With the NRL finishing last Sunday, all eyes are now firmly focused on Australia’s summer of cricket.
There is nothing to look forward to more than Tests, one-dayers and T20s against South Africa, India and Sri Lanka, and of course the eighth season of the BBL is upon us.
So, without further ado, here are thecolumn’s predictions for the 2018-19 summer of cricket.
Australia to lose series against India
It is widely regarded amongst players and spectators that apart from the Ashes, Australia vs India is the pinnacle of Test cricket, so what a shame it would be to endure a defeat from Virat Kohli’s side.
Batting looks to be Australia’s flaw, losing their two best batsmen to suspension has left the side short.
Aaron Finch and Travis Head will likely assume the roles of David Warner and Steve Smith respectively, obviously though this is a downgrade – Head and Finch’s first-class averages don’t come within 10 runs of Smith and Warner.
India’s batting embarrasses Australia’s. The strength of their batsmen is indicated by the selectors recent decision to play one fewer batsman to fit an extra bowler, they were rewarded with India scoring 500+ runs in the first innings against the West Indies.
New Indian cricketer Prithvi Shaw (AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade)
Sydney Thunder to win the Big Bash
While the Perth Scorchers are favourites to pick up their fourth BBL title, the way I see it, the Thunder will be the team to beat despite being equal with the Melbourne Stars as the longest odds to take the title.
Shane Watson will be the man to lead them to their second premiership, he is arguably in career best T20 form coming off a very successful IPL season finishing fifth overall in runs and guiding the Chennai Super Kings to a victory with a ton in the grand final.
In addition to Watson, Thunder have even more stability in the top order and wicket keeping with Jos Buttler.
The English International is known for his big hitting boasting a strike rate of 144.46 and scoring over 30 fifties in the format.
Watson and Buttler at the top of the order will give the Thunder a serious chance a winning the cup.
They have also added promising all rounder Daniel Sams into their squad, strengthening their bowling attack, which perhaps lacked fire power last year.
Shane Watson keeps blasting away (AAP Image/David Moir)
Paine out, Carey in
Yep, Alex Carey will be given a full-time job in the one-day team and will eventually find himself in a baggy green, if you ask me.
Although Paine’s leadership qualities will be very important in this side, it will only be a matter of time before Carey is given the gloves.
Tim Paine is known for his extreme struggle with finger injuries throughout his career, these injuries resulted in his demotion as deputy wicket-keeper in the Test arena.
If one of these injuries were to reignite, Carey would be given an opportunity in the baggy green. If he made the most of this opportunity with runs and dismissals, it would prove difficult for Paine to force his way back in the team, especially because he is six years older than the South Australian wicket-keeper.
Interestingly, in the 2015 Ashes series, former Australian wicket-keeper Brad Haddin, missed a Test match due to personal reasons, after this Test match he was never picked in the Australian team again. Could the selectors make a similar decision if Paine gets injured?
The return of James Pattinson
Australian selectors crave 145km/h bowlers, and there aren’t many better in Australia than James Pattinson.
Despite the fact he has failed to string together many consecutive games over the past few years due to injury, his talent and experience will be invaluable in the relatively inexperienced Australian team should Mitch Starc, Josh Hazlewood or Pat Cummins get injured.
Pending injuries, it would be great to see the 28-year-old get another chance at proving his worth in the test team as well as limited over formats.
James Pattinson bowls for Australia. (AAP Image/Paul Miller)
Jack Edwards is a gun
You heard it here first, the 18-year-old was very impressive in his first stint in Australian domestic cricket scoring 68 and 116 against Tasmania and Queensland respectively for NSW.
The allrounder is a near certainty for the NSW Sheffield Shield side, if he was to continue his blistering form in the longer format, you never know, the selectors often like looking toward the future and blooding young talent and with insecurity in the no.6 position (as there always is), Jack Edwards could find himself in that position.
Although, he is probably a couple of seasons away from getting a look in to the side, he certainly has the talent to impress in Shield, and BBL this year.
James F
Guest
Should just add - if Ali is going to bat 3 for the foreseeable for England (and if he doesn't come off there, he still won't be doing a lot worse than England's recent Number 3s), then someone like Woakes would come in and bat at 8, making England's lower order even stronger - certainly a tougher set of outs than Australia's 6-10.
James F
Guest
Just not true, Rats. England's top 5 are all over the place but from 6 to 10 they bat better than just about any other side. The one area where Australia's Test side is not demonstrably superior is in tail-end batting. Stokes, Buttler, Ali, Curran, Broad and Anderson would probably be England's 6-11, all things being equal. Australia's might be M.Marsh/Maxwell, Paine, Cummins, Starc, Lyon and Hazelwood, with all present and correct. Not in a million years would I take the second of those line-ups from a batting point of view. Bowling, of course, might be a different issue.
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
So as soon as kookaburra's are used their all suddenly going to average above 45???
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Or it could show that you were unaware that Duke balls were used...
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
Really? Barely anyone averaged above 45 in shield cricket last year. That shows a shortage in test quality bats.
Paul
Roar Guru
Your assuming the guys Australia will play are not Test quality. Right now, the only thing they are is unproven at Test level. I'm betting a few Australian guys are really going to stand up this year with the bat. Don't forget there are plenty of guys at home who are Test quality for sure.
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
I am saying that they are short of talent with the bat. There is not enough test quality batsmen in Australia. I'm sure India have many more batsmen in the top 20 that Australia have available.
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
People want to read what they watch 25,000+ people go to the BBL week in and out whereas less than 100 people are at a shield game. Many people (not me) don't care who wins in shield & jlt cup. I don't watch enough women's cricket to make a judgement on competitions so you have a point there.
Paul
Roar Guru
"India's batting embarrasses Australia's". This comment was based on the side racking up over 600 in one Test against an understrength WI bowling attack while playing at home. They were really poor as a bating unit in 5 Tests in England and were deservedly walloped 4-1. They made multiple changes to their lineup and still got a hiding. How can you make any comment about the Australian lineup when you have no idea what it will be? The huge advantage we have is playing in Australia and there are a lot of guys already showing some good form, both in Oz and in the UAE. Indian does not have a great bowling record here and if guys are picked on form, there's every chance they could match up well with India, perhaps with the exception of Kohli. That said, it depends how well Hazlewood and Cummins come back. With those guys in the side, fit and in form, the worst result we should achieve is a draw. If they're underdone, India might surprise.
Rellum
Roar Guru
"BBL is by far the most popular." What has that got to do with it? I just pointed out you didn't mention who you thought would win the other comps. Unless you think they don't matter because "not popular"
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
Edward's fielding can definitely improve but there's no doubt about hi enormous potential with the bat. BBL is by far the most popular.
thecolumn
Roar Rookie
Hey mate, the wickets in England and Australia differ significantly, Aus wickets are much more dry which is more suited to India. I disagree with M Marsh being compared to Stokes, Stokes bats and bowls much better than Marsh. Last time Aus beat India l, they had Warner, Smith, Clarke and Rogers in their batting. Their current lineup isn't a patch on those.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Jack Edwards and many other players need to learn how to field. It has been terrible so far this season at times. You didn't pick winners for the other comps, Mine WA to win the one day comp and QLD to go back to back in the Shield. The Heat to win the WBBL and probably NSW to win the WNCL. I think Aus will win the Test Series 2-1
Rats
Guest
Also, Australia have better tailenders than England. India's inabilities to clean up tail is a known fact. For all these reasons I would say Austraila will win the series. Only difference would be, the matches will be close. This Indian side unlike previous Indian sides which toured Australia will make sure it wont be one-sided contest.
Rats
Guest
India can't beat Aussies in Australia. You don't need to play good cricket to beat India as evident from recent Eng-Ind series. India don't know the art of winning outside Asia. They can be a better team on paper. Australia just need to play average cricket to beat India. Which I am sure Australia are capable of.. Also, even if India has learnt the lessons after Eng series, still Australia are favourites because they have a good bowling unit to upset any team. There is no reason why M Marsh cant do a B Stokes or C Woakes. There is no reason why N Lyon can't upset Indian batsmen when M Ali could.