Test Frank Worrell Trophy First Test West Indies v Australia June 25-29 2330hrs @ Kensington Oval, Barbados

[Ohitsthatguy]

The reality is Uzzie really hasn’t been up to it on quicker decks for a while.

He rightly got a lot of credit for his 2023 ashes, however he scored the bulk of his runs in the first two tests which were on flat, slow, low pitches.

His best test last summer was in Melbourne which was the slowest pitch of the series.

He then went to Sri Lanka and had a great series.

But back on a pitch with a bit of nip and carry and he’s likely to nick off again.

My concern is that none of his dismissals really look that bad. He gets undone by good balls and gets caught behind the wicket. Which you’d normally cop, but with his recent record I think it’s probably just a sign that he doesn’t have the eye and the reflexes to match it against fast bowling on a fast pitch anymore. Father Time catches everyone.

The worry is that if Konstas fails to fire on this tour then he will likely be dropped, and that means they probably have to keep Usman for the Ashes. If the pitches are like what they have been recently, which they probably need to be, because flat decks suit England’s style of play, it’s hard to see Uzzie scoring runs.

Problem is as we know, the cupboard is bare, there really isn’t a good option. Tbh, I think the best of a bad bunch is Marnus. There’s potential for a turn around there, but at 38, I can’t see it happening for Khawaja.

Realistically, we just need an opener who can average 30 in the Ashes. And of all the players in Australia at the moment, if you put a gun to my head and said who’s going to do that, I’m probably saying it’s Marnus.

You had me up until Marnus.

 

[Trojan90]

The reality is Uzzie really hasn’t been up to it on quicker decks for a while.

He rightly got a lot of credit for his 2023 ashes, however he scored the bulk of his runs in the first two tests which were on flat, slow, low pitches.

His best test last summer was in Melbourne which was the slowest pitch of the series.

He then went to Sri Lanka and had a great series.

But back on a pitch with a bit of nip and carry and he’s likely to nick off again.

My concern is that none of his dismissals really look that bad. He gets undone by good balls and gets caught behind the wicket. Which you’d normally cop, but with his recent record I think it’s probably just a sign that he doesn’t have the eye and the reflexes to match it against fast bowling on a fast pitch anymore. Father Time catches everyone.

The worry is that if Konstas fails to fire on this tour then he will likely be dropped, and that means they probably have to keep Usman for the Ashes. If the pitches are like what they have been recently, which they probably need to be, because flat decks suit England’s style of play, it’s hard to see Uzzie scoring runs.

Problem is as we know, the cupboard is bare, there really isn’t a good option. Tbh, I think the best of a bad bunch is Marnus. There’s potential for a turn around there, but at 38, I can’t see it happening for Khawaja.

Realistically, we just need an opener who can average 30 in the Ashes. And of all the players in Australia at the moment, if you put a gun to my head and said who’s going to do that, I’m probably saying it’s Marnus.

QUALITY fast bowling. Last 10 tests, dismissed 17 times.

Bumrah 6
Joseph 3
Rabada 2
Henry 2

England don’t have that sort of quality. I’d be comfortable carrying him through the Ashes.

 

[corbies]

For those who haven't read in the West Indies thread there's a member of this West Indies team who overnight it was revealed is being investigated for multiple sexual assaults in Guyana.

https://www.livemint.com/sports/cricket-news/west-indies-cricketer-accused-of-sexual-harassment-amid-australia-test-series-report-11751008495656.html

 

[Rookie]

Webster regularly bosses these situations in the Shield, hopefully I can stay awake long enough to see the first Tasmanian century since... Ed Cowan?

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

I'm finally awake to watch two great teams go at it

 

[Peter Doherty]

Webster regularly bosses these situations in the Shield, hopefully I can stay awake long enough to see the first Tasmanian century since... Ed Cowan?

Wade?

 

[Around the Wicket]

You need to do some homework on Ponting:
--- Australia's highest Test run-scorer
--- so crap that his Test batting average was 51.85, here, take a look

https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/ricky-ponting-7133

Nope.
2012 was his final year.
In his last series vs India 2011/12 he made 544 runs @ an avge. of 108.8. I'd kill to be as 'crap' as that.

His final 2 series vs Windies and SAfrica in 2012 were poor by his standards, yes, so one bad year.

If you've ever listened to his TV commentary he's one of the sharpest and astute minds of the game.
Ponting was never 'crap'.

I don’t know why you want to deny history but Ponting was on struggle street for some time, yes he had the odd good series but he averaged in the 30s 4 of his last 6 years and never posted a 50+ year in that time.

 

[CrowBloke]

I don’t know why you want to deny history

I wasn't denying History. I was quoting it.

but Ponting was on struggle street for some time, yes he had the odd good series but he averaged in the 30s 4 of his last 6 years and never posted a 50+ year in that time.

That's a rather different take on it. What you said before was:
"Around the Wicket said:
Ponting was crap his last 4 or 5 years himself".

Quite simply, he wasn't.

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

That's Head!

 

[sabso]

Webster regularly bosses these situations in the Shield, hopefully I can stay awake long enough to see the first Tasmanian century since... Ed Cowan?

Wade?

It was wade v eng in 2019 I believe

https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/icc-world-test-championship-2019-2021-1195334/england-vs-australia-5th-test-1152850/full-scorecard

 

[RookiePick]

Looks like the pitch is starting to shit itself. A 175 lead could be enough

 

[craffles]

Sorry M9, I'm actually drinking straight bourbon but who knows where the night could take us, I could switch over to Mount Gay.

The flame is still flickering, ever so gently M35. Here’s hoping for a Webster ton

 

[RookiePick]

Shot Beau

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Slug is a gun, he is in control of his game

 

[Moonwatcher]

Can't be giving chances like that on 21.

 

[Around the Wicket]

I wasn't denying History. I was quoting it.


That's a rather different take on it. What you said before was:
"Around the Wicket said:
Ponting was crap his last 4 or 5 years himself".

Quite simply, he wasn't.

may disagree on if he was crap or not but he wasn't great and he definitely struggled for some time those last few years hence giving up the captaincy and dropping to 4.

 

[RookiePick]

Farking hell Travis

 

[CakeEater]

Graves

 

[benbrown]

Ha ha ,bloody butter fingers

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

Dropped catches ruined India

It might ruin West Indies

 

[jb04]

Slips fielders doing the hard yards to try and get an Australia win. Incredible!

 

[katana]

alzarri needs to bang it in a bit more, the lifting bounce on the ball of the dropped chance had head in all sorts.

 

[Peter Doherty]

Trav is just playing with them, hitting to first slip like it's warm up.

 

[RookiePick]

alzarri needs to bang it in a bit more, the lifting bounce on the ball of the dropped chance had head in all sorts.

Usman-like. Airborne jab with the hands

 

[katana]

both josephs overpitching i reckon at the moment.