gsmith12

He'll be back ... the selectors have been unbelievably patient with Watto so you'd reckon that the captain will at least be afforded the same luxury. Haddin should captain in his absence - Clarke's next aim should be to get back and firing before the World cup starts (the world cup commences on Feb 15)

I like Watto as a cricketer but in my opinion he's best suited to the late middle order. For the foreseeable future I see Watson at no.5, Mitch Marsh at 6, Smith to move up to no.4 and Shaun Marsh to probably come in at bat at no.3 (as titan pointed out in the above post, he's probably next in line) What complicates things a bit is that Shaun Marsh has been batting at no.5 for W.A.

As an alternative to Shaun Marsh I'd take a chance with a young up and comer (Burns, Maddinson, Silk, Bancroft, Stoinis, Handscomb or Carters) 5 of those aforementioned 7 players are in the top 10 for aggregate runs this season in the Shield ... only Maddinson & Silk are missing from the top 10 but previously, both those players have performed quite well ... Shield aggregates (Cowan and Voges top the list but I'd be looking elsewhere)

I hope you are right in regards to Clark although I would forget the WC and make sure he is 100% for the Ashes tour.

Selfish from my view point as I will be in attendance at Lords and Edgbaston.

Yep, hats off to Nathan ... we've been waiting for a performance like this from him and he sure did deliver.

Kudos to him.

Have we seen the last of PUP ?

I'm not sure Lyon is necessarily a 5th day wicket bowler Smithy as he seems to be at his best when the surfaces give good bounce ... you'd reckon that the uneven bounce that is generally on offer later in games would aid him but from what we've seen so far in his career, it doesn't seem so. I wish him well today though.

It's not that Lyon bowls badly later in the matches - he just can't seem to get the wickets that we want him to get. I agree with 'TD' in the above post to a certain extent - horses for courses. Unless a player is 'A' grade in the Test side, I believe others could be tried to a certain extent. At the moment we've got about 4-5 players in the side who wouldn't be classed as A grade although I believe that one of those non A grade players (Mitch Marsh) should be given a decent run.

Players who can be relied on to play a role can get favour as well but you can't have too many in the side who are in that category. My reckoning is that each player in the test side should 'generally' at least have have that 'A' grade possibility.

... looks like Dhawan has copped a howler - the ball might have just nicked the glove but I reckon the umpire might have thought the ball "hit" the glove ... I was just coming to terms with DRS and a few of it's flaws but the luck can go both ways without DRS. We may well get an LBW turned down today which is out (or something similar)

You were right about those LBW's Macca All the same the Indians copped the worst of the decisions overall and serve them right for their anti DRS stance, anyone would think that they run world cricket

Great to see an Aussie offie perform at last, well done Nathan.

Kohli was brilliant.

you mean the red'n'blueprint, smithy?

No mate but it's a very long pipeline:(

50 years straight as a member is huge

The least the club could do is give the poor bloke a premiership!

It's in the pipeline.

I just received my MFC/MCC membership pack, including my 2015 Platinum Membership card for 52 years consecutive membership.

I don't expect anything from the club except the same success the club was enjoying when I first joined as a junior member.

Proud of you Rainbow, loyalty personified.

That took all of 2 minutes ... the cricket thread mozz factor at work again

As for the outcome of this Test ... we'd have to be favourites now. The Adelaide test so often comes down to the wire after often looking like a draw early on - I'd expect Clarke to declare overnight but he may bat on for 30 minutes.

A word of praise again for our skipper - a fantastic innings on his part given all the circumstances and he continues to lead the team with excellent tactical awareness - he always seems to be ahead of the play.

Smith is coming on in leaps and bounds and Warner is just amazing - he's come a long way from the swashbuckling t20 player he was when he first started out.

Nice to see Lyon pick up a 5 wicket haul too ... if he can get a few wickets tomorrow, all the better.

It should be a fascinating day tomorrow regardless of the result (I believe at least 7 hours of play is available)

98 overs to be bowled which should be enough to dismiss the Indians.

Pleased to see Lyon have success however he must follow up.

Amazing that the bounce he obtains in Oz makes NL a threat whereas he was pitiful in the UAE.

Last I looked (which was a couple of years ago) it was about $15 per year for 50 year MCC members. Not far off free though.

You are on the money mate, this is the response from a close friend who is a 50+ MCC member.

"The annual fee reduces to $15. We have a special section (N42) for seating, we have to present ourselves to the John Landy room where they issue us a reserved seat for the day(including football finals). Afternoon tea is supplied free of charge and we have an annual luncheon in November each year the cost being subsidised by the club. We also receive a 50 year members tie and badge."

Another wicketless day with ball in hand for Siddle.

It really is sad at how quickly he's fallen away. Less then 18 months ago he was streets ahead of the rest of our bowlers.

Inclined to agree TD however apparently he has been ill today and took early leave.

It's only 2 weeks ago that he snared 5 in an innings in the Shield.

Just a small amount of humour PD

If someone has been a member of the MFC for 50 years they most likely have the best sense of humour going around.

I have been a supporter since 1960 so that makes makes 64 years

but did not become a member till I came to live in Melbourne in the early 70's

Then I got in a huff a couple of times and let my membership lapse.

I quite often think I am a few cents short in the dollar especially over the last nine years.

You either struggle with Maths or early dementia has set in old fella.

Hope it's the former.

Perhaps free admittance for life and afternoon tea which is what the MCC give their 50 year members.

I'm guessing the recipient is not whinging as he is a fair dinkum Demon.

3 centuries, a wonderful tribute to the memory of PH.

A number of critics of MC are no doubt reconsidering given the way the Captain has performed in the past couple of weeks.

Russell Richards

With all due respect, it's a throw away article. Jay Clark being Jay Clark. Not sure it's 20 young guns, more a list of 20 randomly pulled out of his rrrse. Surprised he didn't put the 10ft American in there. Would've thought Matt Scharenberg from Collingwood would be on that list.

You wouldn't know whether these journos have done any decent research or as you say have pulled names from their ring.

Still, nice to see the 4 kids on the list, gives us something to look forward too and don't we need it.

Tappscott showed plenty of promise, just a shame his body couldnt hold up to the demands of AFL footy, certainly had some great traits.

Tappy looked good and applied a few great tackles, sadly however he didn't get hold of the Sherrin often enough for mine.

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.

Blease was the only one to show any promise IMO and he was certainly given enough chances.

Sorry. Confused as the point you are making here?

Read the thread and the point will be crystal clear.

Melbourne Demons highlights for the 2014 season, Hope you enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeTqBCG5T7k

Thanks.

Great clip thanks buddy.

Last time I saw Neita bouncing down Collins st he was puddly, Hoppy, Mitch Clark, Wheata, Jacko. Yet wandered past Yz on Friday after work and fit as a fiddle, Stinga is ripped still, "indigenous" or no some like a feed more than others.

You are wrong about Clark.

The others I will take your word for it.

Seriously? Have you seen half of the Ex non-indigenous Dee players? Fatties as well.

No I haven't to be honest, living in Qld for the past 28 years hasn't helped I guess.

Perhaps you could give me several examples from 'half' the ex non-indigenous Demon players you refer to ?

Why do the indigenous boys go to fat once they finish their active sporting days, Rioli and Lionel Rose are two other examples.

Toned fit athletes one minute, over weight the next.

Mind you Long is an extreme porker.

And Godders was an extremely honourable, self effacing team player.

Most underated and good quality person.

Hear hear.

Godders was a better kick.

And his Dad was a vegan.

The obsession with Scully is alarming, get over him ffs.