Australia v India - post 2nd Test discussion, we're all doomed? Maybe not.

[hawkman]

For India, I hope it's only Rohit in for Padikal or Jurel. I wouldn't change the opening combo since they've found form together & have good chemistry. I'd play Rohit at 3 or 5. His form has been poor too.

Gill?

 

[Nuggetz]

For India, I hope it's only Rohit in for Padikal or Jurel. I wouldn't change the opening combo since they've found form together & have good chemistry. I'd play Rohit at 3 or 5. His form has been poor too.

Gills form has been decent, probably one 2 changes with Rohit & Gill in for Paddikal & Jurel. Rana & Reddy were both good imo.

 

[Nuggetz]

Gill?

Yea, Gill is a good shout tbh Rohit shouldn't be in the team based on form but he's the captain so he plays. I don't have confidence he'll have a good score. Father time is undefeated. Could see the end of a few of the older players after this series.

 

[Nuggetz]

Aus - Inglis or any other batter for Labs. I'd push Head to 3 as he's the most inform bat.

 

[akkaps]

For India, I hope it's only Rohit in for Padikal or Jurel. I wouldn't change the opening combo since they've found form together & have good chemistry. I'd play Rohit at 3 or 5. His form has been poor too.

I think we might be bringing in Ashwin to target the left handers, means Washi will miss out. I also hope that Nitish can keep his spot (it will be tough to find a spot if we wanna go with two spinners).
Yash, Rahul, Rohit, Kohli as the top 4?
When is Shami landing in Australia?

 

[akkaps]

Ideally:

Konstas
Khawaja
McSweeney
Smith
Head
Inglis
Carey (wk)
Cummins (c)
Lyon
Boland
Hazlewood

I should have said, "realistic"

 

[akkaps]

Yea, Gill is a good shout tbh Rohit shouldn't be in the team based on form but he's the captain so he plays. I don't have confidence he'll have a good score. Father time is undefeated. Could see the end of a few of the older players after this series.

I also heard Gill may not be available for the 2nd Test.

Also, we have a tour match next week. Will be good for the fringe players to get some game time.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Okay, changes for the next Test?

There is a distinct lack of players in form and with more than just a couple of games behind them. Ideally, they would be in form this season and have a couple of years of consistency to back it up. But that doesn't exist.
Its actually very easy for the selectors to say "there's nobody any better" and damned near have a point.

It was dead game time, but Head obviously does enough to take the pressure off for the time being.

Labuschagne - Number three is damned hard to replace. McSweeney to three, and an opener to open?

Or Marsh - survives for now based off last summer's form and those around him are looking worse - to three and keep the non-opener opening? Given the selectors love an all-rounder and Marsh seemed to not bowl the overs he should have, Webster then in at six?


Smith has to be under the pump too. Selectors won't touch him though, veterans getting dropped ends their careers (it shouldn't if they can turn their form around) so it doesn't happen to past stars - they always get a few years and then a heads-up to bow out as a retirement.

Actually consistent if not firing off big scores, Kurtis Patterson [13, 91, 66, 71, 99 so far this Shield season]. I admit I haven't actually seen him play this summer, maybe form wouldn't translate - but it only needs to be regular 30s to be better than most of the top six look like managing.

Its Test cricket, so age doesn't matter imo. Best eleven to win the next match.
I know people will want to blood some young players, and then often the same people will write them off forever once they fail.


Cummins looked just a bit below himself and hopefully will be better for the hit out. But there's a larger gap and no Shield this coming weekend because the games are only in day two or three now. I don't see any changes among the bowlers, other than the bouncer barrage specialist in Labuschagne might miss.

The temptation is to blow up the top six and replace about four of them - but what with????
And I think there's one Shield match (plus the current round) before the Sri Lanka touring party has to be named. So, not much chance to gain form if dropped, or for anybody to stand up and demand one of the many open positions.

 

[Spiritof82]

You forgot to account for the rain in Sydney

Rain in Sydney is a given

 

[Trojan90]

Clearly our top 4 ain’t it. Also I hate the thought of Head/Marsh together in the order. I’d love to see Head up the order (maybe #3). Not much to bring in batting wise.

Would it hurt to try Konstas while the pretend cricket is on? He won’t miss any shield cricket.

A problem with the “Captain Planet” stuff. We can’t have a reasonable discussion about his captaincy without it descending into politics and “snowflake”, “boomer” talk. I think Pats the right man but something’s got to change in our leadership/preparation.

The cartel are world class when things are going right but fall apart when the batting side get on top. We have no answers! It happened again here and will be glossed over by our poor batting.

Batting team gets on top and pile on us, our answer? Wait for them to declare. See Crawley at Old Trafford, see Rawalpindi and Galle.

 

[Cleavy]

are we lining up a test series vs Ivory Coast now? we might be able to beat them

 

[the_interloper]

There is a distinct lack of players in form and with more than just a couple of games behind them. Ideally, they would be in form this season and have a couple of years of consistency to back it up. But that doesn't exist.
Its actually very easy for the selectors to say "there's nobody any better" and damned near have a point.

It was dead game time, but Head obviously does enough to take the pressure off for the time being.

Labuschagne - Number three is damned hard to replace. McSweeney to three, and an opener to open?

Or Marsh - survives for now based off last summer's form and those around him are looking worse - to three and keep the non-opener opening? Given the selectors love an all-rounder and Marsh seemed to not bowl the overs he should have, Webster then in at six?


Smith has to be under the pump too. Selectors won't touch him though, veterans getting dropped ends their careers (it shouldn't if they can turn their form around) so it doesn't happen to past stars - they always get a few years and then a heads-up to bow out as a retirement.

Actually consistent if not firing off big scores, Kurtis Patterson [13, 91, 66, 71, 99 so far this Shield season]. I admit I haven't actually seen him play this summer, maybe form wouldn't translate - but it only needs to be regular 30s to be better than most of the top six look like managing.

Its Test cricket, so age doesn't matter imo. Best eleven to win the next match.
I know people will want to blood some young players, and then often the same people will write them off forever once they fail.


Cummins looked just a bit below himself and hopefully will be better for the hit out. But there's a larger gap and no Shield this coming weekend because the games are only in day two or three now. I don't see any changes among the bowlers, other than the bouncer barrage specialist in Labuschagne might miss.

The temptation is to blow up the top six and replace about four of them - but what with????
And I think there's one Shield match (plus the current round) before the Sri Lanka touring party has to be named. So, not much chance to gain form if dropped, or for anybody to stand up and demand one of the many open positions.

That's the thing, who do you play? I like the idea of Konstas, it's only been one Test, think it's fair to keep the same side for at least the second Test.

 

[Voice of the G]

Clearly our top 4 ain’t it. Also I hate the thought of Head/Marsh together in the order. I’d love to see Head up the order (maybe #3). Not much to bring in batting wise.

Would it hurt to try Konstas while the pretend cricket is on? He won’t miss any shield cricket.

A problem with the “Captain Planet” stuff. We can’t have a reasonable discussion about his captaincy without it descending into politics and “snowflake”, “boomer” talk. I think Pats the right man but something’s got to change in our leadership/preparation.

The cartel are world class when things are going right but fall apart when the batting side get on top. We have no answers! It happened again here and will be glossed over by our poor batting.

Batting team gets on top and pile on us, our answer? Wait for them to declare. See Crawley at Old Trafford, see Rawalpindi and Galle.

To early to try Konstas at this stage and keep him away from that T20 crap.At the moment Bancroft 50 no in the shield and Harris also batting and no.Would bring in a established opener at this stage but who is the best out of a poor lot at the moment.Move Mc Sweeney to3,to risky having 2 young players batting 2 and 3 in the 2nd test but both are our future.

 

[Olian]

Just feels as though the rot starts at the top. Cummins looks off his game, you have to wonder how much a Trump presidency has affected him. Could be a long 4 years.

 

[Trojan90]

To early to try Konstas at this stage and keep him away from that T20 crap.At the moment Bancroft 50 no in the shield and Harris also batting and no.Would bring in a established opener at this stage but who is the best out of a poor lot at the moment.Move Mc Sweeney to3,to risky having 2 young players batting 2 and 3 in the 2nd test but both are our future.

I was keen on Bancroft last year, would gladly take him or Harris at the moment. Thinking with Konstas, with BBL on and no shield available would it hurt to try him in the 3rd test?

New opener - Probably Bancroft/Harris
Khawaja - Thin ice
Head - Lock #3 going forward
Smith - I have faith
McSweeney - more suitable position
Carey - too good for #7 atm
Marsh
Bowlers

Konstas in waiting for Khawaja spot, Webster pressuring Marsh, Marnus to go find some form and Green to come back next year.

 

[Cainozz]

Nothing too drastic for me. Main concern is the soreness of our bowlers and Marsh.

Webster in for Marsh (sore)

Can’t drop McSweeney after one game.

Labs gets one last crack to make a score of substance.

Smith still has earned the right for more time.

Boland in for one of Hazlewood/Starc to keep them fresh for the rest of the series.

 

[Voice of the G]

I was keen on Bancroft last year, would gladly take him or Harris at the moment. Thinking with Konstas, with BBL on and no shield available would it hurt to try him in the 3rd test?

New opener - Probably Bancroft/Harris
Khawaja - Thin ice
Head - Lock #3 going forward
Smith - I have faith
McSweeney - more suitable position
Carey - too good for #7 atm
Marsh
Bowlers

Konstas in waiting for Khawaja spot, Webster pressuring Marsh, Marnus to go find some form and Green to come back next year.

Not sure about the 3rd test for Konstas but love to see him get a game later in the series if Australia are still struggling at the top.He is in the PM 11 2 day game so hope he gets runs there.Labs has had enough chances.

 

[western royboy]

Kurtis Patterson on 99…what a campaigner of a shot!

 

[Black Diamond]

Kurtis Patterson on 99…what a campaigner of a shot!

This one goes in the "Can't get out for 99 if you don't make 99" file.

Quite seriously though, I would have him in the mix. And I would rather see how he goes than risk burning Konstas or another young player. And he is only 31 so could offer a few good years.

 

[Nuggetz]

I think we might be bringing in Ashwin to target the left handers, means Washi will miss out. I also hope that Nitish can keep his spot (it will be tough to find a spot if we wanna go with two spinners).
Yash, Rahul, Rohit, Kohli as the top 4?
When is Shami landing in Australia?

Yea, that's fair to bring in Ashwin for that reason. It's a pink ball test in Adelaide so I think the bowling composition will remain the same. Yep, that would be my top 4. Rumours before the adelaide test but maybe they delay it since we won comprehensively? Potentially wait until boxing day or new years test?

 

[Nuggetz]

I also heard Gill may not be available for the 2nd Test.

Also, we have a tour match next week. Will be good for the fringe players to get some game time.

Hopefully both Gill & Rohit play that tour match.

 

[Nuggetz]

Clearly our top 4 ain’t it. Also I hate the thought of Head/Marsh together in the order. I’d love to see Head up the order (maybe #3). Not much to bring in batting wise.

Would it hurt to try Konstas while the pretend cricket is on? He won’t miss any shield cricket.

A problem with the “Captain Planet” stuff. We can’t have a reasonable discussion about his captaincy without it descending into politics and “snowflake”, “boomer” talk. I think Pats the right man but something’s got to change in our leadership/preparation.

The cartel are world class when things are going right but fall apart when the batting side get on top. We have no answers! It happened again here and will be glossed over by our poor batting.

Batting team gets on top and pile on us, our answer? Wait for them to declare. See Crawley at Old Trafford, see Rawalpindi and Galle.

Is Cummins too conservative? He's got Head, Marsh, Smith as players who have held captaincy positions. Maybe he needs to lean into them a bit more for different ideas? Then again he's got gun bowlers who have been very successful. Imo he can be a bit too conservative & lets the game linger on a bit.

 

[akkaps]

Yea, that's fair to bring in Ashwin for that reason. It's a pink ball test in Adelaide so I think the bowling composition will remain the same. Yep, that would be my top 4. Rumours before the adelaide test but maybe they delay it since we won comprehensively? Potentially wait until boxing day or new years test?

I wouldn't mind seeing Prasidh play with he height and bowling at night, and then what about Akash? Too many options

 

[Trojan90]

Is Cummins too conservative? He's got Head, Marsh, Smith as players who have held captaincy positions. Maybe he needs to lean into them a bit more for different ideas? Then again he's got gun bowlers who have been very successful. Imo he can be a bit too conservative & lets the game linger on a bit.

I think so, doesn’t seem proactive. Something is wrong when that kind of bowling attack gets beaten into submission so badly.

Side note, would love to see stats on fielding team reviews. We seem to be terrible, even going back before Cummins.

 

[saint_]

I feel Cummins hasn't been himself since his mum passed away at the start of the Indian tour in 2023. Since then Cummins has average 28.75 (16 tests) with the ball.. which isn't too bad, but considering before that he was averaging 21.25 over 47 tests it's a bit of a drop off from his lofty standards.