Roar Pro
Joined December 2014
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Over this year's Big Bash League, I have grown in admiration for Kevin Pietersen. He has been more open, honest and less arrogant than…
Michael Clarke's career is in limbo. He has all but ruled himself out of this Test series after injuring his hamstring and has conceded…
Yeah right no rift.
It is so bleeding obvious there is a rift between Clarke and Watson and also Clarke and Cricket Australia. He may be saying this but have heard that he is fuming about the ultimatum he has been given about being fit for Bangladesh game.
Clarke: No rift in Australian cricket camp
Gotta say being an AFL fan that I often have found soccer a bit boring.
But this Asian Cup has been simply awesome. The Grand Final was an amazing finish, real edge of your seats stuff. If more soccer games are as exciting as that one I will be very happy.
Well done to the socceroos, fantastic achievement.
Now the cricket team has to do the double and win the cricket world cup on home soil.
Asian Cup Final: Socceroos leave it late to snatch victory
Bringing clarke back as captain will be a step back as far as I’m concerned. It is Steve Smiths team and Smith should be captain in all forms.
If Clarke does come back in the world cup he will do more harm than good. He will be denying Shaun Marsh who is in top form the chance to play and also he will put himself at risk for the Ashes.
Another thing people haven’t really thought about is if Clarke does re injure his hammy or back in the WC then the opposition captain could deny Australia a substitute fielder because it is not a new injury, Clarke came into the game with an injury.
Best case scenario for Australia is that Clarke is ruled out of the WC.
Cricket Australia's treatment of Michael Clarke has been disgraceful
Why does ABD bat so low? surely he should be batting a spot or two higher. He is by far the best batsman in the world, by ABD batting at 3 or 4 he has more time to build an innings and set a bigger total, at 5 he is more of a finisher and we know how good he is at that. I would be wanting my best batsman to be batting for longer. I would swap Faf and ABD around with ABD at 3 and Faf at 5.
Your 2015 Cricket World Cup form guide
For me the subcontinental teams will struggle, I think none will make it to the semis. On there day they can beat anyone but India, sri lanka and Pakistan are too inconsistent and don’t have the bowlers to win this WC.
England will make it to the semis, on the back of their reasonable bowling attack but lack the firepower without KP and Stokes in there. I mean if you include those two guys instead of Bopara and Taylor you have a bloody good side. Poor selections from the poms and it’ll cost em.
So it really is a 3 horse race for the cup between the kiwis, the aussies and south africa.
The South Africans have probably the best team on paper but it doesn’t always seem to work. They seem to rely on AB and Amla a bit too much in the batting and Steyn in the bowling. I don’t think they have very good depth and if one or two quality players go down they might struggle. Also as mentioned above they have a long tail and don’t bowl well at the death. Also have choked in the past , will they cope with the pressure this time round?
New Zealand are playing some really good cricket and this time they are more than just dark horses. They are genuine contenders. Their bowling looks very strong, with Southee, McClenaghan and Boult and also wily old dan vettori. They also now have a stronger batting lineup. Williamson and McCullum are world class. They also like the Aussies have very good finishers in Corey Anderson and forgotten ex WA boy Luke Ronchi. Add in a big home ground advantage of not having to leave NZ until the final and they look like a good bet.
Australia probably will go in as favourites and rightly so, they have swept past everyone in this format in the last 12 months. The fast bowling attack looks super strong with Johnson, Starc and Faulkner and also Cummins and Hazelwood in reserve. The batting also looks good even without Michael Clarke. Warner, Finch and Smith all look in fantastic touch however the current form of Watson, Bailey and Maxwell is a worry. Perhaps Shaun Marsh who is in top form comes into the equation should Clarke miss?
My biggest concern over Australia is the captaincy question, If Clarke is ruled out then Bailey will be captain and on his current form he does not deserve to be in the starting XI. I think the selectors have to make the tough call on Bailey and make Steve Smith the reserve skipper, he has shown he performs when he is the skipper and is entrenched in Aus best XI this would allow Bailey to be judged on form alone.
So after all that I have tipped how this cricket world cup will pan out.
Group A Ladder
New Zealand (will beat aus in auckland)
Australia
England
Sri Lanka
Bangladesh
Scotland
Afghanistan
Group B
South Africa
Pakistan
India
Ireland (reckon they’ll upset west indies)
West Indies
Zimbabwe
UAE
Quarters
NZ V IRE (nz win)
AUS V IND (AUS)
SA V SRI LANKA (SA)
ENG V PAK (ENG)
Semis
Australia V South Africa (aus win)
New Zealand V England (nz win)
So we get the dream final match up between the two host nations. This time I reckon the Aussies will get the better of the kiwis because of home ground advantage.
AUS V NZ (Aus win)
Your 2015 Cricket World Cup form guide
Well Handscomb is a ten times better batsman than Wade so why don’t the vics scrap Wade and give Handscomb the gloves full time. Wade is just rubbish.
If Handscomb gets his keeping good he could be that no 6 batsman that allow Faulkner to bat 7 in tests.
Faulkner on the verge of becoming Australia's ODI MVP
I want to see him and mitch marsh both in the same XI. Forget maxwell, these are the two guys that can win you the WC.
Faulkner on the verge of becoming Australia's ODI MVP
James Pattinson if fit has to be a walk up start I reckon. Johnson Harris Patto and Lyon should be our ashes attack.
Starc, Hazelwood and Behrendorff should be the reserves.
How much longer will Mitchell Johnson last on the international stage?
I think this is probably a slight overreaction. The pitches this year were absolute roads with no life and less pace than last year. These pitches didn’t suit Mitch much. Also didn’t play at the WACA where Johnson is at his best. Also bowling against a better batting side and has been carrying a niggle.
He has had a long rest and I reckon he will be fit and firing come WC and Ashes.
How much longer will Mitchell Johnson last on the international stage?
Excactly, Etihad seats 60k
it is a joke having to play in Manuka which seats a paltry 13k and takes away Scorchers home ground advantage.
Perth will prevail in ‘home’ BBL final at Canberra
I think I would probably just drop Turner and bring in Marcus Harris who is the better batsman. Only change for Scorchers.
Perth will prevail in ‘home’ BBL final at Canberra
So which quick misses out for Agar then?
Perth will prevail in ‘home’ BBL final at Canberra
The reason why it is at Manuka oval is because the MCG isn’t available to prepare for CWC opening ceremony. All other grounds are available. I think if Stars had been hosting it could have been played at Etihad Stadium.
Perth will prevail in ‘home’ BBL final at Canberra
Newcastle?
Really?
Not every city in NSW deserves a BBL team, two is enough. Give a team to Darwin or Canberra or even have a couple NZ teams.
Newcastle does not even have a big cricket ground its just a square stadium.
still can’t believe Australia had to go out there to play a game of soccer instead of playing in front of 80 000 fans on Australia Day.
The Bash files: BBL turning heads internationally
Thats what I say to all my West Coast Eagles mates that still talk about 2006 as if its yesterday.
The Bash files: BBL turning heads internationally
Mate I went to 3 Scorchers Games this year including the Semi I can guarantee it was a sellout in each game. The Scorchers crowd were fantastic and it felt like I was at a Freo Dockers Home Game, Atmosphere was electric.
The fact is Manuka oval fits in even less people than the WACA so less people get to go.
Also your argument that Canberra is on at GMT plus 10 is also rubbish.
Perth games are played at 4 10 to match up to the Eastern States so that precious Eastern State viewers such as yourself dont have to stay up to late to watch the Cricket.
'Hosts' Scorchers in hostile territory for BBL final
Big Bash needs to join with New Zealand.
New Zealand Domestic Cricket isn’t anywhere near as popular as the BBL because they don’t have the franchise system.
So I would create 4 NZ BBL teams. Based in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. Then you have a 12 team BBL with all teams playing each other once. Also have a bigger AFL like Finals series with 6 teams.
Both Aus and NZ can scrap there ODD comps and just play BBL and 4 day cricket.
What's next for the Big Bash League? Since you asked...
The Home final should be in the city of the team that was the highest team in the GF.
Perth have earnt the right to host the final every year but people have a problem with this for some reason.
The reason which a ‘neutral venue’ was chosen was because the MCG isn’t available. Typical Eastern States bias, everyone expected Stars to make the final so they change it for all the teams.
Surely if the Stars hosted the final they could have it at Etihad Stadium. Still seats 60k.
Perth fans not happy and so they should be.
'Hosts' Scorchers in hostile territory for BBL final
“Crowds refusing to get over 20k”
Thats because thats all that fits in to the WACA. Once the new 60k seat stadium is built it will get full for both AFL and Cricket.
Anyway Manuka oval seats 13k so whats your point.
'Hosts' Scorchers in hostile territory for BBL final
There better than listening to James Brayshaw and co on channel 9.
I like channel 10s commentary the best except for Tim Gossage he is a clown.
The Bash files: BBL turning heads internationally
Its been great. Get home at 4 30 and watch the cricket every day. Just a pity Scorchers don’t get the home final they deserve. Would have been the best home final yet. The atmosphere at the semi was electric, having it at Manuka will be a real let down I reckon.
anyway GO SCORCHERS.
The Bash files: BBL turning heads internationally
Well I watched the first twenty minutes got bored. Flicked over to the soccer and Aus scored in the first two minutes. I have a feeling more people watched the soccer.
Nick Kyrgios to stop the nation tonight
Cricket BBL final tommorow will get 3 times the audience of the tennis.
Nick Kyrgios to stop the nation tonight
No in my personal opinion Australias best one day team is:
Warner
Finch
S Marsh
Smith (c)
Watson
M Marsh
Haddin
Faulkner
Johnson
Starc
Lyon
But two of these guys aren’t even in the squad
Everyone has different opinions but to me Bailey and Maxwell in the middle order makes me very nervous. I feel we are too reliant on the openers, Smith and Faulkner too score all the runs. The Marsh brothers are a safer bet than bailey and maxwell.
Also still shocked lyon wasnt picked.
If Clarke is fit, drop Bailey for the Cricket World Cup
Don
these comments are from 2013
just pointing it out in case you might have missed it.
The darker side of Michael Clarke