Roar Rookie
Joined June 2017
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Journalism / Communication and Media Student. Huge AFL and Cricket fan.
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There’s no doubt that the Big Bash League has seen a number of star recruits over the years. The likes of Chris Gayle, Shahid…
There’s less than a month until the first test match of the summer kicks off, with Australia set to face off against India at…
On Monday morning, the AFL announced the 40-man All-Australian squad for 2018. The squad included at least one player from 16 of the league's…
With the summer of cricket finally upon us and no all-rounders in the initial Ashes side, Here is a team made up entirely of…
In the lead-up to the summer of cricket, everyone is mulling over who will bat No.6 and who will keep wicket for Australia at…
The 2001 AFL draft boasts many of the game's big-name stars, whether recently retired or still soldiering on. Luke Hodge, Luke Ball and Chris…
While all of the big gun international teams are battling it out for another piece of silverware, the West Indies are playing a 3-match…
Wouldn’t be surprised to see England play Sam Curran and Leach instead of Archer (given that Anderson is a confirmed out) and Ali.
Both played the England Lions vs Aus A match and were very notable performers. While they were both relatively expensive, Curran took 6 wickets and scored 50 from number 7 in the 1st innings and Leach took 5 wickets in the second innings.
Considering Steve Smith’s record against left-arm spinners and Ali’s lack of form with both bat and ball recently, it would make sense for Leach to play. If he doesn’t perform well, England are probably no worse off than they would have been with Ali in the team.
Curran’s ability to swing the ball essentially makes him as close to a like-for-like replacement as England can find for Anderson and his work with the bat adds extra depth to their order.
I’d say England would be more likely to play Leach than Curran at this stage but they’d certainly consider both depending on the condition of the pitch. If it’s a green, bowler-friendly wicket then Curran will likely play (because he swings the ball), but if it’s a flat, batting deck I’d say Archer will play because he’ll be able to create some extra bounce with his height (I think Australia will play Starc and/or Hazlewood with the pitch like this).
The Ashes are alive: Beware a wounded England
Did he shake his head before raising the finger?
Jonny Bairstow stunned as umpire Wilson makes an actually superb decision
Still don’t think Bancroft should have been picked. His technique makes him particularly susceptible to dismissals like in the first innings, and while his short leg fielding is very good I don’t think it’s anything Marcus Harris couldn’t have done.
He’ll probably escape the axe because of the collective top and middle-order failure (barring Smith, of course) in the first innings but should definitely be made to work for his spot in the team. Harris should get a run opening with Bancroft (as Warner is already a lock to open in the 2nd test) in the tour game.
Australia first Ashes Test player ratings: Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon star in stunning win
Paine’s glovework off Lyon was particularly sharp, the first innings dismissal of Burns and the dismissal of Stokes in the second being the main examples. Obviously wasn’t as clean as he could have been off the fast bowlers but there’s a lot to be said for such smooth glovework at such pivotal moments.
Australia first Ashes Test player ratings: Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon star in stunning win
You know it’s a shocker of a decision when ball tracking says it’s umpire’s call on impact… going down leg with a right-armer bowling over the wicket.
Something needs to be done before the second test, can the ICC please appoint 2 completely new umpires?!
Umpires plumb new depths with their FOURTEENTH- and worst- howler
Been looking forward to reading this since the start of the test, and it definitely didn’t disappoint!
The Liebke Ratings: First Ashes Test
Bit of a grey area I think. Fortunately didn’t have too much of an effect on the rest of Australia’s innings.
Cricket legend is totally convinced Travis Head's wicket was a no ball
I think it was really important that Wade started positively and put the pressure back on England right from the outset. It certainly justifies his selection in the team.
A lead of 385 is definitely a healthy lead but I think it might just be too much for England to believe they can chase.
Having said that, I read somewhere that Pat Cummins averages 15 with the ball in second innings in tests (let’s not forget his second innings spells at the MCG against India and Sri Lanka at the Gabba), and Pattinson averages somewhere around 22. Add that to the amount of spin on offer in the pitch and I think Australia are a real chance.
We’ll have to wait and see, but day 5 will be an exciting day of cricket!
Smith and Wade flatten England
Even Aleem Dar would’ve made the right call on that.
Lucky BT wasn't commentating this clear out of bounds that led to a goal
Something seriously needs to be done about the umpiring if they’re failing to notice such thick edges.
Stuart Broad bizarrely fails to notice a massive David Warner snick
I think a lot will depend on how Head and Wade can perform as well. If Smith can reach 100 again and both Head and Wade make 50+, that should stretch the lead out to about 180 and put less pressure on the tail to score runs (the opposite of what happened in the first innings).
A lead of 250 looks like it could be attainable with substantial contributions from Smith as well as Head, Wade and Paine (and some runs from the tail).
First Ashes Test rests on Smith's bat
Stokes was bowling balls that wide on day 1 and the umpires weren’t even thinking about calling them wides…
Matt Wade gets another Test match over and promptly nearly misses the pitch
Any luck going Australia’s way tomorrow would be appreciated. From what I saw, the umpiring was as bad as (if not worse than) day 1 and the Aussies just had nothing going their way (e.g. the ball hitting the stumps without the bails coming off, inside edges onto pads given out LBW, edges through slips when no one was there).
Gritty Rory Burns ton grinds down Australia
Let’s not forget that that was the same umpire who gave Smith out off a bump ball in the practice WC game
Umpire somehow misses the most enormous inside edge to trigger Pete Siddle LBW
It’d be nice if it was that easy!
Keys to the game: What each team needs to do to win the first Test
Jacobs actually wouldn’t be a bad option, but he turns 32 early next year.
Who would you rather be right now? Melbourne, St Kilda or Carlton
Glad to see someone finally giving Zac Fisher some recognition. Whilst he’s obviously not as much of an accumulator as Walsh or Cripps, I think he has the genuine potential to blossom into a game-changing mid (similar to someone like Adam Treloar, Lachie Neale, or at Carlton, Marc Murphy).
I think some of the other younger guys like David Cuningham, Tom Williamson and Will Setterfield also have the capability to become influential future players with an injury-free run (especially the first two).
As for the head coach role, I was initially a bit skeptical but now think they just need to bite the bullet and hand the role to David Teague. If North did it, so should Carlton!
Who would you rather be right now? Melbourne, St Kilda or Carlton
Agreed. I’d love to see Harris and Wade picked but can’t help but think the selectors will go for Bancroft and Labuschagne instead. All 4 deserve selection but because of their form in the UK it seems that Bancroft and Labuschagne will be picked.
Having said that, I’m hoping that the selectors think that Wade has been banging down the door long enough to be worthy of a call-up…
Don’t mind too much if Harris isn’t picked though because I’m sure he’ll be a staple of the Aussie top order in years to come.
Revealed: The Roar's Australian XI for the first Ashes Test
I don’t think they need Labuschagne in the team. Lyon’s durability means that he’ll be able to bowl long spells (especially considering the English conditions lack potent heat or humidity) and when the need is there for an extra part-time spinner, Head and Smith are more than handy.
The XI should be:
Warner
Harris/Bancroft (Harris has my vote at this stage)
Khawaja (if fit, otherwise Bancroft at 3 with Harris and Warner opening)
Smith
Head
Wade
Paine
Cummins
Pattinson
Starc/Hazlewood (But wouldn’t be surprised if the selectors opted for Siddle)
Lyon.
VOTE: Pick your Australian 2019 Ashes XI
I think Harris would open the batting in that case (moving Khawaja to 3)
VOTE: Pick your Australian 2019 Ashes XI
Pattinson and Cummins are locks for the first test for mine. I’d love to see Starc play alongside them as well, but not the wasteful Starc we saw over last summer.
Not sure at this stage who I’d take as the third quick, I suppose it depends on the conditions. I assume Siddle will play a few games in the series, and I wouldn’t mind seeing Neser play with his ability to swing the Dukes ball. It’ll be good to see Hazlewood back in the test arena, especially if he hits top form again.
The day James Pattinson became a star
Pattinson and Cummins is good enough for me. Add Starc to that and it becomes irresistible, surely that trio plays at some stage during the Ashes…
The day James Pattinson became a star
Wouldn’t surprise me either. Root would probably bowl a fair bit in that case.
The Ashes are alive: Beware a wounded England