Cricket- the sport not the insect

[hoerpi]

If Sri Lanka can take two quick wickets tomorrow there may be a game. Since I'm from Sweden so I just want a good game of cricket. Fell asleep 30 min into the game last night though after being very tired from the homecoming hockey.

 

[Alphabet]

Yeah, Sangakkara dropped him. To be fair, neither were easy chances, but that's the sort of thing you have to do if you only scored 150.

Expensive drops, as it turns out. They could have had Australia 5/130 and probably bowled out for 250.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Unfortunately I missed Herath's great catch.

 

[auscyclefan94]

Cricket Australia's ban on Darren Leehman is an absolute joke. It shows that Cricket Australia is an authoritarian organisation.

 

[movingtarget]

Cricket Australia's ban on Darren Leehman is an absolute joke. It shows that Cricket Australia is an authoritarian organisation.

Very strange as he has been called for chucking before and has actually been banned ! What Lehman says makes sense even if you if you don't think he is chucking. The action looks suspect to me.

 

[Alphabet]

Unfortunately I missed Herath's great catch.

As did I, but thankfully, Cricinfo have a picture:

Sri Lanka have really been crippled by injury. That's their third now, with just Prasad and the rest of the tail to come, the test will probably be over before the end of the day. They're effectively 7/69.

 

[Frosty]

Unfortunately I missed Herath's great catch.

Can normally find things on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3imDMSTSBtk

 

[movingtarget]

The real test for Australia will be the next Ashes Series. If we can get our bowling attack right we should be competitive. We don't need any more injuries to our bowlers.

 

[the asian]

Cricket Australia's ban on Darren Leehman is an absolute joke. It shows that Cricket Australia is an authoritarian organisation.

What did he say?

Regarding our team, it seems we are like dead men walking.
3 out of the series and kula doubtful too. We'll have to fly in some replacements:

We have a ODI series after this too

 

[auscyclefan94]

What did he say?

Regarding our team, it seems we are like dead men walking.
3 out of the series and kula doubtful too. We'll have to fly in some replacements:

We have a ODI series after this too

He implied that Marlon Samuels was chucking in a local T20 match. The guy was bowling off a couple of steps and had a clear bend in his arm when bowling around 120km/h. I think Leehman has a case on this issue.

Can normally find things on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3imDMSTSBtk

Yeah, I saw that earlier. Pretty awesome.

The real test for Australia will be the next Ashes Series. If we can get our bowling attack right we should be competitive. We don't need any more injuries to our bowlers.

Against a strong batting lineup and bowling attack like England, Australia will still be beaten comprehensively.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

The selection of Glenn Maxwell seems strange, not sure it is anything but a bad selection. I would have liked Usman Khawaja to play. I find it hard to see how he is not in the top 6 batsmen in the country even with everyone fit.

 

[El Imbatido]

The thinking behind Maxwell's inclusion is that: an all-rounder should replace an all-rounder. That is why Khawaja is on standby for Clarke and Maxwell comes in for Watson.

Just think in Hobart if Khawaja had played because they were still a bit iffy on Watson? (batsman replacing allrounder in this case) Then when Hilfenhause goes out with his injury, Aus never wins the test because they dont have another bowler that could bowl 20 overs (or so) and take a few wickets....

Also i think the Aus selectors are thinking that Maxwell will be a more than useful on the upcoming tour of India....where two spinners will almost be mandatory and also Watson has had a run of injuries lately (well actually forever) and i think they are looking for another good all-rounder to get some time in the team. I probably would have gone for Dave Hussey (good batter, tidy off-spin) but it isn't my choice.

 

[El Imbatido]

Just read that Tony Greig passed away today. RIP big man.

Also read that Mike Hussey will retire after the Sydney test against Sri Lanka. far too early IMO. Is in great form and could have done well against the Poms. Now Aus have to find another middle order saviour to dig them out of all the holes they get themselves in.

 

[the asian]

R.I.P Tony Greig.

Enjoyed his commentary over the years, and was a very big fan of Sri Lankan cricket.

 

[auscyclefan94]

RIP Tony Greig. When I was younger, I like many others, used to yell abuse at Tony Greig considering his often anti-Australian stance. Over the past few years, I have really grown to strongly like the guy. He had a great character.

 

[Mad Elephant Man]

The thinking behind Maxwell's inclusion is that: an all-rounder should replace an all-rounder. That is why Khawaja is on standby for Clarke and Maxwell comes in for Watson.

Just think in Hobart if Khawaja had played because they were still a bit iffy on Watson? (batsman replacing allrounder in this case) Then when Hilfenhause goes out with his injury, Aus never wins the test because they dont have another bowler that could bowl 20 overs (or so) and take a few wickets....

Also i think the Aus selectors are thinking that Maxwell will be a more than useful on the upcoming tour of India....where two spinners will almost be mandatory and also Watson has had a run of injuries lately (well actually forever) and i think they are looking for another good all-rounder to get some time in the team. I probably would have gone for Dave Hussey (good batter, tidy off-spin) but it isn't my choice.

The thinking might be sound, replace an allrounder with an allrounder, but the allrounder has to be good enough. I am not sure there is enough evidence to suggest Maxwell is good enough. Just like with Hasting, who I like, but do not think he should have been in the test team. A number of allrounders have been tried, McDonald, Smith and North, and none of them really worked. I doubt this will work either.
As far as two spinners for India goes, if we don't have two good spinners then it is probably pointless taking two spinners just for the sake of it. Maxwell is not that good a spinner anyway, very handy, but not a specialist spinner.
I have no doubt Dave Hussey could have made a decent go at test cricket but I think his chances have passed by.

 

[movingtarget]

Just read that Tony Greig passed away today. RIP big man.

Also read that Mike Hussey will retire after the Sydney test against Sri Lanka. far too early IMO. Is in great form and could have done well against the Poms. Now Aus have to find another middle order saviour to dig them out of all the holes they get themselves in.

Probably a good thing for the team that Hussey and Ponting go at about the same time. Won't be easy to replace him. How many times has he pulled Australia out of trouble ? Very smart cricketer.

 

[Alphabet]

Greigy . He had his quirks, for example pretending to be an expert on Sri Lankan cricket and smugly mispronouncing names as though they were correct (M-yew-ra-li-doo-ran for Moo-ra-li-tha-ran was a great meme he spread), but he was a great guy who was also a very good commentator and cricketer. I'll miss him, RIP big man .

Hussey's retirement is really not what we need going into the Ashes. I guess we've got to give David Hussey some test matches now. He has a great county cricket record in England, hopefully he can translate that into international cricket over there. Also as for the Tour of India debate, the best bet is to give Clarke some painkillers during the match or send him to a chiropractor, and make sure his back is good enough for him to contribute 10 overs or so of spin every innings. He's better than Lyon, Doherty, or whoever else we try, the only thing restraining him from bowling more often are his back problems. Maxwell doesn't contribute enough with bat or ball to be considered a legitimate choice, so imo the best way to do it is to have Clarke support Lyon rather than drafting in a specialist spinner who can bowl 30 overs (of ultimately, poor) bowling per innings.

 

[El Imbatido]

Hussey's retirement is really not what we need going into the Ashes. I guess we've got to give David Hussey some test matches now. He has a great county cricket record in England, hopefully he can translate that into international cricket over there. Also as for the Tour of India debate, the best bet is to give Clarke some painkillers during the match or send him to a chiropractor, and make sure his back is good enough for him to contribute 10 overs or so of spin every innings. He's better than Lyon, Doherty, or whoever else we try, the only thing restraining him from bowling more often are his back problems. Maxwell doesn't contribute enough with bat or ball to be considered a legitimate choice, so imo the best way to do it is to have Clarke support Lyon rather than drafting in a specialist spinner who can bowl 30 overs (of ultimately, poor) bowling per innings.

As i said before i am a big fan of D.Hussey (both Hussey's really. M.E.K Hussey was probably my favourite player) but if the Aus selectors wouldn't keep Simon Katich in the Aus team when he had sweet form i don't really see why they would back track and choose D.Hussey who is only 2 years younger (35yrs old). And i guess that is part of the reasoning behind having Maxwell. Youth over age, but for the upcoming ashes in England i would definitely have D.Hussey in there, as with his vast amount of time spent in England he would be a much better solution even if just a short term replacement until some good, talented younger blood is found.

Also read today that, Aus selectors are looking into possibly developing Dave Warner's wrist spin a bit. I like this move as i am a big advocate of wrist spin over finger/off spin, but for the upcoming tours of India and England i think they have left it far too late, but yeah i think if he worked on it he could be more than just a useful part-timer/something different bowler. Give him a couple of seasons maybe if they really want to go down this option.

 

[Alphabet]

Maxwell hasn't convinced me yet of being anything other than a talented young limited overs player.

Junaid Khan (who is a top notch player, he'll be among the best quicks of his generation) gave a great display of swing bowling today, ripping through the Indian top order and having them reduced to 5/29 at one point. What's more impressive is that they're playing in Chennai, not exactly a seamers paradise.

 

[movingtarget]

I thought Callum Ferguson was ready to take the next step a few seasons ago but he seems to have lost his place in the list of possible replacements for the Aussie Test Team.

Even though Hussey's retirement is bad timing, he is 37 and the Aussie bowling seems to be more of a problem than the batting, it's just that Hussey was an inspiration to the team and his enthusiasm in the field and ability to keep his head under pressure will be a huge loss. Poms will be happy.

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

Probably a good thing for the team that Hussey and Ponting go at about the same time. Won't be easy to replace him. How many times has he pulled Australia out of trouble ? Very smart cricketer.

Not sure how you work that out - Ponting was shot by the end, but Hussey is still a good player, and they're already picking enough mediocre players to suggest they can't replace him with anything like that quality, in a double Ashes year.

 

[dlwssonic]

Hussey's retirement is indeed untimely, I was hoping he would stay until the 2013 ashes in australia. I have always regarded hussey as one of the best batman in the world with his incredible consistency along with AB de villiers.
Australia still looking really good though against Sri Lanka even though they are getting hammered by injuries.
The number of strong fast bowlers they have is incredible. They have got a great chance to take back the ashes.
****stan are doing well too, junaid is amazing reminds me a bit of wasim.
so jamshed.
Huge respect to dhoni though, what an incredible innings

 

[Waterloo Sunrise]

They're going to need more than 1 good batsman to win the ashes in England, and by the return series they'll be lucky to have 11 fit players left.

 

[dlwssonic]

They're going to need more than 1 good batsman to win the ashes in England, and by the return series they'll be lucky to have 11 fit players left.

Clarke, watson, warner, cowan, wade all seem pretty solid batsman. They still need hussey though.
Im quite worried about their spin department lyon isn't really great while england have panesar and swann.
But their pace department seems endless.