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

Who will win?

  • Australia

    Votes: 31 83.8%
  • India

    Votes: 5 13.5%
  • Draw

    Votes: 1 2.7%

  • Total voters
    37
  • Poll closed .

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Historically how bad is our effort by our top 4?

SEN when Smith was 10, said 29 runs by the top 4 Oz batsmen over both innings in a test is a record low - beating 38 runs back in 1888 in Manchester - that test may have been affected by uncovered pitches and rain.

Now Cummins batted 3, and was out for 2 in the second innings and that distorts things a bit.

Smith was out for 17, so if you replace Cummins with Smith that means the top 4 players produced 44 runs in 8 innings.

Below is the lowest scores produced by Oz batsmen batting at #'s 1 to 4 in a match.

To read the Cricinfo statsguru query below, set for Oz batsmen #1 to 4, the first entry is;

From England v Oz 1890 series at the Oval
6 players were used in those top 4 slots by Oz over 2 innings ie 1 Match, 8 innings were batted by those 6 players, 68 was the total runs from those 8 innings and the highest score was 21 runs.

The 29 made by 5 players is now the lowest made over 8 innings in a test. If you replace Cummins with Smith the total of 44 runs in 8 innings would still have been the 4th lowest.

So that 44 is better than the late 1880's but not as good as the 1996/97 when Curtly Ambrose cut us up at the Boxing Day test after being criticised for only taking 3 or 4 wickets in the first 2 tests, but he had a number of dropped catches and plenty of snicks thru the slips in those 2 tests. He had bowled well in those 2 tests but no luck.

I went to the first day's play at the 1st test at the Gabba that series, sat in line with about 4th slip near the boundary at the Vulture St end, and I reckon Ponting who made 80 odd, put at least 4 snicks at catchable height thru the slips off Ambrose in that innings. But Curtly came out steaming and got 11 wickets in the boxing day test and the Windies won easily and took the series to 1-2 after Oz won both the first two tests by just over 100 runs

Someone asked if Bumrah is the best fast bowler to visit Oz since Ambrose last played a test in Oz (in that series)? This is just a bit more that proof he is.


View attachment 2174953


The proof he is, is literally the number I found the other day when that question was asked which I must admit surprised me - not so much with who the others were on the list but the fact that there were only two people on it….

Only 3 visiting fast bowlers since Ambrose who have taken more than 25 wickets in Australia average under 30.

They are Bumrah, Steyn and Rabada. All 3 are statistically among the greatest dozen or so fast bowlers to have played the game when you factor in the combination of rate, average, and for Steyn and Rabada, total wickets.

Unquestionably Bumrah is the best performed visiting quick here, and if he continues the way he’s going, and I never thought I would say this, he’s a chance of probably being considered better than Steyn and probably will likely be better than Rabada career wise
 
Head showing the way by playing positively without being reckless on a pitch doing a bit. Hope he goes on to make a ton.

It's a fine line. Khawaja hits his out of the middle for 4 and nothing is said. Top edges it and he gets slammed for playing his natural way.
Head looked like a mug for the first 10 overs he was out there. Yes he is playing positive and he always bats like this. It either comes off or it doesn't. Fortunately for him he seems to get away with his technique.
I hope he gets a ton or a double. I am just saying its a fine line what is reckless and what isn't.
 
Unfortunately I think Smith's weird technique which seems to rely mostly on having a great eye and 'intuition' seems to have had it. Have always thought it was something which clearly worked wonders, but the lack of 'conventional' technique would mean a steep decline since he wouldn't have much to fall back on once age started to catch up.

Obviously still a phenomenal career but personally can't see him bouncing back meaningfully from this point.
Once his 👁 is gone so is he. Lots of references to ageing players being carried in the past in this thread - never have we had so many as old all at the same time and never was the whole batting unit under pressure at the same time
 
I really hope there is a stinging "over reaction" from the selectors before the second test and both Marcus and Steve are given the boot. And perhaps Ussie as well.

It won't happen, but it's the only dream I have for this year's summer of cricket.
All 3 will be gone by the end of the series. Possibly only labs by next test. Ussie will get 1 more chance and smith maybe 2.

Well that’s my assumption anyway.
 

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All 3 will be gone by the end of the series. Possibly only labs by next test. Ussie will get 1 more chance and smith maybe 2.

Well that’s my assumption anyway.

Surely they keep Lab around and move on the older guys first. At least if Lab turns it around he could have years front of him.
 
Feel like say Pontings decline versus what we currently see from Smith is an interesting comparison. Stats don't tell the full story or maybe I just remember Ponting through rose coloured eyes.

Feel like he looked capable still of having a good day , obviously didn't make as many runs but wasn't until the last tests v South Africa he looked complete dog shit. Smith to me just looks at sea and struggles to do anything most innings. Though he then pulls out a 90 odd or what have you , but really needs the other end held up while he gets going.

Maybe that's just bullshit, but he just looks to my naked eye to be at a point of no return. Felt like Ponting gave a bit of hope and then of course had a good summer under Clarke v India .

He was at least getting runs for Tassie when down a level
 
Once his 👁 is gone so is he. Lots of references to ageing players being carried in the past in this thread - never have we had so many as old all at the same time and never was the whole batting unit under pressure at the same time
2006/07 had

Langer. 36
Hayden. 35
Ponting 32
Martyn 35
Hussey. 31
Clarke 25
Gilchrist. 35
Warne 37
Clark 31
Lee 30
McGrath 37


And we were cooked in the late 2000s/early 2010s.
 
Smith is too out of form to bat 3. We have dilemmas. Going to have to bite the bullet soon and purge the side, take risks with the line-up, or we will have issues come the Ashes next year too.

Thought Smith batted pretty well today. I hear what you are saying though. You know the selectors though, they just keep backing them in.
 
Just made me check the weather forecast....haha.

5% chance of rain for the rest of the Test. Winviz is relying alot on that 5%...haha

dunno what forecast you are looking at.

BOM is showing doughnuts chance of rain

1732511468762.png
 

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

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