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Joined April 2018
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David Schout is a Melbourne-based freelance journalist covering (mostly) cricket. He has written for The Guardian, the ICC, IPL, NCA Newswire and others. You can follow him on Twitter at @david_schout.
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Australia’s thumping win over Bangladesh overnight was all about the numbers. And they check out for Justin Langer’s men, whose hopes of progressing to the T20 World Cup semi-finals have gone from 30/70 to 70/30 on the back of one result.
Australia looks set to bat Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell at number three and four this T20 World Cup.
There’s a lot going on in the cricket world at the moment. It’s just that most of it is frustrating and ultimately exhausting.
With England’s two best hopes of Ashes success all but certain absentees, further withdrawals could turn a highly-anticipated summer into a non-competitive farce.
Justin Langer has, for now, survived an intense fortnight of speculation about his role as Australian coach.
All out 62. It wasn’t quite Trent Bridge 2015, but it wasn’t far off either.
Australian cricket fans were left fuming on Tuesday night, as many struggled to find a way to watch the Bangladesh vs Australia T20 series opener in Dhaka.
On this day two years ago, Mitchell Starc was on top of the world.
Aussie captain Aaron Finch says it would be “hard to justify” players returning for phase two of the IPL, but the league could provide Australia’s best preparation for World Cup success.
Amongst New Zealand’s World Test Championship Final win in Southampton overnight, it was two more minor moments that underlined how captain Kane Williamson has led his side to the ultimate success.
Almost 150 years since the first ever Test match, cricket is finally attempting a World Cup of sorts for the game’s longest format.
Just nine days out from the inaugural World Test Championship final, no Australian broadcaster has secured rights to televise the showpiece event.
After racist and sexist tweets from fast bowler Ollie Robinson were discovered during his Test debut against New Zealand, the England and Wales Cricket Board now face a tough call on how they sanction him.
The contrast in Australia and England’s Ashes preparation couldn’t be greater, but the home side’s lean lead-in may just give it the physical and mental edge over the course of the series.
Cameron Bancroft has always said he takes “full responsibility” for the sandpapergate mess, but things have never been that clear.
After each lost their national contract in the last 12 months, an Aussie batting trio must take advantage of their current stint in the County Championship.
Should the IPL push hard for a resumption of the 2021 season later this year, international cricket will inevitably suffer.
There are many reasons to argue the IPL should not cancel its 2021 season despite an unfolding COVID-19 tragedy in India.
The shift from using ‘batsman’ to ‘batter’ in cricket is not a move for political correctness, but a positive step for the game.
New South Wales rolled the dice several times on Day 1 of the Sheffield Shield final, but it was Queensland’s consistent execution that came up trumps.
Cheers Paul. And I agree re: your final point. Of course the intention always has to be to win, but controlling the NRR to ensure progression has to be front of mind. Although a loss could make for a nervy few hours post-game, especially if England rest some big names against South Africa
Zampa stunning, Marsh brutal as statement win delivers huge momentum shift for Aussies
Wasn’t overly convincing, was it
Zampa stunning, Marsh brutal as statement win delivers huge momentum shift for Aussies
Nah, I watched. He had a poor IPL no doubt, my comment pointed to the fact that a very good setup at RCB deemed him a starter in most games. You don’t get to that point by being a mug. He is a very versatile ‘floater’ and should have been in the 15-man squad imo
Muddled in the middle: Australia’s biggest World Cup hurdle
I’m with you. If he’s good enough to be a regular at RCB, he should at least be in the squad. There were other Aussies (the captain included) completely passed up at the IPL auction
Muddled in the middle: Australia’s biggest World Cup hurdle
Agreed that one of Warner or Finch should have been tried in the middle order. Finch played three consecutive innings at no. 5 in 2018 and did well: 20* (5), 36* (14) and 18* (13)
Muddled in the middle: Australia’s biggest World Cup hurdle
Good call on Kirby Short, she was excellent!
Women's series a shining light in cricket's current tedium
Agree with all of that.
Five days is the obvious move. It’s not a huge move anyhow given everything is in place for four. You can understand why some teams veer towards conservative play/declarations given the big chunk of points they could lose if it doesn’t come off, which (as was the case with India on the weekend) would be curtains for the overall series.
Women's series a shining light in cricket's current tedium
“You also haven’t mentioned Cummins as missing”. Nah, I did
All out 62: How can Langer survive shambolic, worst ever T20 debacle?
You can’t be missing a player who is yet to even debut in the format. And Smith’s spot in the team is tenuous anyhow. So that’s four players of those listed – it’s not enough missing to capitulate
All out 62: How can Langer survive shambolic, worst ever T20 debacle?
Disagree entirely. Look at what Trevor Bayliss did in England. Along with Eoin Morgan revolutionised T20/ODI mindset and culture, to the point where they have a deep reserve of international players ready to go at any moment. The coach plays a huge role, and Langer has taken the T20 team backwards.
All out 62: How can Langer survive shambolic, worst ever T20 debacle?
Yep you’re right Tempo. Definitely some batter-friendly venues but later in the tournament some of those decks will have had a LOT of wear and tear. They’re squeezing an awful lot of cricket in the UAE within a short period of time
All out 62: How can Langer survive shambolic, worst ever T20 debacle?
One key difference: this is a recurring theme with Fox. Sky have no issues sealing deals with foreign cricket boards and never leave things to the last minute. Quite clearly, Fox continue to low-ball. I don’t believe the BCB would have refused a reasonable offer
Fans and Finch fume at cricket broadcast farce
The BCB have every right to stick with what they believe the series is worth, though. If Fox low-balled them, they good on them for sticking to their guns.
Fans and Finch fume at cricket broadcast farce
You may well be right, but it’s been on the market since March
UPDATED: Want to watch the World Test Championship final in Australia? You might not be able to
“Ex players need to pull their heads in and focus on the cricket”. So they can’t talk about anything outside of what happens in the middle? Come on now. Nasser is one of the most respected voices in cricket and absolutely entitled to have a view.
The ECB faces tough call on Ollie Robinson
Respectfully disagree. If someone continues to tell us (and he’s done many interviews) that he’s taking accountability for himself and himself only, providing “commentary on the actions of others” is actually contradictory to that. Is it unfair that he’s copped it while others have got away scot free? Yep. But he has to wear it doesn’t he? People can make up their own minds about who knew what. Cameron doesn’t need to delve into it again, and I bet he regrets making these comments.
“Full responsibility”? Bancroft’s unease as the fall guy laid bare
You seem quite upset about this Bernie
Gambles backfire for Blues as Queensland take charge in Shield final
His wife is due I believe
Gambles backfire for Blues as Queensland take charge in Shield final
Credit here: https://twitter.com/sirswampthing/status/1379339166069129221?s=21
Lyon and Swepson the keys in Shield final
Fair, but he did have a big IPL. Selectors would see him as a big part of the upcoming T20 World Cup, so think he might get the nod. Admittedly was one of the last couple I picked, so wouldn’t be overly surprised if he’s squeezed out.
Cricket Australia contract list: Who’s in and who’s out?
Maddinson can be ahead of Handscomb and Renshaw in the pecking order, yet not properly in the frame for selection. They’re not mutually exclusive.
And it’s wrong to say he was in a form slump – he in fact had made 116 in the Shield game prior to selection, and a 86 and 112 in the four one-day games just prior to that. But even with that, it was too soon to pick him in the Test XI, which was the point of the piece.
Nic Maddinson and the curse of premature selection
As referenced in the piece, the entire 2018 Lord’s Test lasted just 171 overs. I’ve had a look back, most of the discourse post-match was about how India need to improve against lateral movement – nothing about the pitch. This is a fairly stark double standards IMO. I agree re: crumbling decks on Day 1, but this pitch isn’t that. And that’s my point
The double standard of subcontinent pitch complaints
Appreciate the comments!
– Interests outside the game, isn’t a cricket nuff, consistently referred to as ‘rare’. I don’t agree with it at all, but I suspect it’s there. Hope I’m wrong
– Bringing wickets in would be a start. It’s ridiculous that if Australia chased last night’s total 9 wickets down, they’d get the same percentage boost
– No one picks five bowlers anymore. It’s a tactic Langer used when he won BBL titles in ’14 and ’15 which, in T20 terms, is light years ago. It’s conservative because it makes the top six be exactly that – more conservative. Finch’s 44 (49), in part, testament to that. You should always be able to eke out four overs from all-rounders, and if used properly on these wickets Maxwell can do the lion’s share
Zampa stunning, Marsh brutal as statement win delivers huge momentum shift for Aussies