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Joined September 2015
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Armchair cricket fan, admiring the game from afar. I have lived overseas for over 10 years, many of these in non-cricket playing countries so have to rely on the great writers to capture the game for me.
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This year, as was the case last year, we saw some great performances from young batsmen in the Sheffield Shield. There were also some…
It is early 2018, Australia have just won the Ashes 3-1 after a hard-fought contest. Batsmen Steve Smith, Dave Warner, Peter Handscomb and Usman…
With one Test to go against Pakistan, attention is now turning towards the Test series in India. The make up of the squad for…
With the Big Bash fast approaching and the Australian public focused on the Test series against Pakistan, it is time to squeeze in a…
While the Australia A side dominated the proceedings against South Africa in the four-day matches, the one-day series has been pretty even. The four…
This Australia A series has been a highly anticipated chance to see the development of the next generation of Test and ODI cricketers. So…
During the 12 months between July 2014 and June 2015, without a doubt James Faulkner was one of Australia's most valuable cricketers in the…
It's been such a close Sheffield Shield season, with four sides in the mix to make the final as the final round began. Obviously…
A thrilling final round of the 2015-16 Sheffield Shield saw four teams in with a realistic chance of going to the finals. Now it's…
With a busy schedule of T20 internationals and ODIs continuing through March, a small gap in short-format cricket during the month of February gives…
With only three rounds completed so far of the Sheffied Shield 2014/15, it may be premature to be calling a winner, however, a look…
With Australia's XII for the first Test against New Zealand having been announced as expected, with four pacemen in the running for three spots,…
With the 2015 Rugby World Cup in full swing, some on The Roar have been talking about the next Cricket World Cup and the…
Much has been made of the recent decision of the Australian selectors to include Glenn Maxwell in the Test squad to play Bangladesh. As…
Darren Lehmann and the Australian selection panel seem to have it in their heads that the best attack to bowl out any team, in…
The ongoing debate about who to replace Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke in the Test batting line-up has led to discussion of the merits…
There has been much conjecture of late regarding the make up of the Australian Test batting line-up come the Bangladesh tour in October and…
I am a bit disappointed in the fast bowlers picked. We already know that Boland and Neser are next in line should any of the big 3 go down with injury, so what is the point of picking 3 guys who are over 30 and not long term prospects?
I would like to see guys like Morris, Buckingham, Sutherland etc. picked to give them more experience and exposure.
Selectors line up three-way battle to replace David Warner in strong PM XI
My feeling is that the selectors have moved on from the likes of Khawaja and S Marsh and will be looking at someone younger. Though with a new selector In Dodemaide you never know.
More likely they will stick with Head at 5 and Green at 6, Harris to open with Warner as Puckovski won’t be ready in time.
Could Nic Maddinson's hot form see him be an Ashes bolter this summer?
Is Renshaw not closer to a test return in the middle order?
He averaged 62.5 in the Shield last season and has had a great start to this season with a ton in the last match.
Could Nic Maddinson's hot form see him be an Ashes bolter this summer?
Yep, the bowling depth will certainly be tested and they will hope Sutherland continues his strong form. 3 of the rookies are pace bowlers and then a couple of last season’s rookie pace bowlers have been upgraded.
Look out for Xavier Crone to get a few games when Pattinson is out with the test team or the inevitable injury. He looks a great prospect.
Mitch Perry and Zak Evans may also get a few games, but they will be relying on Boland big time.
Sheffield Shield: Changes to the attack with bowlers on the move
Burns
Warner
Khawaja
Smith
Head
Patterson
Paine
Pattinson
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Harris
Wade/ Handscomb
Hazlewood
Siddle
J Richardson
J Holland
Unsure about the Wade vs Handscomb selection so will say it is dependent on Australia A form, as are most selections really.
Versatility crucial in Australia's Ashes squad
Very disappointed. This shows a lack of foresight from the management. He adds so much to the younger batsmen coming through like Dean and Puckovski, Short and Gotch. Even if he only plays 3 or 4 Shield games, he is worth having on the list. Especially when international call ups affect selection.
Victoria opt not to offer Cameron White contract for 2019-20
I reckon the jury is still out on Finch and Head being test quality after only 2 tests, but they should certainly be given the opportunity to prove it in the India series.
I would want to see Loose bus change make a lot of runs in the Shield over the next few weeks before confirming his spot in the team too.
Khawaja injury leaves Australia ripe for picking by India
Have the selectors missed a trick by not picking Bird and Sayers for the India A tour? Seems very unlikely that Neser or Paris would be considered for the Pakistan series, so wouldn’t it make sense to see how Bird and Sayers go in Asian conditions?
Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins in doubt for Pakistan Tests
Langer will probably pick Jhye Richardson. He loves his WA boys.
Hazlewood and Cummins ruled out of Pakistan Tests
Totally agree. Gillespe for coach. Langer hasn’t done much for the WA Shield team and likes to mouth off to the media. Thinks pretty highly of himself.
Why this year’s Sheffield Shield was such a cracker
Here we go again…… did you brush this article off from last year or the year before and just update it?
Same old story every year.
Not sure why people feel the need to criticise the Shield. I found the final very engaging as was the whole season. And being able to watch the live stream on the CA website is great.
Also, didn’t Victoria beat SA in the final at Glenelg a couple of years back after finishing second on the table?
Time to retire the Sheffield Shield final
Great article Stephen
Agree with most points, although you could hardly call Tremain a new talent. He has been dominating the Shield for a number of years now.
It was a great season that came down to the wire, kept us all interested to the last day.
Also appreciate the creepy cult of Langer comment!
Why this year’s Sheffield Shield was such a cracker
Good to see Holland recognized for his red ball form. Tremain would have been my choice for backup quick, or at least Sayers.
Still, happy that the Vics will have Tremain available for the shield and Fawad can fill in for Holland.
WA may be short on pace options for the Shield unless Behrendorf, NCN and Paris are fit.
Selectors name two bowling bolters for South African Test squad
Now now, don’t get all petty just because WA hasn’t won the shield in years. Very rarely did the Vics have more than 2 non Victorians in their shield side. Guys like White, Handscomb, Finch, Boland and Holland have won us our shield titles. All Victorians.
And Bobby Quiney. Legend.
Tremain and Burns should tour South Africa
I could see this selection working out OK in one scenario:
3rd test WACA XI:
Warner
S Marsh
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb
Bancroft (wk)
M Marsh
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood
4th test at the MCG
Warner
Bancroft
Khawaja
Smith
Handscomb/ Maxwell
S Marsh
Paine
Starc
Cummins
Lyon
Hazlewood
Make it a true horses for courses selection if the WACA pitch is the main consideration.
Picking Mitch Marsh over Maxwell is madness
Yeah, Harper the better keeper, Gotch the better batsman. Seems batting wins out again.
When you compare the batting line up to last season, the only difference is that Stoinis has gone, and he averaged 18. So that shouldn’t really make any difference.
The issue is performance, not personel.
Third coach in three seasons. Not sure Andrew McDonald is the right fit. I question his judgement in leaving out White and persisting with Christian for the first three matches.
Still, the 12 just announced for he NSW match looks about right with Short and White coming in for Christian and Handscomb and Holland coming in for Ahmed. Young Eamon Vines as likely 12th man looks a good batting prospect in case Dean’s form doesn’t improve, but you’d think they would give Dean a fair go given his record so far.
The Sheffield Shield wrap: The season so far
The biggest disappointment this season so far has been Victoria’s batting. 2 draws and a loss to start the season and it is all due to poor batting. Our bowlers have been quite good. Especially Tremain and Boland.
Handscomb didn’t contribute much, Dean has been ordinary and Finch only has one 50 so far.
Harris and Maxwell both get pass marks and Christian the ultimate “bits and pieces” player has failed at both bits- batting and bowling.
The Bushys really beed to start to click in the batting if they want to make a go of defending that title.
As mentioned above, bring in White and Short for Handscomb and Christian.
The Sheffield Shield wrap: The season so far
Agree with that Burg. White HAS to play given our terrible batting so far this year. Christian has contributed nothing so far.
Short looks a great player. Had an excellent One Day Cup and now scoring against the poms. Get him in!
Hopefully Holland can come back in for Ahmed too. He has been quite loose despite taking a few handy wickets. Mostly lower order batsmen.
The Sheffield Shield wrap: The season so far
Gold. Best comment of the day.
Cheer up folks. At least Wade is no longer in the team.
Tim Paine's Ashes selection is a farce
Bob, given recent media reports…… you may indeed be right!
I hope so. That is the side I would go with.
Was Carey's first sign of form too little, too late to fight off the competition?
Livingstone looks the next big thing. He will be in Oz for the Lions tour so don’t be surprised if he is called up mid series after Ballance and Vince fail.
How Australia could lose the Ashes (Part 1)
Good article. All good points well made. In regards to Siddle, I think he could still play a role in the Ashes if Hazlewood is out injured. As part of a three man pace bowling attack, Australia needs one man who can keep it tight at one end.
Agree though that if either Cummins or Starc are out injured, the likes of Behrendroff, Tremain and NCN come into contention ahead of Siddle. And Sayers in the right conditions.
Siddle should be well back in Ashes pecking order
6 West Australians! Is that because of their vast test match experience? Oh wait, none of the WA fast bowlers have any test match experience.
Siddle should not be ruled out. If Starc or Cummins went down, then I would replace with NCN, Behrendorff or Tremain. But Hazlewood plays a different role. If he went down, I would consider Bird, Sayers or Siddle, depending on who shows the best form and fitness in the opening 3 shield games
Is Jimmy Anderson an all time great?
I don’t think Neser has anything to prove to anyone. I also don’t mind him being in the side as he actually has a realistic chance of playing a test this summer. I have more issues with McAndrew and Steketee being picked as neither will be long term replacements for Starc, Hazelwood or Cummins when they eventually move on and I can’t see them playing ahead of Boland or Neser who are the current next in line.
Selectors line up three-way battle to replace David Warner in strong PM XI