Australia v Sri Lanka; 2nd Test @ Manuka Oval Feb 1-5.

[Coasters7]

Think Uzzie opening full time would be something I could get around. He’s a little like Shaun Marsh in that when he gets going he’s awesome to watch, but struggles with uncertainty around whether to play his shots or be conservative.. especially at number 3 where you don’t want to be losing another quick wicket after the first. Feel like if we open with Warner and Uzzie, and lower the expectations on the opening wicket, we’d get the upper hand fairly quick more often than not

 

[PT Bar None]

Why do I think this bad light reading tonight is going to be a massive PITA tomorrow?

 

[Kuuz]

Man, Head was imperious again today. This was such a good shot earlier today - that crack off the bat was so tasty...

http://fw.to/ebSR5Df

 

[Damon_3388]

Won't matter when he retires and people certainly don't factor it for every other players test records.

I mean, Tendulkar has 5 test hundreds against Bangladesh, a Bangaldesh team that would get beaten by an innings to their current team.

I feel stuff like that is always taken into account. You'll never hear Sangakarra in the goat conversation for example.

If you take minnows out of existence, Sangakkara (52.61 average, 29 centuries, 44 fifties) actually has a slightly better average than Tendulkar (51.01 average, 43 centuries, 65 fifties). At least a third of those innings came with Sanga also having to keep wicket in the same match, too.

For those that are curious - Test Batting Averages, without Tests for/against Zimbabwe/Bangladesh/Ireland/Afghanistan (minimum 60 dismissals)

 

[Kram]

The last full season I played I probably dropped more catches than I took, took more catches than I scored runs, and scored more runs than I took wickets.
But, I probably still got pretty close to the most out of my lack of natural ability.

I was pretty good at catching something smashed at us at say point or square leg but anything skied high in the air? Forget it..

 

[DamoESP]

If you take minnows out of existence, Sangakkara (52.61 average, 29 centuries, 44 fifties) actually has a slightly better average than Tendulkar (51.01 average, 43 centuries, 65 fifties). At least a third of those innings came with Sanga also having to keep wicket in the same match, too.

For those that are curious - Test Batting Averages, without Tests for/against Zimbabwe/Bangladesh/Ireland/Afghanistan (minimum 60 dismissals)

I like that chart, it settles the Smith vs Kohli and Ponting vs Tendulkar debates as well

 

[weetert]

If you take minnows out of existence, Sangakkara (52.61 average, 29 centuries, 44 fifties) actually has a slightly better average than Tendulkar (51.01, 43 centuries, 65 fifties). At least a third of those innings came with Sanga also having to keep wicket in the same match, too.

For those that are curious - Test Batting Averages, without Tests for/against Zimbabwe/Bangladesh/Ireland/Afghanistan (minimum 60 dismissals)

True but A massive amount of Sanga's runs were on Asian wickets.

Tendulkar SENA average: 50+, runs scored: 5837 (36%) Sangakarra SENA average: 44, runs scored:2526 (20%)

 

[Len Nicodemo]

As a bowler there was nothing more annoying than opening with another bowler who didn't know how to look after it.

The guys that take a large wad of saliva and drench the ball arw just as bad.

 

[Len Nicodemo]

Probably correct. I'm not a Warner hater but @ 33 I reckon we need to look to the future
Bancroft
Burns
Kwahja
Smith
Head
Patterson
Paine
Bowlers

Looks about as strong as we can field I reckon



On SM-G960F using BigFooty.com mobile app

Bancroft isn’t good enough to walk back in like warner & Smith

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Probably correct. I'm not a Warner hater but @ 33 I reckon we need to look to the future
Bancroft
Burns
Kwahja
Smith
Head
Patterson
Paine
Bowlers

Looks about as strong as we can field I reckon

I am a Warner hater, but age is BS when selecting a Test side. Best available, every time. The question is coming off such a big break and no FC cricket, no form to point to, is he best available?
The answer has to be that he is the least risky choice, and one which is more likely to pay off. So, he starts despite nothing to back it up. It goes against requiring recent form to get into the team, but the same will apply to Smith. There simply isn't a case based on anything other than guesswork to keep him out.

 

[NSWCROW]

FFS who schedules this shit ??

Lets play t20's then tests then ODI's then tests then ODI's

 

[1990crow]

FFS who schedules this shit ??

Lets play t20's then tests then ODI's then tests then ODI's

I think T20 internationals are a waste of time personally.

 

[Damon_3388]

True but A massive amount of Sanga's runs were on Asian wickets.

Tendulkar SENA average: 50+, runs scored: 5837 (36%) Sangakarra SENA average: 44, runs scored:2526 (20%)

If you take out matches in Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka; UAE is not Asia), and keep the minnows out too, the difference in averages isn't really that pronounced - 50.90 for Tendulkar vs. 47.20 for Sanga.

Doing that though is like saying "but most of Ponting's runs came in Australia!" as a means to discount him. All greats do well in their home conditions.

Furthermore, for those that are curious - Test Batting Averages, without Tests for/against Zimbabwe/Bangladesh/Ireland/Afghanistan AND without Tests in India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka (minimum 60 dismissals).

What's most interesting there is how well Rahul Dravid did outside of Asia - 53.13 average (13 centuries, 28 fifties), with just five less tons than Tendulkar in nearly half the number of innings batted.

 

[weetert]

Doing that though is like saying "but most of Ponting's runs came in Australia!" as a means to discount him. All greats do well in their home conditions.

But we're trying to work out which player was better, so surely this is necessary.

UAE is not Asia

Geographically it is and the wickets are low and slow.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I'm not sure we should be too worried about England.

They just got fisted twice by the West Indies.

Absolutely fisted.

The Ashes will come down to which team collapses 'best'. So if one team gets done over for 183 first innings and the other team gets done over for 129, the 183 team has collapsed best. Whoever manages that regularly, will win the series. Luckily, I love a good collapse so I'm getting the popcorn ready when the series starts.

 

[Woody15]

I am a Warner hater, but age is BS when selecting a Test side. Best available, every time. The question is coming off such a big break and no FC cricket, no form to point to, is he best available?
The answer has to be that he is the least risky choice, and one which is more likely to pay off. So, he starts despite nothing to back it up. It goes against requiring recent form to get into the team, but the same will apply to Smith. There simply isn't a case based on anything other than guesswork to keep him out.

Id like to see Warner selected because not only do I think he is the 2nd best batsman we can pick, but the entertainment value I would derive from watching the English crowd and their players feed it to him will be pretty bloody entertaining.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

If you take out matches in Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka; UAE is not Asia), and keep the minnows out too, the difference in averages isn't really that pronounced - 50.90 for Tendulkar vs. 47.20 for Sanga.

Doing that though is like saying "but most of Ponting's runs came in Australia!" as a means to discount him. All greats do well in their home conditions.

Furthermore, for those that are curious - Test Batting Averages, without Tests for/against Zimbabwe/Bangladesh/Ireland/Afghanistan AND without Tests in India/Pakistan/Sri Lanka (minimum 60 dismissals).

What's most interesting there is how well Rahul Dravid did outside of Asia - 53.13 average (13 centuries, 28 fifties), with just five less tons than Tendulkar in nearly half the number of innings batted.

Dravid is my favourite all-time Indian batsman. His driving against spin was like silk.

 

[Belnakor]

I think T20 internationals are a waste of time personally.

Its kind of weird but when you have a top international side with a top class attack they actually make t20s kind of boring as the batsman have to bat more defensively.

Normal T20 there will normally be 2-3 bowlers who are bowling pies, makes for much more of a spectacle.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

I think T20 internationals are a waste of time personally.

I can't remember the last time I watched a T20I. I must have watched some recently, but I'm stuffed if I can remember. They register like wallpaper does, T20s domestically are far more fun.

I don't mind the Associates T20s if Sky shows them, they can be bloody competitive.

 

[Damon_3388]

Geographically it is and the wickets are low and slow.

It's closer to Africa than Asia. The pitches are low, slow roads mostly, rather than having the same spin factor that Asia does, and the weather doesn't have the humidity conducing to swing, either.

 

[The Convert]

Its kind of weird but when you have a top international side with a top class attack they actually make t20s kind of boring as the batsman have to bat more defensively.

Normal T20 there will normally be 2-3 bowlers who are bowling pies, makes for much more of a spectacle.

You mean BBL. Why xo pele watch blokes they can see in the park on saturday

 

[smasha]

After this series ends straight into the nets with the Duke ball.

 

[Damon_3388]

Its kind of weird but when you have a top international side with a top class attack they actually make t20s kind of boring as the batsman have to bat more defensively.

Normal T20 there will normally be 2-3 bowlers who are bowling pies, makes for much more of a spectacle.

I can't remember the last time I watched a T20I. I must have watched some recently, but I'm stuffed if I can remember. They register like wallpaper does, T20s domestically are far more fun.

Pretty funny when you look at some of the names that have represented Australia in T20Is (who also either only played a few ODIs, or didn't play in any other format), too:

Mick Lewis
Shane Harwood
Luke Pomersbach
Brett Geeves
Ben Laughlin
Travis Birt
Ben Rohrer
James Muirhead
Cameron Boyce
Ben Dunk
Nathan Reardon

I know most of those guys specifically excelled in the T20 format, leading to their selection, but they're not really names that you associate with being international cricketers.

 

[Damon_3388]

After this series ends straight into the nets with the Duke ball.

Is it really that different?

And why do we play Test cricket with different balls in different countries? Surely there'd be an accepted "standard" that could be used and imported everywhere.

 

[smasha]

Is it really that different?

And why do we play Test cricket with different balls in different countries? Surely there'd be an accepted "standard" that could be used and imported everywhere.

Much higher seam on the Duke.