Australia v England First Ashes Test at the Gabba - 2017

[rippersnipper]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 8 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

 

[dogs105]

England seem to be bowling to plans while Australia were just relying on their bowlers just bowling great wicket taking balls and fluke run outs.

Not surprising when this guy is the Aussie coach.

That guy holding the World Cup? Pfffft, what would he know about cricket?

 

[G Mus]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 6 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

Yeah but we have heaps of depth for the ODI and T20 teams

 

[spookism]

Yeah but we have heaps of depth for the ODI and T20 teams

A disappointing sign of the times.

 

[TigerCraig]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 8 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

There was a whole generation who missed out on what could have been - Siddons, Divenuto, Elliott, Hodge, Love. Would all walk into the side now

 

[dogs105]

There was a whole generation who missed out on what could have been - Siddons, Divenuto, Elliott, Hodge, Love. Would all walk into the side now

Blokes who could have played more:

Jamie Siddons
Darren Lehmann
Michael DiVenuto
Matthew Elliott
Mathew Hayden
Damien Martyn
Paul Nobes
Michael Bevan
Martin Love
Brad Hodge

 

[TigerCraig]

I've got a signed copy of that.

Depressing read. So were The Ashes '77 and Golden Boy. I had a copy of The Ashes '77 signed by Tony Greig and Greg Chappell somewhere and cant find it now

 

[The Casey Cat]

Initially, I could understand the people who accused England of playing for a draw. I did originally before I gave it some thought. Perhaps they even were in the short term. However, we have four bowlers in this team. Guys like Smith who can toss a few overs aren't risked due to potential for injury (Steve Waugh syndrome). History demonstrates that the health and longevity of our bowlers just isn't there. You play a slow steady innings and bat as long as you possibly can. Make them bowl over after over after over. While I'm certain that England would have been somewhat disappointed with their morning session and would have liked to have batted longer the strategy was the right call. If they can dig in again in the second innings and have a good innings in their first next test then they'll be coming up roses towards the end of the series.

It's a test series not a one off test.

We must add an all rounder to the team for the next test. Hopefully Maxwell.

Agree with everything you said besides the all rounder part. Smith and Warner are plenty capable of chipping in with a few. If that happens and we teach our bowlers to start bowling to plans rather than bowling for wicket taking deliveries all the time then the current lineup of 4 bowlers is fine.

If Maxwell continues to kill it in the current shield match and Marsh does nothing or gets injured then fair enough. But picking an all-rounder for the sake of it because we can't/won't mix it up in the field and with the ball won't help much.

 

[DaRick]

Blokes who could have played more:

Jamie Siddons
Darren Lehmann
Michael DiVenuto
Matthew Elliott
Mathew Hayden
Damien Martyn
Paul Nobes
Michael Bevan
Martin Love
Brad Hodge

Stuart Law

 

[The Casey Cat]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 8 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

It is but is why I would have preferred to stick with Renshaw and pick Carey. At least they are young and appear to have the right temperament and will be better for it. I'd rather play Renshaw than Kwaja or Marsh who are what they are and are too stubborn or hopeless to improve.

 

[Costanza_]

So much riding on Smith this afternoon... again. Lets hope his shoulders arent too sore from carrying his top order, Judd style.

 

[sherb]

Blokes who could have played more:

Jamie Siddons
Darren Lehmann
Michael DiVenuto
Matthew Elliott
Mathew Hayden
Damien Martyn
Paul Nobes
Michael Bevan
Martin Love
Brad Hodge

J Cox

 

[a mayes ing]

Times have changed. The only time they'd do that these days is when they're intentionally trying to get themselves in the headlines. If anything, I'd argue that we're too bloody PC as a society and this is a reflection of that.

Bingo, l hate all this political correctness. I don't care if something someone says offends someone. Whats the worst that will happen: Someone gets offended...
Say it how it is - Khawaja is lousy against spin and is the sole reason he didn't go to India. 30 years old so only have a few years left, no time to learn against spin, should have done that years ago

 

[Upgrayedd]

Ive already said. Dont rate Maxwell.

However he was extremely paitent and had some great innings in India. Why cant guys like Warner. Marsh ect. Do the same. This isnt a talent issue. I think something's wrong with how we play. If anyones seen Vince before this he has the same problem as Warner. See's the thing as a beach ball every oppotunity. However hes set up england nicely being calm. Our players often under pressure make some stupid shots i can live with Bancrofts dismissal. Warners however has been an epidemic of our middle order now for years

 

[Belnakor]

Blokes who could have played more:

Jamie Siddons

got to love the sledge from Waugh on him though

 

[a mayes ing]

Boy, it's so frustrating watching us bat. Easier to just watch us bowl.

Yep, frustraing but l feel like l am making myself sick. Been sick in the belly ever since we started our innings.
They just look too afraid to do anything incase they get out. Australians bat aggressive not this shit.

 

[TigerCraig]

J Cox

You could pick a pretty fair top 6 out of that lot

 

[Cursed Cat]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 8 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

Definitely.
Even when the National side was piss-poor in the mid-80's, Shield cricket was still a lot stronger than it is now.

 

[PhatBoy]

Yeah I cannot understand this. Two of the three highest scorers in the match so far but apparently they may be ruing their strike rate

The culprits from an England perspective were Ali and Malan. Platform laid, Spritely start this morning and then went into survival mode.

 

[dogs105]

You could pick a pretty fair top 6 out of that lot

or a couple.


Nobes
Elliott
Cox
Lehmann
Siddons
Hodge

vs

DiVenuto
Hayden
Love
Martyn
Law
Bevan

vs

Warner
Bancroft
Khawaja
Smith
Handscombe
S. Marsh

 

[Art Vandelay_]

139* for Maxwell. The end of Marsh is nigh.
About time.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Our country is in a lull for proper test batsmen. I look at our order and the only spot that is secure is smith really. We used to have blokes averaging 45 in the shield and not getting into the side, now our number 6 is a bloke who's been dropped 8 times, our 3 can't play spin, our opener gets way too impatient. Can't find a solid 7/keeper. Bit of a drought really

Yep. It boils down to the choices young batsmen make in today's game. They can either spend years developing a disciplined technique that will succeed in all forms of cricket, or deciding to adapt their game to the T20 market for a quick fix and hopefully some quick bucks. Sadly, too many are choosing the latter. It's unlikely we will see players of the ilk of Ponting or Clarke again. These guys, right from the word go, would bat all day in underage cricket making as many as they could. Kids don't do that these days.

 

[funk44]

that out

 

[NSWCROW]

cooked

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Handscomb is gonski.