4th Test Border Gavaskar Trophy December 26-30 1000hrs @ the MCG

[yabsy]

This Test side has won 2 away series (NZ and Pakistan).. of course they aren’t a great side

Out of interest - how far are you going back with "this test side"?

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Scorpus]

Our selection of Mitch Marsh reeks of arrogance that we wouldn't need his bowling (because our four bowlers will just get it done) or his batting (because our top order is going so well)

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

An early tea called despite there being no rain there, classic test cricket.

Presumably it is raining and just not looking that way on TV. It can happen sometimes. Cricinfo are saying there is some drizzle.

 

[gtrxuone]

Be nice to have a leg-spinner out their.

 

[Around the Wicket]

I'd have a bit of sympathy for Cummins here since he doesn't have a 5th bowler but his mates pick the team, including Mitchell "Can't bat can't bowl" Marsh

Labs, Head, Smith… so many part timers so little overs…

 

[Mr Meow]

Not questioning the gap in quality between teams. I agree with your observation in regards to that. But giving up huge advantages and not putting teams away when we have them well beaten and demoralised is very worrying

Whether it's a lack of killer instinct, durability (through arduous matches and long series) or quality - it has been a common theme in surrendering advantage. Late series clutch moments haven't gone Australia's way that much in recent years.

 

[JimmyBC]

Wonder what the Bison will launching into on the tea room buffet?

 

[Lunchtime]

Yeah and that's not me being over the top or trying to hang our players out to dry. They play really good cricket in patches. They've been a solid team and generally hard to beat. But through the long series especially they have struggled to stay on top against competitive enough units. Batting and bowling line ups have had those lulls long enough to keep opposition in it.

Which is fine. They've accomplished plenty without going that extra mile to be considered one of the truly great cricket teams.

Exactly. I'm with you mate. It's fact. Good Test team in a weak era collectively in world Test cricket.

As we know, a lot of bias one eyed Aussie cricket fans never like when people question this team. They don't like their own little reality bubble burst with different opinions.

 

[Borisdog]

Least we can play Jyhe in Sydney

No.
God no.
The bloke's as resilient as an ice cube in the sun.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Out of interest - how far are you going back with "this test side"?

On Redmi Note 8 Pro using BigFooty.com mobile app

When Cummins / Hazlewood / Starc / Lyon become the bowling attack

 

[Borisdog]

In Fitzroy, barely spitting although it does smell of petrichor. Hopefully passes quickly

Petrichor nicely worked in.

 

[JimmyBC]

Labs, Head, Smith… so many part timers so little overs…

They are all rubbish bowlers really.

 

[aabp1978]

Pathetic few hours from the Aussies. Playing Marsh an absolutely awful call..if he doesnt bowl anymore, should be in the side. The batsmen do not look threatened at all, field just gifting them runs. Can see this lead being about 50 odd and Bumrah running through us.

 

[eddiesmith]

Starc is ineffectual if the conditions don't help.

Red ball average over 30 now, if pink balls didn’t exist he’d have been gone 5 years ago.

 

[Around the Wicket]

When Cummins / Hazlewood / Starc / Lyon become the bowling attack

But even prior to Cummins joining the attack its only a NZ away win.

 

[Jamz]

This pitch looks like a deadset road, 2 and a half days of pacers and there doesn't look to be a single scratch on anything past the popping crease.

 

[Dubai Quacker]

Rain break saved us.

 

[Borisdog]

Our selection of Mitch Marsh reeks of arrogance that we wouldn't need his bowling (because our four bowlers will just get it done) or his batting (because our top order is going so well)

They can't possibly play him in Sydney.

He's the easiest target for dropping.

 

[Donuts_]

He does have a top score in Indian grade cricket of 441. Plus a triple ton.

He can wield the stick a bit.

Clearly they can bat a bit and we haven't afforded them the proper respect by having plans to dismiss them.

But they're no world beaters (or shouldn't be anyway).

We had a good look at Sundar a few years ago and Reddy has been very good through the earlier tests.

All looks very amateur from Cummins and McDonald, etc. to me.

 

[t_94]

Least we can play Jyhe in Sydney

‘We’ ‘Jhye’

Cringe.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

No.
God no.
The bloke's as resilient as an ice cube in the sun.

If it means no Starc for a test why on earth not.

 

[PhatBoy]

Starc is ineffectual if the conditions don't help.

Like when he took 20-odd wickets in Sri Lanka in a three test series and a five wicket haul on a pancake in Pakistan. Boy howdy he got some help those days

 

[Stan Van Gundy]

So glad I bought a new 77 inch TV recently, I can finally fit the entirety of Michael Vaughan's forehead on the screen

 

[The 747]

Langer was our national team coach and says he was surprised at the number of 50+ partnerships our attack has allowed throughout the year

Every time I hear Langer talk I am astounded that he was ever coach of any side, let alone the national side.

 

[Around the Wicket]

India must think it’s flat, interview from Bumrah this morning doing the rounds saying it’ll be a draw.. big call 300+ behind 5 down 1st innings.