Ashes 2021/22

[LukeParkerno1]

Pucovski will be back playing club cricket 8 Jan,2022

He should be kept at Shield level till next year at the earliest. Lets not rush him, obviously he has some technical things to work on.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

How long before Warner calls it quits. Like it to be sooner rather than later. Then we will see just how good the next gen openers are at Test level

I disagree with that think ideally we want Street or Hunt batting with Warner now, then the other one coming in after Warner retires. Gut feel is he gets to the Ashes in England (not saying it's a good thing), maybe the summer after and retire then. Not sure we want two new openers right now. Warner for all his faults and he is a FTB, does average 48 in test cricket with 20+ tons.

 

[BGman]

I'd just have Khawaja open, but trying Labuschagne as an opener was something I pitched before the series. It wasn't popular and you'd obviously prefer not to move your number 3 when they're arguably your best batter and the best number 3 in the world at the moment, but he's more often than not finding himself out there in the first 5 overs or so anyway.

Precisely. Reason I suggested it. There is little difference between opening and coming in when an early wicket falls. The #3s job will then be to take the shine off the ball same as the openers.

Usman has a decent pink ball record. So perhaps a mute point not to to open.
Usman Khawaja (Australia): 307 runs, Matches 4, 100s 1, 50s 2; HS 145

I disagree with that think ideally we want Street or Hunt batting with Warner now

So do I but is CA prepared to move Harris on to accommodate either one of Hunt or Street in this Ashes series.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Precisely. Reason I suggested it.

Usman has a decent pink ball record. So perhaps a mute point not to to open.
Usman Khawaja (Australia): 307 runs, Matches 4, 100s 1, 50s 2; HS 145

What is the point though. Honestly we know how this ends.

Wouldn't it be better playing a younger option, at home in conditions they know, who actually might be our next good bat. We keep going back to average options we won't develop our side.

 

[BGman]

What is the point though. Honestly we know how this ends.

CA picked him as the reserve batsman so you can not ignore him, as much as you and some others 'd like to. If Warner is out the selectors will toss up whether we go for an experienced and successful pink ball Test batsman or they turn to one of a pair of untried rookies that are not part of the squad. I think they will opt for the former. Personally I hope they choose Hunt as he has a more solid technique than both Khawaja and Street.

Very interesting stat re the best pink ball Test bats and bowlers. Top five batsmen: David Warner (Australia): 534 runs, Matches 5, 100s 1, HS 335* Azhar Ali (Pakistan): 474 runs, Matches 4, 100s 1, 50s 2; HS 302* Steve Smith (Australia): 441 runs, Matches 5, 100s 1, 50s 3; HS 130 Asad Shafiq (Pakistan): 401 runs, Matches 4, 100s 2, 50s 2; HS 137 Usman Khawaja (Australia): 307 runs, Matches 4, 100s 1, 50s 2; HS 145

Top five bowlers: Mitchell Starc (Australia): 33 wickets, Matches 6, best bowling 6/66 Josh Hazlewood (Australia): 25 wickets, Matches 5, best bowling 6/70 Nathan Lyon (Australia): 22 wickets, Matches 6, best bowling 5/69 Yasir Shah (Pakistan): 18 wickets, Matches 4, best bowling 6/184 Trent Boult (New Zealand): 16 wickets, Matches 2, best bowling 6/3

 

[HODGEYROAD]

Any word on how the fitness of Warner is tracking ?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

CA picked him as the reserve batsman so you can not ignore him, as much as you and some others 'd like to. If Warner is out the selectors will toss up whether we go for an experienced and successful pink ball Test batsman or they turn to one of a pair of untried rookies that are not part of the squad. I think they will opt for the former.

They better not that's all I say. For all Khawaja is he hasn't opened for years. Just no. We have 3 openers available and in form, or at least 2 if you aren't counting Renshaw who is more an opener than Khawaja.

However I know you are right, I mean they somehow left Richo out of the first test.

 

[Coops93]

The one thing in Khawajas favour is that in an Ashes series "planning for the future" isn't really a thing. Ashes series are the future plans.

Picking Khawaja, the older bloke, for a few tests isn't the worst thing. If they decide that he is indeed the best for the job, of course. You could make a case that Street is in good enough for to be picked now over him, especially considering he's a legit opener and not a middle order bat who can open.

 

[Pure_Ownage]

What is the point though. Honestly we know how this ends.

Wouldn't it be better playing a younger option, at home in conditions they know, who actually might be our next good bat. We keep going back to average options we won't develop our side.

I mean usman is in very good form has experiencd in the top order against quality pace attacks and is clearly the best replacement for warner in the middle of an ashes series. Why our young openers are not putting up numbers much better than him at FC level to demand selection is a separate issue but that says more about the lack of top order batting depth around the country than it does about usman.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I mean usman is in very good form has experiencd in the top order against quality pace attacks and is clearly the best replacement for warner in the middle of an ashes series. Why our young openers are not putting up numbers much better than him at FC level to demand selection is a separate issue but that says more about the lack of top order batting depth around the country than it does about usman.

Street just made a ton and has more hundreds than Khawaja this season

 

[Seedsfan]

What is Harris stats in that period?

Do you want it as all FC runs test included or purely FC runs without tests? Will do it later on

 

[Seedsfan]

If Khawaja decided to replace Street or Burns as opener, you'd be one of the first people to pop up with some sh*t how that's just another example of why his 'attitude' is why he doesn't get selected.

Here's a good one just for you: Khawaja has 1 less Test century opening (7 innings total) than the current English openers combined (68 innings total)

That said Qld dropped Labuschange and Renshaw as openers and they came back in different positions. So if they felt that Khawaja was the best option for the team to open he would be opening

 

[Taylor]

What is the point though. Honestly we know how this ends.

Wouldn't it be better playing a younger option, at home in conditions they know, who actually might be our next good bat. We keep going back to average options we won't develop our side.

Winning is the priority. If the average option now is better than the young option now, then the better option should play and the younger option should get better.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Winning is the priority. If the average option now is better than the young option now, then the better option should play and the younger option should get better.

I dispute that as frankly Street is in just as good form and is actually an opener

 

[Taylor]

I dispute that as frankly Street is in just as good form and is actually an opener

That's a fair point.

What's the position of the board on where players can bat? Personally I think any of the top four or five batsmen in a team should be able to play any of the positions in that range at any level in a test setting. They should all be facing a new ball during their innings whether it's a very bad day or a very good day.

It's not like one day cricket where the new ball is around at the start and then goes away for the rest of the game.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That's a fair point.

What's the position of the board on where players can bat? Personally I think any of the top four or five batsmen in a team should be able to play any of the positions in that range at any level in a test setting. They should all be facing a new ball during their innings whether it's a very bad day or a very good day.

It's not like one day cricket where the new ball is around at the start and then goes away for the rest of the game.

Depends on the player really. I do prefer openers who do it domestically to open in tests, it's a very specialised position in general. I'd have less of an issue of Khawaja replacing a middle order bat- we have zero depth in the middle order.

 

[Voice of the G]

Do you want it as all FC runs test included or purely FC runs without tests? Will do it later on

Khawja,Street and Hunt you quoted their figures from 19/20 so with Harris without tests.I think the biggest problem with Harris is he has been dropped because he has failed in the tests,gets big runs in the shield after being dropped so they re select him.I suspect in the shield in that period he would have better figures then the others.I think last chance for Harris next test though.Not sure you can compare Khawaja as he is not opening.

 

[Taylor]

Depends on the player really. I do prefer openers who do it domestically to open in tests, it's a very specialised position in general. I'd have less of an issue of Khawaja replacing a middle order bat- we have zero depth in the middle order.

Let's look at that from the other side, why can't an opener bat at #5 or #6?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Let's look at that from the other side, why can't an opener bat at #5 or #6?

There are more examples openers going the other way, but we aren't looking for a middle order bat they are set (Lab, Smith, Green and Head). We are looking for openers, and it will be 2 openers within 3 years when Warner retires. Khawaja is the soft decision so going off Langer's previous decisions he'll go that way, but it does nothing for Australia short, medium or long term. We know how Khawaja goes and it goes the same way every single time.

 

[Taylor]

There are more examples openers going the other way, but we aren't looking for a middle order bat they are set (Lab, Smith, Green and Head). We are looking for openers, and it will be 2 openers within 3 years when Warner retires. Khawaja is the soft decision so going off Langer's previous decisions he'll go that way, but it does nothing for Australia short, medium or long term. We know how Khawaja goes and it goes the same way every single time.

Do we need an explosive opener to replace Warner?

 

[Voice of the G]

There are more examples openers going the other way, but we aren't looking for a middle order bat they are set (Lab, Smith, Green and Head). We are looking for openers, and it will be 2 openers within 3 years when Warner retires. Khawaja is the soft decision so going off Langer's previous decisions he'll go that way, but it does nothing for Australia short, medium or long term. We know how Khawaja goes and it goes the same way every single time.

Perhaps they should have tried Harris at 6 a little earlier,important to remember that the No.6 spot was still vacant before this series started.

 

[Seedsfan]

What is Harris stats in that period?

Harris (Tests included)
1994 runs from 44 innings (5 times not out) averaging 45.31 per innings or 51.12 per dismissal with 7 100s

Harris (only County and Shield)
1939 runs from 40 innings (4 times not out) averaging 48.47 per innings or 53.86 per dismissal with 7 100s

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Do we need an explosive opener to replace Warner?

Not particularly. Actually didn't mind how Street and Hunt combined in the A game. Feel that's the combination. I'm sort of eliminating Pucovski.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Perhaps they should have tried Harris at 6 a little earlier,important to remember that the No.6 spot was still vacant before this series started.

Please no. It's bad enough as opener. He's not a better bat than Head.

 

[Seedsfan]

Khawja,Street and Hunt you quoted their figures from 19/20 so with Harris without tests.I think the biggest problem with Harris is he has been dropped because he has failed in the tests,gets big runs in the shield after being dropped so they re select him.I suspect in the shield in that period he would have better figures then the others.I think last chance for Harris next test though.Not sure you can compare Khawaja as he is not opening.

Just saw this did it both with and without for you