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Cricket: Summer 2018-19

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
I think we’ve been looking to replace Shane Watson ever since he retired from test cricket. Unlike Marsh, Stoinis etc. who are decent short form bowers thanks to changes of pace, Watson could legitimately swing it both ways and had a bit of a golden arm whenever he was brought on. Since Watson retired the all rounders we’ve picked haven’t really been genuine wicket takers so much as keeping one end tight.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
I'm a fan of Stoinis and his Shield numbers this season are pretty decent. But on a conceptual level I'm against the all-rounder selection, you end up with a mediocre 6 and someone who barely bowls outside of super flat decks. It's a waste of a spot that should go to a genuine bat.


Thank you for saying what I've also been saying since around 2005 (coinciding with Freddie Flintoff dusting us in the Ashes of that year), that we've been on this fruitless search for an all rounder, when Australian cricket has only ever produced maybe 3-4 players in the genuine all rounder category. If we have one of that calibre, by all means pick them, but seldom do we ever see someone coming through Shield cricket who is a genuine selection based on their batting and bowling. I'd rather we pick our best six batsmen, a good keeper and our four best bowlers. That's it.

I like the Stoin and want to see him in the test team, but he'll have to score a bunch of runs at the back end of this season to have earned a spot. Cummins almost at all rounder class anyway.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
I think the difference there is that players who were excelling at Sheffield Shield cricket were introduced to international cricket through ODIs. They then got a run in the test team.

Jhye Richarson's first class record is also excellent. He's taken 54 wickets in 12 games at an average of 21.92.

The difference with Stoinis is that you would largely be ignoring red ball history and using the white ball form as an indication he should play red ball cricket at a higher level. His Shield record this year is better but I still wouldn't have him anywhere near the best six batters in the country.


I was in favour of picking Richardson on the basis of his recent Shield form alone, though his bowling in the ODI's is a nice bonus.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
If we have one of that calibre, by all means pick them, but seldom do we ever see someone coming through Shield cricket who is a genuine selection based on their batting and bowling. I'd rather we pick our best six batsmen, a good keeper and our four best bowlers. That's it..


Ironically the one bloke who may have fit the bill is Glenn Maxwell, but it seems like he's the only all-rounder in the country who the selectors don't want.
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Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
It is mind boggling how badly Maxwell has been treated by the selectors.

He should be playing for Australia in all three formats. In ODI he should be batting at 4 or 5. I think he is our best player and we'd position ourselves best to win games with him batting for longer. Australia has to adjust to the changing nature of ODIs where there are a lot more 350+ scores and can't think that scoring 300 wins just about every time. You need more power hitting.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
I agree that Maxi has been treated pretty shabbily. He must wonder what he has to do to get selected. I think there might be more to it that we're not privy to.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
I agree that Maxi has been treated pretty shabbily. He must wonder what he has to do to get selected. I think there might be more to it that we're not privy to.


I don't think Langer likes him. He was basically told he was already in the test team so wasn't going on the Australian A tour then Langer took over and he suddenly wasn't in the test team for the next series.
 

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
I don't think Langer likes him. He was basically told he was already in the test team so wasn't going on the Australian A tour then Langer took over and he suddenly wasn't in the test team for the next series.
It goes further than that with the whole “train smarter” crap Smith trotted out to defend Maxwell’s non-selection. The whole setup just seems to hate him.
 

Froggy

John Solomon (38)
Talking of all-rounders, are any posters here old enough to remember Gary Gilmour from Newcastle? A left arm medium fast swing bowler and super aggressive bat at 6 or 7, he took 54 wickets at 26, and in the 1975 ashes tour Tony Greig described him as 'unplayable'. He also averaged 23 with the bat including a ton, and used to score at more than a run a ball in the days when that was unheard of. Unfortunately, he didn't take his cricket particularly seriously, was often unfit and overweight and as a result injury prone. But a remarkable natural talent, as all those who played with him will happily relate.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
Talking of all-rounders, are any posters here old enough to remember Gary Gilmour from Newcastle? A left arm medium fast swing bowler and super aggressive bat at 6 or 7, he took 54 wickets at 26, and in the 1975 ashes tour Tony Greig described him as 'unplayable'. He also averaged 23 with the bat including a ton, and used to score at more than a run a ball in the days when that was unheard of. Unfortunately, he didn't take his cricket particularly seriously, was often unfit and overweight and as a result injury prone. But a remarkable natural talent, as all those who played with him will happily relate.


Gus was about five years before my time, but by all accounts (including my old man, who saw both him and Sobers play at close range) he was a very talented cricketer. He was a rare breed as an Australian player though, the genuine all rounder.
 

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
No change to the side for tomorrow’s match for Australia. Not sure why they bothered bringing in Stoinis.

In other news after losing the series NZ wiped the floor with India in the fourth ODI bowling them out for 92 and chasing it down pretty easily. No Kohli or Dhoni for India but it showed that a bit of swing can expose their middle order.
 

Froggy

John Solomon (38)
Not sure about Stoinis, but no surprise that they stuck with the side that won so well.
A few batsmen get another chance to stake a claim for the ashes squad.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
I'm not too down on Marnus, as he got a pretty good seed. But Harris and Khawaja should be fucking ashamed of the shots they played. On the first morning of a test no less.

Should jeopardise both of their Ashes chances, but only if Burns and/or Pattison can make a score here. Burns looks OK so far but I'm far from convinced of his credentials at this point.
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RugbyReg

Rocky Elsom (76)
Staff member
agreed, I was listening to the most recent "The Final Word" podcast with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon and they had me convinced that we should go into the Ashes tests with four fast bowlers and Lyon and blast the poms out (well, try to). With Paine, Pattinson and Cummins kind of being a combined 6 batsmen by batting at 6, 7 and 8.

I like the idea (why pick a batsman just for the sake of it if he's not going to get you runs).

But we kinda need our top order to be someone sensible. Those two shots were not.

I really don't want Warner to walk back into this team but I am guess he will. Our openers aren't clicking.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
agreed, I was listening to the most recent "The Final Word" podcast with Adam Collins and Geoff Lemon and they had me convinced that we should go into the Ashes tests with four fast bowlers and Lyon and blast the poms out (well, try to). With Paine, Pattinson and Cummins kind of being a combined 6 batsmen by batting at 6, 7 and 8.

I like the idea (why pick a batsman just for the sake of it if he's not going to get you runs).

But we kinda need our top order to be someone sensible. Those two shots were not.

I really don't want Warner to walk back into this team but I am guess he will. Our openers aren't clicking.


I don't really get the idea that 5 bowlers is going to help you blast out a team. 4 fast bowlers lets you rotate your bowlers without needing to bowl the spinner (i.e. swapping back and forth between pace bowlers at each end) but the slow rate of modern play means the spinner has to bowl a reasonable number of overs every day regardless of what you'd prefer to do.

I also don't think it computes to say that our top order not scoring runs means we can have less of them. It's not like we can leave out the one guy not contributing because it's not like we have five guys contributing regularly.
 

Up the Guts

Steve Williams (59)
I'm not too down on Marnus, as he got a pretty good seed. But Harris and Khawaja should be fucking ashamed of the shots they played. On the first morning of a test no less.

Should jeopardise both of their Ashes chances, but only if Burns and/or Pattison can make a score here. Burns looks OK so far but I'm far from convinced of his credentials at this point.
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Very disappointed with Harris this series. Head is becoming quite good at sparking a rearguard action, time he got his first test century out of the way.
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Very disappointed with Harris this series. Head is becoming quite good at sparking a rearguard action, time he got his first test century out of the way.


Not sure if it can be a rearguard action if you're batting at 5, but I suppose that's not the point.

He looks like our best bat at the moment - I hope he cashes in here.
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Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
But Harris and Khawaja should be fucking ashamed of the shots they played. On the first morning of a test no less.

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DyR7iqlU0AEvDEZ.jpg:large


Those first two images are a shocker for an opener on 11 and first drop on zero in the first half hour of a test match.
 
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