Test Frank Worrell Trophy Third Test (D/N) West Indies v Australia July 12-16 0400hrs 13/7 @ Sabina Park, Jamaica

[Blue Heart]

Nek minnet.

No ... nek day !!!

 

[LukeParkerno1]

There’s no hater’s, far from it - but there’s questions, serious questions about his suitability to bat at No.3

Same as those that questioned Konstas’ technique or lack there of.

There’s no way George Bailey has the nuts to drop both openers for the start of the Asges but you couldn’t pick either of them because one’s finished and the other is a million miles from it.

Agree I'd honestly be surprised if he drops even one of the openers let alone both. Not sure there are two alternatives either, Lab is one but he's opened one game in his life. I hope when he goes back to Shield he is told to open. I agree with you with the Green at 3, I'd still flip Green and Smith. Smith may not love it but it might be the best for the side right now.

 

[Blue Heart]

Duckett actually is a good example on how you can use these shots but have a very good set base

We will see how Duckett goes on the bouncy Aussie tracks.

 

[Blue Heart]

Agree I'd honestly be surprised if he drops even one of the openers let alone both. Not sure there are two alternatives either, Lab is one but he's opened one game in his life. I hope when he goes back to Shield he is told to open. I agree with you with the Green at 3, I'd still flip Green and Smith. Smith may not love it but it might be the best for the side right now.

Konstas will be having a lengthy rest from the Tests this Summer with Ussie getting the opening gig for at least 2 or 3 Tests.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Konstas will be having a length rest from the Tests this Summer with Ussie getting the opening gig for at least 2 or 3 Tests.

Highly doubt it, they will give Sam at least the first couple of tests. More likely to drop/retire Khawaja before the Ashes. Makes no sense to play him away then drop him at home in easier conditions. he gets at least the first couple of tests, then lets see.

 

[the_interloper]

Great knock by Green, I'd love to see him lock down number 3, then we only have to worry about the openers.

 

[sr36]

Highly doubt it, they will give Sam at least the first couple of tests. More likely to drop/retire Khawaja before the Ashes. Makes no sense to play him away then drop him at home in easier conditions. he gets at least the first couple of tests, then lets see.

He'll need runs in the lead up.

He's now got a first class average of 30 with his two hundreds both having come in the same match - on a draw pitch.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

He'll need runs in the lead up.

He's now got a first class average of 30 with his two hundreds both having come in the same match - on a draw pitch.

Agree, he does need some runs, but my gut does say if he does get a score or two they go with him. There are not a million alternatives

 

[Saint12]

Agree I'd honestly be surprised if he drops even one of the openers let alone both. Not sure there are two alternatives either, Lab is one but he's opened one game in his life. I hope when he goes back to Shield he is told to open. I agree with you with the Green at 3, I'd still flip Green and Smith. Smith may not love it but it might be the best for the side right now.

What about going back to the Smith opening again...I know it failed but maybe this time it could work. Smith and Lab would be interesting!!

 

[sr36]

If McDonald does that he should walk on the spot. Green is not and never will be an opener

I'm with McDonald - who cares what number they batted in youth teams or state level. Konstas and Harris are specialist openers for no other reason than they were picked to open at lower levels. But why are they more suited to opening than Green or McSweeney - or the other state level middle order batsman that we selected to open the batting a couple of years ago - Khawaja.

 

[Black Diamond]

We would be crazy to move Smith from 4. He is an all time great in the position and we have had a far harder time filling 4 than 3 over the journey. Since Greg Chappell, really.

 

[Borisdog]

There’s no hater’s, far from it - but there’s questions, serious questions about his suitability to bat at No.3

Same as those that questioned Konstas’ technique or lack there of.

There’s no way George Bailey has the nuts to drop both openers for the start of the Asges but you couldn’t pick either of them because one’s finished and the other is a million miles from it.

Probably none of the Selectors have the nuts for it in the current circumstances.

The positions are there to be TAKEN. If any of the current crop of Shield openers score consistently well in the games before the opening Test in Perth in November then the selectors have something they can point to.

They already have the one half of the equation needed to remove both openers, poor form. They just don't have the other half of the equation, good form from the replacements.

I'm firmly, FWIW, in the Green isn't a #3 camp. He might make a good 4 in time, but our REAL problem is we've got pile of players who are all pretty good at 5,6 and not much else in the cupboard.

I also think that Smith's demise, when it happens, will be rapid - being an "eye" player

 

[LukeParkerno1]

What about going back to the Smith opening again...I know it failed but maybe this time it could work. Smith and Lab would be interesting!!

Yikes no. Smith is a gun 4, he can bat 3 though. Though ask me right now I'd stick with Green at 3.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'm with McDonald - who cares what number they batted in youth teams or state level. Konstas and Harris are specialist openers for no other reason than they were picked to open at lower levels. But why are they more suited to opening than Green or McSweeney - or the other state level middle order batsman that we selected to open the batting a couple of years ago - Khawaja.

Khawaja at least was doing it in limited overs etc. I don't see this strategy being smart at all. Lab would be the only one I'd consider to do it and ONLY if he opens domestically at the start of this season. McSweeney needs to show an ounce of positive cricket with the way he bats, he can't be a turtle out there, this is what made the issue worse, he was blocking the rare half volleys he was getting. Green will be bowling in a few moths we don't need the guy opening, even at 3 he shouldn't be bowling much

 

[sr36]

Khawaja at least was doing it in limited overs etc. I don't see this strategy being smart at all. Lab would be the only one I'd consider to do it and ONLY if he opens domestically at the start of this season. McSweeney needs to show an ounce of positive cricket with the way he bats, he can't be a turtle out there, this is what made the issue worse, he was blocking the rare half volleys he was getting. Green will be bowling in a few moths we don't need the guy opening, even at 3 he shouldn't be bowling much

I like McSweeney and think he was the victim of a strategy that was probably the right one, but didn't work. They knew they just had to wear down Bumrah and keep him coming back for new spells. Unfortunately, he was too good.

 

[PhatBoy]

Peter Lalor who shits me to tears sometimes but makes some insightful points at times said something interesting about Australia’s approach in this game:

He feels like there has been some self-fulfilling elements to Australia’s batting against the pink ball under lights. Like they have talked themselves into how dangerous it was going to be and how they’ve let it impact how they approached it, while Green doesn’t seem to have changed his game at all and as a consequence he’s played comparitavely trouble free cricket

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I like McSweeney and think he was the victim of a strategy that was probably the right one, but didn't work. They knew they just had to wear down Bumrah and keep him coming back for new spells. Unfortunately, he was too good.

Maybe but he still showed nothing to suggest he was going to be a success he wasn’t putting away the bad balls. You can have the see off a bowler strategy but you can’t be blocking half volleys.

 

[eddiesmith]

I was wondering why I hadn't seen eddiesmith in here yet.

Pink ball v minnows, it’s his 2 favourite things combined!!!

Then I check scorecard for first time, 1/32 is worthy of superstar praise? Ok then…

But it’s good to see Sir Scotty out bowling all 3 members of the NSW Bowling cartel

 

[sr36]

Maybe but he still showed nothing to suggest he was going to be a success he wasn’t putting away the bad balls. You can have the see off a bowler strategy but you can’t be blocking half volleys.

Wrong mindset in those tests, but I don't think that makes him a write-off.

 

[western royboy]

Highly doubt it, they will give Sam at least the first couple of tests. More likely to drop/retire Khawaja before the Ashes. Makes no sense to play him away then drop him at home in easier conditions. he gets at least the first couple of tests, then lets see.

Could not possibly play Konstas

 

[JackOutback]

We would be crazy to move Smith from 4. He is an all time great in the position and we have had a far harder time filling 4 than 3 over the journey. Since Greg Chappell, really.

Except Green is clearly finding his feet and is a natural number four. Smith still has a good record at three, he should lead for the sake of the team and take number three, Green at four. I suspect they will stick with Green and hopefully his newfound confidence means he can thrive, but I would switch them around.

As for the openers, yikes, Unless Konstas makes bulk runs in the Shield, he won't open in the first Test. They may have to go to a placeholder like Bancroft, Harris or Weatherald. Just whoever makes the most runs.

 

[Gethelred]

Smith's dismissal is worrying because he just didn't see it.

The bloke has made his name on his eyes and his hands. That dismissal had him searching for the ball from the hand, feet backing away from a ball he didn't see out of the hand.

Everyone's seen a dismissal like that before, and it comes from your blokes about to leave the game.

 

[swingdog]

Except Green is clearly finding his feet and is a natural number four. Smith still has a good record at three, he should lead for the sake of the team and take number three, Green at four. I suspect they will stick with Green and hopefully his newfound confidence means he can thrive, but I would switch them around.

As for the openers, yikes, Unless Konstas makes bulk runs in the Shield, he won't open in the first Test. They may have to go to a placeholder like Bancroft, Harris or Weatherald. Just whoever makes the most runs.

Bit on the ABC this morning comparing Smith and Ponting noting that Smith is statistically the better batter but Ponting was more valuable because he took on the number 3 position and set the tone for the innings.

 

[sr36]

Could not possibly play Konstas

If he scores tons in the lead up sheffield shield games they could. Big if though.

 

[Joose]

Green is one of our few bats with the technique to hold down no 3 position. He has to succeed.

We have a plethora of bowlers coming through but our batting stocks are real thin. A few years ago guys like Divenuto, Hodge, Siddons, Law, Love and David Hussey could not get a game. Now they would force out just about every batsman out of the current side except Smith and Green.

Who is there coming through? Konstas and Connolly have talent but were brought in way too early. Another 3 years in the Shield would be the order for them. Pucovski was a big loss.