Roar Guru
Joined February 2016
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Essendon fan, cricket fan. Not necessarily in that order.
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Every year, at the end of the home-and-away season, the AFL’s All-Australian squad of 40 is announced. And every year, fans and media pundits…
This was just meant to be a two-week gig, but AD only got home late yesterday and I've managed to wrangle a third round…
For the most part, the footy was highly entertaining this week, with several tight, frenetic encounters. The logjam of teams competing for spots in…
AdelaideDocker is away for a couple of weeks so I’ve been asked to fill in. It’s a brave call, handing this responsibility to a…
England's World Cup campaign is wobbling, with the No.1 ranked ODI side a chance to miss the semi-finals following their heavy loss to arch-rivals…
Just over four months remain before the first ball of the 2019 World Cup and it is difficult to recall the Australian One Day…
Warmup matches for touring Test sides in Australia have become nothing more than glorified centre-wicket practice. If that somehow wasn't apparent before this cricket…
Widely tipped to be cellar-dwellers in season 2017-18, the Bulls and the Tigers flipped the domestic cricket pecking order on its head to book…
BBL07 has come to a close, with the Adelaide Strikers defeating the Hobart Hurricanes in the final. That must mean it's time for someone…
After a disappointing 12 months of One Day cricket, culminating in an awful home series loss to England, Australia is in need of a…
I agree that Sicily should have been fined for the kick, not suspended (medium impact, lol), and I agree that players need to be able to stand up for themselves when being targetted. But how they do it still matters. As dumb as the kick was, I was more concerned that when McGrath came in to bump him – an act that occurs dozens of times every weekend between players – Sicily dropped low and lifted him, dumping him into the turf. Setting aside whether or not McGrath deserved it (he probably did), between the dump and the kick his response was pretty braindead.
Six Points: Meet the AFL's dumbest team, and the most ridiculous ban in MRO history
I mostly agree, but I’d also add that the first session partnership of 61 between Smith and Khawaja was much more important than it initially looked. When the team totals in each of the other 3 innings were sub-200, getting through the new ball like that was a big boost. The next highest opening stand in the game was 15. I imagine Green was much happier going in after lunch, rather than 20 minutes into the match.
Test Mortem: Aussie aura living rent free in Kiwi minds, Marnus officially in a form slump, DRS needs review
I don’t necessarily disagree with all of your points, but I think you’re underplaying his efforts in India. The first 3 pitches they served up there were exceptionally difficult for batting – only once did a team score more than 270 – and he managed to scratch out at least one meaningful contribution in each game, to be our second leading runscorer behind Khawaja. I suspect if we’d been served up better decks, he would have got more value for his grind.
COMMENT: Horrendously out of form or not, Australia would be mad to ditch Marnus now
The problem with the ‘if you take out’ argument is that you need to apply it to any other batter you’re comparing him to. The reality is that almost all batters score more runs against weaker teams and at home. If you pick apart Kane Williamson’s record you’ll probably see something along those lines, yet he’s acknowledged as elite. The ones who consistently perform strongly against the best opponents in the toughest conditions are as rare as hens’ teeth.
Marnus averages 40 in India, 39 in England and 50 in Sri Lanka (albeit the latter is from only 3 innings). Since Clarke’s retirement, is there an Auatralian whose name isn’t Steve Smith who has comparable numbers? In fact, ignoring his single innings so far in NZ, he really only has underwhelming away averages in Pakistan (34) and the UAE, and that UAE series was in 2018 before he had really got his career underway. He’s yet to tour RSA, WI or Bangladesh, due mainly to COVID and selective scheduling.
Also, while I’m not a big fan of the ‘eye test’ when it comes to cricketers, from what I’ve seen of his dismissals he’s getting himself out a lot, rather than routinely being found out technically by good deliveries. That suggests his issue is one of confidence and a scrambled mindset, rather than his actual ability being significantly lower than initially thought.
I agree that there has to be a limit to the faith the selectors show in him, but gee, any replacement would want to grab the opportunity quickly.
COMMENT: Horrendously out of form or not, Australia would be mad to ditch Marnus now
You could say that, but you’d be wrong.
COMMENT: Horrendously out of form or not, Australia would be mad to ditch Marnus now
Starc, Hazlewood, Smith and Cummins didn’t play for NSW because they are in NZ, initally playing T20s and now preparing for the first test on Thursday.
Round 8 Sheffield Shield wrap – Who's putting their hand up for an Aussie Test spot?
Warne had 13 Shield wickets to his name on his test debut. McGrath around 30. No hard and fast rule should ever prevent obvious talent from being selected, especially if there isn’t another dominant candidate at the time. (And for the sake of accuracy it was 22 wickets, since he debuted the previous season.)
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
Now you’re just making things up. He has at least one 4-for in each of his previous two Shield seasons. Across those two seasons (having missed some games due to test and A game selection) he’s taken 21 Wickets at 21, at an economy under 3rpo and a strike rate around 45.
And he wasn’t expensive in Nagpur. He took 7/124 off a mammoth 47 overs, with an economy rate of just 2.6. He bowled almost as many overs as Lyon, who only took 1 wicket. So clearly not anyone would have had the same result.
I’m going to assume you’re just making this argument because you think Rocchiccioli (who I also rate highly) should be ahead of him, despite having fewer FC wickets at a significantly worse average and strike rate, and also never having taken a 5-for in the Shield.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
Okay, I hadn’t heard that comment from him. I’m a bit doubtful he has it in him to go for 2 more years in tests. We’ve already seen his speeds start to drop a little. Hope I’m wrong though.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
#couplegoals
Heartbreak for Healy as she matches Mitch's 99 in Australia's day of dominance over Proteas
They certainly shouldn’t be. Fitness-permitting, all 3 quicks should be lining up next summer.
I’m not sure a 2-test tour of SL will look incredibly tempting to Starc if he’s contemplating retirement at that point, though. And given the low-key nature of the matches, the selectors might see it as a good opportunity to blood someone like Morris.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
How did the 23yo who played 6 tests last year for 21 wickets at an average of 25 get into a conversation about who is ahead of Tanveer Sangha in the test selection pecking order? I hope that’s not a serious question…
He had a slow start to the Shield coming back from injury but he just took 3/54 in the second dig in Victoria’s last Shield game. I don’t think they’ll jump off him just yet!
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
There’s always another series, Tempo! By the end of that Ashes they’ll be looking at the upcoming tour to SA, and then a tour to India… Besides, it’s not as if winning a home Ashes series would be a new thing for Starc.
And if they win/draw with NZ then beat India, they’ll hold every bilateral trophy at that point. It would be a nice note to end on.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
I agree with the sentiment but we don’t have any more overseas tests this year, after the NZ tour.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
He’s well behind Murphy and Rocchiccioli in the test match pecking order.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
I honestly think this will take care of itself. The fact that Starc put his hand up for this IPL (and got paid a ludicrous amount for it) says to me he thinks he’s coming to the end of his test career. I’d be surprised if he didn’t call it quits at the end of next summer vs India. Smith might well go then, too. Getting back the BG trophy would be a helluva way to go out.
If that happens, the rest pretty much flows from there, fitness-permitting. Hazlewood goes on another year and Cummins a year or so beyond that. I’m less worried about Lyon because a quality spinner can easily go to 38+ if their body holds up. Murali went till 38, Herath 40, and Ashwin is still going strong at 37.
The issue is more with the white ball sides because I think all three quicks are eying the T20 WC as their finale, leaving a brand new attack for ODIs and T20Is.
Why Starc should be first to make way if selectors opt to regenerate ageing Test team’s legendary bowling attack
Just that his stock ball is quicker and flatter, and doesn’t turn much, with his wrong-un being his big wicket-taking delivery. He relies a lot on batters trying to force the pace off good length bowling, and historically that sort of spin bowling hasn’t succeeded in tests in Australia. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s been modelling his game on Zampa, or even Rashid Khan.
Who knows though, he might be skilled enough and determined enough to adapt his style to red ball cricket.
Champions! Australia U19s break 14-year drought with dominant World Cup final win, India bridesmaids again
He was clutch in multiple games, playing one of the most difficult positions. Got robbed of a 50 in that semi against Pakistan by a questionable umpiring call.
Champions! Australia U19s break 14-year drought with dominant World Cup final win, India bridesmaids again
Thankfully they’ve left Hardie out of the NZ T20 squad so he can play some Shield cricket.
Champions! Australia U19s break 14-year drought with dominant World Cup final win, India bridesmaids again
Right? Considering his age he’s actually shown a fair bit so far in domestic white ball cricket. He just took 13 wickets in 6 BBL games and was a big reason why the Strikers came back well from a poor start.
I don’t think his style of bowling will suit the longer format but who knows. He’s got time on his side and we all know spinners generally take a while to mature.
Champions! Australia U19s break 14-year drought with dominant World Cup final win, India bridesmaids again
Yep, always looks dangerous when he bowls. With his injury history though, I’m thinking of him more as a bonus if he ever comes good.
Windies' dynasty decline a cautionary tale for Australian selectors with major transition period looming
At this point I’m happy to chalk it up to a bit of a lull after such a big year of cricket. It’s so easy to unintentionally lose a bit of intensity when playing lower ranked opposition. They would want to lift for the NZ tour though
Test Mortem: Green’s golden status fading as batting unit becomes fragile, Windies need help to kick on from Gabba glory
I disagree. Cam Green got noticed through strong Shield performances. His FC average is better than Bancroft’s is, and I’m told he averages north of 60 batting at 4 in the Shield. That’s a major factor in why they want to keep developing him as a test cricketer.
I think the selectors just recognise that the Shield is no longer as strong or deep as it once was. They seem to balance Shield performances against how someone performs at Aus A level and in the County competition, which I think is why Renshaw was preferred over Bancroft as the next in line. Bancroft played a few County games during the Ashes and averaged 20. I suspect they also have concerns about Bancroft’s technique, which got exposed against the moving ball in his previous test stints.
Windies' dynasty decline a cautionary tale for Australian selectors with major transition period looming
Absolutely, I was just going off the top of my head!
Inglis is almost a given as next in line for the gloves right now, although if Carey holds onto the spot for a few more years the selectors might be looking at younger options to succeed him.
Windies' dynasty decline a cautionary tale for Australian selectors with major transition period looming
Not at all Macca. If you freeze frame the front on shot when he’s pushing off to jump, his eyes are on the ball and his hands in front as if he’s preparing to take a chest mark (which is why they weren’t raised). It’s only after he’s started his jump that he ended up bracing for contact, in the split second before impact.
You’ll also notice that he turns his chest *towards* Cunningham, rather than turning away and offering his leading shoulder. He could have made that much nastier. It was clumsy and he’ll get a holiday because of the current climate around concussions, but there was no malice in this.
Wright learns fate as massive hit on Swan sent directly to Tribunal