Cricket- the sport not the insect

[42x16ss]

Re: Re:

This Australian team is just too defensive and old fashioned - scoring nearly a run an over slower than England and it's cost them big time.

They could really do with an imaginative captain to drag them in to the modern era. And get rid of this bad collapse habit.

Just a general lack of quality batsmen. Voges is a shield player, there's reasons why he was never picked for tests. Watson still, is not a test quality player. I honestly have no idea why we continue to pick the idiot.

I agree, there is a general lack of quality in Australian batsmen which is reflected in the test team. I tend to agree with Voges but he was the best player in Shield cricket along with perhaps Marcus North who has been tried previously. Younger players are just not making the impression needed to get into the team.

Watson has never been a test match quality batsman but he has done a job okay at times but clearly should not be in the team now. Not convinced Mitch Marsh will do any better but is worth a shot.

Watson is a test quality bat but only as an opener (average mid-40s). The problem is the selectors don't want him to burn out batting and bowling too much

 

[del1962]

The problem Watson has is that he can't seem to handle reverse swing and as a bowler doesn't take wickets,

What suprised me most (pleasantly) from the test was England getting Smith out relatively cheaply, if this continues then England will be in a strong postion. I also think Aussie's batsmen played Moeen Ali badly, he is not the sort of bowler you should try to hit out of the attack but rather one you should wait for the bad ball to inevitably come along, he is not Swan who didn't bowl the occasional loose delivery.

I will wait for after the Lords test to see if the Aussie's fightback or not, I expect Siddle to play who will certainly be a less expensive bowler than Starc, if not quite as likely to take wickets.

 

[42x16ss]

Re:

The problem Watson has is that he can't seem to handle reverse swing and as a bowler doesn't take wickets,

What suprised me most (pleasantly) from the test was England getting Smith out relatively cheaply, if this continues then England will be in a strong postion. I also think Aussie's batsmen played Moeen Ali badly, he is not the sort of bowler you should try to hit out of the attack but rather one you should wait for the bad ball to inevitably come along, he is not Swan who didn't bowl the occasional loose delivery.

I will wait for after the Lords test to see if the Aussie's fightback or not, I expect Siddle to play who will certainly be a less expensive bowler than Starc, if not quite as likely to take wickets.

Very true on Watson. He is excellent on hard, true decks when he gets the chance to play himself in against the new ball while it's hard, otherwise he can implode at any time. He's a capable change bowler who can chip in with the odd wicket but no more. If wasn't a good slip fielder he would be almost certainly relegated to work on his technique.

Smith has been too eager to get on top of the English bowlers, especially Ali. He just needs to be patient and build his innings, these pitches aren't like Brisbane or Adelaide that barely change over the course of a test. The form is there, he looked in excellent touch in the first innings, Smith just needs to take his time.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

The problem Watson has is that he can't seem to handle reverse swing and as a bowler doesn't take wickets,

What suprised me most (pleasantly) from the test was England getting Smith out relatively cheaply, if this continues then England will be in a strong postion. I also think Aussie's batsmen played Moeen Ali badly, he is not the sort of bowler you should try to hit out of the attack but rather one you should wait for the bad ball to inevitably come along, he is not Swan who didn't bowl the occasional loose delivery.

I will wait for after the Lords test to see if the Aussie's fightback or not, I expect Siddle to play who will certainly be a less expensive bowler than Starc, if not quite as likely to take wickets.

I'd be surprised if Siddle ever played Tests again. Sounds like Starc will be fit enough to go. It also sounds like Watson will be gone probably for Marsh. Bad start for Australia but they can improve. I rate Smith better than Watson at the moment, even if a lot people talk about Smith's strange batting technique, it works for him.

 

[movingtarget]

Shane Watson

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/cricket/video/watch/28771715/hitler-slams-shane-watson-in-hilarious-parody/

 

[blackcat]

Re: Re:

Watson is a test quality bat but only as an opener (average mid-40s). The problem is the selectors don't want him to burn out batting and bowling too much

thats when the field is up. and the new ball gives value for his cover drives.

but have they not worked him out by now, he wont be given free rein for boundaries thru the covers and straight

 

[blackcat]

Re:

This Australian team is just too defensive and old fashioned - scoring nearly a run an over slower than England and it's cost them big time.

They could really do with an imaginative captain to drag them in to the modern era. And get rid of this bad collapse habit.

yeah, the lower order is the new upper order.

brad haddin managed to crystalise the ashes in one (non) catching first session

 

[blackcat]

siddle would be a turn back, but is there any option. australia are hopeless

 

[Semper Fidelis]

Re:

siddle would be a turn back, but is there any option. australia are hopeless

Life is all about the cats mate.

 

[Zam_Olyas]

Re: Re:

siddle would be a turn back, but is there any option. australia are hopeless

Life is all about the cats mate.

Have you tasted crickets? they are very tasty.

 

[darwin553]

Re:

I will wait for after the Lords test to see if the Aussie's fightback or not, I expect Siddle to play who will certainly be a less expensive bowler than Starc, if not quite as likely to take wickets.

I'm surprised that Siddle was even picked for the tour. The selectors just making sure CA get the most out of his national contract I suppose. I would pick an untried Cummins over Siddle any day. He is too similar to Hazlewood - they need someone with a bit of zip and with Johnson down a yard or two in pace it has to be Cummins.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

So apparently Nevill is even worse at catching than Haddin, but knows which end of a bat to hold. We shall see.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Re:

So apparently Nevill is even worse at catching than Haddin, but knows which end of a bat to hold. We shall see.

Has an average of almost 45 in first class cricket and scored 78 in a warm-up match against Essex a few weeks ago so could be useful, however Haddin will obviously be a huge loss. It's looking likely that Starc will be fit which is a big plus for the Aussies. That being said if the wicket at lords is on the slow side like the 1st test I expect them to struggle again.

 

[movingtarget]

Re: Re:

I will wait for after the Lords test to see if the Aussie's fightback or not, I expect Siddle to play who will certainly be a less expensive bowler than Starc, if not quite as likely to take wickets.

I'm surprised that Siddle was even picked for the tour. The selectors just making sure CA get the most out of his national contract I suppose. I would pick an untried Cummins over Siddle any day. He is too similar to Hazlewood - they need someone with a bit of zip and with Johnson down a yard or two in pace it has to be Cummins.

I agree it has to be Cummins or someone else not Siddle.

 

[blackcat]

not convinced by cummins

 

[thrawn]

Re:

not convinced by cummins

Neither. I think he's got the talent, but he hasn't played a game of first class cricket in 2 years.

 

[42x16ss]

Warner must be howling in frustration right about now...

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

Warner must be howling in frustration right about now...

He just has to stop thinking that he is always playing 20/20. Just keeps throwing his wicket away.

 

[Eagle]

England doing a great job today....

 

[Pricey_sky]

England very poor in that final session, some terrible shot selections however credit to the Aussies who bowled well.

England need to keep fighting, the forecast for Sunday is for rain almost all day so it could save them. They need to bat for the best part of 2 days and lose less than 16 wickets for the draw.

 

[movingtarget]

Re:

England very poor in that final session, some terrible shot selections however credit to the Aussies who bowled well.

England need to keep fighting, the forecast for Sunday is for rain almost all day so it could save them. They need to bat for the best part of 2 days and lose less than 16 wickets for the draw.

That would be a shame for Australia but mother natures does what she does. Australia have dominated so far.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Weather forecast for Sunday now seems to have change completely. Chance of showers in the morning but dry in the afternoon.

 

[42x16ss]

Normal service has resumed...

Who's in better form - Steve Smith or Chris Froome?

 

[movingtarget]

Terrible performance by England on a flat pitch. All square, see what the Third Test brings.

 

[blackcat]

Re:

Normal service has resumed...

Who's in better form - Steve Smith or Chris Froome?

whos in better form? Rogers or Horner?


they need Rogers to stick around for a few more series if he can. and Warner bats better with stability, see how he batted with Watson as opener.