Third Test Australia v Pakistan Jan 3-7 1000hrs @ the SCG

[Belnakor]

This team is old

Warner 37
Khawaja 37
Labuschagne 29
Smith 34
Head 30
Marsh 32
Carey 32
Starc 33
Cummins 30
Lyon 36
Hazelwood 32

Some of these players are near birthdays too.
You got to start putting new players in the team or you will suddenly have to rebuild an entire team from scratch.
Could be some lean years ahead.

In afl terms the team is getting to the end of the premiership window that’s for sure.

Around 30-32 is the peak for most test cricketers so we have most of our players in their peak. By the ashes in 2 years almost the entire team will be on the decline.

Both Harris and Bancroft being 31 isn’t ideal for our setup because they hit the same age window. My guess is they move smith up to accommodate green. It means you are essentially replacing someone 37 with someone 24.

 

[k31th]

Ridiculous not to include the bail re:umpire's call. It's a part of the stumps.

Didn't Steve smith fume about an umpire's call (given out that time) when it just flicked the bail.

I swear Simon Taufel said after the Smith dismissal early in the series that Umpires Call for height is based upon the bails, not the top of the stump.

They have to count bails considering Smiths in Perth? Does this guy they spoke to literally not know the rules what a shambles

The "umpire's call region" for the "top" region of the stumps is way too big as it's this specifically: from the edge of the ball touching the top of the bail to the middle of the ball touching the top of the stump... so it's the half of the ball plus this extra pointless distance from the top of the stump to the top of the bail (only the half of the ball is the region for the left/right of the stumps). They should take the extra distance out and have it be hard on the top of the bails, like it's hard on the left and right edges of the stumps (e.g. middle of ball to edge of ball touching the same point as it is for the left/right edge of the stump). The extra region is just confounding to explain why it even exists...

 

[SC_Power]

How long til they name the squad for Adelaide

Davey Warner is working on it now. Planning retirements for all his teammates.

 

[mcgarnacle]

Absolute complete garbage.

There has been a massive over punishment of all those involved in the ball tampering incident.

Literally every country in the world has been found guilty of ball tampering, and none threw their skirt over their head and smashed the players involved like we did.

Most didn't even ban their players for a test.

The ludicrous vindictiveness of people towards Warner is stunning - how fragile your sensibilities must be, to be to be so offended by one bloke.

So because they do it all over the world, it’s acceptable in Oz now? Another classic case of shifting the goal posts because it’s an Aussie.

There’s no vindictiveness on my part. Good on him for getting runs in his final test. He doesn’t deserve the heroes send-off from the test arena.

 

[Topkent]

So because they do it all over the world, it’s acceptable in Oz now? Another classic case of shifting the goal posts because it’s an Aussie.

There’s no vindictiveness on my part. Good on him for getting runs in his final test. He doesn’t deserve the heroes send-off from the test arena.

Clearly not what he said. The rest of the world just sweeps it under the carpet and pretends they don't do it whereas we nearly destroyed the careers of our blokes.

 

[Mostyn]

So because they do it all over the world, it’s acceptable in Oz now? Another classic case of shifting the goal posts because it’s an Aussie.

There’s no vindictiveness on my part. Good on him for getting runs in his final test. He doesn’t deserve the heroes send-off from the test arena.

Yes, Australia shifted the goal posts - shifted them much further away, by needlessly punishing our players far more than anyone had ever been punished for ball tampering.

You literally contradicted your own point with your post.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Well done Aussies and Warner. Out in style. Much deserved.


As for Mitchy Johnson, Right up ya!!!!!!!

 

[anchor man]

Whoever we pick its far from sure thing think we just have to accept thats way it will be next few years, the talent to easily replace people really isnt there, its possible the next successful opener for australia isnt even on radar right now and that all available options we currently have will struggle in that role.

Hopefully that isnt the case as we will need two openers soon enough but its certainly possible none of them are up to scratch.

Shield cricket is no longer the model to get a berth in the test team.In fact, runs scored in the BBL have far more relevance for some stupid reason.
If going by shield runs, Bancroft should be automatic selection.But, his part in the ball tampering scandal has and never will be forgiven by CA.He is the true scape goat of the saga.
I do not think Markus Harris has the ability to make the team and be part of it for a number of years. But if he is going to get another shot, what better team than against the Windies at home.

 

[troybe]

We’ll see how much weight Warners endorsement of Harris has. Hopefully none for both sides and the selectors choose a true opener looking to the future.

 

[THE A5]

Sheild cricket is no longer the model to get a berth in the test team.In fact, runs scored in the BBL have far more relevance for some stupid reason.
If going by shield runs, Bancroft should be automatic selection.But, his part in the ball tampering scandal has and never will be forgiven by CA.He is the true scape goat of the saga.
I do not think Markus Harris has the ability to make the team and be part of it for a number of years. But if he is going to get another shot, what better team than against the Windies at home.

I don’t think anyone’s been picked for a test after BBL bar Shaun Marsh after his 90 odd in a game but that probably was more is he fit than anything. Bancroft is more of a team politics issue

 

[PhatBoy]

Yes, Australia shifted the goal posts - shifted them much further away, by needlessly punishing our players far more than anyone had ever been punished for ball tampering.

You literally contradicted your own point with your post.

The squeakiest wheel gets the most oil.

I am not in one camp or the other about the punishments. I wouldn’t have had a problem if they just gave them a series off, but I also see why they gave them a harsh sentence.
When you as a cricket community are the most vocal in condemning others for their indiscretions there will always be a bigger backlash when those discretions are committed by a section of that community. Why do you think religious groups get such widespread condemnation when their leaders commit crimes?

 

[JackOutback]

Sheild cricket is no longer the model to get a berth in the test team.In fact, runs scored in the BBL have far more relevance for some stupid reason.
If going by shield runs, Bancroft should be automatic selection.But, his part in the ball tampering scandal has and never will be forgiven by CA.He is the true scape goat of the saga.
I do not think Markus Harris has the ability to make the team and be part of it for a number of years. But if he is going to get another shot, what better team than against the Windies at home.

An absolute disgrace that Bancroft could wear the biggest punishment for years afterwards while Smith and Warner, in particular, just go about their business. If they want an opener, on form, it must be Bancroft.

 

[Mostyn]

Sheild cricket is no longer the model to get a berth in the test team.In fact, runs scored in the BBL have far more relevance for some stupid reason.
If going by shield runs, Bancroft should be automatic selection.But, his part in the ball tampering scandal has and never will be forgiven by CA.He is the true scape goat of the saga.
I do not think Markus Harris has the ability to make the team and be part of it for a number of years. But if he is going to get another shot, what better team than against the Windies at home.

Bancroft has been given a bunch of Australia A opportunities over the last two or three years to show that he can step up in class, but he's failed those tests.

He's a better batsman than he was when he was previously playing in tests, but I'm unsure whether he's a good personality fit in the test team.

 

[Mostyn]

An absolute disgrace that Bancroft could wear the biggest punishment for years afterwards while Smith and Warner, in particular, just go about their business. If they want an opener, on form, it must be Bancroft.

Harris and Renshaw both have better first class averages than Bancroft over the last three years.

 

[eltrain]

In afl terms the team is getting to the end of the premiership window that’s for sure.

Around 30-32 is the peak for most test cricketers so we have most of our players in their peak. By the ashes in 2 years almost the entire team will be on the decline.

Both Harris and Bancroft being 31 isn’t ideal for our setup because they hit the same age window. My guess is they move smith up to accommodate green. It means you are essentially replacing someone 37 with someone 24.

Yeah agreed. I think the people who are complaining about how boring it is to see Australia win every home test need to appreciate that this is an outstanding team who are nearing the end of their run.

If we have a whole load of retirements in clumps over the next couple of years then the next home series against England, NZ, SA or Pakistan suddenly becomes a lot more interesting as a new generation finds its feet.

 

[4Seasons]

Sheild cricket is no longer the model to get a berth in the test team.In fact, runs scored in the BBL have far more relevance for some stupid reason.
If going by shield runs, Bancroft should be automatic selection.But, his part in the ball tampering scandal has and never will be forgiven by CA.He is the true scape goat of the saga.
I do not think Markus Harris has the ability to make the team and be part of it for a number of years. But if he is going to get another shot, what better team than against the Windies at home.

Bancroft has played Test cricket since the ban.

 

[The Casey Cat]

Factual test records triggering you so hard isn't healthy. Seek help

As opposed to Australia winning when you thought they might lose like you wanted so now you're having a tanty. Seek help yourself.

 

[The Casey Cat]

An absolute disgrace that Bancroft could wear the biggest punishment for years afterwards while Smith and Warner, in particular, just go about their business. If they want an opener, on form, it must be Bancroft.

I don't think it's about punishment at this point or the last couple of years. Just hasn't shown to be good enough. I hope he gets in and does well but if they go with someone else it won't be because of sandpaper gate.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

This team is old

Warner 37
Khawaja 37
Labuschagne 29
Smith 34
Head 30
Marsh 32
Carey 32
Starc 33
Cummins 30
Lyon 36
Hazelwood 32

Some of these players are near birthdays too.
You got to start putting new players in the team or you will suddenly have to rebuild an entire team from scratch.
Could be some lean years ahead.

I get the tge angst, but it is a bit different to their sports in that the choices don’t go anywhere, in Australia at least they’ll always be available for a test call up, and hopefully some more contenders will be unearthed.

 

[PhatBoy]

Factual test records triggering you so hard isn't healthy. Seek help

Your factual argument is no more ‘depressing’ now than it was a decade ago/

You pointed out that the kiwis have won one test in however long: well that win was 11 seasons ago: their previous one was 26 seasons before that.
Sri Lanka have never won here - well that’s always been the case.
Pakistan haven’t won a test here in 27 years - well they’d only won 4 here before that anyway in their history as far as I know.
South Africa have no interest in test cricket: well they’ve picked a substandard team for ONE series and they’re pinning their hopes on this single event actually breathing some money into their coffers so that they probably don’t have to do anything like this again so let’s wait and see how it effects a team who’ve won 3 of the last four series they’ve played IN Australia shall we?
India had never won a series in Australia and have actually won the last two times they’ve been here.
England will, probably, get flogged here like they always do, next time they come. BUT, they are actually, if they stick to it, trying something different than actually bringing a team of plonkers who come here trying to do the same thing they always do and I for one am interested to see how it goes, especially if Australia has moved on some of its current team by then.

Test cricket in Australia over the past 15 years has been a f***tonne more interesting than it was over the preceding 15, when it had two drawn series that I can think of (SA 93-94 and India 2003-04) and the rest were all wins. In the time since its lost 5 and drawn 1.

 

[frankrizzo]

I don’t think anyone’s been picked for a test after BBL bar Shaun Marsh after his 90 odd in a game but that probably was more is he fit than anything. Bancroft is more of a team politics issue

I don't think it's that complicated Bancroft still has same obvious technical issue which selectors worry will be exposed quickly at test level and he is a very slow scorer in a top 4 of slow scorers.

I'm fine with him getting one more shot but the concerns over him are legitimate concerns.

 

[JackOutback]

Harris and Renshaw both have better first class averages than Bancroft over the last three years.

How about the last two years? Seems odd to settle on three as the cut-off. What about in Australia? This series against the Windies isn’t being played on county grounds in England.

I don't think it's about punishment at this point or the last couple of years. Just hasn't shown to be good enough. I hope he gets in and does well but if they go with someone else it won't be because of sandpaper gate.

Did his comments about the bowling unit come after his last two Tests, I genuinely can’t remember. Also, not surprised Langer was more willing to pick him. Fact is, he’s a clear front-runner for the position but they seem to be looking for reasons not to pick him. That suggests there’s more issues at play. If it was technical flaws, Harris would also have a line through his name.

I’m not convinced Bancroft will be any more than a mid-30s opener but the cupboard is bare and he’s earnt the right to try and prove them wrong.

 

[Topkent]

As opposed to Australia winning when you thought they might lose like you wanted so now you're having a tanty. Seek help yourself.

Lol that's not a tanty champ but good try. Guzzle down those boring as results more though.

 

[Around the Wicket]

I’m not convinced Bancroft will be any more than a mid-30s opener but the cupboard is bare and he’s earnt the right to try and prove them wrong.

Depends what run of games he gets, regardless the next next 3 years is a pretty good one so I'd back him to average 40+

 

[The Casey Cat]

Lol that's not a tanty champ but good try. Guzzle down those boring as results more though.

No worries. I'll happily guzzle down Australia winning competitive (especially when moreso than expected) test matches. And just because it's not a result you like that doesn't make it boring 'champ'.