The Association Football Cricket thread

[Art Vandelay_]

Hit and giggle cricket, who cares. Outside of Perth (who care a lot about it and don't care about turning up for a test match) and Adelaide (who go to all the games), attendances are dismal.

Let me pot this shit state in peace. Awful fans of cricket in WA.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Let me pot this shit state in peace. Awful fans of cricket in WA.

Don't disagree. They should be 5th on the list to get a test.

 

[largebus]

Nothing brings out Art Vandelay_ 's insecurities like WA and T20. With how much he talks about I'd assume he was an obsessed fan. And this point he's paying us to rent inside his head.

To be honest it would be getting a bit stale if the WA and Scorchers weren't constantly choking away games this season.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Squad announced.

Australia squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

 

[RPCB]

Test debut for Cooper Connolly.

Over/under the 2 tests to finish inside 5 days?

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Squad announced.

Australia squad for Sri Lanka Tests: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Surprised Handscomb didn't get the call up, however since WTC final is assured, they have opted to expose Connolly to test cricket.

 

[eth-dog]

Honestly have no idea why Abbott is going ahead of another spinner. 3 reserve bats seems excessive too.

Would have Swepson in for Abbott and Connolly or McSweeney at home.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Surprised Handscomb didn't get the call up, however since WTC final is assured, they have opted to expose Connolly to test cricket.

This is where selectors piss me off. The kid has not deserved it, he's played 4 games and never taken a wicket as an all rounder. Some players take years to get selected off the back of consistent performers, others have to have just played U19s for Australia.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

No issues for me with who they've selected.
The WTC final is secured.

Hazlewood and Cummins have injuries and have been left at home.
Stats say the 2nd seamer doesn't bowl 2nd innings in SL. So the 3 seamers they've sent over seems like the max they'd need.

They've overlooked players who've been tried at test level before. Handscomb, Maxwell, Marsh, Bancroft and Harris all left at home. And while a couple of those are good in sub-continent conditions it shows they're looking to expose the next generation of cricketer. Connolly and Inglis haven't really earned it through strong S.S performances but with the WTC Final spot already booked I don't really mind.

Our last test featured no one in their 20s. Let's look at some future players.

 

[Bradesmaen]

No issues for me with who they've selected.
The WTC final is secured.

Hazlewood and Cummins have injuries and have been left at home.
Stats say the 2nd seamer doesn't bowl 2nd innings in SL. So the 3 seamers they've sent over seems like the max they'd need.

They've overlooked players who've been tried at test level before. Handscomb, Maxwell, Marsh, Bancroft and Harris all left at home. And while a couple of those are good in sub-continent conditions it shows they're looking to expose the next generation of cricketer. Connolly and Inglis haven't really earned it through strong S.S performances but with the WTC Final spot already booked I don't really mind.

Our last test featured no one in their 20s. Let's look at some future players.

Cummins is on Paternity leave, not injury. I have no issue with looking at future players if they do enough to deserve it, but he has barely played a game. They've anointed so many players before they've played a game who've turned out to be bang average. Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Moises Henriques, Cam white... the list goes on.

Calling Connolly an allrounder is also very generous given he's bowled an average of 3 overs an innings.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Cummins is on Paternity leave, not injury.

They've anointed so many players before they've played a game who've turned out to be bang average. Ashton Agar, Hilton Cartwright, Moises Henriques, Cam white... the list goes on.

Calling Connolly an allrounder is also very generous given he's bowled an average of 3 overs an innings.

He may not even play. Could just be a learning tour of the sub-continent training in those conditions that could then be beneficial for later.
He's not keeping out someone deserving who isn't a yesterday's man.

 

[Bradesmaen]

He may not even play. Could just be a learning tour of the sub-continent training in those conditions that could then be beneficial for later.
He's not keeping out someone deserving who isn't a yesterday's man.

How is it beneficial to not be playing cricket? He's young, should be playing as many games as possible. Another master stroke by the CA selection panel, known for their picking of "young talent" that has done nothing to deserve a game simply because they played U19s. A big **** you to all the cricketers out there who weren't fortunate or from NSW.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Agar's issue was he picked the wrong state side to play for.
A spinner playing every 2nd FC match in Perth. Moronic decision.

White wasn't plucked from nowhere. His two seasons of SS cricket prior to selection in India were good batting seasons.

Ditto for Cartwright. 800+ runs at 54 in the season he made his test debut. Averaged 68 the season before that.

Henriques averaged 77 in the season he was selected. 41 the season before that.

The last 3 were definitely selected after either showing good form for a while or picked while in form or horses for courses.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Agar's issue was he picked the wrong state side to play for.
A spinner playing every 2nd FC match in Perth. Moronic decision.

White wasn't plucked from nowhere. His two seasons of SS cricket prior to selection in India were good batting seasons.

Ditto for Cartwright. 800+ runs at 54 in the season he made his test debut. Averaged 68 the season before that.

Henriques averaged 77 in the season he was selected. 41 the season before that.

The last 3 were definitely selected after either showing good form for a while or picked while in form or horses for courses.

Agar made his SS debut in January 2013 and was selected for the test squad in February 2013. Sounds familiar. Made his Test Debut in July 2013 on the back of 6? First class matches.

White was picked as a batting allrounder, like Steve Smith, but couldn't bowl for shit.

Henriques had been anointed and in the squad prior to (2009)

Cartwright was probably wrong on my behalf.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

How is it beneficial to not be playing cricket? He's young, should be playing as many games as possible. Another master stroke by the CA selection panel, known for their picking of "young talent" that has done nothing to deserve a game simply because they played U19s. A big **** you to all the cricketers out there who weren't fortunate or from NSW.

Who's he keeping out of the squad?

Among the top 20 scorers this season 7 average 36 or lower this season.
Webster and Konstas have been selected. Carey is already in the side. Inglis is also touring.

That leaves Hunt (29), Cartright (33), Patterson (32), Handscomb (34), Harris (33), Weatherald (31), McDermott (31), Ward (28), Goodwin (24), Doran (29), Peirson (33), Kellaway (23), Davies (25), Clayton (26), Lehmann (33), Renshaw (29) and Rogers (26).

Bold are the guys averaging 36 or less this season.
Italic are yesterday's men.
Brackets is the age they turn this year.

Peirson and Doran are WK's.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Agar made his SS debut in January 2013 and was selected for the test squad in February 2013. Sounds familiar. Made his Test Debut in July 2013 on the back of 6? First class matches.

And his inability to kick on as a player is down to his choice of state. Can understand not playing for Vic where he was from. Holland was established and Ahmed was also getting lots of games as well.

Should have tried NSW. The only spinner in their squad was Lyon who was in the test team.

White was picked as a batting allrounder, like Steve Smith, but couldn't bowl for shit.

Henriques had been anointed and in the squad prior to (2009)

Cartwright was probably wrong on my behalf.

What they were or how they were treated internally doesn't change that they weren't plucked from nowhere. White and Henriques had recent form to justify selection. Just as Konstas and Webster did this summer.

 

[Bradesmaen]

What they were or how they were treated internally doesn't change that they weren't plucked from nowhere. White and Henriques had recent form to justify selection. Just as Konstas and Webster did this summer.

How does it not? They were added to squads well before they were ready because of where they came from, not because of ability. You can argue later on that they deserved to get a chance, but not the original selection which is what I am getting at.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

How does it not? They were added to squads well before they were ready because of where they came from, not because of ability. You can argue later on that they deserved to get a chance, but not the original selection which is what I am getting at.

I don't think that applies to White. He'd been around long enough that'd he'd been state captain for close to 5 years.
Was also selected after the previous 2 seasons of solid form. Having been in and around Aus A squads for red ball and ODI cricket for 3-4 years. All the while steadily improving in both formats.

Who's to say that being added to national squads earlier didn't help them develop to the point of deserving selection later on? It's an intangible that can't be measured. But ultimately Sheffield Shield cricket is a development system aimed at finding players for the national team. Even his selection for a Zimbabwe tour (that was later cancelled) as backup to Warne came after having scored 5 half centuries and taken over 30 wickets in that season.

Different to arguing they've plucked Connolly out of nowhere - who debuted only 9 months ago.