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

[Cleavy]

So Uzzie doesn't play the last shield game but the rest of our batters do.
He's good for golf tho.
If his back can't stand the rigours of standing in the slips for 30 overs ,there is no way he should play next test.
Bring in Renshaw

according to media, seems like they're keen for Marsh/Inglis to open...

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

openers are non existent, was covered up when Labs was averaging 60+... openers need to get the ball old for the middle order to flourish.

Given the brittleness of the rest of the order, that is the type of opener that should be picked. But they are not in fashion, either with players or selectors.
Haven't been really for a long time, when it didn't matter if Australia was two down without a run on the board because there was almost a guarantee one of the next five would score heavily and have 1-2 others hang around with them. Attacking openers could launch a platform for a huge score, or have their failures washed over. Not so much now, if Smith or Head don't score Carey has to. 3-5 years ago it was a fair bet Smith would score.

 

[jb04]

Pressure?

Last 12 months, hardly our most pressing issue

View attachment 2483329

Far out you take out that 232 against Sri Lanka and Usman's average goes below 20 in the last 12 months.

 

[peternorth]

A few observations.

1. poster X commenting on others who have not been as present or attending on this cricket board during the winter. Effectively saying they dont know what they're talking about and linking it to their part time cricket board status. Is this the equivalent of say a state cricketer or full time cricketer telling X they havent played at the highest level and therefore his/her opinion is invalid?

2. Aging team. How does this team regenerate when essentially each test series is like a final in terms of importance. Selectors arent going to drop the older players to give younger ones a go/exposure. And older players are NOT going to give up their spot to a young buck for the sake of experience. So what we have here are players hanging on and the public saying theyve earnt the right to go when they want to go/credits in the bank.

 

[peternorth]

Not likely, he’s a devout Muslim

He wouldn't be playing cricket either if that was the case.

Yes I am also unsure as to what his religion has to do with golf.

 

[sr36]

according to media, seems like they're keen for Marsh/Inglis to open...

The thinking is that if you've got too many at the top who are essentially just trying to hang around to take the shine off the ball, the pressure mounts and the bowlers get on top.

 

[barrackers]

The rot with the opening position started 5-7 years ago with Finch and Wade being selected out of position. It’s been even more of a mess recently though. They should have tapped Warner 12 months earlier after his 200 in Melbourne and backed an inform opener instead of waisting opportunities by selecting Smith, McSweeney & Labuschagne out of position.

While there’s no guarantee the new opener would have established himself, it was the best chance of succession planning post Warner and Khawaja and staggering the introduction of two new openers.

 

[revo333]

2. Aging team. How does this team regenerate when essentially each test series is like a final in terms of importance. Selectors arent going to drop the older players to give younger ones a go/exposure. And older players are NOT going to give up their spot to a young buck for the sake of experience. So what we have here are players hanging on and the public saying theyve earnt the right to go when they want to go/credits in the bank.

Yeah, it can get tricky and I've always believed that it should be harder to get into the team than it is to get dropped but 2 years poor form usually means a change is needed.

If the team needs an injection of youth then you bring in the best option knocking on the door.

It would be great if you always had a young Michael Clarke who was the obvious next in line but those types seem to only come around once in a decade.

Maybe Will Pucovski was going to be that guy but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

The thinking is that if you've got too many at the top who are essentially just trying to hang around to take the shine off the ball, the pressure mounts and the bowlers get on top.

Which has some truth to it. There is little point batting for 90 minutes for three runs, but its better for an opener in particular than batting for 3 minutes for 3 runs.

 

[BGman]

He 100% turned the series around last year

He did but what ensured messed with his mind and his form plummeted. CA picked him prematurely, then just basicly left him to cop the flack, prob without admitting liability too. After that debacle CA needed to tell him to keep developing his game in state cricket for a while, yet what happens Albo picks him and showcases him on the PMX1 poster instead of born again skipper Pete Handscomb. Dumb as. The last thing Sam Kontas needs for his peace of mind is more publicity.

If we want another opener over Ussie that bats time and has some guts then Henry Hunt is your man. Has played Aussie A games but never given a Baggy Green unlike some others guys of his ability. Perhaps now is the time as Ussie looks cooked, another low score to go with those on his Windies tour.

 

[Bucking Beads]

The thinking is that if you've got too many at the top who are essentially just trying to hang around to take the shine off the ball, the pressure mounts and the bowlers get on top.

We absolutely need someone in the top 4 who will take on the bowlers.

 

[revo333]

We absolutely need someone in the top 4 who will take on the bowlers.

4 or 5 whatever, We have Head but suddenly his spot is under pressure apparently.

 

[western royboy]

according to media, seems like they're keen for Marsh/Inglis to open...

The West Australian is not media

 

[sabso]

The West Australian is not media

That W in the masthead is the second biggest crime against typography in world news media.

 

[Pollywaffle]

Crazy first day with lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth from both sides of the aisle.
My money still on the Aussies mainly because of Englands ability to spontaneously combust and Aussies ability to pull wins from their backsides, but interesting times ahead either way.

 

[boondy]

Crawley useless as ever

Except against Stark he averaged 78 , after yesterdays wicket brought his average down to 52 .
Stark has him out 3 times for 155 runs , just had a bad day like many others

 

[Borisdog]

The West Australian is not media

No, but to be fair neither is most of "the media"

There's a vast difference between reporting facts and giving an opinion.

Not a lot of the former goes on in the media these days. On almost any subject.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

He's South African.

Most English players are.

 

[ExchangeStatMan]

I dont think Khawaja makes it to the last test for a farewell test in Sydney, if Australia lose here .

Mans age is a liability and his double ton in Sri Lanka this year was a cover up for his whole form the last 18 months. His legacy will get tarnished if Australia lose and his form dwindles between now and Sydney. Could also see him gone even if Australia are winning and he struggles for runs.

 

[Lunchtime]

Head should have played more than one shield match in the lead up to the First Test.

Why on earth he was playing in the meaningless one day and T20 matches against India?

Goes back to my earlier post above (somewhere) about visiting teams playing tour matches (First-Class games) against State teams - it was a regular event. Not so at all over the past decade...maybe more which is a shame.

 

[Buzz Hawk]

Ussie should have been out of the side two years ago, problem is no one puts their hand up enough to replace him.
So what's the consensus here, shit wicket doing too much or just shit batting?

 

[Aussie in exile]

The West Australian is not media

Perhaps toilet paper might be a better description. Just saying

 

[StillAtLarge]

Crazy first day with lots of wailing and gnashing of teeth from both sides of the aisle.
My money still on the Aussies mainly because of Englands ability to spontaneously combust and Aussies ability to pull wins from their backsides, but interesting times ahead either way.

If Aus win this test I'll delete my account. We are no chance, can see us being set 450+ in the 2nd dig

 

[Lunchtime]

Ussie should have been out of the side two years ago, problem is no one puts their hand up enough to replace him.
So what's the consensus here, shit wicket doing too much or just shit batting?

Wrong. Bancroft put his hand up....for 2 or 3 years....scored consistently in the Sheffield Shield.....and was ignored.

We had an opening batsman ready to go and the selectors ignored him (Bancroft).

 

[Stopher]

Whichever way you swing it, the whole debacle that led to Khawaja not opening has to have consequences.

Just amateurish, embarrassing and completely unnecessary.

I feel for Jake there.