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Summer of Cricket thread

Decentric said:
You don't know me very well, Zimbos.

I'm not the sort of guy who 'hates' cricketers/sportpersons. For the record, I think they should have brought Usman back earlier into the Test team. He is a graceful batter to watch.

However, this Aus selection panel have had a predisposition to ignore the future - and team renewal by selecting players aged in their 20s. Previously, Warner, and now Usman, should have been dropped earlier.

As more English pundits and former Pommy Test cricketers are now claiming, Aus's batting has had problems for years - only a brilliant Aus bowling attack, and keeper Carey's current batting form, have hidden the Aus batting cracks.

I also think it is sad that Usman has said he feels like he has been treated differently as an Aussie Test cricketer because of his South Asian heritage.

I'm not sure how much Test cricket you've watched in Aus and overseas? Usman has been a weak slipper - relatively. Webster is much better.
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I didn't say you hate cricketers, I just felt you are being unfair to Ussie. Every time he was called back into the side, he rewarded that with a century. An argument could be made that he should have considered retiring after 2024, but then he went to Sri Lanka and scored a double century. The other problem was that no one was really standing up to take his spot. They tried McSweeney, Renners, Burns, Konstas to name a few, and no one really cemented that spot.

I agree that Ussie has probably played a year too long, but if you are going to be selected, why give that up. I also agree that we have a problem with team renewal. Look at the current test, no spinner selected. Lyon won't last forever, so that we're not playing a spinner kind of is dumb, not just because the pitch is good for spin, but because we are not blooding a next in line.

As for your last point, I don't think any of us get to judge him on that. I also don't know if you are in support of him or against what he said. The media are saying he pulled the race card and attacking him. They are doing exactly what he said. He is right. He got slammed to hell over the golf event, yet Starc also played golf the day before. In fact, most of these players played golf the day before a test match at many times throughout their career. It wasn't just a one off. I've watched test cricket for a good part of 33 years, and I've seen the inside of the beast. When I was a journalist, i saw the vitriol and treatment Ussie got. Let's not forget how many people labelled him bad things after what happened with his brother.
 
Neser just dismissed Root caught and bowled for 160 runs! Great catch!

Brilliant innings, Root!

Poms now 9 down for 384.
 
Poms all out for 384 as Neser bowls Tongue.

I think Poms are on top, but we won’t know until Aus bats.
 
zimbos05 said:
I didn't say you hate cricketers, I just felt you are being unfair to Ussie. Every time he was called back into the side, he rewarded that with a century. An argument could be made that he should have considered retiring after 2024, but then he went to Sri Lanka and scored a double century. The other problem was that no one was really standing up to take his spot. They tried McSweeney, Renners, Burns, Konstas to name a few, and no one really cemented that spot.

I agree that Ussie has probably played a year too long, but if you are going to be selected, why give that up. I also agree that we have a problem with team renewal. Look at the current test, no spinner selected. Lyon won't last forever, so that we're not playing a spinner kind of is dumb, not just because the pitch is good for spin, but because we are not blooding a next in line.

As for your last point, I don't think any of us get to judge him on that. I also don't know if you are in support of him or against what he said. The media are saying he pulled the race card and attacking him. They are doing exactly what he said. He is right. He got slammed to hell over the golf event, yet Starc also played golf the day before. In fact, most of these players played golf the day before a test match at many times throughout their career. It wasn't just a one off. I've watched test cricket for a good part of 33 years, and I've seen the inside of the beast. When I was a journalist, i saw the vitriol and treatment Ussie got. Let's not forget how many people labelled him bad things after what happened with his brother.
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I’m a political activist.

I’ve supported all of Usman’s political views he has enunciated. I’m glad he raised them.

I’d buy him a beer, but I’d have to drink it because he doesn’t drink!

I’m also glad to have you posting in the cricket section, Zimbos.

It is now generating a fair bit of traffic.
 
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Richie said:
A second series century by Joe Root and I say better than his earlier ton. Some of his driving has been sublime and he barely played a loose shot. No doubt Joe's figures have soared, perhaps even doubled, under this English cult batting style as stats prove it. But in my view he does not need to play risky cricket shots as he has the technique to play naturally.
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Root is the second top run scorer in Test cricket after Sachin T.
 
Aus is 1-80 off 17 overs. This is 4.7 runs per over. Do we need to score this quickly?

Some good strokemaking on show.
 
At 5 runs an over, with Aus at 1 - 107, maybe this is a decent batting pitch after the new ball loses its shine.
 
Marnus Labuchange you have put us in a spot by letting Stokes get into your head. We needed you fresh tomorrow morning. Meanwhile Trav goes on his merry way mixing loose play with spanking cuts and drives. He seems impervious to pressure.
 
Richie said:
Marnus Labuchange you have put us in a spot by letting Stokes get into your head. We needed you fresh tomorrow morning. Meanwhile Trav goes on his merry way mixing loose play with spanking cuts and drives. He seems impervious to pressure.
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yeah frustrating, I figure we need a first innings lead here
 
With Green at 7, Webster at 8...and Starc at 9 who is averaging 30 with the bat this series, we have to bat BIG here in the first innings.

I'd say if we make 500 we go a long way to winning the game.
 
onedaywinners... said:
With Green at 7, Webster at 8...and Starc at 9 who is averaging 30 with the bat this series, we have to bat BIG here in the first innings.

I'd say if we make 500 we go a long way to winning the game.
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Yes a window of opportunity here, though it does look tricky with the new ball. Have to avoid anything silly before the 2nb and not collapse after. England bowling speeds tend to fade quickly too in Australian weather. If we get to the 100th over with at least 3-4 wickets in hand they probably collapse and we can cash in big
 
I completed my annual day of test cricket attendance yesterday.

Great day which was worth the 4:15am wake up.

My biggest takeaway was Green looks like a wicket taking bowler when he pitches up. We all agreed he is being asked to bowl far too much short stuff.

I landed on mostly bowling a good length with occasional 2-3 over spells of short stuff with a few good length balls mixed in.

We also agreed that the team could include Green and Webster if we don't replace Usman with a batsman.

Replace Nesser with a better pace bowler and add a specalist spinner. That is a good side.

Weatherald also looked a bit frantic and he will need to bat well soon to retain his spot.

My hunch is bowling well and the flat deck will lift Green's confidence and he should bat well. Webster knows that he need to make runs to try to retain his spot. And Usman will be keen to go out on a high.

The occasional ball was doing something, but the Pom bowling attack inspires less confidence than Weatherald. Not surpising that once again Stokes is doing the heavy lifting. He is too good to be playing in a Pom side.
 
Hounddog said:
I completed my annual day of test cricket attendance yesterday.

Great day which was worth the 4:15am wake up.

My biggest takeaway was Green looks like a wicket taking bowler when he pitches up. We all agreed he is being asked to bowl far too much short stuff.

I landed on mostly bowling a good length with occasional 2-3 over spells of short stuff with a few good length balls mixed in.

We also agreed that the team could include Green and Webster if we don't replace Usman with a batsman.

Replace Nesser with a better pace bowler and add a specalist spinner. That is a good side.

Weatherald also looked a bit frantic and he will need to bat well soon to retain his spot.

My hunch is bowling well and the flat deck will lift Green's confidence and he should bat well. Webster knows that he need to make runs to try to retain his spot. And Usman will be keen to go out on a high.

The occasional ball was doing something, but the Pom bowling attack inspires less confidence than Weatherald. Not surpising that once again Stokes is doing the heavy lifting. He is too good to be playing in a Pom side.
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Good wrap!

Glad you attended live.

Huge crowd!

I think Weathers, playing for Tas, my home state, has been found out at Test level. He crouches low, with his head too far over off to pitched up balls. I don’t think he deserves a continued spot.

The Poms think our collective batting has been suspect for a while. Only a brilliant bowling attack has papered over the batting cracks. We have 3 of the 4 bowling greats injured ATM.

Neser has taken wickets, but maybe late order?
 
Swepson claims the pitches produced are killing spin aspirations.

I agree.

Love the changed rhythm of spin. We get a lot of cricket with so little time between balls.
 
Richie said:
Jon does Beau still bowl his offies in shield? If so Smithy needs to tell him to bowl them instead. For mine his slow bowling is better than Travs.
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I asked you this the other day.
 
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Green is looking more composed with the bat today after being unlucky with the ball. Is the fact he has struggled this series because he is battling his mind. Hearing that he will earn some $3m in IPL wont help that mind set either. I always maintain that half of being good at sport is played in the head. Green has to overcome any mental demons if he is to be the special cricketer some of us believe he will be.
 
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That shot won't win green a lot of fans, seems very annoyed with himself

getting out just as the sting is going out of the bowling
 
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