Mega Thread 2022/23 Off-Season Sports Thread

[Purple Suit]

I’ve got my opinion and you’ve got yours. To say there’s no facts to support my opinion is simply incorrect though.

I don’t see how it’s too different to what you’re doing except you’ve come up with a different opinion.

To call Langer not good at Test coaching just isn’t accurate. He won the Ashes in England for the first time in nearly 20 years which is our grand final.

 

[Docker82]

To call Langer not good at Test coaching just isn’t accurate. He won the Ashes in England for the first time in nearly 20 years which is our grand final.

IMO you've got to take into consideration the standard of the opposition. It was the worst England side we've played in England in 20 years as well - does anyone actually disagree with me there?

To draw (not win) was slightly below par given the standard of the opposition.

Maybe I'm just a harsh marker.

I'd see beating Pakistan in the subcontinent as a better achievement tbh especially when you remove the rivalry factor associated with the Ashes.

Disagree with the Grand Final thing. Was this season a success for Freo because we beat West Coast? No - because they're sh**e and many other victories were far more impressive/important.

 

[Purple Suit]

IMO you've got to take into consideration the standard of the opposition. It was the worst England side in 20 years as well - does anyone actually disagree with me there?

To draw (not win) was slightly below par given the standard of the opposition.

Maybe I'm just a harsh marker.

Our team wasn’t exactly great, especially the batting against swing. Warner was a massive liability the whole series & should have been dropped.

I think you need to look at results rather than opposition and not worry about score lines in series. Langer got boned for sure with white anting from the players and other coaches who benefit. It was disgraceful and I fully expect our teams to suffer in the future when the cultural karma bus hits them.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Praying for rain or England stinking it up on Saturday tbh.

New Zealand won't stuff against Ireland and rain in that game would probably impact us given it's a double header with our game.

If we do somehow sneak through we can thank the heavens for washing out the England game.
I really can’t see us beating anyone of note with our current team. Too many Test cricketers, most of whom are stinking it up in this format.

 

[Spirit Level]

What's the point of having the BBL if we pick test players for the ****ing t20 world cup.

The mind boggles

 

[DragoDelph]

What's the point of having the BBL if we pick test players for the ****ing t20 world cup.

The mind boggles

Yep, and on home soil no less. Conditions they excel in.

 

[Joao]

In tests, beating the current Pakistan in Pakistan is way harder than beating the current/recent England anywhere.

England's test batting lineup is 1 borderline ATG, Bairstow (who belonged in the next group 12 months ago) or blokes who average similar to Ian Healy in test cricket.

 

[Van_Dyke]

large part the reason why we drew that series in 2019 was thanks to Smith having an all time great ashes. if not for his efforts, i doubt we draw that series, which we really should've won, do agree with Docker82 on that.


his innings went
144 (got out slogging with the tail)
142 (got out slogging with the tail)
92 (hit on the head)
211 (got out slogging with the tail)
82 (got out slogging for quick runs)
80
23

 

[Docker82]

If we do somehow sneak through we can thank the heavens for washing out the England game.
I really can’t see us beating anyone of note with our current team. Too many Test cricketers, most of whom are stinking it up in this format.

I'd argue non test players like Finch and David are stinking it up tbh.

I genuinely think the test players we are playing like Warner, Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins are the best we have except maybe Cummins who's very much a test bowler.

We just have a few aging players past their prime which we've decided to back in. They'll be gone within six months as will a few others. Wasn't realistic to make too many changes to a side that was world champions a year ago imo.

 

[Taylor]

Cummins has dropped a few catches too which has made his impact look worse

 

[Piggy Smalls]

I'd argue non test players like Finch and David are stinking it up tbh.

I genuinely think the test players we are playing like Warner, Hazlewood, Starc and Cummins are the best we have except maybe Cummins who's very much a test bowler.

We just have a few aging players past their prime which we've decided to back in. They'll be gone within six months as will a few others. Wasn't realistic to make too many changes to a side that was world champions a year ago imo.

Maybe a bit off topic here but those four have something else in common that’s always seemed a bit fishy to me. It’s no surprise to me that next man in is Smith who also shares this common denominator.

 

[Taylor]

Maybe NSW just makes all the good cricketers?

... or maybe it's just where the selectors live

 

[Docker82]

Maybe a bit off topic here but those four have something else in common that’s always seemed a bit fishy to me. It’s no surprise to me that next man in is Smith who also shares this common denominator.

I'm stunned people make this conclusion.

They might be from the same state but they're probably the best five cricketers in Australia.

Fans from other states need to take the chip off their shoulder and realise that NSW is better at producing cricketers than other states.

 

[Nothing]

I'm stunned people make this conclusion.

They might be from the same state but they're probably the best five cricketers in Australia.

Fans from other states need to take the chip off their shoulder and realise that NSW is better at producing cricketers than other states.

I'd argue that the 3 seamers are not the best T20 bowlers in Australia. Starc bowled a great spell the other day but apart from that, they have been pedestrian. None of them are in the top 40 bowlers for this world cup for wickets taken, economy rate, or strike rate.

EDIT: All 3 are in the top 15 for most runs in an innings. Alongside a bunch of bowlers from the minnow nations.

 

[Docker82]

I'd argue that the 3 seamers are not the best T20 bowlers in Australia. Starc bowled a great spell the other day but apart from that, they have been pedestrian. None of them are in the top 40 bowlers for this world cup for wickets taken, economy rate, or strike rate.

EDIT: All 3 are in the top 15 for most runs in an innings. Alongside a bunch of bowlers from the minnow nations.

Who's better than them?

We've tried others at international level and they weren't good enough.

Also where are those stats coming from?

 

[Nothing]

Who's better than them?

We've tried others at international level and they weren't good enough.

Also where are those stats coming from?

Stats from ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Find Cricket Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com

Better is someone who can bowl well in T20.

 

[Docker82]

Stats from ICC Men's T20 World Cup - Find Cricket Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com

Better is someone who can bowl well in T20.

Thought you meant on average lol.

I'd argue there's form before this tournament to say they've been international standard in this format.

Hazlewood and Starc have been decent in 2 out of 3 games imo. Cummins has been strangely poor.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Thought you meant on average lol.

I'd argue there's form before this tournament to say they've been international standard in this format.

Hazlewood and Starc have been decent in 2 out of 3 games imo. Cummins has been strangely poor.

Cummins will be burnt out before Boxing Day unless he drops some commitments IMO

 

[Alfonz]

Who's better than them?

We've tried others at international level and they weren't good enough.

Also where are those stats coming from?

Ellis. Last time he played a T20 international he took 3/20 when England smashed 208 at Optus a month ago. His other matches against India and Pakistan his figures were 3/30 and 4/28. Got Kohli out for 2. Only has 2 other internationals versus Bangladesh and took 3/34 and 2/16. All 5 games he bowled 4 overs, so economy rate good. He only has a short sample size at international level, but he couldn't do much more and I find it ridiculous he isn't even in the squad.

 

[stax on the mull]

Low scoring Shield game at the WACA between WA and QLD.

 

[Taylor]

I do think of our fast bowlers it's just Starc who is a unique option and he is a risky prospect when the ball doesn't move. Richardson or Behrendorf couldn't be that different for an option over Cummins and Haslewood

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Ellis. Last time he played a T20 international he took 3/20 when England smashed 208 at Optus a month ago. His other matches against India and Pakistan his figures were 3/30 and 4/28. Got Kohli out for 2. Only has 2 other internationals versus Bangladesh and took 3/34 and 2/16. All 5 games he bowled 4 overs, so economy rate good. He only has a short sample size at international level, but he couldn't do much more and I find it ridiculous he isn't even in the squad.

Small sample size but keep that up for a whole career and he would be the GOAT.

I heard a lot of hype about him leading in to the cup and was surprised also that he’s not in the squad.

 

[Purpletown]

Cummins will be burnt out before Boxing Day unless he drops some commitments IMO

Cummins is gassed.

 

[Docker82]

Ellis. Last time he played a T20 international he took 3/20 when England smashed 208 at Optus a month ago. His other matches against India and Pakistan his figures were 3/30 and 4/28. Got Kohli out for 2. Only has 2 other internationals versus Bangladesh and took 3/34 and 2/16. All 5 games he bowled 4 overs, so economy rate good. He only has a short sample size at international level, but he couldn't do much more and I find it ridiculous he isn't even in the squad.

Good call. Forgot about him.

Has performed when he got the chance unlike so many others.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

He should remind the selectors he was born in NSW