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Joined April 2021
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Last week, you read about the Matt XI, a compilation of the best cricketers ever to represent the name Matt. And to be fair,…
There has never been an Australian Prime Minister, King of England or US President with the first name of Matt, but there have been some great cricketers.
The conclusion of the Sheffield Shield season, here's the announcement of the players and teams who have succeeded - and failed - this year.
The last round of the Sheffield Shield, and finally, we have our two finalists! Keep reading to find out who made it to the…
The second last round of the Sheffield Shield, and competition for the first two spots is heating up! Keep reading to find out who…
The last round of the Sheffield Shield before the Test squad flies to New Zealand, and considering that 19 days had elapsed since the…
The Sheffield Shield returns and with it all the drama and intrigue around who is voted off Test selection island next. Stay tuned for…
If I were picking an Australian Test side today, I would not have Cameron Green in my side. The reason is quite simple; Cam…
Junior sports across Australia, from rugby league to cricket suffer from a dearth of umpires. Umpires, referees, whatever they are called, exist to adjudicate…
Sometimes, selections for the Australian cricket team leave me wondering why the Sheffield Shield competition exists. Any one of the 66 players in the…
The final round before the Big Bash League gets underway and the Test summer... let's see who impressed in an intriguing Round 6 of…
Round 5 had two tricky wickets, a few epic collapses and provided further proof that modern batters struggle to grind out long innings. Here’s…
Round 4 separated the likely from the aspirational. It produced a huge upset and exposed some frailties in other sides. Victoria vs Tasmania CitiPower…
Round 3 was full of excitement and included two comprehensive wins and one victory that went down to the final over of the final…
Week two of the Sheffield Shield is in the books and as we look to make sense of the first six rounds of the…
This is an attempt to make sense of the first six rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition and, with the Test team about to…
How many people watched the Australia A versus New Zealand A series? There did not seem to be very many spectators at the ground…
Major in history in any one of the fine Australian universities and one of the first things the professors will tell you is that…
Eight seconds. That’s the attention span of an average human adult in 2023. That’s the same amount of time it takes to tie a…
The North Queensland Cowboys have proved an enigma in the 2023 NRL season. Discovering the root cause of their issues would take a detective…
He’s really only come into his own this season, and I’d say that Beau Webster and Will Sutherland would be in front of him. But yes, an interesting one to watch that’s for sure.
His brother, Mickey, is now playing in England under an English passport. Two bros facing each other in Ashes cricket?
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?
He had an abject failure this round when the nos. 1,3 and 4 all make tons, he probably should’ve cashed in as well.
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?
Fair enough! Well, I’m not a fan of measuring up people too early for higher honours. Let’s see how Davies, Morris, JFM and Edwards are going in a couple of seasons from now, and then we can chat.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
Love me some Joel Paris!
Bailey defends decision to recall veteran ahead of young guns as Aussies reveal Test squad for New Zealand tour
Suppose you’d also support the also-ran NSW Blues in the Origin as well? Maybe this year they’ll pick some decent players.
But yes, Davies and Edwards are having good seasons, but let’s not get carried away. Davies was a BBL basher just 12 months ago.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
Hmm…great question! With how the selectors have treated Shield performances, I’d say not.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
Geez! At least we could keep it somewhat civil if not urbane?! Perhaps more along the lines of, “I would that my horse had the speed of your tongue” or something like that.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
The young bowler thing is a great call, but whom do they send? Bartlett who’s played 0 games of Shield cricket this season? Spencer Johnson who’s played the same number as Bartlett? Fergus O’Neill? Mitch Perry? Mark Steketee?
Bailey defends decision to recall veteran ahead of young guns as Aussies reveal Test squad for New Zealand tour
Bringing along a second seamer like Neser indicates that there must be some level of doubt around Boland’s ability to fill in. Plus, he’s been solid if unspectacular in the Shield this season after a lean Ashes tour, so he’s probably a little down on where he’d want to be as well.
Bailey defends decision to recall veteran ahead of young guns as Aussies reveal Test squad for New Zealand tour
I love Neser. Like, seriously, he’s my favourite player atm in all Aussie sides. He should’ve played in England. He deserved to play, especially over Mitch Marsh who’d done nothing at all prior to that in red ball cricket.
But this does seem like a rather unusual selection. He’s had a poor 3 or 4 rounds of the Shield so far and an average Big Bash. He was good at the top of the order, swung it and seamed it as he always does in the BBL, but he didn’t dominate. His run-scoring has been down in the Shield this season (until the last round); he hasn’t taken a swag of wickets yet. This is yet ANOTHER example of the selectors picking a bloke who’s out of form.
What does it benefit Neser if he goes and runs drinks for 2 games? Nothing. What does it benefit Australia if he goes and runs drinks for 2 games? Nothing. He already knows how to make Gatorade really well. What does it benefit QLD if he goes and runs drinks for 2 games? Nothing. You see, everybody’s on a hiding to nothing.
Bailey defends decision to recall veteran ahead of young guns as Aussies reveal Test squad for New Zealand tour
Also, as someone who’s a medium pacer who plays club cricket on the weekend who’s 177 cm tall, I totally agree with the need for more shorter bowlers. Hahaha.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
Well said! I mostly meant he’s not quite ready yet because of his relative inexperience. He only started playing Shield cricket last year. I’d like to see him get at least another half a season of really good returns under his belt first and to see how his body holds up. The last thing you want is to select a young quick and have them break down in their first game.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
O’Neill is one for the future, that’s for sure. He’s not ready now, though, I’m a huge advocate of picking guys in form. If he continues his stellar form through the first half of next summer, India had better watch out…that is if they pick anyone outside the Cummins-sanctioned XIII (probably not).
Maddinson is coming from a long way back, but he mostly gets a mention here because it’s nice to see him back and in the runs again. Ready for Test selection? No, but neither was he when he was picked initially for two Tests, so who knows.
Round 7 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's keeping their spot at the head of the Test queue?
Agreed. This year’s Gabba pitch had enough in it for disciplined bowlers but also enough if people were willing to knuckle down and graft.
Australian cricket’s pitch power rankings: From the best to the SCG - how each surface stacks up in national turf war
“And Foran with one of everything.” 😂 😂 😂 Sounds like a burger!
Why 'if' is the most dangerous word in the NRL: Latrell, Ryan, Tom and the hope that kills you
GREAT article, and I’ve always maintained that Ponting continuing for as long as he did tarnished some of his “all-time great” legacy. The Steve Waugh comparison is apt because, being the champion battler that he was, he always could sniff when the end was nigh and pull out a massive score when it counted. Smith, on the other hand, well, there’s evidence as many pundits have said for a long time that his eye is starting to go (see his dismissal when trapped in front against the Windies), and once his eye goes, that’ll be the end of him as a true great. I’d rather Smith retire in the next couple of years and protect his legacy than see him continue on for too long and have us all remember the lows.
Steve Smith v Kane Williamson - is the Test series across the ditch to be their last battle?
4-270 I think is a fairer reflection of his skillset. I’d love to see him get more Shield matches for QLD, and I think QLD’s lineup is better balanced with both the spinners in the squad.
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
Well written, Paul. I’d disagree about last year’s Gabba wicket. I LOVE seeing a good game where bowlers dominate and batsmen fight for every run. That made Head’s 90 such a good score on that wicket and is a testament to how to play on those wickets. I thought last year’s Gabba strip was a great cricket surface and this year’s was slightly better because most batsmen could score runs. I’d have had Manuka down nearer the SCG somewhere because whilst you can score runs, there’s often not much in it for the bowlers. The PM’s XI game was a great example of how bad it can be at times. That said, I don’t differ all that much from your rankings, especially re: the SCG wicket.
Australian cricket’s pitch power rankings: From the best to the SCG - how each surface stacks up in national turf war
Ricky Ponting had a rock solid technique and an excellent temperament. He, too, got dropped for a period of time to Shield cricket. It did him a world of good!
There's no rush - Australia don't need to put pressure on Green's shoulders
You can’t escape the fact, though, that he bowled really well in general in India. Considering the fact that he doesn’t even play Shield cricket for QLD, then yeah, we have run that risk a little.
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
Love the description that Bailey “wallowed in dishonesty”!
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
Makes it even more egregious! Can’t believe he wasn’t even in the original squad.
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
You’re right in that Renshaw has had a better Aus A series (two tons including one in NZ), and he has had a couple of ok Shield seasons. Bancroft’s record in the Shield, though, cannot be denied. Renshaw’s versatility seems to have gotten him the position, which I can accept.
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
What’s Harris’s average in comparison, then, cause he did well in 2x County Championship series, well in last year’s Shield comp, and made a ton for the PM’s XI against Pakistan? I’m no fan of him opening, but it seems that he was bit stiffed in all of this too.
Picking apart the selectors’ choices in the Bailey era: Masterstrokes tarnished by blunders as Australia face future upheaval
Like most people from NSW are. Picked way too early or way too late and then never get to show what they could do. The third option? They’re picked when they’re out of form, because they’re from NSW and hold someone else more deserving out of the side.
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?