1st Test Sri Lanka v Australia Jan 29-Feb 2 1500hrs @ Galle International Stadium

[THE A5]

I never really believe in picking for the future - you pick the best 11 you have every game.

If I were a selector though, I'd be so tempted to make an exception here.

Connolly is the one. Dude looks like a thumb, and obviously doesn't have the first class wickets to justify selection. But he's such a talent, and the only thing likely to cost us the WTC Final is slow over rates.

I kind of fear he might suffer the "James Faulkner Syndrome" of being (at test level) a bowling all-rounder number 7 in a country that hasn't wanted that player in about 60 years... so my temptation is to just back him at 6, get 2 games into him, and maybe give ourselves a nice problem when Green returns.

It's bowling heavy, but given they've already announced Head to open, I'm going

Head
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Smith
Webster
Connolly
Carey
Starc
Boland
Lyon
Kuhnemann (who is only above Murphy because of the variety he offers.)

Faulker was good Bowler is especially in white ball cricket but Connolly’s bowling has hardly been enough to be seen as an All roubder. All his promising games have been as bat.

He’s giving off more Trav head vibes more than anything tbf

 

[THE A5]

Also unless the keeper is a gun bat, no all rounder shod bat below them

 

[cricketnut14]

We're building for India 27. The youngsters haven't pushed anyone out yet, but they'll get great experience on the tour and one or two of them might be ready by then.

frustrating that we only focus on certain series.

we stilll have tours of the west indies and south africa before we tour india.

here is a novel idea, why don't we have a tour match on this sri lanka tour where guys who aren't playing in the test match get some exposure.

they should schedule a couple of tour games for when we tour india or at least an australia 'A' series prior to the tour. no point being on the bench and just 'around the group'.

 

[yabsy]

Correct. I’ve hated the narrative around this series. It’s even been spouted by some players and senior figures in Australian cricket. Was every test series before the WTC a trial series? It’s a test series, you pick your team to win and you better be ****ing hurting if you don’t. You are judged on every test match you play and your legacy is tarnished by every test you lose and enhanced by every test you win.

Couldn't agree more...There is a WTC title now, but lets me honest...We don't have a great record of late with away series wins (2/10) & that's the true barometer on how good a test team is.

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[sr36]

yep give him the chance against the crap sub continent side before the good one.. that's my thinking as well.

Do people realise that our last two tours of Sri Lanka have been a 1-1 draw and a thrashing where Sri Lanka got us 3-0.

They rolled NZ 2-0 at home last year - something India failed to do.

A 1-0 win on roads in Pakistan is our only win in Asia since 2011 and we've played a series against Bangladesh in that time.

I think we'll turn it around, but this Aussie team has much stronger claims to being a crap team in the sub continent than Sri Lanka do.

 

[Borisdog]

Just got back from the ground, very light rain and covers on son no photos.

Also got a bit of a dog and bone story from the Pres about our tickets. Tomorrow might be interesting

The camera is the side on camera for run outs/stumpings. They were just setting them up.

 

[sr36]

frustrating that we only focus on certain series.

we stilll have tours of the west indies and south africa before we tour india.

here is a novel idea, why don't we have a tour match on this sri lanka tour where guys who aren't playing in the test match get some exposure.

they should schedule a couple of tour games for when we tour india or at least an australia 'A' series prior to the tour. no point being on the bench and just 'around the group'.

I don't see it like that. Us fans tend to ignore it, but we've been really ordinary in Asia over the last 15 years. I think we're building a team for Asia alongside a team for SENA. WTC final and Ashes lead into South Africa, but this tour leads into India - despite the timings. Windies conditions recently have been more subcontinental than they used to be, so not sure what we do there.

At the moment, Head's our incumbent Asian opener and Konstas is our incumbent SENA opener. Like when we transitioned to M Waugh being our ODI opener early in the stage of moving to viewing the Test and ODI as different teams.

 

[PhatBoy]

yep give him the chance against the crap sub continent side before the good one.. that's my thinking as well.

Right now, this is the good subcontinental side.

 

[yabsy]

Just got back from the ground, very light rain and covers on son no photos.

Also got a bit of a dog and bone story from the Pres about our tickets. Tomorrow might be interesting

The camera is the side on camera for run outs/stumpings. They were just setting them up.

Did he try to change the price or perks of the ticket?

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[reggie]

As always, very glad Big Footy posters aren't on the Australian selection panel

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Be hardly bowled

He did in the last 2 tests and was mediocre at best and that being nice. Can our next offie have a carrom ball though! My one hope

 

[Redline]

I would of left Head at 5 and Konstas to open but with Head moving up then I think it was a chance to play McSweeny who could also bowl if need be. I like Inglis but it's an opportunity wasted in my.opinion. Even if he scores runs.

 

[1990crow]

Did I hear Abbott was a chance because of reverse swing?
Surely not..

 

[Borisdog]

Did he try to change the price or perks of the ticket?

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

Pretty much said we didn’t have tickets and he told us that yesterday when he rang us. Which he didn’t do as he didn’t ring.

Reckons Sri Lankan cricket sold all the tickets to GCC entry without GCC permission.

Short version he’s told us to lob tomorrow at 0800 and we’ll be good. Apparently.

I would book your tickets through SL cricket is what this little exercise’s learning has been.

Allegedly all etickets .

Should be fun, but that’s South Asia for ya. No harm no foul yet. Shit comes to trumps we’ll get in, just might cost more.

 

[Bedi]

Had a good chat with Katich, whose here with channel 7. Very nice guy. He reckons we will go with Boland and Kuhnemann over Murphy

 

[yabsy]

Pretty much said we didn’t have tickets and he told us that yesterday when he rang us. Which he didn’t do as he didn’t ring.

Reckons Sri Lankan cricket sold all the tickets to GCC entry without GCC permission.

Short version he’s told us to lob tomorrow at 0800 and we’ll be good. Apparently.

I would book your tickets through SL cricket is what this little exercise’s learning has been.

Allegedly all etickets .

Should be fun, but that’s South Asia for ya. No harm no foul yet. Shit comes to trumps we’ll get in, just might cost more.

That's annoying getting the run around like that...Hopefully you dont have too much hassle with entry tomorrow.
I'll take that onboard & just go through the official channel

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[danielnajdek]

There's hyperbole and then there's whatever this is.

He hates Victorians.

 

[lettheboysplay]

He did in the last 2 tests and was mediocre at best and that being nice. Can our next offie have a carrom ball though! My one hope

This is going to sound mean, but every one of your takes in this thread have been shizenhousen.

 

[big_e]

Faulker was good Bowler is especially in white ball cricket but Connolly’s bowling has hardly been enough to be seen as an All roubder. All his promising games have been as bat.

He’s giving off more Trav head vibes more than anything tbf

James Faulkner younger than half the team that played in the last test, fwiw.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

I'd be a little disappointed if Murphy doesn't play. I'm not against the three spinners playing but think they are getting too cute of Kuhnemann gets the gig ahead of him. Murphy and Lyon worked well together in India

 

[Art Vandelay_]

So McSweeney, Connolly or Inglis at 5.
Very meh choices.

 

[Saints4ever]

So McSweeney, Connolly or Inglis at 5.
Very meh choices.

I’d love to see Inglis or Connolly given a go at 5.

Connolly will be a future Australian test star you can lock that in.

I’d say Inglis has done enough to earn a chance.

McSweeney I’m not so keen on.

 

[peternorth]

Big day today.

 

[sr36]

Had a good chat with Katich, whose here with channel 7. Very nice guy. He reckons we will go with Boland and Kuhnemann over Murphy

I think that's the way to go unless it looks like being a big turner.

 

[western royboy]

I’d love to see Inglis or Connolly given a go at 5.

Connolly will be a future Australian test star you can lock that in.

I’d say Inglis has done enough to earn a chance.

McSweeney I’m not so keen on.

White ball Connolly no worries - red ball he has the same challenges as Konstas