3rd Test Border Gavaskar Trophy December 14-18 1050hrs @ The Gabba

[Jim Prideaux]

Problem is 4&5 are set in Smith and Head. Now not against Lab being dropped after this test though if he fails twice, I’m on the fence on this though as half my eye is towards SL and he must be in the side at 3 in that series he’s one of our better players in the top order against spin

Assuming Lab regains form, I’d push him to 3, smith is on the way out.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Assuming Lab regains form, I’d push him to 3, smith is on the way out.

The ton would have bought Smith time especially with a SL tour and we need guys that play spin there

Gut says we make minimal changes to the core until after the WTC final if we make it.

 

[freo_leo29]

What a weird day of cricket that was


All the players went out swinging, not a great day for their averages

 

[Marshland]

What do India get right that the Poms don't? I would love to have the series at 1-1 (rain or no rain) looking forward to Boxing Day but that is almost never the case when they tour.

 

[Westend]

If you look at the stats for the past 12 months and it doesn't make good reading

Head is on top 624 runs Ave 41
Carey 464 runs Ave 35
Marsh 416 Ave 27
Smith 413 Ave 29
Labs 389 Ave 25
Khawaja 379 Ave 23
Green 302 Ave 50

So the ones in trouble are Labs and Ussie and if we go back further another 12 months to 2 years

Head still on top 1577 runs ave 43
Khawaja 1548 ave 40
Smith 1351 ave 38
Labs 1139 ave 31....thats 41 innings ...1 test hundred
Carey 979 ave 31
Warner 864 Ave 37
Marsh 819 ave 39
Green 622 ave 41

 

[010203]

If Head is out may as well forfeit.
Khawaja, Lab and Marsh surviving but McSweeney getting dropped would be very concerning for the future of this team.
Screams it's jobs for the boys, not so much performance.

That's the spirit.

 

[Voice of the G]

Same 3-4-5 as this test. I’m still half backing Lab to come good he’s testing my patience though. Smith is at 4, Head is fine just a precaution

Very unusual but I am starting to agree with you.So you are saying 2 changes.In Boland for Hazelwood and Konstas or Hunt for Marsh.

 

[chickenonachain]

I’m an Australian selector and I say we keep playing our out of form batsmen as eventually they will get a big score (as Smith did) and we will be proven right with our selections. Even if we lose we are sticking to this selection policy thank you

 

[Borisdog]

Team with the most runs wins

Yep.

It’s hard to make runs when you’ve hit one in the air and someone catches it and you’re back in the shed.

It’s a bit of a chance to make more runs if you hit one in the air and someone drops it.

You have to maximise your chances in the field. All these things add up.

 

[Around the Wicket]

I have Khawaja still playing till next summer that’s plenty of time to find that other opener. Next tour is SL and Khawaja plundered runs against Pakistan when it turned, I highly doubt unless he retires that he won’t be there

He will need a score

 

[Borisdog]

If you look at the stats for the past 12 months and it doesn't make good reading

Head is on top 624 runs Ave 41
Carey 464 runs Ave 35
Marsh 416 Ave 27
Smith 413 Ave 29
Labs 389 Ave 25
Khawaja 379 Ave 23
Green 302 Ave 50

So the ones in trouble are Labs and Ussie and if we go back further another 12 months to 2 years

Head still on top 1577 runs ave 43
Khawaja 1548 ave 40
Smith 1351 ave 38
Labs 1139 ave 31....thats 41 innings ...1 test hundred
Carey 979 ave 31
Warner 864 Ave 37
Marsh 819 ave 39
Green 622 ave 41

In that time we’ve won 4 series, drawn 2 , lost 1. Starting with WI in Aus, 22/3

Won 14 tests, lost 6, drawn 4.

Pretty decent return. That gets you deep into the finals in the footy.

 

[western royboy]

Team with the most runs wins

Bowlers win matches

 

[JimmyBC]

They won't make any unforced changes IMO

 

[Bungeye]

LOL the next 7 days in Brisbane are all sunny.

And it was probably sunny in November as well. I remember the days when the Gabba was the first test of the summer...

 

[Bob Neil]

No need to worry lads - weather forecast for the next few days is looking good

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Very unusual but I am starting to agree with you.So you are saying 2 changes.In Boland for Hazelwood and Konstas or Hunt for Marsh.

Pretty much yes, McSweeney shifting down. I tend to go with the past here a bit. Good bats (plenty of them) started at 6 and moved up, ponting did, Clarke did, Smith was an 8 (started as a leggie) lol. Opener in (either Konstas or Hunt). I feel Hunt is more ready right now so to speak but if they went Konstas I'm not against it he's that talented.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He will need a score

Agree 100%, this series was always going to be like this. Two elite bowling attacks and a flaky as can be batting lineup. Test 1 they had Jaiswal get runs, sure Kholi got a ton but the game was over then, second test we had Head make runs. These are two AWFUL batting lineups, it's just a matter of which batting side gives their bowlers enough opportunity to defend the average batting. I do agree with you on Khawaja but it's not as if he's being skittled by a chump, Bumrah is just that good

 

[Voice of the G]

Pretty much yes, McSweeney shifting down. I tend to go with the past here a bit. Good bats (plenty of them) started at 6 and moved up, ponting did, Clarke did, Smith was an 8 (started as a leggie) lol. Opener in (either Konstas or Hunt). I feel Hunt is more ready right now so to speak but if they went Konstas I'm not against it he's that talented.

I would have both Hunt and Konstas in the 14 man squad but that would be a little harsh on Inglis but yet "again" lol I agree open with Hunt.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I would have both Hunt and Konstas in the 14 man squad but that would be a little harsh on Inglis but yet "again" lol I agree open with Hunt.

I agree with you, I love Inglis and both him and Webster are in the squad for SL but can we stop the rubbish of playing two keepers in Australia. I'd get it in SL as it's a bit of a horses for courses with Inglis' ability against spin. Webster is a certainty for SL as he gives us coverage on seam/spin, in fact despite my reservations on him at the next level, I'd play him over Marsh in SL. I'm here or there who they pick on Hunt/Konstas, is Sam more talented yes, but we have to tread carefully here and with a SL tour coming up is it wise to open him lets say in Sydney and then basically go to SL where he's not totally ready yet, not sure that's smart.

 

[JimmyBC]

I have no issue playing two keepers if they are two of the best batters in the country I think it's a ridiculous old world attitude to think otherwise.

 

[Manbearpig77]

Boland for Haze
Webster for Marsh.

No brainer changes.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I have no issue playing two keepers if they are two of the best batters in the country I think it's a ridiculous old world attitude to think otherwise.

Problem is they are keepers for a reason, having two skillsets. It does allow them to only average 30 ish with the bat as they have their keeping, Josh has a FC average of 36 which is no more than 'okay'. I'm not against Inglis as a bat, but he should have been playing as a pure bat for WA this summer. If the plan was Inglis as a bat, that's fine lets force him to field and what not for WA. Personally it's too big a risk in Australia, probably a gamble I'd be willing to take in SL as he's an outstanding player of spin though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Boland for Haze
Webster for Marsh.

No brainer changes.

They won't bring Webster in, if Marsh isn't bowling why we don't just play another bat I'll never know. We aren't having trouble bowling India out!

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Bowlers win matches

Catches win matches

 

[Around the Wicket]

Bowling tracks, every batsmen has been crap bar Head and Rahul.