Roar Guru
Joined May 2013
95
Views
1
Published
802
Comments
Published
Comments
With few rounds left in the Super Rugby Season we are beginning to see the real Super Rugby Standings, with all teams having taken…
I’m merely saying wait until the 2nd half of the Shield is finished before you put a line through Faulkner, Don. That, and your Paine our scores him every time is mere hyperbole. From what I’ve seen so far this Summer, Faulkner’s back baby.
Australia don't need an Ashes all-rounder
Paine didn’t outscore Faulkner when he batted the entire day to save a FC match. Paine hasn’t batted an entire day in his life. That aside; Faulkner hasn’t played a Red ball game since 2017 due to injury. He’s looking in good nick now though, fingers crossed Tasmania get their head out of their bell end and play him in the 2nd half of the Shield season. They’re 2nd last with the most losses in the competition to date, despite Wade’s efforts
Australia don't need an Ashes all-rounder
You’re getting sloppy David. Stoinis and Maxwell are both going to be playing a t20 against India, in India on the 26th of Feb, the same day the first shield game finishes. Then they play ODI’s until mid March, and straight after that, they play Pakistan as a warm up for the World Cup. They won’t play a single Shield game
How Maxwell and Stoinis can do Australian cricket - and themselves - a big favour
Regarding the Headline: neither did Harris, Loosebuschange, Head or Finch at the time so I’m going to expect the expected
Stoinis does not deserve a Test debut
Considering that First Class Hundreds weren’t an issue for the selection of Pucovski, Patterson, Lasagne, Head, it’s a little irrelevant. Besides, 30’s are the new metric, not hundreds 🙁
Jokes aside (not really, considering who I’m about to mention…)
Mitchell Marsh is the worst number 6 in the history of test cricket, I very much doubt Faulkner could do much worse.
For what First class records are worth: Bat & Ball averages
Faulkner: 30.91 / 24.78
Marsh: 31.63 / 32.29
Stoinis: 33.6 / 42.36
There’s a pretty clear standout. Faulkner also adds balance the side full of Right arm quicks.
Richardson stars on Test debut
I don’t see it as a slap in the face to Clarke, Watto was upfront that he wanted to have a meeting with the coach (as VC and part of the leadership group) rather than slide a note under the coaches door. Do the crime – serve the time.
That said, It sure was peculiar as the proverbial
Trevor Hohns doubles down on two VC folly
No worries Brett; I’ve played with and against him when I was 7 and had a quick moment of panic – wait, am I really that old!?
Preseason be damned: Matt Lucas on his back-to-back-to-back seasons
His bowling was sheer beauty wasn’t it. Food for thought on that topic and the upcoming ashes; If we’re talking upright Seam and swing bowling and Starc continues his erratic form, Faulkner has to be our All rounder for the first test in England. His inclusion would solve the “we need a left arm quick” conundrum and allows us to continue to play Richardson. He’s been getting the most swing out of any bowler in the Big Bash, and has an outstanding First Class record averaging 24 with the ball. It’s coming out of his hand beautifully at the moment and – up until yesterday – had the best seam positioning and extracted the most swing of any bowler I’ve seen all summer, all with a white ball known for its lack of movement.
Richardson stars on Test debut
We’ve picked two guys – one that isn’t interested in the gig, and another who’s on mediocre, on thin ice and thus won’t ever publicly call the Selectos BS for what it is
Trevor Hohns doubles down on two VC folly
Watson went home as his partner was 9 months pregnant and having complications. That aside, the fact that Watson was initially putting the Baggygreen over childbirth before homeworkgate – where he was seeking a more fruitful face to face meeting with Arthur, rather than a “drop and run, jobs done” slide a piece of paper under the door – is a testament to his character.
Oh to have a Watson instead of a Marsh these days
Trevor Hohns doubles down on two VC folly
Loved the article Brett, the more human side we see, the better. He’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen on a rugby field. Small correction though – he’ll turn 27, not 29 this year
Preseason be damned: Matt Lucas on his back-to-back-to-back seasons
At least the Selectors are consistent. Consistenly horrible.
Burns & Renshaw got dropped after 1 test in South Africa for a sloppy Lasagne
Aaron Finch is Australia's biggest World Cup worry
Oh I know and completely agree Roman, it’s a disgraceful farce. I should have been clearer when I said I’d have him at 4 and Maxwell at 6 – I’d have them both over the Marshes, Lasagne and Head. I’m as perplexed as the next guy about Patterson’s omission, and don’t get me started about Mr you-failed-in-Asia Maxwell
Patterson ton versus Sri Lanka upstages Test rivals
Morning Ronan, I understand selectors reasoning for Patterson being left out. He’s an expert at making a Joe Root Hundred, but rarely reaches triple figures. The mental block was there for all to see yesterday as he tried his hardest to emulate Harris-Head with flashes outside, and no footwork after he reached 50. It was like groundhog day watching the ball sail through the air through point just wide of the fielder. Dinner couldn’t have come at a better time for him.
This mental block at Shield level doesn’t exude confidence for Test level. I get the hesitation.
What’s perplexing is that this is held against him, but not for players Head & Lasagne.
As an aside, no one can barrack for Patterson’s inclusion without muttering the name Maxwell in the same breath. Their FC records are so ridiculously similar they could be twins. Patterson’s DeVito, Maxwell is Arnie.
Patterson: 3813 runs at 41 (103inn) 6×100/26×50 (SR 46)
Maxwell: 3864 runs at 41.1 (104inn) 7/21 (SR 73)
Both have 10 not outs.
Maxwell’s hundreds at Shield Level more often than not been in team scores of under 200. He too has the propensity for Tough runs. He’s our Gilchrist, but never given a fair go. I’d have them both in the Test team in a heartbeat. Patterson at 4, Maxy at 6.
Patterson ton versus Sri Lanka upstages Test rivals
Your Wade -Carey comment couldn’t be further from the mark. Wade just turned 31; so has at least 3 years of prime cricket left in him. He’s the best bat in the country at the moment by a country mile. There’s no way on earth Carey should be playing 4 or 5 day cricket unless it’s futures league or county. Harry Nielsen is a better FC keeper and bat than him – I can’t understand why he was dropped. Probably because SA know they’re in dire straights and kowtow the CA line due to the fact that they haven’t produced a batter that’s scored a Test centuries since coach Lehmann and no sign of this changing soon.
Marnus is a lock for the tour, Trevor Hohns will see to that. He plucked Marnus out of Grade Cricket obscurity as a QLD selector without playing a Futures League game in 2015 when we were desperate for an opener to accompany Burns. He’s an ego pick.
Guaranteeing Hazlewood and Starc a game with 2 tests, 7 months and a metric tonne of cricket to be played between then is rewarding mediocrity; and exactly why we’re in this mess (see exhibits Marsh)
Starc should be dropped from the test team to focus on the Big Bash and white ball cricket in prep for the World Cup. Hazlewood needs to be dropped until he can actually display an upright seam out of the hand.
Burns, Maxwell and Renshaw need to be reinstated ASAP. I’ve seen more true grit from each of them in their short test career than the entire Aus top order combined this series.
Ashes questions have to dictate Brisbane and Canberra selections
Just like it is with Sachin Tendulkar, Afridi & Du Plessis. If that’s all you choose to remember you’re a miscreant and that’s entirely your prerogative
Bancroft’s BBL return must force CA clarification on Warner
I don’t see anyone having a go at Waugh’s win-at-all-costs mentality, nor Punters, nor Taylor’s. But it’s okay to single out Clarke on this one innit? Oh serenity now.
You can apportion blame all you want; but Wheatley and this very author should at least aim for consistency. If you blame Clarke, then you’re actually laying it at the feet of AB, Chapelle, Taylor, Waugh & Ponting. Clarke maintained the status quo: ‘hard’ cricket; but fair cricket.
Here’s an original idea – you know, one different to our favourite pastime of Clarke bashing – get on your bike and start jumping down Chappellis throat. He is the only person to blame if you’re using the (lack of) logic by Wheatley and this author. He started the win at all costs mentality with his approval of the underarm incident.
Oh wait that doesn’t suit the narrative
Clarke didn’t rub the ball with sandpaper. But he’s played his part in a win-at-all-costs culture
You ask a rhetorical question but fail to see the irony when asking it in defense of Cheika.
You don’t solve a problem by keeping the man without a solution in the job.
Bring Jake White in.
How do you solve a problem without a solution?
Ponting’s anger was justified considering the racist attacks by an Indian cricketer and the following dummy split by the BCCI & their cricket team after being charged for such. Using this instance is very much a fallacy of false equivalence.
It was a disgraceful episode for cricket; and the primary reason why Sachin (who changed his story on subsequent appeals) isn’t held in high regard in this corner of the world.
Kohli has never endured such turmoil.
Kohli will bring controversy to Australia this summer
You haven’t been watching the same IPL as I have then.
Smithy has regularly lost the Royals games due to him striking at >100.
What’s made him a great batsman in the Test arena has never helped him in the shorter formats
Steven Smith won't be the same after his suspension
Whenever Smith has played t20’s he’s looked a shadow of himself, it’s a pretty long bow to draw.
Alternatively; the mental exhaustion he’s suffering should put him in good stead to continue his reign as the best since Bradman
Steven Smith won't be the same after his suspension
I think this is more a fault of the coaching staff Geoff.
If I were a coach I’d make it clear in no uncertain terms that any head knock received is going for a HIA – and the more the better!
It’s a free double interchange and a 10 minute rest. Fresh legs for a quick 10 min burst followed by a player coming back on with fresh legs after a 10 minute breather, as a former front rower what’s not to love?!
The Wrap: ‘Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch you know that I love you’
I think your last paragraph is pretty well off the mark. Wildermuth is an all rounder. Little doubt for me that he’d be an improvement on Short. Carey to open and wildermuth to bat at 7
Pakistan give Australia wake-up call
Great article per usual mate. In all honesty, the turning point yesterday for me was when’s Dickwella sledged and compared Khawaja to brothers Marsh. He looked uncomfortable and scratchy before than, and showed steely resolve, taking his anger out by absolutely murdering the cover boundary thereafter. There’s clearly no greater insult and motivator than copping Marshism for a test batsman.
I think his century was easily the most impressive this test, weathering a storm at 3/30 again. Unlike his tripe digit counterparts, his affair didnt rely on the help of BBL level fielding to get there.
The gutteral CSI-theme-song-sequel cry as he called that run truly eye watering, shivers down my spine stuff.
Khawaja ton an Ashes boost for Australia