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

[the_interloper]

It’s a case of batsmen not having willingness to search beyond 1-2 tactics.

Everyone laughed at Matthew Wade’s tactic a few years ago against Neil Wagner but hey: Wagner didn’t get him. Wade thought beyond trying to either hit out, fend the ball, or duck and weave where he might get hit in the head. He got bashed up sure but he survived. He actually thought his way through something.

It’s so often a case nowadays of ‘if my normal approach doesn’t work in these conditions, I just have to start trying to flog everything.’

On the rare occasions someone deviates from that - Labuschagne in Perth for example - they get lambasted: ‘you just dug a hole for yourself that you were never getting out of.’

If the batsman doesn’t have the skillset I can certainly understand the ‘bash everything’ approach but if he has any level of judgement and flexibility he shouldn’t be beaten down by the idea of a ‘dangerous’ pitch just because the odd one bounces a bit more

I believe this describes Konstas well as an opener, it seems like him defending good inswing bowling will get him bowled eventually, it's actually way safer for him to try a ramp or charging down the wicket I think. If he could tighten up on the moving ball outside off (kind of important for a test opener ha ha) he could really be a weapon for us.

 

[ABAB]

dont like that usman got the pick

does not deserve it.

The only way he doesn't is when he retire....

 

[cats_09]

Because I know we had a bit of discussion about this during the test match & how would Boland's 6fa stack up against a century etc

 

[Black Diamond]

I believe this describes Konstas well as an opener, it seems like him defending good inswing bowling will get him bowled eventually, it's actually way safer for him to try a ramp or charging down the wicket I think. If he could tighten up on the moving ball outside off (kind of important for a test opener ha ha) he could really be a weapon for us.

If the ramp or charging is safer then that is terrible.

 

[sosos]

If the ramp or charging is safer then that is terrible.

His first innings in Melbourne put Bumrah off his line and length. Safer than McSweeney trying not to get out.

He got some good runs at a crucial time of the series, tailed off but still had some impact without going on with it.

Go with what works.

 

[sr36]

His first innings in Melbourne put Bumrah off his line and length. Safer than McSweeney trying not to get out.

He got some good runs at a crucial time of the series, tailed off but still had some impact without going on with it.

Go with what works.

Yep. Plus ramp was safer than a cover drive on those pitches

 

[F6Typhoon]

Yep. Plus ramp was safer than a cover drive on those pitches

His form doesn’t look too good going by his big bash performance last night.. 4
When the old opener made 88no

 

[sr36]

His form doesn’t look too good going by his big bash performance last night.. 4
When the old opener made 88no

I wouldn't be judging on one t20 failure. However I think he'll probably be left out in Sri Lanka. Head to open and McSweeney into the middle order.

 

[MarcMaverick]

View attachment 2200201

Good line-up, although they missed a trick by not making Head as captain, would be a nice mini audition of sorts.

 

[JimmyBC]

Good line-up, although they missed a trick by not making Head as captain, would be a nice mini audition of sorts.

It does seem odd to go back to Captain Sandpaper, Head is either next in line or not make the call.

 

[MarcMaverick]

It does seem odd to go back to Captain Sandpaper, Head is either next in line or not make the call.

Sandpaper aside, I wonder if Head needs to move to NSW to get the captaincy. Iirc the last South Aussie to be skipper was Greg Chappel.

 

[PhatBoy]

Sandpaper aside, I wonder if Head needs to move to NSW to get the captaincy. Iirc the last South Aussie to be skipper was Greg Chappel.

He had been playing for Queensland for 2 years when he was Australian captain.

I think you’ll find it was his brother.

 

[MarcMaverick]

He had been playing for Queensland for 2 years when he was Australian captain.

I think you’ll find it was his brother.

So Chappeli. Its been a while then.

Then again Travis Head maybe is like a Dusty Martin.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

So Chappeli. Its been a while then.

Then again Travis Head maybe is like a Dusty Martin.

Then you need to go back to Bradman prior to that ... and he was from NSW.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Then you need to go back to Bradman prior to that ... and he was from NSW.

So we need more Croweaters as skippers.

Plus its in his surname, Captain Head.

 

[Soggy2112]

dont like that usman got the pick

does not deserve it.

Why not?

Why would his struggles on fast, seaming wickets against one of the greatest fast bowlers ever, be a reflection on his likelihood of succeeding in Sri Lanka against mostly spin attacks?

Prior to that, he averaged 52 in 2023, and 67 in 2022. In his past four series in Asia he has been in our top 3 performing batters in all of them, and has not averaged below 40 in any of those.

It is laughable to suggest that there is an opener in Australia who is more likely to succeed on this tour than Uzzie is.

 

[Soggy2112]

Good line-up, although they missed a trick by not making Head as captain, would be a nice mini audition of sorts.

I actually think that if they’re looking at Trav as Pat’s replacement, then long term, having him captain this series would be detrimental to that.

Assuming Cummins’ has the job for probably 2-3 more years (I think beyond that we probably lose out on his performance as a bowler and he probably gets burnt out), then Trav might have the team for 3-4 years. He will want to put his own stamp on it and be able to run things his way I imagine.

Smith’s job will largely be to maintain the status quo and be in charge tactically on field, I don’t think that’s necessarily the best way for Head to be introduced to the job.

Remember, he’s captained SA for nearly a decade, so he’s not lacking captaincy experience.

 

[Saints4ever]

Head doesn’t want the Captaincy long term.
He sees how much work Cummins has to put in and he’s not at all interested.
Happy just to play and go home to his wife and 2 young kids.

 

[Bletch]

Why not?

Why would his struggles on fast, seaming wickets against one of the greatest fast bowlers ever, be a reflection on his likelihood of succeeding in Sri Lanka against mostly spin attacks?

Prior to that, he averaged 52 in 2023, and 67 in 2022. In his past four series in Asia he has been in our top 3 performing batters in all of them, and has not averaged below 40 in any of those.

It is laughable to suggest that there is an opener in Australia who is more likely to succeed on this tour than Uzzie is.

But... he's a 38-year-old who has averaged under 30 over the past year (28 since start of last summer). It's not just the recent series v India.

If he was 30 I'd agree with you and back him to recapture past form. But he's not.

We've only had two batsmen over the past 45 years that have played at age 38+. Border and S Waugh - two of our greatest. Both retired before reaching 39. And neither were opening batsmen. Time catches us all.

Might he perform well in Sri Lanka on slower pitches? Maybe. But then it means blooding someone new for the TC and Ashes.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Head doesn’t want the Captaincy long term.
He sees how much work Cummins has to put in and he’s not at all interested.
Happy just to play and go home to his wife and 2 young kids.

So a Dusty Martin then.

 

[Black Diamond]

Head plays with panache.

I don’t know if he could keep that up as captain in the modern era.

Could he even get away with his celebration after taking Pant’s wicket?

 

[Borisdog]

He had been playing for Queensland for 2 years when he was Australian captain.

I think you’ll find it was his brother.

I reckon you'll find Greg Chappel's birth certificate says he's South Australian.

 

[PhatBoy]

I reckon you'll find Greg Chappel's birth certificate says he's South Australian.

Thanks for that stunning revelation.

Point being you have to be playing for them for CA or the ACB or the Board of Control as it was pre-1972 for them to want to have a bias towards or against a particular state.

Border was a new south Welshman but he was a Queensland captain of Australia wasn’t he.

 

[Pistol Night]

Head plays with panache.

I don’t know if he could keep that up as captain in the modern era.

Could he even get away with his celebration after taking Pant’s wicket?

Kohli managed it balance the captaincy/flog workload without any issues

 

[Soggy2112]

But... he's a 38-year-old who has averaged under 30 over the past year (28 since start of last summer). It's not just the recent series v India.

If he was 30 I'd agree with you and back him to recapture past form. But he's not.

We've only had two batsmen over the past 45 years that have played at age 38+. Border and S Waugh - two of our greatest. Both retired before reaching 39. And neither were opening batsmen. Time catches us all.

Might he perform well in Sri Lanka on slower pitches? Maybe. But then it means blooding someone new for the TC and Ashes.

In my opinion, whoever it is that is going to replace Khawaja at the top of the order will gain absolutely nothing in terms of their preparation for the WTC final and the Ashes. It is a wildly different set of conditions and opponent. I really don’t see how, for arguments sake, McSweeney will be better prepared for South Africa at Lord’s and England in Australia, by facing spinners on a ragger in Sri Lanka.

I also think you are devaluing this series. It is a Test tour after all, and we seem to be playing less and less away Tests against teams outside the big 3. Winning there is a big deal and we should be selecting the team that gives us the best chance to do so and picking Khawaja does that. If you can come up with a name who you think will do better, I’m all ears.

I also think you’re writing off Khawaja too quickly. I understand the age argument, but we’re also talking about a guy who has played a lot less international cricket than most players that go to that age, a good comparison is Chris Rogers who retired at 38 and could’ve kept going if he wanted to. He’s had two bad series and one of them can be put down to Bumrah.