Opinion NMFC Board Cricket Thread III

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Bowls the best test batsmen in the world by drawing him forward and spinning it back through the gate, but he doesn't spin it, nor does he take wickets. It almost defies belief that he has a better bowling average than your man.
Since then he's taken 21 wickets in nearly two seasons of state cricket, you think that's acceptable?
 
Since then he's taken 21 wickets in nearly two seasons of state cricket, you think that's acceptable?

He's taken the same amount of wickets at a better average and strike rate than your guy this season. He has had success at international level before. Yes, he had a tough season last year but has come back from that. If your guy had backed up his season last year with a strong start to this season he would probably be on the plane, but he just hasn't. Australian first-class cricket is a very tough environment for spin bowlers.

I think the selectors have identified Murphy as the most likely successor to Lyon for a few years now and they have backed him in.
 
He's taken the same amount of wickets at a better average and strike rate than your guy this season. He has had success at international level before. Yes, he had a tough season last year but has come back from that. If your guy had backed up his season last year with a strong start to this season he would probably be on the plane, but he just hasn't. Australian first-class cricket is a very tough environment for spin bowlers.

I think the selectors have identified Murphy as the most likely successor to Lyon for a few years now and they have backed him in.
How has he come back from last season? He's averaging 2 wickets a match. Roland's not bowling well this year either but he was the third highest wicket taker in the shield last year. The selectors haven't got a great record with picking spinners. Would rather give swepson a go than Murphy.
 
How has he come back from last season? He's averaging 2 wickets a match. Roland's not bowling well this year either but he was the third highest wicket taker in the shield last year. The selectors haven't got a great record with picking spinners. Would rather give swepson a go than Murphy.
Murphy has the best average and strike rate of any spin bowler in the Shield this season.

Swepson is not setting the world on fire in the Shield. Going for 10 runs per wicket more than Murphy. Pre-Christmas is always tougher on spin bowlers in the Shield. They do better in the second half of the season when the pitches can dry out a bit, especially in Victoria.

When a guy who has shown a bit at test level previously has the best average and strike rate of all the contenders, he is likely to get picked. Timing is everything sometimes.
 
Murphy has the best average and strike rate of any spin bowler in the Shield this season.

Swepson is not setting the world on fire in the Shield. Going for 10 runs per wicket more than Murphy. Pre-Christmas is always tougher on spin bowlers in the Shield. They do better in the second half of the season when the pitches can dry out a bit, especially in Victoria.

When a guy who has shown a bit at test level previously has the best average and strike rate of all the contenders, he is likely to get picked. Timing is everything sometimes.
There's no doubt the cupboard is hardly overflowing.
 
There's no doubt the cupboard is hardly overflowing.

I think we're okay. Not great, but okay. Australia is a really tough place for spin bowlers. You just have to look at the averages of some of the very best international spin bowlers to tour here:

Ashwin: 42.4
Murali: 75.4
Swann: 52.6
Shah: 89.9
Harbhajan: 73.2
 
The WA bias coming from you pretty clear. I watch and follow plenty of Shield cricket. Murphy in better form this season.

2024/2025 Shield Stats

PlayerSpanMatInnsBallsOversMdnsRunsWktsBBIAveEconSR45
T Murphy (VIC)2024-202459987164.33143514Apr-3731.072.6470.51-
CJ Rocchiccioli (WA)2024-2024591115185.52161814Apr-7044.143.3279.641-

It’s a bit simplistic to look at it like that.

Murphy plays an attacking role with live Day 4, 4th innings games at Junction Oval.

Rochiciolli often plays a stopping roll as support on a seam friendly WACA.

As Phil Leotardo once said “Apples and bowling balls Tony”
 
The WA bias coming from you pretty clear. I watch and follow plenty of Shield cricket. Murphy in better form this season.

2024/2025 Shield Stats

PlayerSpanMatInnsBallsOversMdnsRunsWktsBBIAveEconSR45
T Murphy (VIC)2024-202459987164.33143514Apr-3731.072.6470.51-
CJ Rocchiccioli (WA)2024-2024591115185.52161814Apr-7044.143.3279.641-
Both aren’t up to scratch? Is that what we should be taking from this?
 
I cant help but notice that The Australian selectors are being influenced I think anyway by some of the success of the English tactics under Stokes/McCullum of picking young players with very little experience but show some really good early potential.
Australian selectors for years have always selected experienced older players to come into the side for the first time. Cooper Connolly and Konstas are just 2 young ones being given a chance very early .
It may say something more about not having as much depth as they once did but I find it interesting.
Ironically one inexperienced young Aussie lad given a go a long time ago now was none other than the legendary Shane Warne.
 

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Also I think T20 cricket has given a lot more young players a chance to play in the spotlight that normally wouldnt get a chance. Pakistan has always been a nation to pick young players as has India to a lesser degree but England have been doing it for a few years now and it looks like the Aussies may be doing the same.
 
I cant help but notice that The Australian selectors are being influenced I think anyway by some of the success of the English tactics under Stokes/McCullum of picking young players with very little experience but show some really good early potential.
Australian selectors for years have always selected experienced older players to come into the side for the first time. Cooper Connolly and Konstas are just 2 young ones being given a chance very early .
It may say something more about not having as much depth as they once did but I find it interesting.
Ironically one inexperienced young Aussie lad given a go a long time ago now was none other than the legendary Shane Warne.
Think you might be overstating the influence of the bazballers a tad. They didn't invent picking young players, and as entertaining as it (sometimes) is (mainly when it's falling on it's arse), they'll want to get some long term results that exceed mediocrity before it gets the same praise from outside as it get from within the cult.
As for the Aussie selectors, as much as I would've liked to have seen a little more turnover sooner (cough, Warner, cough), that's largely been a byproduct of actually winning consistently. In the end they almost had no choice but to pick Konstas, and I'll be gobsmacked if Connolly actually plays any cricket in SL.
 
I cant help but notice that The Australian selectors are being influenced I think anyway by some of the success of the English tactics under Stokes/McCullum of picking young players with very little experience but show some really good early potential.
Australian selectors for years have always selected experienced older players to come into the side for the first time. Cooper Connolly and Konstas are just 2 young ones being given a chance very early .
It may say something more about not having as much depth as they once did but I find it interesting.
Ironically one inexperienced young Aussie lad given a go a long time ago now was none other than the legendary Shane Warne.
Warner, Marnus and Lyon were all selected with minimal first class records. We've been doing it for a while.
 
I'm not arguing that he's had a poor start to the year although almost identical to Todd. It's his ability to extract turn and bounce. His last season clearly shows that his best is a lot better than Todd's.
All good, thought it was interesting that a lot of the general comments on here were reflective of it
 

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Opinion NMFC Board Cricket Thread III

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