Test (Early) Sri Lanka tour squad predictions

[LukeParkerno1]

Don't necessarily love T20 bowling flat and at the stumps on roads as a preparation for touring spinners either.

Normally I agree but flat “dart” spinners are the ones that are successful over there.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I just can’t see the logic of calling up a 33yr old Handscomb for a dead rubber series given the age profile of the side. He’s a solid player of spin but we aren’t talking Damien Martyn here.

I agree. Mcsweeney should be there in his spot as middle order depth. Can bowl abit of spin too

 

[Sphynx]

Head makes too much sense opening.

Will face a few overs of pace with the hard new ball and give him a chance to get the side off to a flyer with a license.

I like moving him there in SC conditions.

I think someone like Handscomb is the wrong move though.

I'd almost prefer to drop Smith to 5 and place an aggressive middle order batsman between Labuschagne and Smith. Possibly Konstas, or Head if required. Green would be ideal in this situation at #4.

Head/Konstas
Khawaja
Labuschagne
Konstas/Head
Smith
Webster

Looks good to me and well balanced. I dislike having blocks of guys that will clearly dig in for the long hall and then blocks of aggressive batsman (who all look nervous as shit when they come out at 4 or 5 for not much with someone like Smith in the shed). Tend to either stagnate the game and then lose blocks of wickets. I think it's a mistake we make in India regularly.

 

[eth-dog]

Why are people obsessed with playing two front line Quicks? Look at the recent tests at Galle. The second seamer bowls 3/4 overs in the first innings with the new ball and none in the second and your best spinner opening with the #1. Webster can play that role and then we can go with whatever combination of Lyon/Kuhnemann/Murphy/Swepson we go with.

 

[SSwans2011]

The pitches were terrible - if you watched any of it or can recall it, he played really well when everyone else looked clueless - i can assure you he’s in the squad and I would suggest strongly that he’s going to play

The pitches were equally bad for everyone and he still only managed to average the tied 4th most of any of our batters. He did even worse on the last tour of India.

To me those performances aren't good enough to select him rather than just picking someone that has a future for us on all pitches.

You can chuck in the Bangladesh tour where he did well and his average in the subcontinent is still only 32.6.

I just don't see any upside in playing a 33-year-old as a specialist option on spinning decks who has only managed average returns on them at Test level over the course of his career. Would be far more productive for McSweeney or Hunt play with an eye to the future, especially with the WTC Final spot locked in.

 

[cats_09]

Sounds like no Hazelwood - that would seem to lock in Scotty B traveling one would think

 

[cats_09]

Fox running through potential names to make the squad

 

[Around the Wicket]

Sounds like no Hazelwood - that would seem to lock in Scotty B traveling one would think

I'd have Bolland ahead of both Starc and Hazlewood anyway tbh.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'd have Bolland ahead of both Starc and Hazlewood anyway tbh.

In SL you need the extra few kmph that Starc brings has a phenomenal record in these conditions too. He plays Boland as the reserve/2nd quick depends on team structure

 

[Around the Wicket]

In SL you need the extra few kmph that Starc brings has a phenomenal record in these conditions too. He plays Boland as the reserve/2nd quick depends on team structure

phenomenal record in Sri Lanka but they suck... in the subcontinent in general Starcs record sucks.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

phenomenal record in Sri Lanka but they suck... in the subcontinent in general Starcs record sucks.

But he has a phenomenal record where we are playing next.

 

[eth-dog]

When your Quicks bowl probably 15-20 overs for the match in SL you pick the bloke most likely to take wickets.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

phenomenal record in Sri Lanka but they suck... in the subcontinent in general Starcs record sucks.

Might suck but that extra 10kmph will be handy plus he can bat significantly better. You look at our side Lyon, Kuhermann and Boland can’t bat much! That’s a long tail and that’s even if we play a guy at 8 who can genuinely bat.

 

[Westend]

Sounds like no Hazelwood - that would seem to lock in Scotty B traveling one would think

Hazelwood should sit out the entire winter and come back via the shield next season for the Ashes..just concentrate on getting his body right

No point him playing the WTC final ..cant risk him breaking down during the match

 

[Westend]

Might suck but that extra 10kmph will be handy plus he can bat significantly better. You look at our side Lyon, Kuhermann and Boland can’t bat much! That’s a long tail and that’s even if we play a guy at 8 who can genuinely bat.

Yes but he's injured had to have jabs to get through the last two tests....and it showed with him bowling crap in Sydney

Why risk it ???....two dead rubbers

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Hazelwood should sit out the entire winter and come back via the shield next season for the Ashes..just concentrate on getting his body right

No point him playing the WTC final ..cant risk him breaking down during the match

I’d be very tempted to unleash Jyhe in the WTC final

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yes but he's injured had to have jabs to get through the last two tests....and it showed with him bowling crap in Sydney

Why risk it ???....two dead rubbers

3 weeks till SL it’s just soreness nothing more. No test match is a dead rubber anyway

 

[Voice of the G]

Sounds like no Hazelwood - that would seem to lock in Scotty B traveling one would think

Gut feeling they will not select Boland.

 

[cats_09]

Gut feeling they will not select Boland.

That will piss off Stars fans - CA have said no to a BBL return to manage his workload

That kinda suggests he'll go to Sri Lanka but maybe not in the final playing 11

 

[Borisdog]

I’d be very tempted to unleash Jyhe in the WTC final

Why?

It's 6 months away against South Africa. Haze, Starc, Cummins, Boland have basically 6 months to be in peak shape.

Richardson is as fragile as Hazelwood and Starc, or worse, with 550 less test wickets.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Why?

It's 6 months away against South Africa. Haze, Starc, Cummins, Boland have basically 6 months to be in peak shape.

Richardson is as fragile as Hazelwood and Starc, or worse, with 550 less test wickets.

It’s in England, and he’ll be lethal over there the next time over there. It’s not India we are playing. It’s a selection for the future a bit but we can do it.

 

[Jimthegreat]

Let's have a crack.

Head
Konstas
Marnus
Smith
McSweeney
Webster
Carey
Starc
Lyon
Kuhnemann
Murphy/Boland/Richardson (probably Murphy at Galle, In Sri Lanka too Richo might be good to reverse it at pace)

Handscomb (Likely back up keeper. He, Murphy and Kuhnemann were invited to join the squad in Sydney to prepare. Tells me they are going)
Hunt (They'll likely take Ussie though. I prefer we move on from Ussie and think about the Ashes)

 

[Jimthegreat]

It’s in England, and he’ll be lethal over there the next time over there. It’s not India we are playing. It’s a selection for the future a bit but we can do it.

Yes, I've been looking to gradually move on from some.

 

[yabsy]

Yep.

I agree 100%, why would they do anything else?

I'm really looking forward to it, I arrive there on evening of the 24th and am there for 6 weeks. Never been there before.

One of the first trips will be to the ground before the match to suss out the "Temporary Membership" to the GCC that quite a few have told me about.

A mate and his wife arrive there today and are doing the SE Asia retirement run for the next few years, he's been over there quite a few times so he's organising the accom and vehicles etc. Has a couple of local mates so I'll be in good hands.

Only real problem is my missus is staying home so I'll be unsupervised for 6 weeks. She's had enough cricket runs to last her a lifetime.

I'm also heading over there for the 2nd Test...Just finished up the travel arrangements today...Really looking forward to finally attending a match at this ground.

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[yabsy]

phenomenal record in Sri Lanka but they suck... in the subcontinent in general Starcs record sucks.

They don't suck in home conditions...We've lost 4 out of 5 tests in the last two tours there.

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