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

[danielnajdek]

NSW media talking this kid up is going to end in disaster. Bumrah will eat him alive.

 

[Iceman!]

I don't buy that, I think Usman is gone

Marnus maybe

But hey, I've been wrong plenty of times

People were saying that about Smith a week ago and he still had another innings in him (hopefully more).

 

[Iceman!]

What if that guy is a geriatric

I still think he is more likely to perform over the next two tests. After that is another question.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

People were saying that about Smith a week ago and he still had another innings in him (hopefully more).

Steven Smith is 35 and an all time great

Usman is 38

He wants to hang on for the Ashes!

Didn't we learn anything from the Warner debacle?

 

[Iceman!]

NSW media talking this kid up is going to end in disaster. Bumrah will eat him alive.

It isn't NSW media, it is everyone. He has all the shots has shown a great ability to go on with scores through all ages of cricket. He is worthy of the hype.

 

[Iceman!]

Steven Smith is 35 and an all time great

Usman is 38

He wants to hang on for the Ashes!

Didn't we learn anything from the Warner debacle?

Usman was arguably the best test batsman in the world 2 years ago and last year still averaged over 50. He is clearly on the decline but i am not certain he has nothing left to give in these next two tests.

Don't think he should be given a ride to the ashes by any means.

 

[Lunchtime]

I don't buy that, I think Usman is gone

Marnus maybe

But hey, I've been wrong plenty of times

See this table. This is Khawaja's last 20 innings in comparison to other past Australian Openers and their final 20 innings of their careers. Its only a small sample of players. Assuming Khawaja continues on but right now he is out of form - the decline has been steep for him. He needs runs, simple as that. If he doesn't make a descent score (or two) in the next two Test's then he might not be selected for the tour to Sri Lanka for that Test series.

 

[hawkman]

Do we think Konstas gets fast tracked if he’s not from NSW?

Pucovski got fast tracked and he isn't from NSW

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

See this table. This is Khawaja's last 20 innings in comparison to other past Australian Openers and their final 20 innings of their careers. Its only a small sample of players. Assuming Khawaja continues on but right now he is out of form - the decline has been steep for him. He needs runs, simple as that. If he doesn't make a descent score (or two) in the next two Test's then he might not be selected for the tour to Sri Lanka for that Test series.

Will he get the Warner free ride though?

I was happy to give both Usman and McSweeney the series. Bumrah is bowling like a demon. But the dropping of McSweeney has soured me.

I'll still support both openers of course come Boxing Day and hope they do well

 

[dogs105]

Pucovski got fast tracked and he isn't from NSW

He had 4 years of FC cricket and 3 double centuries before his first test

Konstas has played 11 FC matches and made 2 hundreds.

 

[hawkman]

He had 4 years of FC cricket and 3 double centuries before his first test

And a few concussions after which he couldn't be selected. Without those he would have been in much earlier. As soon as he was right for a period of time he was in

 

[Lunchtime]

Will he get the Warner free ride though?

I was happy to give both Usman and McSweeney the series. Bumrah is bowling like a demon. But the dropping of McSweeney has soured me.

I'll still support both openers of course come Boxing Day and hope they do well

I guess in some small part, it may be seen that Khawaja is being given the "Warner free ride" because he hasn't performed, seems to be on the decline like Warner and like Warner - still is in the Test team.

Fact is, Khawaja needs runs. He has two Tests to do it.

 

[Coasters7]

Konstas is fast tracked because he is the best young batting talent in the country and the existing top order isn't scoring runs.

No need for the conspiracy theories.

Only questioning it because he seems to be the exception to the rule of blooding minimal new blokes. Green possibly the only other one but at the time was the only all rounder averaging over 30 in the shield.

 

[SC_Power]

McSweeney isn't even South Australian why are so many boomers here in Radelaide today carrying on like KG Cunningham with worms?

He’s pretty much the only player under 30, and he’s the scapegoat. It’s not just SA.

Konstas is fast tracked because he is the best young batting talent in the country and the existing top order isn't scoring runs.

No need for the conspiracy theories.

Sure there is, it’s clearly a diversion play by the selectors so they don’t drop the gold pass members.

The clearly talented Konstas has his selection justified on the basis on twin centuries on a postage stamp ground with 50mtr square boundaries, and two hit and giggle scores against India A and in the BBL.

Good luck to him, but should he fail, I don’t want to hear the “he’s only 19 and is still learning and needs time”.
Because that’s what should be said now.

 

[SC_Power]

I guess in some small part, it may be seen that Khawaja is being given the "Warner free ride" because he hasn't performed, seems to be on the decline like Warner and like Warner - still is in the Test team.

Fact is, Khawaja needs runs. He has two Tests to do it.

You mean two MORE tests.

14 tests at an average of 30 with ZERO 100’s at age 37 doesn’t scream “drop him” to you?

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

You mean two MORE tests.

14 tests at an average of 30 with ZERO 100’s at age 37 doesn’t scream “drop him” to you?

38

 

[SC_Power]

38

McSweeney should lie about his age.

Wouldn’t have been dropped if he was 10 years older.

 

[western royboy]

There will be about 5 players that will leave within a year of each other soon and its not going to be pretty

Meanwhile, not far away our arch enemies have unearthed 5 genuine ling term players and resolved that you need a battery of fast bowlers on rotation to win the Ashes. This could turn to shit very quickly for us.

 

[western royboy]

For your own good, I hope you haven't read Ben Horne's article on the news corp websites. He thinks the selectors should be 'lauded' for their decision when I'd suggest they've taken the soft option.

The man is a genuine fool, following in the footsteps of his mentor Crash

 

[Jim Prideaux]

NSW media talking this kid up is going to end in disaster. Bumrah will eat him alive.

Let’s wait and see

 

[TY24]

It’s not hate. It’s weight of evidence.

I know the WA crew always find it hard to stomach the fact that he’s just never made it as a test player.

Since returning to the test XI at Headingly, he's scored a ton and 6 50's @38.79 Solid numbers without being incredible, and definitely not the numbers of someone who 'never made it'.

The weight of evidence would suggest that before this series, he was going well and he, like several other of our batters in this series, is struggling.

No doubt he should be under pressure at the moment, but saying the current Allan Border Medalist 'never made it as a test player' is just incorrect.

I do agree that his lack of bowling is an issue and Webster probably deserves his chance until Green is fit again.

 

[nobbyiscool]

So they didn't pick Konstas on the basis of his red ball runs this summer... they do pick him following his 27 ball Big Bash innings? JFC.

I have no idea what role Abbott is supposed to be performing, and I'm yet to see a good argument for his inclusion.

Richardson is an interesting one. I think he's one they really want involved whenever he's fit, seemingly ignoring the risk of him being made of glass.

Bringing in 15 guys for a home test match is a touch embarrassing, and smacks of some desperation and a lack of awareness as to who the best team is.

 

[Iceman!]

Only questioning it because he seems to be the exception to the rule of blooding minimal new blokes. Green possibly the only other one but at the time was the only all rounder averaging over 30 in the shield.

I think the rule book gets thrown out when the options are this thin.

 

[Iceman!]

So they didn't pick Konstas on the basis of his red ball runs this summer... they do pick him following his 27 ball Big Bash innings? JFC.

I have no idea what role Abbott is supposed to be performing, and I'm yet to see a good argument for his inclusion.

Richardson is an interesting one. I think he's one they really want involved whenever he's fit, seemingly ignoring the risk of him being made of glass.

Bringing in 15 guys for a home test match is a touch embarrassing, and smacks of some desperation and a lack of awareness as to who the best team is.

He scored a red ball 100 against India A and a shield 80 since the test team was announced. He has not been picked because of the Big Bash game.

 

[Lunchtime]

Khawaja

Past 40 innings: 1547 runs @ 41.81

Past 20 innings: 510 runs @ 28.33

Past 10 innings: 151 runs @ 16.77