The last day of the third Test was unfortunately an underwhelming end to a red-hot summer for Australia but this team is on the edge of a push for greatness.
There was nothing the Aussies could have done to change the result on day five in Sydney, it was just the weather stuffing them around that meant the match finished in a draw.
If we didn’t lose a full day on Friday and pretty much another day from all the other stoppages, I reckon Australia would have wrapped up a series clean sweep at the SCG with a day to spare.
This could have been quite an exciting Test and we just needed the sun to bake the pitch for another day or so and I think it would have turned a lot.
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Reverse swing would have played a big part too but there was 170-odd overs lost.
Australia celebrate with the trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Still there were some great performances – Usman Khawaja hit his highest Test score to continue on an amazing 12 months, Steve Smith added another hundred to his pile, Travis Head reinforced what a dangerous middle-order player he is, Josh Hazlewoo showed why he’s a world-class bowler.
I think it was a tremendous summer by Australia against average opposition but you’ve still got to dominate and they did so I think of a very good team that should do well in India and England and hopefully win the World Test Championship.
The questions going forward are we didn’t really get to see Matt Renshaw or Ashton Agar with the bat and Agar was minimal with the ball but it’s not like Nathan Lyon ran through them either. The footmarks were really wide and full and probably better for Lyon to the right-handers at the Randwick end.
When Agar got a chance from that end he bowled too straight and full so he certainly hasn’t answered the question as to who our second best spinner is.
The pitches there, you assume, are going to turn massively so he will still be in the picture to the degree but it would have been nice for him just to pick up a couple of wickets and score a few runs, thinking ahead to India.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
We’re going to possibly miss Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc for the first Test next month if their finger injuries don’t heal in time. If Starc’s out, which looks like it will happen, we’re well covered for fast bowlers but if Green’s out that will be absolutely massive.
Fingers crossed his finger is OK because it just gives the Aussies that added flexibility to be able to play two spinners and still have a third seam option.
I wrote before the start of this Test that they should have gone with three quicks, two spinners with Agar batting at No.7 and Alex Carey at No.6 and you can never predict exactly how the weather’s going to affect proceedings but it would have been nice to have Scott Boland or Lance Morris in the attack.
Hazlewood was reverse-swinging it and Morris, at about 20km/h quicker, would have been a real handful if he was able to do the same. Bowlo’s an expert with reverse too so either of those guys could have been a real factor, particularly once we lost that playing time.
We still could have had a nail-biting finish if a few of the 50-50 umpiring decisions went in Australia’s favour.
Richard Kettleborough is maybe the best umpire in the world and he won’t want to be third umpire ever again because there were just so many tough decisions.
I think all three low catches that he gave not out this Test were out. Marnus Labuschagne when he was batting and then the two catches that Smithy took off Hazlewood and Lyon.
You’ve got to remember when your hand touches the grass and you’re looking at it side-on in 2D, it looks like it’s gone into the grass but your fingers can actually be under it.
The technology needs to get better and it will.
The soft signal doesn’t seem to matter any more so let the third umpire make a decision based on what they see and the batter should retain the benefit of the doubt, which is in the rules, I can live with that.
Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
I think the LBWs were out – if they had been given out on the field, they would have stayed out.
Whether we just decide that if it’s hitting, it’s hitting and that’s out and we don’t worry about the variables.
And Australia vs South Africa needs a name for the trophy. It’s nameless still.
I’m going with the Fast Bowling Cartel and I reckon it should be called the Donald-McGrath Trophy after those two quicks who did so much for their respective countries. There are too many trophies named after batters.
I could live with it being Pollock instead of Donald but let’s get it done before the next series.
SDRedsFan
Roar Rookie
Flem, do you think not having any warm-up games in India (and England) will hurt us, and what's the rationale for not having any warm up games? What's the preparation like on tours like these as far as getting used to the conditions is concerned.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
well perhaps yes we differ on a heatwave defn point is plenty of warm sunny days have occured for a few weekends in may before . heatwave maybe the wrong word to use . I think being myopic on the precise temps is not the point here plenty of warm and fair days pre mid June have occured before in London I know that and then rain comes through out June in to july it’s very hit and miss so a week or two earlier won’t make any difference . now if your comparing it to 2019 which is the original issue then you could say the timing is significant as they played the world cup odi then the tests which took ages and was much later . think we can close this one dave
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
You might want to check the weather records. Or maybe we have different ideas about a heatwave. https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/uk/london/historic?month=5&year=2013
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Patrick agree with all my only thought is labuschsagne effectively opened several innings in uk with early dismissals last time and he made alot of runs . Once again if khwaja and warner fail there I'd really consider improvising if renshaw doesn't start and open with labuschsagne . I know it's a risk but the other option may be to then drop khwaja or renshaw down the order . I'm assuming warner won't improve much there maybe one half decent innings or two which seems to cover his tracks st times but leaves Australia in the lurch . the only thing that could assist some of the openers is if Baz ball like pitches are curated
Steele
Roar Rookie
50/50 for mine. We look better on paper, they are inspired and in home conditions. That Archer spell was something else, with Smith rising liking the undertaker. Also the super sub Marnus, who’s have thunk?!
Pierro
Roar Rookie
steele agree just really looking forward to it . I think the lord's test in 19 with archer bowling to smith was absolutely electric and of the highest calibre cricket I've seen . 05 was insane too of course . It won't be as easy as some Aussies are predicting this time round , well I'm not overly confident more cautious with predictions giving the batsmen have much to prove abroad still
Steele
Roar Rookie
Cool, I really didn’t know. I just read something about it being earlier and wondered if that meant different conditions. Sounds like not much different from a normal Ashes series, give or take a week or two. On one hand they might like their chances with bazball on a flatter pitch, yet I think they’d be well aware of our own struggles in bowler friendly conditions. Can’t wait regardless, and mighty jealous of anyone with tickets! Was over there in 05, it was electric.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Lyon's probably not really required - Labs/Head spin would probably suffice on the limited occasion. That said, with Green in the team, we can probably afford to carry a full time slow bowler. I guess point being, we have a great depth re bowling attack/options and probably gives us the option of strengthening the lower order batting just that little bit more. Though Lyon has become a fine lower order batsmen, so with Green in the XI, Lyon probably becomes an automatic selection even if he may not need to be overly frontline as a bowling option. Then again, omitting Lyon for the appropriate Test or two and adding an extra Neser/Richardson/Boland, with Labs/Head picking up the limited slow bowling required could also be an option. Will be interesting to see how the selectors approach the individual Tests given the crammed schedule.
SDHoneymonster
Guest
How about the Kepler Wessels trophy after his history with both countries? Think expecting to go India and win is wildly optimistic to be honest, although even with England's improvement I'd have Aus as slight favourites for the Ashes.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
in fact just reading archer is back in one day side for this coming month in Sa. if robbinson archer Anderson and broad form a quartet that's pretty ominous for our batsmen in uk soil where only 2 or 3 have conquered them last tour
Pierro
Roar Rookie
good comments Jeff m I think england know so many of their players are short ball focused for lucrative deals . it’s an adaptation to test cricket off big bash and it’s worked against ordinary bowling so far . yes I think Cummins smells blood if they try and go Baz ball against the trios accuracy alongside starc and Morris who can bowl pace and Richardsons variability and sharp bowling m not to mention neser makes a fourth line and length bowler. I’m not sure they should bowl Lyon in every test and he’s the only spinner that needs to go. The danger though is all our openers failed last campaign there and no one new in the mix outside of renshaw who I hope they start and I do hope they take back up in whiteman and on current form Bancroft . head and green need to show they can bat well on English pitches still . last tour only smith and labs had great averages after that it was wade in mid 30s . the rest failed although archer was a menace in that series they now have to robbinson on fire averaging 20 better than Cummins off only 14 tests . we know Anderson and broad can be a handful at home too
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that Damian. Very interesting and informative from a source close to the team at the time.
Titch
Guest
I agree with Flem. I'm excited about this team. I think we can roll the Indians on their home turf. Then on to the Ashes which has to be one of the most anticipated in years; especially by the English.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Both Dukes and Kookaburra have been off the boil in recent years. That said, I struggle to understand why Pakistan went to - and has persisted with - the Kookaburra for domestic and internationals at home. Their pitches are dead enough as it is and not much bounce. The Dukes you'd think would at least provide a bit more seam assistance.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think if they try Bazball against the likes of Hazelwood, Cummins, Boland, Richardson, Neser - whatever the combo - they'll fall short. That said, they've gone Bazball because they've been shown over a few years to struggle with classical technique, so maybe they'll have no choice. If we choose the right squad of bowlers - and use them appropriately across 5 Tests in 6 weeks - we'll be more of a handful than in 2019.
Nobody likes a smarta*s
Roar Rookie
Because a few days back, Ponting suggested Hardie as a replacement for the Green machine.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
many may bank holiday heatwave long weekends between 1992 and 2010 almost every year on song then wetter June’s when queens starts it’s often rainy and humidity comes mid July and that’s when I lived there save post 2010 I was there less but was there for each lord’s match and didn’t notice much change over the years at lord’s maybe in last 12 years more runs in second innings it was pretty difficult to bat on early as always bowlers ran through them when I was there mostly . end of the day I think pitches will be much the same subject to curators playing round with them for baz ball best they can if instructed by ecb behind closed doors
Pierro
Roar Rookie
good comment except Bancroft and whiteman can step up if really needed I think . chances are Carey will be fine . are there 6 tests in India ? I thought 4 or 5 tests
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I think interesting point on all of this is what you’ve raised last note its dependant on some dry weather as to whether they will be Baz ball pitches. on that note one week earlier won’t make any difference really . England gets a good may usually and then June is often mixed weather and it’s a one week lag time . during wimbldon which often goes to end of June or end of first week July it’s often wet and dry and a mixed bag . the useful note Is they may struggle to prepare bazball pitchs. that said a reminder in 2019 with more summer prep for pitches there were essentially results in every match and fierce pitches outside of two days of rain at lord’s for the close draw. Hence conclusion is not sure pitches will be juicy by being earlier . the pitches may keep lower and move off seam line and length as they usually do in early July onwards before flatter bouncy decks up north. end of the day we are trying to discuss what pitches will be like here and I don’t think there will be much variation from normal ashes timing ,( not 2019) unless curators play tricks where possible for baz ball but our team is probably better with batting on Baz ball type pitches anyway. will be intersting as england are flying at moment. Cummins is looking forward to it in his own words as think he thinks our bowling won’t be smashed around as much. the only guys that can get smashed in recent ashes for runs at certain grounds are Lyon and Starc
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Because he's Pierro? :happy: