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You didn’t mention Mark Wood in your previous post. You stated ”
but for rain would have lost the Ashes”.
Lyon took 8 wickets in the first test, and got injured in the first innings at Lords. Australia lost by three wickets at Headlingley. Murphy took one wicket. At Old Trafford, Australia went with no spinner, and should’ve comfortably lost. And in the final test, Australia lost by 49 runs. Murphy to his credit took 6 wickets.
Australia were close enough in two tests, but weren’t positive in their approach at Old Trafford by not including a spinner. England made 592. Lyon’s absence did change the series, and it allowed England to continue with their Bazball batting.
Granted Wood had an impact, but the two wins that England had, Australia were still a chance at both of them.
Hazlewood's high five skittles Black Caps, but misfiring top order again stops Aussies taking full control
The Lyon injury helped England to come back in that series. As for the misfiring top order, you only have to look at the batsman in the Sheffield Shield. Who is coming through? We don’t have Hayden, Love, Hodge, Lehmann, Elliott etc waiting in the wings to get a call up.
There isn’t a whiz kid coming through. A 30 and a 31 year old are the leading run scorers in the Shield. Not exactly inspiring.
Hazlewood's high five skittles Black Caps, but misfiring top order again stops Aussies taking full control
Possibly. Maybe trying to convert him in a similar opener to Warner, especially in the early years of Warner’s batting.
Pipeline running dry: Aussie selectors struggling to find young batters knocking at the door, let alone bashing it down
Davies has had a good start to his career, but still a long way to go. Clayton from Qld is another to keep an eye on. Averaging mid thirties and he is 25. If he can have a breakout season next summer, then he could be an option.
Goodwin from WA is showing promise. He brought up his maiden first class ton recently, and he looked alright. Although i was watching the highlights. He can bat as an opener, but is currently at number three.
JFM should not be opening for SA. He is not an opener. He looks like a number five or six. With Green at four, imagine JFM causing havoc at six. At this stage, he looks a player more suited to white ball cricket. But I hope he gets an opportunity to bat in the middle order for SA. JFM could be a wild card for tests.
Hardie has decent domestic numbers where he averages over 40 with the bat, and less than 30 with the ball. A good back up option to M.Marsh.
Pipeline running dry: Aussie selectors struggling to find young batters knocking at the door, let alone bashing it down
Yep, the opening partnership of Khawaja and Smith in the first innings was very underrated. They shielded the new ball.
Test Mortem: Aussie aura living rent free in Kiwi minds, Marnus officially in a form slump, DRS needs review
Can the Roar editors put his surname in the headlines at least once in a while. Sure, the surname of Labuschagne is long and tricky to spell. But constantly using his shorter first name of Marnus in headlines is becoming a lazy habit.
If the Roar and author want to be critical of Labuschagne’s form with the bat, the least you can do is put his surname in the headlines at least once in a while.
Test Mortem: Aussie aura living rent free in Kiwi minds, Marnus officially in a form slump, DRS needs review
There are more important things in life than hitting a cricket ball.
Pucovski needs to retire from the game. He may have talent, but he doesn’t know how to deal with the short ball. He is getting hit way too often.
Pucovski retires hurt in distressing scenes after another Sheffield Shield head knock
He is underrated. He now has 527 wickets @ 30, only 36 away to McGrath’s tally.
Joy of six: Lyon dismembers Black Caps as Aussies surge to commanding win, 1-0 series lead
So basically more runs. Pretty insightful analysis.
Aussie batters grow complacent in cocoon of comfort created by gun-shy selectors - but at least Green finally blossoms
Didn’t answer the question. What is so different about Bancroft now?
Aussie batters grow complacent in cocoon of comfort created by gun-shy selectors - but at least Green finally blossoms
The four players that you mentioned all had healthy first class records, well above Bancroft’s.
Sure, statistics don’t mean everything, until you see the person bat. And when he played for Australia, he wasn’t convincing. He looked far from solid.
Now obviously I don’t watch every shield innings from Bancroft, because work and other priorities get in the way.
So what is different with how Bancroft bats this time around to be considered for selection?
Aussie batters grow complacent in cocoon of comfort created by gun-shy selectors - but at least Green finally blossoms
Maybe because there is not many options outside of the test team. Particularly in the batting. The leading run scorer is a 31 year old who has been tried before in the test side. It is not a young 22 or 23 year old, who is setting the shield alight and is closing in on a 1000 runs for the season.
Aussie batters grow complacent in cocoon of comfort created by gun-shy selectors - but at least Green finally blossoms
His second innings at the Gabba laid the foundation for this century. Green was finding his groove until he unluckily got bowled by S. Joseph, where the ball deflected his elbow.
Green stands tall with breakthrough ton while wickets tumble as Aussies crumble against Black Caps pace attack
Maybe the BBL and Super Smash should merge. Both comps are on at the same time. And you would have an international flavour in a T/20 league.
Australia vs New Zealand Test series deserves greater fanfare than a March through autumn clash with footy codes
I am not sure it has been good for the Wallabies playing the All Blacks every year and getting beaten every year.
But RA needs the Bledisloe annually due to financial reasons.
Australia vs New Zealand Test series deserves greater fanfare than a March through autumn clash with footy codes
You can blame the ICC for having the ODI WC final in late November. It pushed back Australia’s home test schedule to commence in mid December. If the WC final was held three or four weeks earlier, than Australia would have a normal test summer. And would probably be available to tour NZ in early February and have South Africa coming afterwards with a full strength squad to play a test series against NZ in March.
Australia vs New Zealand Test series deserves greater fanfare than a March through autumn clash with footy codes
In the last 25 years, the one noted selector from NSW was Mark Waugh from 2014-2018. Current selectors are Bailey, Dodemaide and McDonald- one Tasmanian, two Victorians.
Paris, Hilton deliver dose of reality to Blues as WA make history with third straight one-day crown
Ideally if someone wants to embark on an NFL career, they would begin much earlier than 20 or 21. Walsh and Suaali’i are up against players who have played it all of their lives. But they can make it, just like Mailata. But it is far from a sure thing.
NRL News: 'No doubt' NFL scouts will be sniffing cross code star, Dolphins look beyond Bennett
Hughes made 25 yesterday, so it wasn’t a failure, more like a start. To average close to 60, he would’ve scored against WA at some point.
WA players have been selected in the last decade or so. The Marsh brothers have had opportunities to nail down a spot. Green is currently following a similar path.
Agar had a chance, but he can’t turn the ball. In white ball, Stionis has been questioned about his spot on this site. While Inglis is now a WC winning wicketkeeper. There’s been a couple of other players, but the interesting one is Bancroft.
In 2016/17 season, he only averaged 28. Had a good start to 2017/18, which included a double century. And in late 2017, made his test debut, on the back of a small sample size of good form.
He was probably fortunate to be picked in the first place back in 2017, but now after two consistent seasons in the SS, he is unlucky not to be picked.
Maybe it had something to do with the 2021 interview where he said it was “self explanatory” that the bowlers knew. Obviously the bowlers weren’t too pleased with that interview from Bancroft, and maybe politics is keeping him out.
Bancroft should’ve said nothing.
Paris, Hilton deliver dose of reality to Blues as WA make history with third straight one-day crown
Sure. But Mailata was 21 when he began with Philadelphia. He was younger than Holmes who was approaching his mid twenties and Hayne who was 27 at the time.
NRL News: 'No doubt' NFL scouts will be sniffing cross code star, Dolphins look beyond Bennett
A football career lasts between 10 to 15 years give or take. An athlete doesn’t have enough time to learn about another sport. The best way to learn and develop is from a young age and not in their twenties.
NRL News: 'No doubt' NFL scouts will be sniffing cross code star, Dolphins look beyond Bennett
Congrats to WA. Three in a row is a good effort. Certainly do have experienced domestic cricketers like Philippe, Cartwright, Paris who have done the job before, and know what’s required.
WA getting Hughes out early was the key. Hughes averages close to sixty in the 50 over format. And Hughes hasn’t really been considered for the Australian one day side. Kinda destroys the myth of ” play for NSW it equates to playing for Australia”.
Paris, Hilton deliver dose of reality to Blues as WA make history with third straight one-day crown
A few takes from this round.
Firstly why was JFM opening the batting for SA? He should be down at five or six. McSweeney is another who is batting too high at number three. He was doing well at four.
Secondly, good to see Pucovski get a century. He did it against 500 test wicket plus spinner ( Lyon), leading wicket taker in the SS this season( Tremain) and a former test bowler ( Bird).
Whilst Bancroft and Green also got centuries, they did it against a relatively weak Tasmanian bowling attack. They were missing their best bowler in Gabe Bell.
And thirdly, Webster is such an underrated player. Having a great season, where he now he averages 35 with the bat and has taken over 100 wickets.
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?
Tbf to Jack Edwards, he is still only 23. Made his debut as an 18 year old. I just think he was picked prematurely from the NSW selectors.
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?
Win, lose or draw, Australia has alot to think about before they play against India next summer.
Do the selectors keep the same top six in its current order? Smith opening doesn’t make sense. Is Smith under pressure? Is Travis Head under pressure? Should Bancroft come in? If Bancroft is selected, who gets dropped? Or should Smith and Labuschagne switch places?
Should Australia bring in a couple of bowlers like a Bartlett, Morris or anyone in the squad to rotate during the series, and not allow India to be too familiar with the so called “big 3”? Will a bolter playing County cricket or the early rounds of the SS put their hand up either in batting or bowling?
So much to ponder….
Marnus regains form but Australia's ongoing middle-order woes put heat on Carey as Kiwis claw back into Test