Opinion NMFC Board Cricket Thread III

[Lomas]

Don’t know about you roo blitz but I’m feeling old:

Rocky Flintoff picked by father Andrew for England Lions tour of Australia

Bashir, Hartley, Tongue, Turner and Cook among notable inclusions for tour in new year

www.espncricinfo.com

First little Hewitt gets a wild card and now this. History repeating.

 

[krakouers]

First little Hewitt gets a wild card and now this. History repeating.

Good news is, I can bring out the old skinny jeans and go clubbing with all this early 2000’s reminiscing…
At least I think I can until Mrs Kraks tells me I can’t…

 

[SpiderBurton22]

Shades of Den and Ryan Pagan.

 

[Lomas]

Good news is, I can bring out the old skinny jeans and go clubbing with all this early 2000’s reminiscing…
At least I think I can until Mrs Kraks tells me I can’t…

It’s not the legs that get thicker as you age, so rock those jeans (maybe order online for custom waist)

 

[Samsquanch]

It’s not the legs that get thicker as you age, so rock those jeans (maybe order online for custom waist)

The hips don't lie Lomas.

 

[KiwiRoo]

The hips don't lie Lomas.

its the going from Ab's to Ab that's a reminder we're getting old !

 

[SpiderBurton22]

 

[toepoker]

I'm all for "if you're good enough, you're old enough" so let's hope he's good enough.
At the very least it's nice to see some boldness from the selectors

 

[Mr_Nyah]

What did they think would happen when they made a guy who barely averages over 30 bat in a position he's never batted in against the best bowler in the world? I'm more interested in why the 38yo senior can't buy a run rather than scapegoating a 24yo.

 

[Samsquanch]

What did they think would happen when they made a guy who barely averages over 30 bat in a position he's never batted in against the best bowler in the world? I'm more interested in why the 38yo senior can't buy a run rather than scapegoating a 24yo.

 

[Nate7]

What did they think would happen when they made a guy who barely averages over 30 bat in a position he's never batted in against the best bowler in the world? I'm more interested in why the 38yo senior can't buy a run rather than scapegoating a 24yo.

A few issues here: scapegoat a bloke who's not an opener, but leave in 4+ guys who couldn't get a run to save themselves.

Smith has said in the past he doesn't want to open, but if it was for the good of the team he still wouldn't do it - he should be told what to do, not dictate. Same for Marnus.

 

[Mr_Nyah]

View attachment 2190946

McSweeney barely deserves a spot at 6, he definitely doesn't (didn't) deserve a spot opening. It's a failure of the first class system, which has been on its knees for years, that he was the best option alongside a 19yo (who we realistically couldn't pick, he hadn't played enough) and 2 30+yo journeymen who are proven failures at international level.

The broader issue is the FC system. In decades past, if you were a 27yo journeyman who had never made it, you'd hang up the boots, get a real job, and move on to let a kid come through. With the BBL now offering good salaries, these journeymen hang around for 5-10 years longer than they used to, because the BBL pays them enough to be full-time cricketers. State selectors, much like the national selectors, have become completely risk averse, and will now prefer the 28yo journeyman who they think can average 30 over the 18yo who might average 20 but might also average 40. So the youngsters are not getting a look in until they're 23-24, and by the time they earn a national call-up they're not far off 30. That is a completely broken system. Laugh at the English all you want, but for the past 5+ years they have been picking and sticking with who they identify as talented <23yos.

If you want confirmation on this, go and look at the BBL squads (let alone the 11 being picked by each team) and tell me how many exciting <22yos you see. It is literally almost 0. The exciting youngsters being picked in the BBL are JFM (who is years away from being ready for test cricket, if ever), Kontsas (who only just played his first game) and a couple of 24-25yo bowlers. That is it. Gone are the days of Warner, Steve Smith, Khawaja, Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Steve O'Keefe, Maxwell coming through the BBL as exciting youngsters. Now it's bog-average imports and crusty 30yo journeymen. Gross stuff.

If you read this far, thanks for listening to my rant! PM me for further rants...

 

[Mr_Nyah]

A few issues here: scapegoat a bloke who's not an opener, but leave in 4+ guys who couldn't get a run to save themselves.

Smith has said in the past he doesn't want to open, but if it was for the good of the team he still wouldn't do it - he should be told what to do, not dictate. Same for Marnus.

Smith should have continued to open. It will create an issue when Green is healthy because he is our number 4 for the next decade. Where will he bat now if Smith wants to stay at 4? Can't bat 5, Head is there. Marsh is batting 6 (LOL) and 6 is too low for Green anyway. He can't open, that's sacrificing the future to keep Smith comfortable. I guess he could bat at 3, but he is very slow when he starts and it's dangerous having a slow 3, you want a more proactive player there.

Smith to me seems like the kind of guy who would do the team thing if told he needs to. I believe him when he says he would have batted anywhere, he was just asked by the selectors what his preference was and he told the truth, that his preference was to bat 4. It's a failure on the selectors to not leave Smith opening. Smith would probably have averaged 30 opening for the next 2 years, which is better than ay of the other options we have. Khawaja could have then been moved on for Sri Lanka, and our team could have looked something like

Smith
Kontsas
Labuschagne (if he can find some form)
Green
Head
Marsh (LOL! Replace him ASAP)
Carey
Bowlers

 

[Nate7]

McSweeney barely deserves a spot at 6, he definitely doesn't (didn't) deserve a spot opening. It's a failure of the first class system, which has been on its knees for years, that he was the best option alongside a 19yo (who we realistically couldn't pick, he hadn't played enough) and 2 30+yo journeymen who are proven failures at international level.

The broader issue is the FC system. In decades past, if you were a 27yo journeyman who had never made it, you'd hang up the boots, get a real job, and move on to let a kid come through. With the BBL now offering good salaries, these journeymen hang around for 5-10 years longer than they used to, because the BBL pays them enough to be full-time cricketers. State selectors, much like the national selectors, have become completely risk averse, and will now prefer the 28yo journeyman who they think can average 30 over the 18yo who might average 20 but might also average 40. So the youngsters are not getting a look in until they're 23-24, and by the time they earn a national call-up they're not far off 30. That is a completely broken system. Laugh at the English all you want, but for the past 5+ years they have been picking and sticking with who they identify as talented <23yos.

If you want confirmation on this, go and look at the BBL squads (let alone the 11 being picked by each team) and tell me how many exciting <22yos you see. It is literally almost 0. The exciting youngsters being picked in the BBL are JFM (who is years away from being ready for test cricket, if ever), Kontsas (who only just played his first game) and a couple of 24-25yo bowlers. That is it. Gone are the days of Warner, Steve Smith, Khawaja, Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Steve O'Keefe, Maxwell coming through the BBL as exciting youngsters. Now it's bog-average imports and crusty 30yo journeymen. Gross stuff.

If you read this far, thanks for listening to my rant! PM me for further rants...

Harris, Handscomb, Maddinson, Patterson all have shield runs but cannot step up when elevated to the test team.

I could think of a few decent shield players to fill a temporary top 4 spot, but no one is yet to show they are the next generational talent.

I wonder if anyone here has actually watched Konstas, rather than regurgitate stats and news items. I've watched him against average bowling attacks and one very good attack.

 

[Masked Avenger]

An old chestnut but whoever said that there's only one thing harder than getting into the Australian Cricket team - and that's getting out of the team - was on the money.

We've seen it's become a boys club of sorts where chronically underperforming players are protected. All aided and abetted by the selectors of course.

Warner is a classic example. He basically chose his own retirement plan despite having fallen off a cliff.

Marnus should have been rightfully dropped by now but some odd forces keep him in the team.

You watch how the players come out and back each other publically if there's some media scrutiny on any of them.There's a sign.

Another sign was how Hazlewood was allowed to talk his way into the Brisbane Test despite being under an injury cloud. That could have easily haunted them if it wasn't for the rain.

The buck stops with the selectors no doubt.

 

[Hojuman]

Usman, Marnus & Mitch would want to make some runs and help Aus.win this test. If not, the public will not be very forgiving of them, the coach and George Bailey.

 

[KiwiRoo]

McSweeney barely deserves a spot at 6, he definitely doesn't (didn't) deserve a spot opening. It's a failure of the first class system, which has been on its knees for years, that he was the best option alongside a 19yo (who we realistically couldn't pick, he hadn't played enough) and 2 30+yo journeymen who are proven failures at international level.

The broader issue is the FC system. In decades past, if you were a 27yo journeyman who had never made it, you'd hang up the boots, get a real job, and move on to let a kid come through. With the BBL now offering good salaries, these journeymen hang around for 5-10 years longer than they used to, because the BBL pays them enough to be full-time cricketers. State selectors, much like the national selectors, have become completely risk averse, and will now prefer the 28yo journeyman who they think can average 30 over the 18yo who might average 20 but might also average 40. So the youngsters are not getting a look in until they're 23-24, and by the time they earn a national call-up they're not far off 30. That is a completely broken system. Laugh at the English all you want, but for the past 5+ years they have been picking and sticking with who they identify as talented <23yos.

If you want confirmation on this, go and look at the BBL squads (let alone the 11 being picked by each team) and tell me how many exciting <22yos you see. It is literally almost 0. The exciting youngsters being picked in the BBL are JFM (who is years away from being ready for test cricket, if ever), Kontsas (who only just played his first game) and a couple of 24-25yo bowlers. That is it. Gone are the days of Warner, Steve Smith, Khawaja, Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Steve O'Keefe, Maxwell coming through the BBL as exciting youngsters. Now it's bog-average imports and crusty 30yo journeymen. Gross stuff.

If you read this far, thanks for listening to my rant! PM me for further rants...

feel a bit sorry for McSweeney. All the tracks have been tough to bat on and he showed a bit of ticker and faced quite a few balls. like an old fashioned opener really. Not like he got shielded at all by his other opener either.
But also didn't look like he had a lot of talent and therefore I can understand not sticking with him.

 

[shinboner magic]

There really isn’t much depth in Aussie batting.
Harris , handscomb ect have proven deficiencies and won’t be any better that what we already have.
I’d rather give konstas / hunt / Webster a go

 

[Mr_Nyah]

In news that will surprise precisely no-one, the ICC have quietly moved on from Brisbane with no slow over-rate penalties. Ridiculous

 

[desie]

Harris, Handscomb, Maddinson, Patterson all have shield runs but cannot step up when elevated to the test team.

I could think of a few decent shield players to fill a temporary top 4 spot, but no one is yet to show they are the next generational talent.

I wonder if anyone here has actually watched Konstas, rather than regurgitate stats and news items. I've watched him against average bowling attacks and one very good attack.

In fairness Patterson scored a hundred in one of his two tests.

Admittedly against Sri Lanka.

 

[Sillygit]

McSweeney barely deserves a spot at 6, he definitely doesn't (didn't) deserve a spot opening. It's a failure of the first class system, which has been on its knees for years, that he was the best option alongside a 19yo (who we realistically couldn't pick, he hadn't played enough) and 2 30+yo journeymen who are proven failures at international level.

The broader issue is the FC system. In decades past, if you were a 27yo journeyman who had never made it, you'd hang up the boots, get a real job, and move on to let a kid come through. With the BBL now offering good salaries, these journeymen hang around for 5-10 years longer than they used to, because the BBL pays them enough to be full-time cricketers. State selectors, much like the national selectors, have become completely risk averse, and will now prefer the 28yo journeyman who they think can average 30 over the 18yo who might average 20 but might also average 40. So the youngsters are not getting a look in until they're 23-24, and by the time they earn a national call-up they're not far off 30. That is a completely broken system. Laugh at the English all you want, but for the past 5+ years they have been picking and sticking with who they identify as talented <23yos.

If you want confirmation on this, go and look at the BBL squads (let alone the 11 being picked by each team) and tell me how many exciting <22yos you see. It is literally almost 0. The exciting youngsters being picked in the BBL are JFM (who is years away from being ready for test cricket, if ever), Kontsas (who only just played his first game) and a couple of 24-25yo bowlers. That is it. Gone are the days of Warner, Steve Smith, Khawaja, Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins, Steve O'Keefe, Maxwell coming through the BBL as exciting youngsters. Now it's bog-average imports and crusty 30yo journeymen. Gross stuff.

If you read this far, thanks for listening to my rant! PM me for further rants...

funny too cause the commentators of the BB are having a very drawn out conversation right now about how many players have played at age 40+

 

[Nate7]

 

[gokangas]

Indians sooking up and being absolute smart arses at their media conferences after Kholi bullied a female journo at the airport. Imagine if the Aussie cricketers did this. The media and sporting world would be all over them demanding sackings and suspensions. But as always the Indian team is untouchable. Why is everyone so scared of them?

 

[Lomas]

Indians sooking up and being absolute smart arses at their media conferences after Kholi bullied a female journo at the airport. Imagine if the Aussie cricketers did this. The media and sporting world would be all over them demanding sackings and suspensions. But as always the Indian team is untouchable. Why is everyone so scared of them?

The same reason we are scared to take on the ultra wealthy in our society, money.

 

[DuckYeah]

Put BB on to watch Konstas..