Cricket Discussion - Part 2

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Australia's batting line up for the upcoming Test series is a shambles there is no other way of putting it. Every time I pick up the paper another name is added to the list of possible Australian openers against India.

Steve Smith, reports are that Smith, who is out of form, will move back down the order to no 4 where he should never have been moved from in the first place.

Marnus Labuschagne- has been touted as a possible opening partner for Usman Khawaja. If this happens the selectors will demonstrate they have learned nothing from the Smith experiment.

Travis Head- some sections of the media are calling for Travis Head to be moved into the opening position. Yet more of the Smith, Labuschagne bullshit. Labuschagne, Smith and Head are a pretty consistent middle order so why rob Peter to pay Paul?

Josh Inglis- has also been touted as a possible opener.

David Warner- has he or hasn't he made himself available? Recalling Warner would be yet another stop gap measure with no long term gain.

Sam Konstas- the kid has talent but does he have the experience to go with it? In today's press Adam Gilchrist is calling for the kid to get a shot at it.

Hopefully the Australian selectors will see sense and not listen to the media and **** around with the batting order. If there is a need for an opener then pick an opener and leave alone those who have got the job done in the past.

The other major problem for the Australian selectors is the injury to Cameron Green. This guy has more than his share of injuries. The name Mitchell Marsh looms as a replacement for Green. Marsh's record in Test cricket is not flash, he averages 30.5 with the bat and has taken 48 wickets in 42 Tests, but his recent form in limited overs formats is impressive so maybe he has enough form to suggest a recall?

Pick a specialist opener to go with Kahwaja, leave Labuschagne, Smith and Head in the middle order then add Marsh for Green. That is a minimum of change with the least disruption. above all do not listen to the media.
 

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India's batting is now officially a concern, ahead of their tour of Australia. They weren't bowled out for 46 again, but they succumbed for 156 - a first innings deficit of 103. The Kiwis are now 0 for 33: leading by 136.
 
Some interesting cricket happening now .
Indias batting seems to be in a huge slump, so many out of form at the same time.

Pakistan doing Pakistan things, forever unpredictable and the whole English Baz-ball thing seems to have died a natural death.


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raptalia said:
The other major problem for the Australian selectors is the injury to Cameron Green. This guy has more than his share of injuries. The name Mitchell Marsh looms as a replacement for Green. Marsh's record in Test cricket is not flash, he averages 30.5 with the bat and has taken 48 wickets in 42 Tests, but his recent form in limited overs formats is impressive so maybe he has enough form to suggest a recall?

Pick a specialist opener to go with Kahwaja, leave Labuschagne, Smith and Head in the middle order then add Marsh for Green. That is a minimum of change with the least disruption. above all do not listen to the media.
Click to expand...
Mitch Marsh isn't replacing Green, he's already in the side. In fact, it was Marsh's form batting at 6 that actually resulted in the selectors moving Green up to 4 and moving Smith to opening.

The only reason Australia are potentially looking for an opener is because Smith is going to shift and take Green's place in the batting line up.
 
Grainy vision of Hookes' 34 ball century against the Vics 42 years ago.

 
Last edited:
Duckimus Prime said:
Mitch Marsh isn't replacing Green, he's already in the side. In fact, it was Marsh's form batting at 6 that actually resulted in the selectors moving Green up to 4 and moving Smith to opening.

The only reason Australia are potentially looking for an opener is because Smith is going to shift and take Green's place in the batting line up.
Click to expand...

Quite right, it has been that long since Australia played a Test that I had forgotten the New Zealand tour.

Which what I was getting at if Smith takes Cam Green's spot no 4 Mitch Marsh will bat at 6. Unless of course they do something extraordinary and play Inglis as an opener and he wicket keeps as well. It is all about making the minimal number of changes to a batting line up that has worked over the past few seasons. Mitch Marsh averages a touch over 30 an innings in Tests and has taken precious few Test wickets which are not outstanding figures but I will give him the benefit of the doubt in the name of getting some consistency back into the batting order with the minimum of disruptions.

This of course means we need to find a specialist opener. Bringing back David Warner has no long term future but I don't mind trying Konstas or even Inglis but I hope the selectors learn from the Smith experiment and don't **** about trying to convert Head or Labuschagne into an opener as has been suggested in the media.

I would go with-
Khawaja
Konstas
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Marsh
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

Even that line up is a bit 'ify' as Smith is in horrible form and Konstas is still an unknown quantity but there is plenty of experience in it.
 
raptalia said:
Quite right, it has been that long since Australia played a Test that I had forgotten the New Zealand tour.

Which what I was getting at if Smith takes Cam Green's spot no 4 Mitch Marsh will bat at 6. Unless of course they do something extraordinary and play Inglis as an opener and he wicket keeps as well. It is all about making the minimal number of changes to a batting line up that has worked over the past few seasons. Mitch Marsh averages a touch over 30 an innings in Tests and has taken precious few Test wickets which are not outstanding figures but I will give him the benefit of the doubt in the name of getting some consistency back into the batting order with the minimum of disruptions.

This of course means we need to find a specialist opener. Bringing back David Warner has no long term future but I don't mind trying Konstas or even Inglis but I hope the selectors learn from the Smith experiment and don't **** about trying to convert Head or Labuschagne into an opener as has been suggested in the media.

I would go with-
Khawaja
Konstas
Labuschagne
Smith
Head
Marsh
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Hazlewood
Lyon

Even that line up is a bit 'ify' as Smith is in horrible form and Konstas is still an unknown quantity but there is plenty of experience in it.
Click to expand...
Marsh batting average has been above 45 since coming back to the team in 2023. His last test before that was 2019. If his ankle is up to it, his bowling will be handy.

If Inglis were to open, why would he keep as well when we have Carey?

I'm not convinced either by Smith opening, but his average opening is 28.5 which is higher than Travis Head and Labuschagne for the same period, whilst Green averaged above 50. It's also higher than the test averages of Harris and Bancroft. Renshaw has a higher average opening, but has struggled to show any form.

Smith is only in horrible form relative to his record. He's otherwise been ok.
 

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Rising Power said:
Australia A ripping through India A. 7/79 after 38 overs. Will be good to see the bat-off start this arvo!
Click to expand...

Shades of Matt Hayden and Greg Blewett batting for an opening Test spot back in the nineties. Both eventually made it and hopefully either Kostas or McSweeney or maybe both make the Test side. Harris and Bancoft have had enough chances and not really taken them. Time for some new blood.
 

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Cricket Discussion - Part 2

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