Test The Ashes First Test November 21-25 1300hrs @ Perth Stadium

[FreoRicci]

Khawaja played 18 holes day before Day 1? Is that true ?

 

[PhatBoy]

They were good at keeping it where they wanted but the lines and lengths wouldn't have troubled batsmen who weren't glued to the crease. The number of times they hit our top order blokes was.somethimg else. Just no idea how to get out of the way of aggressive bowling it seems.

Next to nothing was threatening the stumps but we had to play at almost everything they sent down. Zero discipline from our bats and zero intent to force the English bowlers from their plans.

Well done England but it's fair to say our batting was also insipid.

That’s not without some truth but its also a consequence of the first ten overs where archer and Atkinson DID force the batsmen to play a lot and were at the stumps or near enough regularly, and there wasn’t much smith or Marnus could do about it. Smith had some wild swings outside off stump to try and break the shackles but got nowhere near it

 

[revo333]

I agree.

Bewildering how a professional athlete can get back spasm on day one of ashes series that requires you to spend that much time off the field.

Unless he was carrying something, which makes it even worse.

Sounds like it was an injury from playing golf a few days ago.

The Grade Cricketer podcast have given him a few clips and probably wouldn't if there wasn't any truth to it.

 

[revo333]

Khawaja played 18 holes day before Day 1? Is that true ?

The Grade Cricketer podcast have given him a few clips about it, I don't think they would be critical of him if there wasn't any truth to it.

 

[sabso]

Khawaja played 18 holes day before Day 1? Is that true ?

Not likely, he’s a devout Muslim

 

[Topkent]

Not likely, he’s a devout Muslim

Back spasms stop Khawaja opening for Australia... the day after he wins golf tournament

Former players furious that opening batsman was off field at key moment in match, describing it as ‘beyond a joke’

www.telegraph.co.uk

I don't even know where to start on the stupidity here

 

[Moonwatcher]

If Starc doesn't take 7 then England probably get 300+ runs. I suspect our 4th innings chase will be in the 350+ range.

 

[Australian Randall]

Both teams have no idea how to play a test innings.
Too much pretend cricket

 

[Moonwatcher]

Not likely, he’s a devout Muslim

Devout muslims can't play golf?

 

[Moonwatcher]

I joked he was off the field because he was headed to the F1 Grand Prix but being off because you've prioritised a round of gold is almost as bad.

 

[Jack Lord]

I thought green looked pretty good before his rash shot. His bowling is a plus. I don’t think he’s in the discussion to get dropped.

Head is in a form slump but I’d not drop him yet.

Weatherald has faced 2 balls. A nervous debutant facing the opening fire of an ashes series. He deserves a fair chance.

Ussie can go. He’s done.

Can’t believe I’m saying this but I’d bring in Marsh. England don’t want to bowl to him.

Labs/Smith were both outclassed but who else have we got? Maybe they’d look better when they’re not facing a brand new pill.

 

[Borisdog]

Only reason Head, Green and Carey were in the position to begin with was because they took the initiative to counter attack.

“Putting away the bad ball” also lends itself to getting out to shit bowling. That’s just how it goes.

Not having the platform to put the Poms under pressure is the problem.

Absolutely no solidity in the top 4. Marnus and Usman haven’t made a run in years. Smith is in decline but he’s Smith so gets a pass and Weatherald is a spud borderline state level player who should be nowhere near the test side

No, I don’t buy it. Yeah the top order failed, but at least they got out to pretty good bowling.

The middle order were just outright idiotic. Again, what was the rush?

Getting out to shit bowling in the last session of the first day when you’ve bowled the opposition out for under 180 AND you’re still behind is just completely clueless cricket.

Zero patience and zero game awareness.

 

[Big Bryza]

He’s a pies supporter, they whinge about minor non issues all the time. Like that regulation spoil on Jamie Elliott or having to play an away game.

Need to start charging for that rent, chief.

 

[ABAB]

I guess the groundsmen just figured that a fast pitch would do the job for Australia. In the past tours the theory worked.
Englands selectors couldnt quite figure out that the bowlers who do well in England (like Broad and Jimmy) dont do much in Australia . But this time England has a bowling unit that can do well on these pitches.

If this match was the last tour , Australia would have piled up about 350 runs and won easily.
That isnt going to happen this time. On top of the fact that the AUS team is badly aged and reaching the end.

Have you seen our so called "batting" against a good bowling attack recently???

 

[Antzzz]

I can see a 4th innings collapse coming from a mile away ....poms will get a decent lead them roll us ...I might be wrong but our batting isn't up to it ...Marnus isn't good enough ...Usman to old...the selectors and team management have taken their eye off the ball ....our bowlers have been covering up for the batsmen for awhile now .....we need new blood but who's putting their hand up ?......hard times are a coming I think

 

[Around the Wicket]

I thought green looked pretty good before his rash shot. His bowling is a plus. I don’t think he’s in the discussion to get dropped.

Head is in a form slump but I’d not drop him yet.

Weatherald has faced 2 balls. A nervous debutant facing the opening fire of an ashes series. He deserves a fair chance.

Ussie can go. He’s done.

Can’t believe I’m saying this but I’d bring in Marsh. England don’t want to bowl to him.

Labs/Smith were both outclassed but who else have we got? Maybe they’d look better when they’re not facing a brand new pill.

Ussie is 39, even the greats struggled to make a impact after 36... what did people expect exactly.

 

[Around the Wicket]

19 wickets on Day 1.. this pitch was pretty good to bat on... shocking batting by both sides.

 

[Around the Wicket]

I thought green looked pretty good before his rash shot. His bowling is a plus. I don’t think he’s in the discussion to get dropped.

That over was a shocker and the wicket ball was a half volley which the batsmen missed and rough it was given imo, benefit of the doubt batsmen every time imo.

 

[Snake Charmer]

I thought green looked pretty good before his rash shot. His bowling is a plus. I don’t think he’s in the discussion to get dropped.

Head is in a form slump but I’d not drop him yet.

Weatherald has faced 2 balls. A nervous debutant facing the opening fire of an ashes series. He deserves a fair chance.

Ussie can go. He’s done.

Can’t believe I’m saying this but I’d bring in Marsh. England don’t want to bowl to him.

Labs/Smith were both outclassed but who else have we got? Maybe they’d look better when they’re not facing a brand new pill.

I liked the Weatherald selection but that dismissal looked like he’d never faced someone that quick in his life. They will charge in at him like there’s no tomorrow all series

 

[Australian Randall]

The 100 nonesense is only making it worse.
The mentality to play a long innings has gone
It's not like the bowling now needs to be anything special at test level.
Wickets are casually thrown away

 

[Cleavy]

Feels like we’ve turned into 90s England. Old timers, bad selection, media wanting blood, middling players. Horrid stuff.

 

[Snake Charmer]

The 100 nonesense is only making it worse.
The mentality to play a long innings has gone
It's not like the bowling now needs to be anything special at test level.
Wickets are casually thrown away

Wait till you hear about test20

 

[SC_Power]

Just pick a few and throw em in after this series who cares enough is enough with the over 30's.

There's never gonna be umpteen guys in their 20's averaging 40 plus in Shield cricket like the 90's to 2000's the impact of short form has killed it.

Unfortunately we’ve exceeded out critical mass of Redbacks otherwise I’d consider Henry Hunt. Has the right temperament for opening and ability to bat long and put a prize on his wicket. Averaging 40 this year, 3rd on the Shield aggregates, previously led Shield averages, player of the year, Aus A tours.
But there’s an inverse relationship between South Aussies in the test team and its performance. any more and we’d be getting rolled for 50.

 

[SC_Power]

There's no way you chose to pick on Green's dismissal when Head and Carey's exist.

At least Green was trying to play an actual cricket shot

At least Head and Carey (yes I’m defending two Sth Aussies) are in our top 4 batters last couple of years.

 

[BGman]

There is no excuse for dumb batting on that level. You’re 80 behind with 4 days to go. What’s the rush?

No rush but runs were hard to come by due to the life of the pitch and the Pommie bowlers putting us under pressure with their relentless pace ambush in those first 25 overs. The ECB did their homework by picking an all pace attack. I reckon only Alex Carey and Travis Head, he a touch unlucky, gave away their wickets. Carey tho had a brain fog as had he forgotten that the deep third man had been placed specifically for the uppercut. And he had been batting beautifully before that. Fair to say a crafty Stokes played him like a fiddle.