Cricket Summer 2017/18
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Hound
Bill Watson (15)
Hat off to M Marsh. He has taken his chance with both hands and feet. Wow, he hits the ball hard. That innings should build some self-belief. Should improve his slips catching as well. Now to win this test and onto Melbourne. The POMS must be wondering what they have run into. I don't think they are that bad.
Tomikin
Simon Poidevin (60)
Always gonna be hard on some of the pitches we dish up with no one bowling 140 plus.. But they haven't been terrible just terrible in parts then goneski. Broad has been rubbish...
M Marsh has always had the talent to be good let's hope he kicks on now..
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No4918
John Hipwell (52)
The English attack is impotent. I'm already getting excited for our prospects for the next series in England. If this Aus bowling attack goes over there and is moving the ball at speed I think we have a very good chance. On the English side, if Andersen is still playing it will likely be his last series and Broad is looking very ordinary considering he is only 31. From most reports there aren't any young quicks that are fast coming through. Just need to get our batsmen half confident against a moving ball and the series is ours.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
A good day for Australia provided they go on tomorrow. A few concerns over Khawaja and Bancroft though, Bancroft will be exposed against the South Africans if he continues to struggle with the short ball. Khawaja still out of form and reaching the stage where it seems he's potentially not up to it.
9 commentators kept going on about Smith being in a purple patch, he's been in a purple patch for 4 years now. I wonder if this is what they said about Bradman back in the day.
9 commentators kept going on about Smith being in a purple patch, he's been in a purple patch for 4 years now. I wonder if this is what they said about Bradman back in the day.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Agree on Bancroft and Khawaja UTG.
Bancroft is much too restricted in his shot making to be a quality test player. He hits the ball straight, has a good cover drive and can glance down to fine leg. That's about it - too easy to set a field against him to restrict his scoring. And his inability to keep the scoring going, or even to get the consistent single, puts huge pressure then on Warner.
Usman just looks like he won't regain his best form, so must be under pressure now.
Considering neither Marsh brother has made a permanent spot in the side despite many opportunities, the Aus batting lineup at the moment is very fragile. Luckily they are up against a very ordinary attack in the this Poms' side.
One further comment on Bancroft. The first over to him by Curran (?) was one of the worst overs of bowling I've seen in many years and he was unable to get him away except for a streaky edge to third man. Had he had the ability to take that over apart, it just might have been the end of Curran as a test bowler for a long time. As it is, he improved as he stayed on and as his confidence grew. A missed opportunity to see the bat dominate the ball.
Bancroft is much too restricted in his shot making to be a quality test player. He hits the ball straight, has a good cover drive and can glance down to fine leg. That's about it - too easy to set a field against him to restrict his scoring. And his inability to keep the scoring going, or even to get the consistent single, puts huge pressure then on Warner.
Usman just looks like he won't regain his best form, so must be under pressure now.
Considering neither Marsh brother has made a permanent spot in the side despite many opportunities, the Aus batting lineup at the moment is very fragile. Luckily they are up against a very ordinary attack in the this Poms' side.
One further comment on Bancroft. The first over to him by Curran (?) was one of the worst overs of bowling I've seen in many years and he was unable to get him away except for a streaky edge to third man. Had he had the ability to take that over apart, it just might have been the end of Curran as a test bowler for a long time. As it is, he improved as he stayed on and as his confidence grew. A missed opportunity to see the bat dominate the ball.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Yes the failure to dominate Curran early as you say BR was particularly disappointing from Bancroft as part of the reason for selecting him over Renshaw was because he was supposedly more aggressive. He looked way out of sorts yesterday and could hardly hit it off the square.
I am starting to come around to Shaun Marsh again, his technique looks so solid and if he goes on with it here it would cement his place in the side. He toured very well when he last went to South Africa. If Renshaw remains out of form and Bancroft is dropped S Marsh could be potentially elevated to open.
I am starting to come around to Shaun Marsh again, his technique looks so solid and if he goes on with it here it would cement his place in the side. He toured very well when he last went to South Africa. If Renshaw remains out of form and Bancroft is dropped S Marsh could be potentially elevated to open.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
I think Renshaw might be going through a bad patch, but to my mind he has established himself as a test opener. I would rather see him come back in than to have Marsh elevated when he is looking a lot more solid in the middle order.
waiopehu oldboy
Stirling Mortlock (74)
Cook carried his bat for 244, a new record beating GMTurner's 233 v WIndies in 1972-73. I think he still holds the record for lowest "carried bat" score, though
The torpedo
Peter Fenwicke (45)
Plenty of questions have been asked of Khawaja. Could Weatherald bat first drop?
That 6 was nice though
That 6 was nice though
Highlander35
Andrew Slack (58)
Wholesale changes ahoy!
Handscomb, Holland and the Big Show please. Renshaw can come too.
Handscomb, Holland and the Big Show please. Renshaw can come too.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
Nevertheless, RR, I'd still have Renshaew back in the openers spot in place of bancroft, who I think is so limited in his stroke making that he'll probably not reach test match standard. Renshaw, otoh, has shown he can handle test match play but is going through a lean trot. He will come out of it.
Khawaja I think is on very thin ice. He looks the goods against spin bowling but is having all sorts of problems against a bit of pace, perhaps not the pace but the little bit of movement the poms are getting. He might go better further down the order, but I'd prefer not to see Shaun Marsh moved from No 5.
Actually, only Warner and Smith are test class batsmen in this Aus side. S Marsh is looking better but needs to do more to prove he can consistently perform at this level.
Who else is there? Hanscombe looked good early on, and imo is a better fielder close to the bat than Bancroft. But he seems to have changed his batting stance to copy Smith but his eye and reflexes are not as good as Smith's. leaving him vulnerable to LBW appeals. Time to try Lehman perhaps?
M Marsh will need to show some form with the ball or he will have to go too.
Unfortunately, this is a fragile batting lineup which succeeds pretty much only when either of Warner or Smith go big.
As a further comment, I am still singularly unimpressed with Smith's captaincy. He should be putting more pressure on the batters with his field positions and his use of the bowlers is sometimes beyond comprehension. How many times do we see him change the bowlers just as the discarded (rested) one has put in a threatening over or two? And as captain he must take responsibility for the poor bowling strategies being used in this test.
Khawaja I think is on very thin ice. He looks the goods against spin bowling but is having all sorts of problems against a bit of pace, perhaps not the pace but the little bit of movement the poms are getting. He might go better further down the order, but I'd prefer not to see Shaun Marsh moved from No 5.
Actually, only Warner and Smith are test class batsmen in this Aus side. S Marsh is looking better but needs to do more to prove he can consistently perform at this level.
Who else is there? Hanscombe looked good early on, and imo is a better fielder close to the bat than Bancroft. But he seems to have changed his batting stance to copy Smith but his eye and reflexes are not as good as Smith's. leaving him vulnerable to LBW appeals. Time to try Lehman perhaps?
M Marsh will need to show some form with the ball or he will have to go too.
Unfortunately, this is a fragile batting lineup which succeeds pretty much only when either of Warner or Smith go big.
As a further comment, I am still singularly unimpressed with Smith's captaincy. He should be putting more pressure on the batters with his field positions and his use of the bowlers is sometimes beyond comprehension. How many times do we see him change the bowlers just as the discarded (rested) one has put in a threatening over or two? And as captain he must take responsibility for the poor bowling strategies being used in this test.
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
It was a good time to make the changes last year in Adelaide after we were belted by South Africa in Hobart but since then it has felt a bit revolving door policy. Handscomb was pretty unlucky to get dropped after only two tests particularly given he was still averaging 47.5 and no one really scored in Adelaide except Shaun Marsh. I know Renshaw was out of form in Shield but based on his previous record in the national side he deserved a chance to prove himself I reckon. I know Bancroft was scoring runs in Shield but he seems to have a few technical faults that have been exposed easily by the English, something I'd hope the selectors would have picked up on.
Some names I'd throw in the mix for Sydney are: Burns, Maxwell, Renshaw, and Handscomb and I wouldn't mind seeing Shaun Marsh promoted to open or first drop. Usman deserves one more shot as well in my opinion, made a couple of 50s this summer and for the last few years has been our next best behind Smith and Warner.
Some names I'd throw in the mix for Sydney are: Burns, Maxwell, Renshaw, and Handscomb and I wouldn't mind seeing Shaun Marsh promoted to open or first drop. Usman deserves one more shot as well in my opinion, made a couple of 50s this summer and for the last few years has been our next best behind Smith and Warner.
Very astute comment, BR. Khawaja should get a guernsey for the Sydney test and then have his spot in the team rigorously assessed. For mine he looks like a typical subcontinental batsman with a lot of style and wrist, batting that is...... For the history of our test teams we've put the best batsman at first drop, maybe swapping Smith and Uzzy could be the way to go. But Khawaja can only have so many chances. MMarsh? Let's hope and pray Mitch doesn't deceive a la FU Watson: put in a good performance which, just, keeps him in the test team while he's under the cosh. Until the axe is raised when another good performance saves him. I want Mitch to take a few wickets, the runs are a bonus.
Brumby Runner
David Wilson (68)
I lament the Aussie tactics in the fourth and fifth days of this test. The match should have been set up for a thrilling end in which both sides had a chance of a win, but that outcome was well and truly quashed with the survive at all costs batting by the Aussies in the third innings.
When both Warner and Smith were set yesterday, the opportunity was there for them to build a large partnership and place the team in a position between lunch and tea today to push for a win while England would also have had the same opportunity chasing say 200 runs in three hours on a fifth day wearing pitch.
By batting to just survive, the game is destined for either a draw or an England win if their bowlers can use the wearing spots on the pitch. Australia will never get enough runs on the board to defend to a draw when they will be pushed to hang on until tea.
Had Warner and Smith pushed on for runs, the game most likely would have resulted in either a win for the Aussies or a win for the Poms. Either result would have had benefits for both teams. A win for England would do wonders for their belief and confidence leading into Sydney, while in any event, the Aussies would have a better gauge of how good or poor this batting lineup is.
It's hard to reconcile the tactics with Boof's known approach to the game, but it was likely a decision both he and Smith took together. It will be seen to be a very poor decision by the time this test ends, with Australia struggling to avoid defeat rather than fighting to the end to try to win.
When both Warner and Smith were set yesterday, the opportunity was there for them to build a large partnership and place the team in a position between lunch and tea today to push for a win while England would also have had the same opportunity chasing say 200 runs in three hours on a fifth day wearing pitch.
By batting to just survive, the game is destined for either a draw or an England win if their bowlers can use the wearing spots on the pitch. Australia will never get enough runs on the board to defend to a draw when they will be pushed to hang on until tea.
Had Warner and Smith pushed on for runs, the game most likely would have resulted in either a win for the Aussies or a win for the Poms. Either result would have had benefits for both teams. A win for England would do wonders for their belief and confidence leading into Sydney, while in any event, the Aussies would have a better gauge of how good or poor this batting lineup is.
It's hard to reconcile the tactics with Boof's known approach to the game, but it was likely a decision both he and Smith took together. It will be seen to be a very poor decision by the time this test ends, with Australia struggling to avoid defeat rather than fighting to the end to try to win.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
They might be playing to longer term plan of not giving the poms respite - keeping them down for the next series: if so I like it - imagine if Oz rugby could think that far ahead instead of lurching from face saving dead rubber wins to record losses
Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
Not a great test to watch in the end. Pitch was rubbish and the rain yesterday probably ruled out any chance of a result for Australia. Smith was between a rock and a hard place because if he'd gone harder and gotten himself out it may well have led to a collapse. Main positive from the Australian perspective was M Marsh showing off his new and improved technique and gaining more confidence. Smith getting a hundred is hardly anything to write home about these days.
Inside Shoulder
Nathan Sharpe (72)
Dont know much about cricket but I said to my 17 year old he may never see better
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