Depth issues mean few changes for South Africa tour
A lack of alternative options mean Australia will employ few changes to its best XI for the upcoming Test tour of South Africa. After…
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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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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.
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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.
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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