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

[MarcMaverick]

Has to be one of the worst summers of cricket I can remember.

Obviously Australia winning is a big positive. However the fact that 3/5 games were essentially done and dusted by day 3, 1 was a washout and we were left with just 1 quality game that went the length.

The pitches in Australia need some serious work. This summer was far to much in the bowlers favour and very few batsman could get on top.

Can’t have pitches that favour the bowling conditions to that degree. If this was in India and we had the same results on spinning pitches we’d be up in arms.

Found it a very disappointing series in the end and not up to the hype which was a shame.

Why? Pitches like these expose batting techniques, in which both teams had really poor ones. Bowlers have to toil away on roads so why shouldn't batsmen have to figure out a way on lively decks?

 

[HirdsTheWord]

imagine what MacGill would have done if not in Warnes shadow for all those years?

leg spin to cocaine dealer.

 

[Mateyman]

At his peak Virat was as good as anyone.

The thing that tarnishes his legacy to me is not so much the diminished average, it’s just how easy it has become to take him out of games. He gets out so consistently fending at balls outside off that he just doesn’t need to play, and has done so for a long time. For a player of his quality to not have fixed that, when all he has to do is let those balls go, is bizarre.

When you compare that to Smith, he got “figured out” by Wagner in 2019, and since then he’s been constantly adjusting to find ways to counteract that approach. His year by year average shows that while he’s never returned to peak levels, he has still found a way to be a consistent high level contributor.

Not sure Smith got figured out by Wagner as much as just lost form. Nobody else really bowls at him with stacked legside field like Wagner did any more but he still isn't scoring the same runs he was

 

[Black Diamond]

What's wrong with my avatar exactly? Take your racism to the srp board.

You are entitled to your view but you’re bringing politics to every board you post on while you have that avatar.

I’ve not said anything remotely racist. You are pretty dense for going there at all.

 

[peternorth]

comparisons between Warner and Konstas arent clear cut according to Channel 9 and SENs Tom Morris. Morris believes Warners aggression was more controlled at the genesis of his career. Konstas is more reckless and out of control

 

[Richard Pryor]

Anyone else noticed mates of theirs who aren't usually into cricket getting into it this year? Maybe it's just me but multiple of my mates who usually pay 0 attention to the cricket got into it a decent amount this summer.

The aus side is winning without annihilating everyone to the point of boredom or coming across as bullies like the early 2000s so not surprising people are getting around the team.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

In the debate about the pitches, and why we are seeing Tests end in less than three days, I'd like to offer this point of view. The contemporary batsmen, in terms of stroke play, are more advanced than at any time in Test cricket. 10-20 years ago, we'd never have believed it possible that ramp shots, reverse sweeps, etc were accepted in Test cricket.

Batsmen have been adding more clubs to the bag as the years have progressed. I believe this has brought on weaknesses in batting technique and an inability to handle the sideways moving ball. Batsmen have all these extra shots and are looking at every opportunity to implement them.

They have adjusted their techniques to allow for these strokes, and as such, their defensive techniques have suffered. Leaving the ball used to be a skill, making the bowler bowl to your strength, but it's becoming almost a thing of the past as younger players in particular feel the need to score off every ball. Batsmen are now allowing bowlers to bowl wherever they like, and they will offer a shot. A skilled bowler such as Boland is thinking to himself "How good is this, I no longer have to bowl where the batsmen want me too, I can bowl wherever I like".

In Australia's 2nd innings yesterday, we saw the classic scenario where Konstas received two balls in a row right where he wanted them, angling onto his pads and he clipped them through the leg side for two boundaries. The next two balls were outside off and too close to cut. Konstas needed to just leave those balls to pass, but he swung at both and was fortunate not to get an edge.

The "see ball, hit ball" mentality is alive and well and living inside the batsmen's heads. While this is in vogue, the only way we will see a 5 day Test is via multiple rain delays.

 

[TigerCraig]

I dont think the matches were bad per say some were short, but still eventful, but i think Perth should be stripped of test matches until the fans over there sort their stuff out. Embarrassing to have a near empty stadium every year over there to kick us off for the series.

IMO Ashes 2025 Should be;

Test 1- Brisbane
Test 2 - Adelaide
Test 3 - Tasmania
Test 4 - Melbourne
Test 5 - Sydney

Im a fan of Perth - only because I get to see more after work. Tbh I couldn't care if all the games were played in empty stadia

 

[Alfonz]

I think Sam Konstas did relatively well in his 2 games.

The MCG he completely rattled India with his first innings and brought Khawaja and Marnus along with him. Like it or not, his gameplan threw Bumrah off his lines and lengths for a while which made it easier for the others. The 2nd innings India had a look and had a plan. That's going to happen.

Both his innings in Sydney given the benefit of hindsight I think were important. The scorecard says he scored a couple of 20s but on that pitch those were handy scores from your opener - in fact he was the highest scoring opener for the match in total runs. Particularly the 2nd innings, scoring a slightly better than run a ball 23 (along with the extras) helped us jump out of the blocks and get well into the chase early which was crucial on that pitch, and always is chasing short targets.

Some of the periphery stuff, which is self inflicted, has distracted from his performances. But in terms of his actual batting I'd say 3 out of 4 innings were a + to the side.

He wasn't just the highest scorer of the openers in the last test. He was the highest scorer out of the top 4 from both sides. Only Pant and Webster scored more runs.

 

[Soggy2112]

Not sure Smith got figured out by Wagner as much as just lost form. Nobody else really bowls at him with stacked legside field like Wagner did any more but he still isn't scoring the same runs he was

I’m not sure about the lost form bit, he was coming off the 2019 Ashes, which to me that or the 2017 India series were the best performances of his career. I think Wagner clearly worked out a way to take away his strength and frustrated him in to taking wickets.

We did see after a while teams going to that approach for a while. The point I was making is that we don’t really see that anymore because Smith figured it out. We’ve seen throughout the past five years teams try different tactics to him and he’s constantly tinkering to counteract it and has been successful (albeit not to the extent of his peak of averaging 70+).

Kohli on the other hand has been getting out pretty much in the same fashion for a considerable period of time, and he has done very little to address it, which is quite remarkable really for a guy of his quality.

To be fair to Kohli though, his record in white ball cricket is astonishing and far ahead of anyone else in this era.

 

[Soggy2112]

Im a fan of Perth - only because I get to see more after work. Tbh I couldn't care if all the games were played in empty stadia

A big crowd definitely adds to the overall experience, even for those just watching on TV.

 

[grumbleguts]

Starc and Cummins combined for 256 runs
Kohli and Rohit combined for 221 runs

 

[TigerCraig]

A big crowd definitely adds to the overall experience, even for those just watching on TV.

Doesn't really interest me, but I'm sure many like it.

I don't really like drums, horns, chants etc

 

[Aristotle Pickett]

You are entitled to your view but you’re bringing politics to every board you post on while you have that avatar.

I’ve not said anything remotely racist. You are pretty dense for going there at all.

No I'm not at all, stop lying mate. You are the one talking politics so stop doing it on a cricket board.

 

[Soggy2112]

It happens. Had mates in high school (mid 1990s) that would say cricket sucks, so boring etc. Then you lose contact and run into them 5 - 10 years later and they say gotta admit, crickets pretty good. It’s a bit like wine I think. As you mature you tastes change and you enjoy different things and kicking back with beers on the couch or pub watching cricket on a hot summers day is pretty appealing

I think there’s two reasons and they’re both pretty simple.

A) Kids prefer things that are quicker and more eventful. Go to the beach and see what people choose to do and you wouldn’t be surprised why adults are generally bigger test cricket fans.

B) You generally have to understand what’s going on in a test match to appreciate it. On a surface level, the Cummins, Lyon, Boland third innings efforts in the fourth test weren’t really that exciting, but once you understand what’s actually going on it becomes must watch. So naturally, as you get older and smarter you’re going to be more interested in Test cricket.

 

[Soggy2112]

Doesn't really interest me, but I'm sure many like it.

I don't really like drums, horns, chants etc

Fair enough, I think generally seeing a crowd that is really invested, particularly one that is 50/50 as a lot of these crowds have been, subconsciously adds to the tension and excitement in the game.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

2.5 day Tests aren't necessarily a comment on the pitches - they can also be due to the approach and technique of the batsmen.

I didn't think the Sydney pitch was that bad (certainly not as bad as many seem to be making out) to be honest. There was more bounce than normal but apart from that it wasn't too bad. It certainly didn't seam any more than you would expect and it wasn't turning on day 2 or anything like that. A number of the wickets were due to either poor shots or by unnecessary fishing expeditions outside the off stump.

Players who succeeded at the SCG: Those who walked down the pitch and attempted to just slap everything for six.
Players who failed at the SCG: Those who attempted to watchfully play the ball on merit.

 

[TigerCraig]

Fair enough, I think generally seeing a crowd that is really invested, particularly one that is 50/50 as a lot of these crowds have been, subconsciously adds to the tension and excitement in the game.

Yeah, at footy I don't mind it, but 6 hours of it just gives me a headache

Im just old and cranky - sit the **** down and clap politely

 

[Soggy2112]

Yeah, at footy I don't mind it, but 6 hours of it just gives me a headache

Im just old and cranky - sit the **** down and clap politely

Perhaps try golf or tennis

 

[Black Diamond]

I think there’s two reasons and they’re both pretty simple.

A) Kids prefer things that are quicker and more eventful. Go to the beach and see what people choose to do and you wouldn’t be surprised why adults are generally bigger test cricket fans.

B) You generally have to understand what’s going on in a test match to appreciate it. On a surface level, the Cummins, Lyon, Boland third innings efforts in the fourth test weren’t really that exciting, but once you understand what’s actually going on it becomes must watch. So naturally, as you get older and smarter you’re going to be more interested in Test cricket.

More than anything kids need sympathetic parents to support them playing cricket. Helps so much to have someone in the family who is knowledgable and passionate. To the untrained eye cricket is "boring" and they "just stand around all day".

I will never not see it as remarkable that Shane Warne and the Waugh brothers came from families who weren't into cricket. Two of our all time greats in Warne and S Waugh, in no small part because of the time and support of their parents.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Doesn't really interest me, but I'm sure many like it.

I don't really like drums, horns, chants etc

It is what prevents me from attending cricket matches these days. Far too much unnecessary noise. Some call it atmosphere; I call it noise pollution. Any younger posters laughing at this will understand as they grow older.

 

[TigerCraig]

Perhaps try golf or tennis

No thanks - like soccer, ok to play, shit to watch

 

[Duckimus Prime]

I dont think the matches were bad per say some were short, but still eventful, but i think Perth should be stripped of test matches until the fans over there sort their stuff out. Embarrassing to have a near empty stadium every year over there to kick us off for the series.

IMO Ashes 2025 Should be;

Test 1- Brisbane
Test 2 - Adelaide
Test 3 - Tasmania
Test 4 - Melbourne
Test 5 - Sydney

There were 96k people at the Perth Test this year for 4 days.

If the Tasmanians hit their record crowd of 18,149 on all 5 days... you get a 90k crowd.

 

[Voice of the G]

comparisons between Warner and Konstas arent clear cut according to Channel 9 and SENs Tom Morris. Morris believes Warners aggression was more controlled at the genesis of his career. Konstas is more reckless and out of control

A bit early to comparing Konstas and Warner,lol.From memory I think Warner started as a 1 day T20 cricketer and got runs there before they considered him as a test cricketer.

 

[Coops93]

There were 96k people at the Perth Test this year for 4 days.

If the Tasmanians hit their record crowd of 18,149 on all 5 days... you get a 90k crowd.

The point isn't the pure numbers, it's the aesthetic of a big stadium looking mostly empty.

16,000 in Tasmania looks way better than 20,000 at Perth.

It's the same thing that always gets said when MCG games have 20,000 at them. It's still 20,000, but it looks and sounds fairly bleak in that stadium.