Expert
Joined April 2018
306k
Views
164
Published
161
Comments
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.
Published
Comments
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…
Australia looks set to bat Mitchell Marsh and Glenn Maxwell at number three and four this T20 World Cup. However their presence at the…
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. The…
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. Reports…
Justin Langer has, for now, survived an intense fortnight of speculation about his role as Australian coach. Much as when he opened the batting…
All out 62. It wasn’t quite Trent Bridge 2015, but it wasn’t far off either. Australia’s lowest ever total in limited-overs cricket saw it…
Australian cricket fans were left fuming on Tuesday night, as many struggled to find a way to watch the Bangladesh vs Australia T20 series…
On this day two years ago, Mitchell Starc was on top of the world. Gearing up for a World Cup semi-final against England, Starc…
Aussie captain Aaron Finch says it would be “hard to justify” players returning for phase two of the IPL, but the league could provide…
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…
Almost 150 years since the first ever Test match, cricket is finally attempting a World Cup of sorts for the game’s longest format. The…
Just nine days out from the inaugural World Test Championship final, no Australian broadcaster has secured rights to televise the showpiece event. EDITOR'S NOTE:…
After racist and sexist tweets from fast bowler Ollie Robinson were discovered during his Test debut against New Zealand, the England and Wales Cricket…
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…
Cameron Bancroft has always said he takes “full responsibility” for the sandpapergate mess, but things have never been that clear. In an interview with…
After each lost their national contract in the last 12 months, an Aussie batting trio must take advantage of their current stint in the…
Should the IPL push hard for a resumption of the 2021 season later this year, international cricket will inevitably suffer. Executives have already confirmed…
There are many reasons to argue the IPL should not cancel its 2021 season despite an unfolding COVID-19 tragedy in India. The tournament is…
The shift from using ‘batsman’ to ‘batter’ in cricket is not a move for political correctness, but a positive step for the game. Last…
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…
Understand your argument Paul but my point is this: both you and I are rusted on cricket fans. We (or at least I will) watch dead rubbers in the wee hours of the morning because, you know, cricket. But we’re a smaller percentage of the market for this WC. I wanted this WC to generate genuine global excitement, but because of the schedule we’re going to stumble, slowly, into the finals. It shouldn’t be this way, and the ICC have stuffed up. I thought it before the tournament and very much think it now.
As for the ‘meaningless’ comment, I meant that purely in the context of what the results mean. Of course there’s no meaningless games when a country plays at a WC, which I made clear. I and many other will be watching every game. But pretty much the last 10 games (barring an upset tonight) will only be played to determine places in the top four, and then fifth to tenth. And that is a huge shame.
Meaningless fortnight looms at World Cup
Solid arguments against Ronan! In no other sport can you spend hour upon hour discussing selection, and I’m all the more for it.
P.s. If NCN bats 11 for England, can the Aussies have Jofra?
Five reasons Australia shouldn't play five bowlers
I think if we’ve learnt anything from the past few years in ODI cricket, it’s that a wrist spinner is a must in any successful side. Wickets in the middle overs are exceedingly difficult if you’ve just got pacemen and a finger spinner at your disposal. Zampa bowled really well prior to the WC and I believe they should back him in.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Or were you inferring Maxwell as the all-rounder, and playing Finch, Warner, Khawaja, Smith, SMarsh as the batsmen?
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Fair comments. But what all-rounder? Stoinis very much out of touch, and I don’t think you can plonk Mitch Marsh (who hasn’t played ODI cricket for 18 months) into the XI in the middle of a World Cup and expect him to perform. I’m certainly not a Marsh-hater like others (in fact, rate him in one-dayers) but I think it might be too little too late. Would love to be proven wrong should he be drafted in
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
You are indeed correct. I blame filing at 3am. Has been fixed – cheers
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
I agree that they picked the wrong personnel, and with a better 15-man squad mightn’t have to go the five-bowler route. But last night Australia were so exposed with the lack of a fifth bowler that it almost lost the unlosable. In no way am I suggesting a fifth bowler would improve the batting, that would be silly. Rather I’m saying Australia could shift more responsibility onto the top order, and reinforce Finch’s bowling options, which are hugely lacking with just four plus Maxwell/himself. It’s a risk, a big risk, but if they just plod on and play that same side against India and England, they will be monstered.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
Did you watch the Pakistan innings last night/this morning? I did, and if not for a Hail Mary DRS late, Australia would have lost due to a lack of bowling options. Finch gambled by not getting a tenth over from Maxwell or himself, and it luckily paid off (i.e. They didn’t have to bowl it).
The batting wasn’t the issue last night, they scored 300+ and should’ve scored 350. I never suggested that bringing in a bowler would strengthen the batting – obviously – rather, it would increase Australia’s chance of winning the WC. Khawaja batting at six for the first time ever in any form of FC cricket last night, which is ludicrous, and he or Marsh ought to be replaced.
Lacklustre Aussies need to start taking risks and so do the selectors
The latest rights deal includes some T20 back on the BBC, which is a step in the right direction.
Heat on England to win more than just games this summer
Well obviously the investment in grassroots would be greater with the Sky deal (as is the case here with the Foxtel deal) but the question is whether the best investment in the game’s longterm future is exposure on FTA tv. Which I think it is
Heat on England to win more than just games this summer
It’s a good discussion point, Ronan. I can see sides playing cautiously against him, much like they do with Bumrah.
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
I actually haven’t overlooked anything. This piece is about Jofra Archer’s worth on the cricket field, not a discussion on the validity of England’s eligibility criteria.
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
Points taken Paul, but I think the fact that four players went past 50 and none really accelerated meant on another day they could have made 350 despite the (slightly) tricky pitch. They bowled superbly though. I’ll settle for third gear ha
Archer tops up England’s surplus X-factor
Agreed Paul, you have to play them together. He’s just a smart bowler that just doesn’t go for 75+, which I can’t say won’t happen with the other three seamers
Dual spinners Australia’s best World Cup chance
Genuinely believe Khawaja can score 450+ runs at the top of the order
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
Ha yeah it became difficult to squeeze everyone in Paul. I’m excited about Zampa this WC though, think he’ll do well. Agree with your sentiment on bowlers, definitely a golden age of dominant young bowlers when you look both on the list and the honourable mentions
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
I’m with you! Big fan. He bowled a near perfect penultimate over in the IPL final but on the last ball de Kock let through four byes. Half the Mumbai Indians team looked gutted, but he just smiled and gave de Kock a hug. He’s all class
World Cup 2019: The top ten debutants
Good points, Paul. And yep, pressure buildup from dot balls is also a big weapon in those middle overs
Spin to win at the World Cup
It’s not ‘pinning’ it on anyone, rather just commenting on the state of play. And no, the original series in India was planned for late January, when Australia had a small gap in the international schedule (thus could go to India) and New Zealand was already gone. The BCCI, as has been reported, moved the series forward to early/mid January, which has led to the current predicament.
Board stoush shows, yet again, who rules world cricket
Yeah agreed Paul.
I also think that if they’re playing on roads (especially in the early stages) they’ll breeze through. But when the wickets wear a bit later in the tournament (like in the Champions Trophy), that will be a leveller.
Hosts under pressure to deliver in window of dominance
Respectfully disagree. For me it embodied the arrogant, win-at-all-costs culture perpetuated by CA (that all came out in the culture review). Was quite apt in a way. And there’s no way the hands were there if England had won the series.
Anyway, hopefully that sort of behaviour is behind them.
The worry for Smith on his international return
He’s re-signed with Notts https://www.bbc.com/sport/cricket/47643310
Fit again Pattinson an Ashes must
‘Precious little administrators could do’? Please. How about use the same format from the last WC? The issue of junk time games was forecast by several before the WC, and it’s played out.
Also, South Africa didn’t have an ‘early stumble’. They lost their opening three games, which in any other international tournament would send you packing.
Meaningless fortnight looms at World Cup