1st Test Border Gavaskar Trophy November 22-26 1350hrs @ Perth Stadium

[Nuggetz]

Gambhir said something along the lines to the new players, 'be prepared to take blows to the body like you're taking bullets for the country'. Insight into the Indian mindset.

 

[PhatBoy]

Also mcsweeney is mid 20s, he will fill out more like langer did to a point.

I think it’s just trolling at this point, who is this mysterious big opener we need who isn’t in the side ?

Payne Haas or Lloyd Meek

 

[Marstermind]

Hope you’re finishing at 2:30, or live in NZ

Or an Australian Selector and your entire job is every now and then sending out a text to the other selectors saying "What do you reckon? Same 11 as this time?"

 

[Westend]

The funniest part is that perhaps aside from Hayden, the next 3 best openers between the Taylor/Slater period to the Warner/Khawaja period, are Langer, and probably Katich (shorter than McSweeney) and Chris Rogers, a trio who between them look about as physically imposing as an ice skating team.

Umm did I miss something?...why are we body shaming ex players ?

 

[Blue1980]

When the easy money takes over it will always then be used as the "saviour"

Unfortunately you're killing the thing you're allegedly saving at the same time.

I fear for Test cricket in a way I never have before, particularly in Australia.

This series is far from over though, and should provide some good games from here on in.

One of the massive elephants in the room for me is Cummins' Captaincy.

He absolutely handed Kohli that ton last night, and also handed the declaration to Bumrah at the same time.

Runs didn't matter, time did and there is no way on Earth Bumrah would've declared on Kohli if he didn't get the hundred.

There was zero attempt to keep Kohli away from strike, Reddy was just allowed to knock zero pressure singles and rotate Kohli onto strike. The field should've been right in for Reddy - who cared if he hit over the top and got boundaries? It would've kept Kohli off strike and maybe he wouldn't have had enough time to get the ton.

And maybe we wouldn't have had to bat on a hiding to nothing for 20 minutes.

If you try nothing then that's exactly what you'll get.

It's not the first time Cummins has trod on his dick for mine.
Great bowler, very ordinary Captain. Problem though is the same as all the others we have - if not him then who else?

His captaincy doesn’t concern me and quite often cricket captains importance is vastly overrated.

I think after being bowled out for 104 the whole mood of the match changed.

I’m old enough to remember 1991 test Australia played West Indies in Barbados. We bowled them out for 149, then we were bowled for 134. They then rattled on 536 with a previously cooked Greenidge making 226.

Look at the scorecard here, this test is basically a replica Result
West Indies vs Australia, 4th Test
Australia tour of West Indies

WI 149 & 536/9d
AUS 134 & 208
West Indies won by 343 runs

Click here to view more @espncricinfo :https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-australia-4th-test-63555/full-scorecard

 

[Nuggetz]

KL has been the most important bat this match imo. He was the glue in the 1st innings & played a gritty knock, shielding Jaiswal a bit in the 2nd innings. A true openers knock, it'll be interesting if he's retained as an opener for the 2nd test. IMO they should keep both Jaiswal & KL as openers. They've found form now & you don't tinker with form. Rohit can bat no.3.

 

[74561347]

At this point Handscomb has to be in the convo, can’t see him being a worse candidate for LBW than Smith is now.

Averaged 48 over the last 4 shield seasons, better than most going around

 

[PhatBoy]

It mattered to me.

I liked them shorter, meant you didn't have to dig the short one in as much.

I found the taller guys much harder to bowl to.

Not that I was an especially good bowler but I have found one batsman intimidating to bowl to in my life that had anything to do with his size and that was only coupled with the fact that he was also in the best 2-3 batsmen in the comp. He was a gun batsman but also was strong enough that he could ‘choose’ to hit you for six (ie. I could hit a six but I had to swing as hard as I could and hope it went far enough, he could just get a ball in his spot and decide ‘yep that’s going for six.’)

With the exception of him, who’s intimidator factor was coupled with his considerable skill, it’s not something I’ve ever given any thought to.

 

[Bucking Beads]

Lalor on SEN saying that former Aus players apparently blowing up behind the scenes about Khawaja not facing the first ball yesterday

Openers usually rotate who takes first ball. Khawaja took first pill in the first innings.

 

[Nuggetz]

Also mcsweeney is mid 20s, he will fill out more like langer did to a point.

I think it’s just trolling at this point, who is this mysterious big opener we need who isn’t in the side ?

Stuart Dew

 

[Jamurp]

Mcdonald getting called out by Katich. He's flown under the radar. Can't hide in the back anymore, need to show his coaching credentials now.

is absolutely the invisible man, happy to fly under the radar but performances like these he should be scrutinised, George Bailey too as selector, throws poor McSweeney into a horrible debut, and struggles to drop guys like Warner, he should be gone asap.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I never thought I'd see the day when Day 4 of a Test match is about to begin, and I can't be assed turning on the TV.

 

[Manbearpig77]

Webster currently on 55 in the Shield. Probably the most in-form batter in the country over the last 2 years.

Problem is, he’s a #6 and our issues lie in the top order.

 

[Rookie]

At this point Handscomb has to be in the convo, can’t see him being a worse candidate for LBW than Smith is now.

Ha, there's a huge chance he finds himself back in the squad for Sri Lanka. Good county form, an OD and Shield hundred to start the year, just needs another century before the Big Bash starts.

 

[FlowersByIrene]

Who do we even have to come in? None of the below particularly inspire confidence.

"A 50 average first class batsmen, a 50 average, my kingdom for a 50 average first class batsmen"

Player	Position	Shield Runs (24)	Shield Avg (24)	Career Avg.
Inglis	WK/Batsmen	297	99	37
Konstas	Opener	330	66	41
Patterson	Middle Order	228	76	37
Handscombe	Middle Order	341	48	40
Harris	Opener	342	57	40
Cartwright	Middle Order	433	61	36

 

[Gavin Excell]

Blewetts comments on 9 accurate
You're unlikely to win but what you try to get out of today is to bat as long as possible

 

[Gavin Excell]

Who do we even have to come in? None of the below particularly inspire confidence.

"A 50 average first class batsmen, a 50 average, my kingdom for a 50 average first class batsmen"

Player	Position	Shield Runs (24)	Shield Avg (24)	Career Avg.
Inglis	WK/Batsmen	297	99	37
Konstas	Opener	330	66	41
Patterson	Middle Order	228	76	37
Handscombe	Middle Order	341	48	40
Harris	Opener	342	57	40
Cartwright	Middle Order	433	61	36

I think all of the above not being Marnus, puts them ahead

 

[Blue1980]

Maybe a drop in confidence from having it shown to him, quite starkly, that no matter how many runs he scores hes got limited chances to get into the side??

The guy was making runs for fun the prior to seasons in all forms, and when an openers spot came up, he got looked over for Smith.

Nope, he knew there was a spot for him this summer and he’s fluffed it.

 

[Westend]

Webster currently on 55 in the Shield. Probably the most in-form batter in the country over the last 2 years.

Problem is, he’s a #6 and our issues lie in the top order.

I can see him called up later in the series for Mitch...don't reckon he is going to last all 5 tests

 

[Blue1980]

Maybe we name every fat bloke

Ben Manenti should get a call up lol

What’s Cosgrove up to these days?

 

[Borisdog]

His captaincy doesn’t concern me and quite often cricket captains importance is vastly overrated.

I think after being bowled out for 104 the whole mood of the match changed.

I’m old enough to remember 1991 test Australia played West Indies in Barbados. We bowled them out for 149, then we were bowled for 134. They then rattled on 536 with a previously cooked Greenidge making 226.

Look at the scorecard here, this test is basically a replica Result
West Indies vs Australia, 4th Test
Australia tour of West Indies

WI 149 & 536/9d
AUS 134 & 208
West Indies won by 343 runs

Click here to view more @espncricinfo :https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-australia-4th-test-63555/full-scorecard

I'm old enough to remember well before 1991.

Captaincy when you're fielding is VERY important. Very.

I don't know if he's not listening or if no-one's suggesting anything to him, but that last 30-45 minutes of their 2nd innings was an absolutely gutless display. And Patrick is where that buck stops.

 

[Blue1980]

Possibly. A cooler head might have talked him out of it.

McSweeney looked incredibly nervous.

To be honest almost everyone has looked nervous

 

[Marstermind]

His captaincy doesn’t concern me and quite often cricket captains importance is vastly overrated.

I think after being bowled out for 104 the whole mood of the match changed.

I’m old enough to remember 1991 test Australia played West Indies in Barbados. We bowled them out for 149, then we were bowled for 134. They then rattled on 536 with a previously cooked Greenidge making 226.

Look at the scorecard here, this test is basically a replica Result
West Indies vs Australia, 4th Test
Australia tour of West Indies

WI 149 & 536/9d
AUS 134 & 208
West Indies won by 343 runs

Click here to view more @espncricinfo :https://www.espncricinfo.com/series...es-vs-australia-4th-test-63555/full-scorecard

He seems pretty unimaginative as a fielding captain. In Manchester in 2023 he just let the game drift away and there was a hangdog feel about the team. Some really loose bowling, lots of no balls and byes, no discernible plan, poor energy. His own bowling was a big problem. All of this was prevalent yesterday.

I suppose sometimes the oppo just get you by the scruff of the neck sometimes and there's not a lot you can do. But it all got a bit sloppy and directionless. That's on everyone but especially the captain.

 

[sherb]

He’s averaging like 5 in first class cricket this year over an extended period, test quality batsmen don’t do that, especially not ones supposed to be at their peak in their early 30s

It can happen though, even to Test batsmen.

My favourite player as a kid was Keith Stackpole. He scored 122 in the first Test against NZ in 73-74 at Melbourne, in the second and third Tests he scored 8, 2 & 15.

Australia then went to NZ and played three Tests. His scores - 10, 27, 4, 9, 0 & 0. His other f-c scores on that tour were 25, 33, 16, 44, 4.

His last five Tests totalled 75 runs @ 8.3. His last 10 f-c games (four in Australia and 6 on that tour of NZ) totalled 271 runs @ just under 16.

And this was from Australia's leading opening batsman for the previous 5 or so years.

To give you an idea of how his luck was running, the first duck in his last Test above was from the first ball of the match - a bean ball which he guided to first slip trying to protect himself. It would be a no-ball these days of course. I've actually seen footage of it on youtube but can't find it now.

He retired after that NZ tour at the fairly young (for these days at least) age of 33.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What’s Cosgrove up to these days?

Him and Jesse Ryder two of the biggest unfulfilled talents