Roar Guru
Joined February 2009
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After trouncing New Zealand to win the 2015 World Cup, Australia will soon begin planning for their 2019 title defence in the UK. Retiring…
Something is happening on the Western front of state cricket. While rain and stoic innings by David Hussey and Matthew Wade denied them Sheffield…
Despite holding off a surging Western Australian side to win the 2014-15 Sheffield Shield, the Victorian Bushrangers are due for a revamp. The process…
Two years after being unceremoniously dumped as Australian coach, Mickey Arthur has been in the sports headlines again. With the impending release of Daniel…
After years of success under coaches Greg Shipperd and Simon Helmot, a run of disappointing results could see a clean-out in playing and coaching…
With Brad Haddin in the twilight of his cricketing career, the National Selection Panel will soon be required to select his replacement. Fortunately for…
With the coloured clothes and various BBL explosives filed away for another winter, our state players are set to their resume Shield rivalries this…
After a dominant display on Australian shores last season, Mitchell Johnson had the cricketing world at his feet. Endless awards, a big rise in…
After another dominant season in the fourth iteration of the Big Bash League, the Perth Scorchers appear primed to become the first side to…
Ten wickets in the first two games of the Cricket Australia Tri-Series has reiterated the menacing presence of Mitchell Starc in the one-day side.…
The Big Bash League has reenforced the benefits of delayed retirements that are occurring as a result of T20 cricket. The introduction of one…
The final Test against India commences in Sydney today, with the inclusion of Mitchell Starc in place of the injured Mitchell Johnson demonstrating the…
The Australian Test side is moving towards another period of upheaval in the next 12-18 months, with several players likely to retire their baggy…
With the Australia-India Test series remaining surprisingly tight, both sides have given us a glimpse of the future in several ways. Perhaps the most…
Dear Santa, or whoever Kitty Flanagan believes distributes presents globally in the event of your non-existence. Christmas is a time for giving. A time…
After starting the summer under pressure to retain his place in the side, off spinner Nathan Lyon responded by bowling Australia to victory in…
With a five-ball duck in the first innings at Adelaide, Brad Haddin was greeted by the sound of journalists and armchair selectors around the…
Before the first Test commences in Adelaide later today, let's revive that mainstay of Australian primary schools in the 80s and 90s: the time…
This summer, I'd like some quiet cricket. The crowds can yell to their hearts' content, and bowlers can appeal like maniacs, but other than…
As the dust settles over Macksville, with Phillip Hughes laid to rest far too soon, Australian cricket will next week attempt to move on…
Agreed. It’s a convenient fact to state to minimise the value of a player’s performance. It’s like saying a bowler had three sides and a no ball, so somehow the five wickets they took were of less value. A chanceless innings is as common as a popular politician.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Absolutely, Chris. As a Victorian, I cringe at his bias and clear lack of balance when championing certain players, but being a ‘goer’ can help him overlook a players lack of Victorianess!
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Very good conclusion re Warne’s preferences. He definitely has a ‘type’, and I agree entirely his preferred team could rack up 500 on a perfect day, and easily be dismissed for 50 the next.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Absolutely, Chris. Stoinis has been very disappointing.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Online outrage is definitely an energy source that should be under more serious consideration moving forward.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Currently selectors don’t care. Hard to say previous selectors didn’t, given some of the bizarre selections (see Beer, Michael) that Warne advocated for prior to them occurring.
I like having all WC games on Kayo, but commentary is definitely muted at all times!
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Agreed, Paul. I’m happy for him to mentor and work with spinners, as he’s brilliant in that space. Hard to believe some of the players the selectors have picked previously based on Warne’s suggestions. I’m still stunned Michael Beer ever played Test cricket! He was a competent Shield player at best.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Fair call. I do think with current squad they’re likely to persevere with Khawaja for the rest of the Cup. He did go on to top score after being dropped.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne
Cheers, Neel. The headline was intended as a joke, as I’m just waiting for the next time South Africa thump Australia. I appreciate your kind remarks. I probably rushed this one, writing it in about 20 mins, which clearly was a bit quick!
It will be very interesting to see selection decisions moving forward, but I definitely think there will be numerous changes before their next ODI series.
South Africa: The new minnows of the World Cup
Thanks, Paul. I appreciate your reply. Definitely a fine line, and I’m thinking I should stick to more serious analysis and opinion pieces moving forward!
South Africa: The new minnows of the World Cup
Hi Paul, thanks for your comment. This article was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, but appears to have missed the mark. I will give more thought to future articles.
South Africa: The new minnows of the World Cup
Hi Ron,
Thanks for your comment. The line you are referring to was in reference to the fact the Netherlands and other associate countries were not included in this year’s tournament. On re-reading, I completely understand how it reads, and can assure you this was not my intended meaning. I apologise for this, and will give my words more thought in future articles. I do not appreciate the One Nation reference, which I feel is a little strong, but I respect your opinion and will do better in the future.
South Africa: The new minnows of the World Cup
All fair points, Chris. I’d like to see a call made on Stoinis before Bangladesh game. Definitely makes more sense for MMarsh to come into the side against them rather than England if he’s going to be recalled.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
I agree, Chris. It’s an interesting quandary though, as Khawaja has put in his strongest ODI performances as an opener, and the selectors are sticking with the Finch-Warner partnership there. SMarsh has never filled me with confidence in any form of the game, but he does seem a more consistent performers at 3 or 4 than Khawaja in ODI cricket.
I guess the old-school terminology would call Maxwell a batting all-rounder and MMarsh a bowling all-rounder. Probably more balanced than Maxwell and Stoinis, both of whom are probably more batting all-rounders. I’m keen to see if the selectors make further changes to the side against Bangladesh.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
Interesting point. I definitely think we need to stop reshuffling the middle order soon and settle on a top six. Khawaja, Marsh and Smith have been moved around a lot so far, which isn’t ideal. The selectors should probably just go with a top six of Finch, Warner, Smith, SMarsh, Maxwell, Stoinis/MMarsh for stability’s sake for the rest of the tournament. I think Turner would be a great addition to the middle order, and might take SMarsh’s place in the coming year or two.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
Thanks, Paul 🙂 It does seem odd that they’re dragging their feet and fielding unbalanced sides as a result. He was lucky to be in the XI in the first place on recent form.
Yeah, that’s a fair call. I’d be interested to see Lyon in tandem with Zampa. Maybe it’ll happen against Bangladesh? The four quicks option doesn’t seem like the best option for us.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
Warner’ strike rates so far: 78, 37, 66, 96 and 54.
I’d imagine everyone will lift a little in the semis, but would be nice to see a bit more before then.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
He’s ‘a bit stiff and sore’, but was mostly ineffective with the ball and probably going to be dropped.
The non-selection of Turner seems to have been justified by him not bowling at the moment due to injury recovery. I think he’s mostly viewed as a batsman these days, rather than an all-rounder, so the logic is puzzling.
Australia needs all cylinders firing to be a World Cup contender
Agreed. It’s a shame Ashton Turner didn’t force the selectors hand when given an opportunity, as he’d be an ideal middle order bat, handy fielder and useful spin option.
Unbalanced squad leaves Australia vulnerable at World Cup
Thanks Paul, I appreciate your reply.
Yes, we’re definitely not at full strength without Hazlewood, J Richardson and in-form Faulkner. It’ll be fascinating to see what squad for next WC will look like.
Unbalanced squad leaves Australia vulnerable at World Cup
Hi Dave, I’m not against Finch dropping to middle order, but he seems pretty keen to remain in the opening spot. I think moving Warner down is more likely, but they’ll probably persevere with this combination until it’s too late.
Unbalanced squad leaves Australia vulnerable at World Cup
Hi TJ,
Thanks for reading. Yes, I have been watching consistently.
Daniel.
Unbalanced squad leaves Australia vulnerable at World Cup
Hi Paul,
Thanks for your comment and thoughts. It’s interesting that Hazlewood wasn’t chosen due to lack of game time, but this hasn’t stopped the selectors bringing Mitchell Marsh into the squad as injury cover for Stoinis. I would’ve gone for Travis Head at number six personally. He has a few different gears to his batting, is great in the field and provides another spin option while we are only playing one specialist spinner.
I agree that we are unlikely to progress to the semis with this squad. Definitely a difficult position for the selectors with Smith and Warner returning from suspension and lots of injuries to juggle. A lot more balls in the air than normal encountered when selecting a squad.
Unbalanced squad leaves Australia vulnerable at World Cup
Wasn’t me. I’ve never followed the guy. I like to a modicom of intelligence on my social media feeds.
Australia keep winning as the selectors keep ignoring Shane Warne