Johnson's fortunes, 12 months ago I never wanted to see this guy in the whites again, now look at him! Aussies to bat for 45-50 minutes this morning and declare setting England somewhere close to 600 to win as Macca suggested. And with Perth coming up their batsmen must be frighteneted about what to expect from Mitch there! As for what changes England can make from here on to try anda salvage anything??? I'd expect Bresnan will be rushed back for Perth at the expense of Monty, Prior is in all sorts of bother and hasn't made decent runs in his last 9 tests, they may look to bring Bairstow in for him and Gary Ballance may also come in for Stokes to strengthen their batting. And as many have said, Bell should bat at three and Root should go back down the order to 5 or 6. This makes the 5th test match in a row we've had the better of England, despite the fact we lost at Durham. When we think about it, apart from the Lords test match it's amazing the turn around this team has had since Lehman came in.

Hard to see England turning this into a win, and even a draw suits us well with Perth coming up where it's fair to say the conditions will suit us much more then England and could see us heading to Melbourne 2-0 or even better yet with the series wrapped up 3-0! England's best bet is making 500 themselves. Hope to knock us over for about 150 and then chase down 220-250 on the last day, but that's a long shot, especially given they haven't made it to 400 as a batting unit for some time now, well before the last Ashes series. Aussies need a good disciplined day of bowling tomorrow. If we can have them say 7/350 at stumps tomorrow you'd take that on this wicket, And I reckon it will get tougher to bat days 4 & 5, thought there was just a little bit of inconsistent bounce late in the day today which I reckon will suit Harris & Siddle especially.

If by every you mean 18 then yes. Pretty sure there may have been a couple of 100 other prospects out there.

Pickett had a very good year in 2006. But that's despite the point, Pickett wasn't a thug and never took cheap shots, any heavy bumps/hits of his were always in play.

What a great eye for detail and observer of talent. Someone at MFC give this man a job in recruiting!

Ediie would resign first so someone else could do it.

I mentioned him in the name your rookie thread. Post 125 I think it was. Was really keen on either Harmes or Ben Sokol as another midfielder.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/lifelong-melbourne-football-club-fan-james-harmes-fulfils-his-demon-dream-through-draft/story-fngnvoeu-1226769698721 Good little story on him and he seems pretty confident and motivated to make a career for himself. Best of luck to him, and good to see he's a local from the Casey area also.

Agree. I would have rathered gone with Sully, Fort or Spencer. But I hope he proves me wrong.

http://demonland.com/forums/index.php?/topic/35476-name-your-rookie-prospect/page-5 Post 125 on 24/11/13 @ 11:13am I think it was. Mentioned 6 midfiedlers to take with Pick 38, of which Harmes was one. Not quite 40 or 50......

I mentioned this guy in the name your rookie prospects thread as a mid I was keen on along with about 4 or 5 others. Good pace and good agression and he'll put heat on the likes of Bail & Tapscott no doubt.

I know that I will likely get howled down for this, and potentially rightly so. But..... Should we look at resting our two most important quicks from the last test (Harris & Johnson) from the flat track that will await them in Adelaide and instead keep them up our sleeve for Perth? We could bring in a second spinner (Fawad Ahmed) so we'd have a leggie and an off spinenr and also bring in Faulkner to share the new ball with Siddle and give our batting some extra depth as a draw in Adelide would suit us just fine. Siddle & Faulkner share the new ball. Watto to bowl first change, but still cap him at no more then 10 overs a day, and then the specialist spinners of Lyon & Ahmed. We're not going to be able to bounce them out in Adelaide, so if we can play it smart there and hit them hard in Perth, that could then see us with a 2-0 lead heading into Boxing Day. Just something to consider I reckon. http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2013-14/content/story/692679.html

Good work McQueen! Don't get me wrong I like the Hightale also, but you can only have so much of it. Where you can have a good long night on the steam! Brilliant brewery that place is in Richmond.

True on both counts, however: McGrath's incident was comments involving his wife where it was common knowledge at the time she was battling cancer. Symonds was racial abuse, and we see the players in the AFL get a case of the sooks whenever it happens there. The Trott incident was widely unknown about his personal issues there. If it had of aleady been known then Warner would have crossed the line. As it wasn't, he hasn't IMO.

My options from the name your rookie thread: Matthew Sully (VIC KPD) Height: 195cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 15/10/1992 Recruited from: Geelong (VFL) Style: Player comparison: Kyle Hartigan Range: 35-rookie Profile: Good 1v1 defender who plays a strong shutdown role in the back half. He will consistently win his contests getting in the spoil every time or take the mark and has some real body on body strength. Hell get the job done every week and he has stepped his game up again this year and is ready to take the next step. AFL ready despite his still relatively young age and can step in for a team immediately as a stopper down back. Fraser Fort (VIC KPD) Height: 196cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 04/10/1995 Recruited from: Geelong Falcons Style: Player comparison: Range: 30-rookie Profile: Fort is one of the better key defenders in the TAC. Hes more your shutdown defender with some real athleticism with his pace and leap both above average. He has in the past also shown that he can play forward to a solid standard and present as a marking target but in a star studded Geelong Falcons team with McCartin and Goddard who both look like top 5 selections next year both as key forwards there is a pretty good reason why he hasnt played forward as much this season. I see Fort settling as more of a defender with others more talented as forwards but hell need to continue to expand his game. Hes generally strong overhead and plays well down both ends of the field. or Alex Spencer (VIC KPD) Height: 193cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 19/04/1995 Recruited from: Sandringham Dragons Style: Player comparison: Range: 30 - undrafted Profile: Spencer is an athletic key defender with some versatility to his game. He has a strong 1v1 game and is a strong contested mark. Behind the play he reads the ball well and has a natural feel for when he can go and take an intercept mark. He also has the ability to play either a shutdown or rebounding role as required. He also isnt afraid to take the game on with his run and carry or use it by foot as one of the better kicks at his size. He just doesnt come with any flash to his game as a relatively unexciting key defender. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=z004xm4hoYQ Pick 20, a ruckman: Darcy Cameron (WA Ruck/KPF) Height: 203cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 18/07/1995 Recruited from: Claremont Style: Dean Cox Player comparison: Range: 30-rookie Profile: Cameron is one of the better ruckmen this year because he is not only an effective tap ruckman but because he can present as a target up forward and influence games in the front half with his clean hands overhead and ability to take marks, mark on the lead as well as convert from those opportunities. Cameron reads it well in the air and can also push back and take an intercept mark. He has some size on his frame already which is encouraging and he covers the ground reasonably well for a young tall. Josh Miller (SA Ruck) Height: 204cm, Weight: 94kg, DOB: 07/01/1995 Recruited from: Glenelg Style: Player comparison: Range: Rookie - undrafted Profile: Miller is a tall ruckman who has shown some signs. His taps well directed. Good mover for his size. Relatively skilled for a tall ruckman. Just needs to become more dominant and add some more weapons to his game. Ben Mabon (VIC Ruck) Height: 200cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 14/06/1992 Recruited from: North Melbourne Kangaroos Style: Player comparison: Range: Rookie - undrafted Profile: From North Ballarat, Ben Mabon is an athletic, running ruckman. With excellent work ethic and technique at stoppages, Mabon is always improving and frequently impressing at VFL level with the Roosters. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=w1UGGokC3ew Darcy Fort (VIC Ruck) Height: 203cm, Weight: 90kg, DOB: 06/08/1993 Recruited from: Werribee Style: Player comparison: Range: Rookie - undrafted Profile: Mature ruckman overlooked last year. Has shown promise this year through the VFL. Still as with all young ruckman a work in progress. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=q7ITQafsips or Fraser Thurlow (QLD Ruck/KPF) Height: 199cm, Weight: 100kg, DOB: 06/01/1993 Recruited from: Labrador Style: Player comparison: Range: Rookie - undrafted Profile: Thurlow is a tall who can play forward or ruck. Hes a couple of years older and his body has matured well. Very strong mark overhead. Competitive in the ruck. Finds plenty of it around the ground. Pick 38, a midfielder who can push forward: James Harmes (VIC Mid) Height: 184cm, Weight: 78kg, DOB: 05/10/1995 Recruited from: Dandenong Stingrays Style: Player comparison: Range: Late - undrafted Profile: Harmes is an aggressive midfielder who inside the contest really attacks the ball hard on the inside and will go in for it. Hes got above average pace and can also at times push forward and take a mark. http://bigpondvideo....t-james-harmes/ William Maginness (/VIC Mid/Fwd)Height: 182cm, Weight: 73kg, DOB: 13/01/1995 Recruited from: Oakleigh Chargers Style: Player comparison: Range: 40 - undrafted Profile: Highly productive midfielder and a much improved player over this past year. Plays a good two way game and has a nice combination of ability inside and outside the contest. Maginness can win his own footy inside the contest, win the clearances and has some evasiveness and slipperiness to him inside the contest as a really smooth mover. But then outside the contest runs and spreads well. He has a light body but just about everything else. Ben Sokol (WA Mid/Fwd) Height: 183cm, Weight: 87kg, DOB: 28/10/1995 Recruited from: South Fremantle Style: Dane Swan (early career) Player comparison: Range: 45-rookie Profile: Sokol is a strong marking forward who can really put his stamp on games. Sokols point of difference is his ability marking ability 1v1 up forward for a midfielder. He has Dane Swan type strength 1v1 where no guy can go with him as his strength is just so strong but then also has those strong hands to really take those grabs. He his age he has incredible size and strength. Hes also a very effective leadup marking target. Sokols endurance is also excellent for someone with such a strong body making him a hard player to go with and just seems to be one of those players who just knows how to find the footy easier than the next guy. Hes also an excellent finisher around goal. He seems to improve with every game and is a player as a midfield rotation type who can play up forward could be better than most think. http://bigpondvideo....pect-ben-sokol/ Thomas Shanahan (WA Mid) Height: 183cm, Weight: 75kg, DOB: 28/04/1995 Recruited from: East Perth Style: Player comparison: Range: 25-undrafted Profile: Shanahan is someone who has really made a case for selection with some incredibly impressive production. Hes winning his own footy inside the contest but also finding plenty of it outside and linking up well. Hes a strong tackler and plays a solid two way game. Hes got excellent endurance and runs all day. He tested well. Hes just not the most damaging user of the footy. http://bigpondvideo....homas-shanahan/ Jake Best (VIC Mid/Fwd) Height: 182cm, Weight: 84kg, DOB: 20/10/89 Recruited from: Casey Scorpions Style: Player comparison: Range: Rookie - undrafted Profile: Best is a mature ager who has changed his focus from cricket to footy. Hes a strong marking medium midfielder/forward who can take it on the lead and in the air. or Chris Cain (VIC Mid/Fwd) Height: 181cm, Weight: 83kg, DOB: 14/07/1987 Recruited from: Port Melbourne Style: Player comparison: Sam Dywer Range: late/rookie Profile: Cain has been one of the better performed players in the VFL these past few seasons and seems finally hot on the radar of clubs this season. Cain is a midfielder with a nice skill set but also strong hands overhead allowing him to be a marking threat when he pushes forward. Athletically hes above average with a nice combination of pace and endurance at his disposal. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=sH6qP-x7l84 Pick 56, a mature age KPF: Mitch Thorp (TAS Fwd/KPF) Height: 194cm, Weight: 89kg, DOB: 25/12/1988 Recruited from: South Launceston Style: Jarrad Grant Player comparison: Range: 30-rookie Profile: Thorp is someone who has taken longer than first hoped to develop and mature but he has finally matured this season back home in Tasmania as captain and coach of his club. Hes helped the youth at his club develop and he helped his team to a premiership so hes the type of person that you want to bring into your club. Thorp is not the key forward he is being advertised as but plays more as a tall half forward with a strong running game and above average marking ability by position. In saying that hes finding plenty of the footy, taking plenty of marks and hitting the scoreboard as his 78 goals from 20 games suggests. You dont want him to be the primary target in your front half but hes someone who could play a part as a 2nd or 3rd target in a forward half. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=LnEO77lReBg Khan Haretuku (VIC KPF/KPD) Height: 198cm, Weight: 98kg, DOB: 19/10/1989 Recruited from: Frankston Dolphins Style: Player comparison: Range: 30-rookie Profile: ONCE on St Kildas rookie list, Haretuku has since made it his own pledge to prove his former club wrong. His former coach Ross Lyon sat him down in his office and told him that he was not good enough for AFL level. It hurt him deeply but soon got back on the track at the Dolphins and has added new strings to his bow under coach Simon Goosey. Not only does he play deep in attack, he has found confidence around centre half forward and further up the ground. Haretuku has the makings of an AFL career and Goosey knows it. He has spruiked his talent to most clubs and knows that one club will get him during the rookie draft. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=rNKH4yoQpp8 Andrew Ainger (SA KPF) Height: 197cm, Weight: 96kg, DOB: ? (25 years old) Recruited from: Woodville West Torrens Eagles Style: Player comparison: Range: rookie Profile: Key position big bodied forward who had a breakout year in the SANFL in 2013, kicking more then 50 goals. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=QpGMqud1wBA http://www.youtube.c...h?v=ayBgXb3f1Jw http://www.youtube.c...h?v=y9z7u9vtEoU Aaron Cornelius (Tas via Qld KPF) Height: 192cm, Weight: 88kg, DOB: 29/05/1990 Recruited from: Brisbane Lions Style: Range: rookie Profile: Aaron Cornelius was recruited from Tasmania as a promising forward who is strong on the lead and has very clean hands. He reads the play very well and has the tools to be an exciting key forward prospect for any club willing to give him a second chance. Kicked 35 goals in 25 games for the Lions. http://www.youtube.c...h?v=c37Ki9eDZdU

Steam or Hightale?

Wow! That's pretty big! Wonder who they'll send out to replace him? The all rounder Woakes, or will they go for another specialist batsman like Compton? I guess if Woakes replaces him, they can then play Pannesar as a 2nd spinner (bar the WACA of course). Bell to move up to 3 you'd think and Root to 5.