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

[AlwaysHawks15]

He’s in a public place. He can be filmed regardless of who he’s with.

He can but he's within his right to tell them to get lost too, and claim Harrassment, there's a line when it comes to filming in public it's not a free for all.

 

[1990crow]

Not sure what we do with Labuschagne if this form continues for much longer.

 

[Mr Meow]

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.

Batting is also about your affect on others (teammates and opposition).

Konstas was definitely a pressure reliever for Khawaja's two best and most important knocks this series, in winning Tests. That, along with a 28 average at close to a run a ball - when many other batsman were looking like sitting ducks until they prodded out - means his impact with the bat was solid enough. Like you acknowledged, he had India bowling all over the shop today and then a 50 run opening partnership was on the board in minutes, with Khawaja finding some rhythm.

Let's not forget his role as a pest during India's failed MCG run chase.

We don't know for sure if India would've had more composure and efficiency over the past 2 Tests without Konstas' presence, but there were signs he gave Australia a boost and was a drain on the opponent. In a tight series that's pretty useful.

 

[Iceman!]

Not sure what we do with Labuschagne if this form continues for much longer.

Reckon he gets the Sri Lanka series to show he is still in our best 11, if not you maybe have to look at making the move.

 

[Lunchtime]

He was a very reliable, good opener.

He was yep and at times often underrated as a batsman. He's always known (rightly so) as a very good captain, for me he's the best Australian captain I've seen. He was also known as a very good slips fieldsmen as well.

But his batting is somewhat forgotten about. He opened the batting in one of the best and toughest eras of Test cricket (1990s) batting against the likes of Ambrose, Walsh, Akram, Younis, Chaminda Vaas, Donald and Pollock. Throw in the spinners: Murali, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Daniel Vettori. A great era of world Test cricket.

If he was batting currently or in the last ten to fifteen years then that average is high 40s in my opinion.

 

[ABAB]

If Cummins didn't had a poor preparation for the 1st Test where he took 3/150, he would have taken 22 wickets at 17 but end up taking 25 wickets at 21.

 

[Cataholic]

I agree he might of a role in our future but they gave him a shot, i just don't agree it is treating him poorly.

Marnus and Sydney both faced a rampant Bumrah and Marnus was better (not great).

Marnus also is just 30 not necessarily nearing the end.

Marnus has been bloody poor for 2 years now.

There's a difference playing first drop behind 2 decent openers than being an opener.

Yes, I note the reference to 'decent openers'.

They threw him into the belly of the fire.

 

[Lunchtime]

Home and Away record almost identical.

He still has the highest score for any Australian batsman outside Australia (334*).

 

[Cataholic]

He was yep and at times often underrated as a batsman. He's always known (rightly so) as a very good captain, for me he's the best Australian captain I've seen. He was also known as a very good slips fieldsmen as well.

But his batting is somewhat forgotten about. He opened the batting in one of the best and toughest eras of Test cricket (1990s) batting against the likes of Ambrose, Walsh, Akram, Younis, Chaminda Vaas, Donald and Pollock. Throw in the spinners: Murali, Saqlain Mushtaq, Mushtaq Ahmed, Daniel Vettori. A great era of world Test cricket.

If he was batting currently or in the last ten to fifteen years then that average is high 40s in my opinion.

Totally agree.

 

[ABAB]

No surprise to see Gambhir sooking up. One of the all time campaigners. Always has that permanent sulky, sour look on his face.

Not a happy camp, can't wait for Ashwin leaking some juicy news.

 

[Iceman!]

Marnus has been bloody poor for 2 years now.

There's a difference playing first drop behind 2 decent openers than being an opener.

Yes, I note the reference to 'decent openers'.

They threw him into the belly of the fire.

Sure and Marnus has been stuck behind average openers previously. I highly doubt Sydney would have faired any better in this series at 3.

They gave him a shot and he was not up to it. Now he waits for another opportunity. Marnus at the MCG did enough imo for him to warrant starting in Sri Lanka. That doesn't mean he is cemented in the team but i think he gets the nod over Sydney for now. Doesn't mean it will stay that way though.

 

[Xtreme]

People said that about Warner.
Let him develop and mature

Warner developed but he didn't mature
And he also became a cheat - great role model!!

 

[cats_09]

The SCG found another photo to use - they've kept both up

 

[Lunchtime]

Totally agree.

In my opinion...and it's only my opinion, but if I was asked to pick a best Australian Test team since 1980 onwards, then the Openers would be Matthew Hayden and the other one would be Mark Taylor.

 

[beatnik]

We doctored the pitch.

Don’t be a troll…it favoured the touring side

 

[Moonwatcher]

He still has the highest score for any Australian batsman outside Australia (334*).

I did follow that one.

Channel 9 may have televised it back in the day

 

[Cleavy]

He was a very reliable, good opener.

good diving commentator and air-conditioner salesman

 

[evolved2]

He was a very reliable, good opener.

Until he wasn't. Then he kept playing far too long without being tapped on the shoulder. It's a cultural issue that remains to this day.

 

[Cataholic]

Sure and Marnus has been stuck behind average openers previously. I highly doubt Sydney would have faired any better in this series at 3.

They gave him a shot and he was not up to it. Now he waits for another opportunity. Marnus at the MCG did enough imo for him to warrant starting in Sri Lanka. That doesn't mean he is cemented in the team but i think he gets the nod over Sydney for now. Doesn't mean it will stay that way though.

It's the nature of the shot we disagree about.

A debutant, playing out of position from the very first ball of the game, against a guy demolishing far more experienced players was hardly fair imo.

But I see your pov.

 

[010203]

They probably assumed he would be like Kohli and not want to be there unless India were retaining it.

Have to admit I was surprised why they both weren't up there to present the trophy. I have no clue what the usual protocol is with jointly named trophies in cricket..

This was 10 years ago when Smudge got the Border Gavaskar Trophy. Sunny was told that he would do the honours if India kept the BGT and AB would present the trophy if Australia won the series to win the silverware back. I don't see why they can't have both men hand the trophy over.

 

[tombomb]

The whole culture of how they select the batting lineup needs to change.

It shouldn't be that big of a deal if a batsmen is dropped because they are out of form.

 

[Cataholic]

Until he wasn't. Then he kept playing far too long without being tapped on the shoulder. It's a cultural issue that remains to this day.

Sports people across a lot of sports are guilty of that.

Boxing is probably the prime example.

Human nature, and maybe vanity, prevents all but a special few from recognising the moment when the game has passed them by.

Most have to have their face rubbed in it before conceding.

 

[Cataholic]

The whole culture of how they select the batting lineup needs to change.

It shouldn't be that big of a deal if a batsmen is dropped because they are out of form.

Yep, it's a bit of a clique.

Harder to be dropped than make it in the first instance.

Kind of like a boxer going on too long. Except this time it's selectors who can't or won't admit when someone's time is up.

 

[evolved2]

Sports people across a lot of sports are guilty of that.

Boxing is probably the prime example.

Human nature, and maybe vanity, prevents all but a special few from recognising the moment when the game has passed them by.

Most have to have their face rubbed in it before conceding.

Which is completely understandable. Why they're not tapped on the shoulder is harder to explain.

 

[Lunchtime]

Until he wasn't. Then he kept playing far too long without being tapped on the shoulder. It's a cultural issue that remains to this day.

He managed to get out of his form slump. His final 40 Test innings yielded 1719 runs at an average of 47.75 with seven 50s and five 100s.