Macca

Here are the Aussie squads for the 2 warm up games vs India . Shaun Marsh is a late withdrawal from the 3 day fixture ( back injury ). Ed Cowan takes his place . http://www.24cricket...announced/8638/

On the subject of Shield players on the fringe of Test selection , there are any number of them depending on opinion - Wade , Paine , Hazlewood , Maddinson , Christian , Ferguson , Harris , Cutting , Forrest , Rogers , Cowan , Klinger , Cooper , Davis , Bailey , Herrick , Hogan , Butterworth , Faulkner , Maxwell etc etc . Just throwing some names out there as obviously some of those I've mentioned may never play Test cricket . It's my belief that the Sheffield Shield system is the best 2nd tier 1st class cricket in the World . It has served us well over many years and largely explains why Australia has been the most successful Test nation . Edit - Mitchell Marsh ! Now there's an up and coming player . Future star .

No 1st class cricket whilst the Tests are being played . This amounts to about 53 days ( from about Dec 9 until Feb 2 ) . This is a ridiculous piece of scheduling . The battle weary players can rest . What happens to Khawaja if he gets dropped ? There is no pathway back .

3 days to go .

Macca 3.8

Thanks Wyl We used to have the Tests out of the way after Sydney so the current problem is a new one . I think the only way you can have a round of Shield games during the Tests ( apart from next weekend ) is if you put the Big Bash on hold for 5 days sometime in January . An ideal time would be during the Sydney Test so fringe players can prepare for the final 2 Tests . Usually the Team doesn't change much from the Boxing day Test to the Sydney Test . Btw , this new system of Boxing day Test , Sydney Test , Perth Test in mid January and the Adelaide Test over Australia day is probably here to stay so C.A need to get it right. Cheers

There could have been a round of 3 Shield games this Weekend . They could have held off the Big Bash for 4 days so our Test Batsmen and up and coming batsmen and bowlers get to have one last hit out before this important series against India . The Test bowlers could have been rested but now Harris , Hazlewood and others have only nets or 4 overs per game in the Big Bash as preparation for Test cricket ( if they are called up ) . It's a shocking piece of programming by C.A . Also , there are 5 and 6 day gaps between the 3rd and 4th Tests where the only practice Test players will get is in the nets or the Big Bash . That's fine if you are winning easily and have no reason to change the Team but as we well know .......................... The lack of "other" 1st class cricket in the next 7 weeks will be a major issue and the media are already highlighting the shortfalls . Shield cricket is our only real nursery for Test cricket and even though it's heavily subsidised without it we're cactus .

Congratulations to Dave Warner - fabulous innings . The bowlers did their job as well - especially good considering how inexperienced they are ( apart from Siddle ) . Well done to the Kiwi's and they thoroughly deserved their victory . Bracewell's 9 wckts for the match was something he'll always remember - well played . Our current top 7 apart from Warner and Clarke are either getting too old , not good enough , past it or need a spell . It seems most of the new players are performing really well and all of the "Old boys" are either finished or close enough to it . If we were a strong team you'd probably send Khawaja back to Shield ranks . Though this is a little difficult as apart from the "Other" 2 tour games involving India there isn't any 1st class cricket in Australia until the 2nd of February - shocking planning . If Warner has strained his lower back he may not play in Melbourne . Marsh and Watson may not be fit either . Trying to pick the top 7 for Boxing day would be total guesswork . I originally thought that we'd beat India in the upcoming series with a fit Cummins , though even if he were available now I'd be quite concerned . Sport being what is though , we could come out and thrash India in Melbourne !

For those of you who like your "Westerns" , there's a brand new series called "Hell on Wheels" set immediately after the Civil war . It centres on the building of the Trans Continental Railroad by the Union Pacific Company ............... Tough , Gritty and pulls no punches . Here's the IMDb link .............. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1699748/

"el clasico" on at 7.55am tomorrow morning . Real Madrid vs Barcelona . Arguably the 2 best soccer teams in the world and interestingly , both teams are owned by their fans .

Patrick Cummins out for all the Tests vs India - what a shame as I was looking forward to seeing him live in Melbourne . Suppose it gives another quick a chance to cement a spot in the side but it's still a big blow .

Yeah , Sydonia are great . And I liked the solo guitarist in your 1st post - wow !

Thanks for that link HG . I remember the days when we used to get the last session of select Shield games on the tele !

Played a lot of cricket at 2 cricket clubs - at one I was known as "Nuggets" after the great Keith "Nugget" Miller - somebody added an "s" and it stuck ! Btw It had nothing to do with rivaling his cricket ability ! And at the other club I was known as "Macca" - most people I know call me that . When I played footy I had various nicknames but "You" and "Mate" figured predominantly in the early days ! I'm figuring yours is self explanatory yeah ?

Excellent article in that link "Nasher" . Perhaps Dave Warner will set a trend of T20 batsmen progressing to Test cricket - can't see why not . As for India , they were woeful in England a few months back and are notoriously poor away from home . Aussies to win the series though India might win 1 test . Can't wait to see this Cummins / Pattinson duo in action . Bring on Boxing day !

Shane Warne's 1st Test figures 45 - 7 - 150 - 1 ( Ist innings vs India , Sydney , 1992 ) We need to give these new players a bit of a go . Hughes has major issues but what's the bet he makes a big score in Hobart ?! Don't know what to make of him really . Jayasuriya . Sehwag , Gilchrist and plenty of others were highly successful without having perfect techniques , which leads me into "The Suburban Boy" otherwise known as the "Bull" . I reckon Warner will be fantastic for Test cricket if he's successful and I'm backing him to do it for this reason . He may get found out but I really hope not . Cummins and Pattinson should lead our attack for many years if they remain healthy . And Starc will hopefully be a goodin' as well with his variety . And there are other young quicks on the horizon ( Cutting , Hazelwood . Herrick etc ) . Lyon keeps getting better and better . Suddenly this Indian team are quite vulnerable .

J.L. Pattinson! ... and he's a Victorian.

Terrific song HT . Thought I'd bump it up to top of the Billboard being a Saturday night and all that !

Macca 3.7

Great song - and a great sound . Another band I need to explore more - rest assured I will !

Ha ha ha ! Must see if I can find that painting on the net and update my avatar ! I never get tired of Seinfeld , my favourite episode is when George is "O'Brien" in "The Limo" . Classic .

Yeah , IASIP is very good JJ . What an awful , opportunist bunch hey ? A train wreck really but funny as . A big departure from "Sunny" is a new comedy called "New Girl" . Better than I thought it would be . Kinda corny but Zooey Deschanel is terrific and plays a zany type sharing a loft with 3 blokes . One of those shows you immediately like or ...........................

Macca 3.6 - slideshow only for this Kiwi classic !

Wouldn't hit the "doom and gloom" button re Test cricket just yet "jako" . Whilst I agree T20 will be huge it might help Test cricket just like the 50 over game has . Test cricket will survive and will probably get better aesthetically with run rates rising etc . And how about if Warner is successful at the 5 day game ? Already there has been a change of scheduling with the big 4 teams ( Australia , England , South Africa and India ) playing each other home and away over the next 3 years instead of over 4 years . I remember people started saying that 50 over cricket would kill off Test cricket back in the late 1970's - It didn't . And the "Ashes" is just as big as it ever was . I love both forms of the game and am looking forward to watching the Tests vs India during the day and the "Big Bash" in the evenings - bring it on !! As for the "Big Bash" I reckon most Victorians will "secretly" follow both Melbourne teams - Warnie playing is gonna be huge so get ready for some big crowds . I was at the Vics / Tassie game 2 years ago when 43,000 turned up - it was like a footy crowd ! I'm going to follow both teams as I cannot see myself wanting any interstate team beating a Victorian team . I may form an allegiance later on but for now .............. Go the Renegades ! Go the Stars !

Macca 3.5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waacof2saZw&ob=av2e