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Summer of Cricket thread

In the fourth T20 Int. Nathan Ellis has another three for and he conceded only 5 an over. Used to rate James Faulkner as our most deceptive white ball bowler, but reckon this bloke has him covered.

Aussies need 168 to win. Am banking on Josh Philippe taking on their spinners. Love watching his nimble footwork versus the turning ball.
 
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In the fourth T20 Int. Nathan Ellis has another three for and he conceded only 5 an over. Used to rate James Faulkner as our most deceptive white ball bowler, but reckon this bloke has him covered.

Aussies need 168 to win. Am banking on Josh Philippe taking on their spinners. Love watching his nimble footwork versus the turning ball.
ellis unbelievable and has been for some time, unlucky not to get more games
 
Aussies sunk by spin again. We just dont have the domestic pitches needed to improve spin play. Doesnt help either when guys sweep in front of their stumps. That is just handing over your wicket.
 
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Aussies sunk by spin again. We just dont have the domestic pitches needed to improve spin play. Doesnt help either when guys sweep in front of their stumps. That is just handing over your wicket.
I've posed this a lot off forum, but nobody agrees.

I'm keen to add the ACT and NT to the Shield. Then make both Darwin and Alice Springs ( played in Darwin wet season) turning pitches, and the ACT a turning pitch. We need domestic pitches where spinners operate from both ends at times, to give Aussie batters match pressure where playing spin is difficult.

Also, the ball turns a lot in the 4, possibly 5 South Asian Test cricket countries with Afghanistan now playing in the Test arena. Moreover, the Windies can have turning pitches.

We also had the ridiculous scenario that Swepson and Kuhnemann, both Test quality spinners, competing for the same position in the team.
 
Looking at the Test selections.

Weatherald - made 900 plus runs at 51 last season opening for Tas, after being kept out of the team by Ward and Jewell the previous season. All three are leftines. He has averaged over 41 this season in the Shield. A more freescoring batter than most others in the Aus top order.

Green - hasn't bowled much yet. At least he is only 26. We need young players like him.

Abbott - aged 33, but at 138kph was the fastest bowler in the Shield at Bellerive last season - apart from Riley Meredith who cranked it up to 148kph. Potent with new ball but loses efficacy as shine goes off it.

Doggett - beautiful, smooth free flowing action. Has had injury issues.

Fergus O'Neill - not selected. However, is young, accurate only bowls about 125-130 kph. He has taken the most Shield wickets in last 2 seasons. Another 5-7 clicks per ball and he would be in the team.

Labu - no problems with his selection. He has scored plenty of red ball runs to redeem himself.

Webster - IMO has done well in Test cricket. The consummate all rounder - bowls pace, spin, bats and is Aus's best slipper. The only prob is he was injured for first Shield game, Crick Aus asked him to be rested for the second Shield game, and he played the third - only scoring single digit numbers in 2 hits against Vic. Has scored difficult Test runs in tough circumstances, when others ahead in order have failed. A pressure player.

Konstas - long term future of Aus cricket - but then again Renshaw looked like it at age 21 too.

I agree that too many Aus Test players are too old, and any team needs renewal, but the younger gen aren't breaking the door down to replace them.

Should Bailey et al tap Usman and Lyon on the shoulder? IMO yes! Both have been greats, particularly the GOAT. Of course it suits me that a batting line up of;

Weatherald ( age 32, lot of red ball Shield experience)
Labu
Green (don't want to put pressure on him bowling, and need to develop his batting)
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Kuhnemann
Hazlewood
Boland;

has 3 Tasmanians in it, but it is a younger team.

Many Aussies don't know it as few watch Tests played abroad, but left arm finger spinner Matt Kuhnemann ( aged 27), was the top wicket taker in SL Tests this year with 15 poles. Inglis also scored a good ton there.

We also have 2 other good right arm finger spinners in Shield ranks - Murphy and Rocciocioli.

Usman is also looking a bit old in the field. Weatherald and Labu are better fielders. Idiotically, Aus have tried to hide Usman at first slip, when Aus's best slipper, Webster, has been fielding in the outfield to accommodate Usman! Webster dropped a catch at slip in last Shield game. Nobody could believe it!
 
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Alternatively, should Aus drop Lyon on pace friendly pitches and let Webster and Head take on the spin duties?

Not sure whether Webster of head is the better finger spinner?
 
Agree with Steve Waugh that players should not commenting on selections.

If Lyon and Usman, or anyone else outside the captain are commenting in the media on who they think they should be in the team, they are too comfortable. They aren't selectors.
 
Also, I'm still unhappy with Smith being captain because of South African ball tampering.

Head, Carey for mine as new look captain.

Usman if he was younger, or Lyon, if he was younger too.

I was always worried about Cummins as captain, only because of the injuries associated with pace bowling. Having said that Paddy has been a superb statesperson and public face.

A captain can always seek Smith's astute tactical acumen.
 
Looking at the Test selections.

Weatherald - made 900 plus runs at 51 last season opening for Tas, after being kept out of the team by Ward and Jewell the previous season. All three are leftines. He has averaged over 41 this season in the Shield. A more freescoring batter than most others in the Aus top order.

Green - hasn't bowled much yet. At least he is only 26. We need young players like him.

Abbott - aged 33, but at 138kph was the fastest bowler in the Shield at Bellerive last season - apart from Riley Meredith who cranked it up to 148kph. Potent with new ball but loses efficacy as shine goes off it.

Doggett - beautiful, smooth free flowing action. Has had injury issues.

Fergus O'Neill - not selected. However, is young, accurate only bowls about 125-130 kph. He has taken the most Shield wickets in last 2 seasons. Another 5-7 clicks per ball and he would be in the team.

Labu - no problems with his selection. He has scored plenty of red ball runs to redeem himself.

Webster - IMO has done well in Test cricket. The consummate all rounder - bowls pace, spin, bats and is Aus's best slipper. The only prob is he was injured for first Shield game, Crick Aus asked him to be rested for the second Shield game, and he played the third - only scoring single digit numbers in 2 hits against Vic. Has scored difficult Test runs in tough circumstances, when others ahead in order have failed. A pressure player.

Konstas - long term future of Aus cricket - but then again Renshaw looked like it at age 21 too.

I agree that too many Aus Test players are too old, and any team needs renewal, but the younger gen aren't breaking the door down to replace them.

Should Bailey et al tap Usman and Lyon on the shoulder? IMO yes! Both have been greats, particularly the GOAT. Of course it suits me that a batting line up of;


has 3 Tasmanians in it, but it is a younger team.

Many Aussies don't know it as few watch Tests played abroad, but left arm finger spinner Matt Kuhnemann ( aged 27), was the top wicket taker in SL Tests this year with 15 poles. Inglis also scored a good ton there.

We also have 2 other good right arm finger spinners in Shield ranks - Murphy and Rocciocioli.

Usman is also looking a bit old in the field. Weatherald and Labu are better fielders. Idiotically, Aus have tried to hide Usman at first slip, when Aus's best slipper, Webster, has been fielding in the outfield to accommodate Usman! Webster dropped a catch at slip in last Shield game. Nobody could believe it!
Weatherald ( age 32, lot of red ball Shield experience)
Labu
Green (don't want to put pressure on him bowling, and need to develop his batting)
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Kuhnemann
Hazlewood
Boland;

You didnt count Khawaja. So that is 12. Weatherald turned 31 four days ago mate, so he is still in his prime years and as much as we want Lyon to quit, he aint going anywhere as Bailey, Mc Donald seem reluctant to tap on shoulder any of our veterans.

Green was close to our best bat in West Indies. Not sure where he batted, but if we want the best from him then he must be in his most productive spot, #4. He will be our first genuine all rounder since Keith Miller and they are as rare as snow in hell, so he has to bowl too DC.

I have Kuhnemann best suited for the sub continent with Murphy or Tanveer Sangha elsewhere. also want Carey batting ahead of Webster if he plays.
 
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Alternatively, should Aus drop Lyon on pace friendly pitches and let Webster and Head take on the spin duties?
I like that idea but try convincing Bailey and McDonald. Smith and Labs can bowl some wrist spin too. We can further strengthen our batting depth once Green is bowling 15/20 overs an innings by bringing in another specialist bat.
 
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Looking at the Test selections.

Weatherald - made 900 plus runs at 51 last season opening for Tas, after being kept out of the team by Ward and Jewell the previous season. All three are leftines. He has averaged over 41 this season in the Shield. A more freescoring batter than most others in the Aus top order.

Green - hasn't bowled much yet. At least he is only 26. We need young players like him.

Abbott - aged 33, but at 138kph was the fastest bowler in the Shield at Bellerive last season - apart from Riley Meredith who cranked it up to 148kph. Potent with new ball but loses efficacy as shine goes off it.

Doggett - beautiful, smooth free flowing action. Has had injury issues.

Fergus O'Neill - not selected. However, is young, accurate only bowls about 125-130 kph. He has taken the most Shield wickets in last 2 seasons. Another 5-7 clicks per ball and he would be in the team.

Labu - no problems with his selection. He has scored plenty of red ball runs to redeem himself.

Webster - IMO has done well in Test cricket. The consummate all rounder - bowls pace, spin, bats and is Aus's best slipper. The only prob is he was injured for first Shield game, Crick Aus asked him to be rested for the second Shield game, and he played the third - only scoring single digit numbers in 2 hits against Vic. Has scored difficult Test runs in tough circumstances, when others ahead in order have failed. A pressure player.

Konstas - long term future of Aus cricket - but then again Renshaw looked like it at age 21 too.

I agree that too many Aus Test players are too old, and any team needs renewal, but the younger gen aren't breaking the door down to replace them.

Should Bailey et al tap Usman and Lyon on the shoulder? IMO yes! Both have been greats, particularly the GOAT. Of course it suits me that a batting line up of;

Weatherald ( age 32, lot of red ball Shield experience)
Labu
Green (don't want to put pressure on him bowling, and need to develop his batting)
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Kuhnemann
Hazlewood
Boland;

has 3 Tasmanians in it, but it is a younger team.

Many Aussies don't know it as few watch Tests played abroad, but left arm finger spinner Matt Kuhnemann ( aged 27), was the top wicket taker in SL Tests this year with 15 poles. Inglis also scored a good ton there.

We also have 2 other good right arm finger spinners in Shield ranks - Murphy and Rocciocioli.

Usman is also looking a bit old in the field. Weatherald and Labu are better fielders. Idiotically, Aus have tried to hide Usman at first slip, when Aus's best slipper, Webster, has been fielding in the outfield to accommodate Usman! Webster dropped a catch at slip in last Shield game. Nobody could believe it!
Good summary Jon, You are now as verbose as me with your penmanship.
 
Weatherald ( age 32, lot of red ball Shield experience)
Labu
Green (don't want to put pressure on him bowling, and need to develop his batting)
Smith
Head
Webster
Carey
Starc
Kuhnemann
Hazlewood
Boland;

You didnt count Khawaja. So that is 12. Weatherald turned 31 four days ago mate, so he is still in his prime years and as much as we want Lyon to quit, he aint going anywhere as Bailey, Mc Donald seem reluctant to tap on shoulder any of our veterans.

Green was close to our best bat in West Indies. Not sure where he batted, but if we want the best from him then he must be in his most productive spot, #4. He is our only genuine all rounder and they are as rare as snow in hell, so he has to bowl too DC.

I have Kuhnemann best suited for the sub continent with Murphy or Tanveer Sangha elsewhere. also want Carey batting ahead of Webster if he plays.
I think they like right handed Webster playing in between lefties Head and Carey.

I've dropped Khawaja and Lyon - I think renewal is paramount. Weatherald and Kuhnemann can replace both.

4 prong attack, dropping K, and I'd bring 24 yo O'Neill in, despite being a bit short on air speed.
 
I don't want to drop Lyon, but I think team renewal is more important.

Kuhnemann bowled just as well as Lyon in SL. He is only 27 yo.
 
NSW squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Ollie Davies, Jack Edwards, Ryan Hadley, Josh Hazlewood, Sam Konstas, Nathan Lyon, Kurtis Patterson, Josh Philippe, Will Salzmann, Mitchell Starc.


Four quality additions to the Blues for R 4. Not sure how Davies and Hadley keep their spots.
 
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