1st Test Australia v Pakistan Dec 14-18 1250hrs @ Perth Stadium

[LukeParkerno1]

Our test summers at home are only interesting when we're playing against India.

Yep and people complain when we are always playing them? I'd rather it, least the summer is entertaining. Put it this way I usually want to sit down Boxing Day watching the cricket (then the cricket later on). This year not fussed if I take my family out to the movies during the day, not likely to miss a lot

 

[Millky95]

My guess:

1. Khawaja
2. Warner
3. Labuschagne
4. Smith
5. Head
6. Marsh
7. Carey
8. Starc
9. Cummings
10. Lyon
11. Hazelwood

I would personally pick Green over Marsh if he is fit to bowl but can see them picking Marsh until he gives them a reason to drop him.

 

[Iceman!]

Smith has been average lately yeah but he will cash in this summer. Warner scored massive last summer against a dead opposition. Marsh, Green and the keeper likely to as well

Smith is in the top 5 run scorers for the calendar year and averaged mid 40's despite playing two of the hardest overseas tours you can this year. He has been average by his incredible standards but still been one of the best batsman in the world.

 

[Iceman!]

Yep and people complain when we are always playing them? I'd rather it, least the summer is entertaining. Put it this way I usually want to sit down Boxing Day watching the cricket (then the cricket later on). This year not fussed if I take my family out to the movies during the day, not likely to miss a lot

Right so it is India or it is boring for you, that says more about you than it does about the schedule.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

We won the series 3-0 and we won by 296 runs, 247 runs and 279 runs and they did not take 20 wickets in any of those games. That is not competitive.

Why though? I would much prefer to play other nations. Give me Pakistan, Windies, South Africa. I enjoy watching other countries com out. Not every series is going to be a belter it happens.

I get that, but this is two summers in a row, why on earth did we need the Windies out again? It's going to be so bad to watch unless you want to watch our FTB batting.

NZ are a better side than last time, they have won a WTC since.

 

[corbies]

Yep and people complain when we are always playing them? I'd rather it, least the summer is entertaining. Put it this way I usually want to sit down Boxing Day watching the cricket (then the cricket later on). This year not fussed if I take my family out to the movies during the day, not likely to miss a lot

You should definitely take your family out to the movies.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Right so it is India or it is boring for you, that says more about you than it does about the schedule.

I'd be happy with SA too, and a few others. Wouldn't be against NZ either.

 

[Aussie in exile]

Warner had one innings last summer lets not say otehrwise, can't wait till we don't have him opening, still feel these 3 tests are a useless waste of time having him open.

Warner will just grateful that he's not facing Stuart Broad.
Like Dennis Amiss was Dennis Lillee's Bunny, Warner was Stuart Broads

 

[LukeParkerno1]

You should definitely take your family out to the movies.

At this stage I will be, least it gets some points for me lol

 

[Iceman!]

I get that, but this is two summers in a row, why on earth did we need the Windies out again? It's going to be so bad to watch unless you want to watch our FTB batting.

NZ are a better side than last time, they have won a WTC since.

I am not convinced New Zealand are a better team, they were possibly two years ago. I think the bowling line up is not quite as strong as just a few years ago. Also they only made the final of the WTC because of our over rate penalties.

New Zealand are a fine cricket team, until they set foot in Australia. We would most likely smash them like we most likely will Pakistan.

 

[Iceman!]

I'd be happy with SA too, and a few others. Wouldn't be against NZ either.

Historically SA would be a great series, currently i doubt they would fair all that well in Australia. As already discussed NZ would get smashed. Who else are these others?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Warner will just grateful that he's not facing Stuart Broad.
Like Dennis Amiss was Dennis Lillee's Bunny, Warner was Stuart Broads

Australian fans will be just happy we only have 3 tests of him being picked for being Warner. Averaging what 20 the last 2 years in red ball. I always laughed when Broad was bowling to him

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Historically SA would be a great series, currently i doubt they would fair all that well in Australia. As already discussed NZ would get smashed. Who else are these others?

Wouldn't be completely against Afghanistan if we were playing a smaller nation actually. My main gripe this summer is we had the Windies last year why are we doing it again?

 

[philreich]

Tend to agree, it's not helped by our placid pitches giving nothing for the bowlers either. I mean I'll watch it becuase it's on but boy I wish we had NZ, SA, India or England this summer

I don't mind Pakistan so much, but why the hell are we playing the woeful Windies 2 summers in a row???

 

[Young Redleg]

Historically SA would be a great series, currently i doubt they would fair all that well in Australia. As already discussed NZ would get smashed. Who else are these others?

Yeah we used to be SA's bunnies but they were terrible against us last summer.

As much as I love beating England, the last three Ashes series in Australia have been so one-sided it's not funny. I find the Ashes series in England much more entertaining.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I am not convinced New Zealand are a better team, they were possibly two years ago. I think the bowling line up is not quite as strong as just a few years ago. Also they only made the final of the WTC because of our over rate penalties.

New Zealand are a fine cricket team, until they set foot in Australia. We would most likely smash them like we most likely will Pakistan.

They can't be any worse than the Windies are, in fact I'd back Williamson, etc to play a few big innings'. I rate NZ's bowling attack though would be better if Boult was still playing.

 

[t_94]

Agreed. That's why when my Swans lead by 50 I always start cheering on the opposition to make it a close game. You'd be the same with the Dees I assume?

Did you see James Rowbottom’s time trial time and the Swans new clash strip? How good.

Jimmy Webster didn’t do a PB, I was a bit disappointed personally.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I don't mind Pakistan so much, but why the hell are we playing the woeful Windies 2 summers in a row???

So much THIS. If it was Pakistan and someone else, no issue.

 

[Topkent]

Agreed. That's why when my Swans lead by 50 I always start cheering on the opposition to make it a close game. You'd be the same with the Dees I assume?

What a bloody bizarre comparison. But honestly yeah I prefer the close games as a spectacle to watch. Watch Melbourne have a routine 40 point win against north is ****ing boring as hell.

I don't enjoy watching games where you basically certain of the outcome. That's not sport.

 

[Iceman!]

They can't be any worse than the Windies are, in fact I'd back Williamson, etc to play a few big innings'. I rate NZ's bowling attack though would be better if Boult was still playing.

I think most of the NZ bowling line up would struggle (as always) in Australian conditions and i think the rest of that batting line up leaves a bit to be desired. They would be smashed. So yes they may be slightly more competitive but if what you want is a competetive series you are splitting hairs by bringing up Afghanistan or NZ or England or SA.

 

[Iceman!]

What a bloody bizarre comparison. But honestly yeah I prefer the close games as a spectacle to watch. Watch Melbourne have a routine 40 point win against north is ******* boring as hell.

I don't enjoy watching games where you basically certain of the outcome. That's not sport.

It is sport actually... Like legit you can not force outcomes. Sometimes you will have a skill mismatch.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I think most of the NZ bowling line up would struggle (as always) in Australian conditions and i think the rest of that batting line up leaves a bit to be desired. They would be smashed. So yes they may be slightly more competitive but if what you want is a competetive series you are splitting hairs by bringing up Afghanistan or NZ or England or SA.

The main issue I have is the two summers in a row. Why do we have the Windies two summers in a row? Hopefully this means we don't have them again for 4 years at least. That could be a positive I guess, still doesn't make the scheduling any better.

 

[Iceman!]

The main issue I have is the two summers in a row. Why do we have the Windies two summers in a row? Hopefully this means we don't have them again for 4 years at least. That could be a positive I guess, still doesn't make the scheduling any better.

Do we need them? No but it is a 2 test series only two years in a row, it is not that big of a deal. We won't play them on summers when we have India or England.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Do we need them? No but it is a 2 test series only two years in a row, it is not that big of a deal. We won't play them on summers when we have India or England.

Thank goodness for that! Hopefully it's the last one for years thanks. A competitive summer is so much better. This isn't helped by our curators not producing good wickets. We will all be thankful we are back to India/SA/England after this summer

 

[the_interloper]

Then heavy pass, Smith might have been passable as a 3 in his prime he is so far past his prime on form. I'd actually take a calculated gamble on Green at the top. I'm warming to taking a gamble there and seeing if it works. Smith isn't in great form the last 12 months, he's getting by on toughing out ugly runs, can you name his last fluent innings? It's been years.

I don't hate Green at the top of the order either, he's solid enough. I feel it's hard to make him open and bowl 20 overs potentially, that would be my only query. No one is still knocking the door down to replace Warner so anything could happen, they could pick someone like Renshaw too.

Smith has always batted weirdly, some days he's not there but can still scratch out a 60, agreed. I remember his knock at the GABBA in 2013 (ish) was weird. Made 30 odd, played and missed, got dropped, smashed a six out of absolutely nowhere and went out stupidly.