5th Test Border Gavaskar Trophy January 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG

[peternorth]

You need to have watched Konstas this year at Shield to understand there was clearly a strong directive from the team for him to play as loose and aggressive as possible. He made his runs at Shield playing more traditional while still keeping a good strike rate.

Clearly, the team was getting too bogged down with 4 stodgers in the top 4 and frankly, The Don would have struggled a bit against Bumrah on those decks with these Kooka balls. The team made the right decision to get in a prodigious talent to rankle the Indian team and be aggressive.

Now, his shot today was shithouse but hardly a surprise given he's 10 years away from learning his game properly. He's still been the best opener for Aus this series and there's not much more to replace him at Shield anyway, especially considering Ussie is on his last legs.

But again, go watch some of shield digs this year to understand what he normally plays like and how special he's going to be.

That does suggest hes been told to play risky shots, and if he goes out cheaply its ok as his spot is guaranteed for the foreseeable future. No pressure, can play with gay abandon

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Warner could pick his moment and play 'proper' cricket shots when he wanted to.

Compare Konstas today to Ussie, Head and Webster - calculated shot making when it was on offer, but most of the 'aggression' came from quick singles, hitting the gaps, turning ones into twos etc.

The difference between being assertive and being a brain dead moron....

Warner early on had NFI how to play a "proper cricket shot"
If he wasn't best mates with the captain, there's no way he held his spot whilst he was learning

 

[Borisdog]

I reckon Kohli has a bit of Maynard about him, in that he wouldn't try to act intimidating in the face of say a Beau Webster.

He will be licking his lips at the idea of fronting up to Duckett though.

Duckett looks an angry little blighter.

I'd reckon he'd tear Kohli's head off and poo down the hole it left.

Kohli's as hard as a marshmallow.

 

[Lunchtime]

The WTC needs to a three match series in my view I'm not sure how you'd schedule it or why Lords needs to be involved tbh.

I think a one-off match isn't enough. 2 matches and a third match if required.

The World Test Championship concept is a good one but it does need to be tinkered with I think. Some changes need to happen.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

I feel for McSweeney.

He was crucified by the selectors opting to play him as an opener.

Imo, he should've replaced Labs.

They threw him to the wolves and I hope he has the intestinal fortitude to stay confident and bounce back.

I'd happily bring him back in the next Test tbh.

Imo he showed enough to be first in line for a call up in future tests. Just not as an opener, more suited to 3/4/5 imo. When you can only select 11 players unfortunately it's cutthroat.

 

[240volt]

Huge shoutout to Webster. Must be kept in the squad.


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It’s like having two Green’s in the side.
Very similar in a lot of ways.
Marsh will struggle to get back in.

 

[PhatBoy]

He made a point of difference.

He broke the 'same old same old' we were seeing, and by their own admission, he brought a new vitality and excitement to the veterans.

He clearly rattled the Indians, and had them more focused on 'playing the man' than focusing on the long game.

He played a positive role indeed.

Not sure pissing an opponent off is the same as rattling them. Boland rattled them because they didn’t have an answer to him.

Konstas obviously pissed them off and I don’t doubt that his approach did present some conundra as to ‘how do we actually bowl to him’ after that initial assault in the first innings at Melbourne.

But he lasted:
6.3 overs in the second innings in Melbourne for 8.

11.2 overs in the first innings in Sydney - and they lost 2 other wickets before that. So they were ‘rattled’ so much by him that they took 3-35 by the time they removed him for 23

3.5 overs in the second innings in Sydney for 22. They bowled a bit of garbage to him trying to target his stumps and gave him some freebies through the onside and some of those wides were bafflingly bad but again it took them less than 4 overs for him to fall.

Clearly he really pissed them off. No doubt there.

But I’m not sure after that first innings what direct impact it had on the game itself.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

That does suggest hes been told to play risky shots, and if he goes out cheaply its ok as his spot is guaranteed for the foreseeable future. No pressure, can play with gay abandon

Whether one believes he's "up to it" or not. One thing can't be denied... If he was tasked with throwing the Indians off their game and ruffling a few feathers he's absolutely done his job.

Hopefully we see him working through building an innings etc in future test series.

 

[norway blue]

Last day was T20 like so it could be argued that Sam got us off to a great start off three overs . Sure lost a couple along but Usman the rock. Fantastic test.


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[Cataholic]

Imo he showed enough to be first in line for a call up in future tests. Just not as an opener, more suited to 3/4/5 imo. When you can only select 11 players unfortunately it's cutthroat.

This.

But - and I know this will make sound like a smart **** with hindsight - there was a compelling case to have Konstas open, McSweeney at 3 instead of Labs, and Webster instead of Marsh at the time.

Instantly makes our batting stronger.

The selectors got part way there in the end, but had to begrudgingly overcome some favouritism.

I hope we move toward this sooner than later, and look at someone like Hunt in lieu of Uzzie.

Mind you, we get Greene back at some point so there's another consideration.

Somewhere amongst all that we also need to look at evolving our bowling attack.

Interesting times ahead.

 

[Saints4ever]

Konstas had a clear plan.

Hit out before you get out, same plan as Pant yesterday.

On that pitch I think it’s pretty good tactics.

 

[JimmyBC]

Webster's batting was very impressive not sure about the bowling side of it.

 

[Cataholic]

Not sure pissing an opponent off is the same as rattling them. Boland rattled them because they didn’t have an answer to him.

Konstas obviously pissed them off and I don’t doubt that his approach did present some conundra as to ‘how do we actually bowl to him’ after that initial assault in the first innings at Melbourne.

But he lasted:
6.3 overs in the second innings in Melbourne for 8.

11.2 overs in the first innings in Sydney - and they lost 2 other wickets before that. So they were ‘rattled’ so much by him that they took 3-35 by the time they removed him for 23

3.5 overs in the second innings in Sydney for 22. They bowled a bit of garbage to him trying to target his stumps and gave him some freebies through the onside and some of those wides were bafflingly bad but again it took them less than 4 overs for him to fall.

Clearly he really pissed them off. No doubt there.

But I’m not sure after that first innings what direct impact it had on the game itself.

His mere presence annoyed them, which meant they weren't laser focused on the game and their strategy.

I'd also argue his approach today threw the Indians off-guard, and albeit was only 20, it also gave his team growing confidence in their ability to graft the win.

 

[Stax on the mill]

Gambhir hasn’t changed. Probably a bit salty as well.

India coach labels Aussies 'soft' amid Konstas furore

'He had no right to be talking'

www.nine.com.au

 

[cats_09]

That's not very Geelong board of you

Do you think he needs to earn a return to our board

 

[AJ_2000]

Last day was T20 like so it could be argued that Sam got us off to a great start off three overs . Sure lost a couple along but Usman the rock. Fantastic test.


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

I was wondering when we'd use the power surge, but the Indian field placements were so poor we didn't need it

 

[cats_09]

No usman.

I just saw a clip of that moment on the TV and Usman was there during the TV cameras but has obviously moved on once the beers came out

Pity they couldn't use one of the non-beer photos

 

[SportsCentre]

Even better:

Australia vs India vs Pakistan tri ODI series. Plus the India vs Pakistan matches would be well attended too.

I actually miss the 1990s and 2000s of the tri ODI series. They were always good fun. Even when Australia wasn't playing and it was the two visiting teams playing at an Australian venue. Good fun. Great era.

With the worldwide reach of streaming, the significant increase in the number of nations playing ODI cricket and the expanded number of suitable venues (rural and city) in Australia now, I don't understand some of the reasons why we aren't making this happen again. CA have plowed all their financial cows into the BBL but that is still at best, a domestic competition

 

[tugga]

I feel for McSweeney.

He was crucified by the selectors opting to play him as an opener.

Imo, he should've replaced Labs.

They threw him to the wolves and I hope he has the intestinal fortitude to stay confident and bounce back.

I'd happily bring him back in the next Test tbh.

100% agree

 

[Cataholic]

Whether one believes he's "up to it" or not. One thing can't be denied... If he was tasked with throwing the Indians off their game and ruffling a few feathers he's absolutely done his job.

Hopefully we see him working through building an innings etc in future test series.

The fact the coach was sulking and dissing him in the post game presser tells you how deep he got inside their heads.

 

[swingdog]

I reckon Kohli has a bit of Maynard about him, in that he wouldn't try to act intimidating in the face of say a Beau Webster.

He will be licking his lips at the idea of fronting up down to Duckett though.

Edited for accuracy.

 

[CatToTheFuture]

Do you think he needs to earn a return to our board

You must make at least 10 negative comments about players under 23 and/or make disparaging remarks about a veteran based purely on age to return

 

[Cataholic]

You must make at least 10 negative comments about players under 23 and/or make disparaging remarks about a veteran based purely on age to return

Damn it!!

 

[Lunchtime]

Top 10 - Highest Australian Test Run Scorers

Ricky Ponting - 13378 @ 51.58
Home: 7578 @ 56.98
Away: 5800 @ 46.40

Allan Border - 11174 @ 50.56
Home: 5743 @ 45.94
Away: 5431 @ 56.57

Steve Waugh - 10927 @ 51.06
Home: 5710 @ 47.58
Away: 5217 @ 55.50

Steve Smith - 9999 @ 55.86
Home: 5015 @ 59.70
Away: 4984 @ 52.46

David Warner - 8786 @ 44.59
Home: 5438 @ 57.85
Away: 3348 @ 32.50

Michael Clarke - 8643 @ 49.11
Home: 4654 @ 62.05
Away: 3989 @ 39.50

Matthew Hayden - 8625 @ 50.74
Home: 5210 @ 57.89
Away: 3415 @ 42.69

Mark Waugh - 8029 @ 41.82
Home: 4019 @ 43.22
Away: 4010 @ 40.51

Justin Langer - 7696 @ 45.27
Home: 4428 @ 48.66
Away: 3268 @ 41.37

Mark Taylor - 7525 @ 43.49
Home: 3993 @ 43.40
Away: 3532 @ 43.60

 

[Mr Meow]

I give a Geelong player a reach around and you counter calling Maynard a pansy. Mental disintegration activated.

Damn, I thought you liked jokes. You lined up an easy hit.