Analysis The Cricket Thread 2025/26

[Docker82]

If they are not legends, then maybe you need another level between the legends and very good cricket players.

They are both in the top 10 batsmen to have played for Australia. I would at least have Steve Waugh as a legend.

I'm pretty damn comfortable in saying Ponting is a better bat than Hayden and Waugh tbh.

Smith is the only batter I'd have even in discussion since the 90s. Highly debatable bowlers were at same quality too.

 

[bushchook]

And yet I could walk around a local cricket field and there's going to be someone there who believes they could send them down at 140+ in their day.

Good on them.

I played in the Perth Mercantile comp for 15 years as an opening bowler.

I used to think I might be up around 130 until abloke who played for Lancashire who I played with said I was slower than Colin Funky Miller who bowled military mediums around 125.

There's nobody in Ammos bowling 130 or anywhere near it. 1st and possibly 2nd grade in the WACA grade comp you might see the odd one. Facing someone like Starc would be impossible for any normal person.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

I’m just staggered they look like retaining Khawaja. Surely Head opening & bringing in one of the form batsmen in Marsh offers more?
Just don’t get it.

George Bailey's (financial) policy is to back the incumbent.

 

[Spirit Level]

I'm pretty damn comfortable in saying Ponting is a better bat than Hayden and Waugh tbh.

Smith is the only batter I'd have even in discussion since the 90s. Highly debatable bowlers were at same quality too.

Steve Smith definitely belongs in that top bracket, at his peak I don't think I've ever seen a better batsman (even Ponting tbh).

What he did in 2019 was nothing short of supernatural

 

[estibador]

Bold move scheduling the game to start on a Thursday. What are the odds of getting much action on Sunday?

With the way modern Tests are played they should try start on Fridays where possible to maximise the possibility of full days of play on the two weekend days.

 

[anchor man]

Still a lot of mystery about the team in cream.Team named and no Pat, but there is still according to the media experts that Paat will make the cut.
Our team is still a massive mystery.

 

[largebus]

Inglis in, Ussie out

I like Josh obviously but Head opening, Webster at 5 or 6 should be the go

Will Jacks comes in for Mark Wood. England will not play a spinner

 

[Purpletown]

Usmak Khawaja has been ruled out of the second test. Still recovering from back issues.

Without being unkind this will strengthen our fielding stocks. If Webster replaces him then another bowling option.

 

[Nothing]

Inglis in, Ussie out

I like Josh obviously but Head opening, Webster at 5 or 6 should be the go

Will Jacks comes in for Mark Wood. England will not play a spinner

Inglis in the squad.

Plenty will rejoice. I hope Head makes it his own.

 

[Paracleet]

Would not be surprised if they play Webster to cover Cummins who they sneak in at the last minute.

 

[King Huskii]

I played in the Perth Mercantile comp for 15 years as an opening bowler.

I used to think I might be up around 130 until abloke who played for Lancashire who I played with said I was slower than Colin Funky Miller who bowled military mediums around 125.

There's nobody in Ammos bowling 130 or anywhere near it. 1st and possibly 2nd grade in the WACA grade comp you might see the odd one. Facing someone like Starc would be impossible for any normal person.

Yeah you are mostly correct with pace. I just retired from SMCA last season and there was one bowler for us who bowled at almost 130km n hour. He was the quickest of the lot.

 

[Barnabus]

Usmak Khawaja has been ruled out of the second test. Still recovering from back issues.

Without being unkind this will strengthen our fielding stocks. If Webster replaces him then another bowling option.

Feel like Khawaja is now one Head century away from retirement.

 

[Nothing]

Will Jacks comes in for Mark Wood. England will not play a spinner

Jacks on England, Wood done.

Would have been my article title.

 

[Docker82]

England lost heaps of Ashes in Australia and picking a bits and pieces cricketers ahead of a real spinner has been a big part of it.

Moeen Ali. Will Jacks. Do we expect a different result.

Just them admitting their batting line up can't score enough runs and that they don't have a test quality spinner. Both at the same time too.

 

[King Huskii]

England lost heaps of Ashes in Australia and picking a bits and pieces cricketers ahead of a real spinner has been a big part of it.

Moeen Ali. Will Jacks. Do we expect a different result.

Just them admitting their batting line up can't score enough runs and that they don't have a test quality spinner. Both at the same time too.

 

[DockerDerek]

I imagine the selectors are secretly quite pleased that Ussie’s back hasn’t recovered.

 

[go_the_dockers]

I imagine the selectors are secretly quite pleased that Ussie’s back hasn’t recovered.

Hopefully Kellaway and McSweeney are considered. Both looked good in the PM's 11.

 

[Docker82]

Hopefully Kellaway and McSweeney are considered. Both looked good in the PM's 11.

Think they should be looking at McSweeney when Smith goes tbh. Clearly didn't work with him as an opener.

By then they might be trying to get Oliie Peake into the test team though.

 

[Snuffaluphagus]

Think they should be looking at McSweeney when Smith goes tbh. Clearly didn't work with him as an opener.

By then they might be trying to get Oliie Peake into the test team though.

Peake has been blue balling me all season finding a way to get 20-60 almost every game then finding ways to get out

 

[Rhufus]

No testimonials in an ashes series thanks. First Warner and now Khawaja. Sometimes the selectors just have to say, so long and thanks for all the fish.

Unless you are a legend of the game AND the Ashes are already wrapped up. I would be OK with it then. Neither apply here. Having said that, Uzi shouldnt/wont be dropped after only one match. If he doesnt perform at the GABBA and the Poms win, all bets are off.

 

[Spirit Level]

Unless you are a legend of the game AND the Ashes are already wrapped up. I would be OK with it then. Neither apply here. Having said that, Uzi shouldnt/wont be dropped after only one match. If he doesnt perform at the GABBA and the Poms win, all bets are off.

Well he's already ruled out for test 2.

I can be ok with him getting a goodbye at the SCG if the Ashes are wrapped up (series win, not just retaining), but even then I have reservations since his pitch comments.

Shows he no longer has the fortitude for test cricket

 

[Rhufus]

I'm pretty damn comfortable in saying Ponting is a better bat than Hayden and Waugh tbh.

Smith is the only batter I'd have even in discussion since the 90s. Highly debatable bowlers were at same quality too.

They were all three superb cricketers and I would say they are all Legends of Australian cricket. Yes, Ponting was the technically better batter but almost no one bought the arrogance and aggression of Haydos to that opening position and he and Langer allowed Punter to flourish. (I`ll admit Punter would have flourished regardless). Steve Waugh, well what can you say, the Ice Man would be picked in my every Best of All time Australian side just for his steely squint alone. Who can forget his double ton to single handedly wrest the Sir Frank Worrell Trophy off the Windies in 95 at Sabina Park. Or his ton off the last ball in Sydney against the Poms. Or his first ever one day ton against South Africa that saved us and got us into the miracle match and ultimately won us the world cup. (you just dropped the world cup son") The guy just wrote his own scripts.
Im pretty comfortable saying Steve Waugh will go down as a Legend, along with Ponting.

 

[Joao]

Steve Waugh averaged something like 60 in the 90s which is insane given the quality of bowling and fairness of pitches in that era.

Also better away than at home overall.

 

[Cesoir]

Im pretty comfortable saying Steve Waugh will go down as a Legend, along with Ponting.

I think the term legend is bandied around too readily these days. While both were fantastic cricketers, I'd like to see "legend" reserved for guys like Bailey Banfield.

 

[Taylor]

Highest Australian Run Scorers who have retired 2015 to Present (or are still playing):
S Smith 10496
D Warner 8786
M Clarke 8643
U Khawaja 6055
M Labuschagne 4495
T Head 4107
S Watson 3731