Cricket Thread: Ashes 2025-26 Boxing Day Test

[Kane McGoodwin]

Webster has only scored 38 runs from 2 Sheffield Shield matches (4 innings) so far this season.

He hasn't played at all since the start of the Test series, as he's been on National Team duty, without actually getting a game. That's the curse of the 12th man - close to the Australian team, but never having the opportunity to play at Shield level to press the case for selection when an opportunity arises.

Head hardly scored any shield runs either!

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Because he hasn't scored much in months at any level of cricket.

I think we move Green to 7. The obsession with him up the order should change. Let him settle somewhere

He's hardly played as been on 12th man duties.

Webster has showed he is comfortable at Test level & his form is better than what Green is showing since he returned.

Once again, how many runs did Head score in the lead up? Some on here were panicking & i said at the time Head will lift when needed... & he has in spades.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It's a real pity McSweeney is injured.

Think the selectors rest Cummins for Boxing Day & bring back for Sydney.

Australian side

1 Head
2 Weatherald
3 Labuschagne
4 Smith
5 Khawaja
6 Carey
7 Webster
8 Nesser
9 Starc
10 Lyon
11 Boland

 

[Vader]

Head hardly scored any shield runs either!

Head has scored 24 runs from 1 match (2 innings). He has a slightly better Shield average than Webster this year, but there's not a lot in it (9.50 vs 12.0), and both have small sample sizes.

FWIW, I suggested that Webster should replace Green, whose batting has been bloody awful this Ashes series.

 

[Vader]

It's a real pity McSweeney is injured.

Think the selectors rest Cummins for Boxing Day & bring back for Sydney.

Australian side

1 Head
2 Weatherald
3 Labuschagne
4 Smith
5 Khawaja
6 Carey
7 Webster
8 Nesser
9 Starc
10 Lyon
11 Boland

Cummins missed the first 2 Tests. No way they bring him back for 1 Test, rest him for the biggest Test of the entire calendar year (Boxing Day at the MCG), before bringing him back for the SCG. It's not as if he's had a huge workload either - only 27 overs bowled so far.

Now, if you'd said this about Stokes, I might have believed you. Stokes is absolutely cooked, after spending almost all of Days 1 & 2 out in the field, to the extent that he was unable to bowl on Day 3. The English Captain is a man who clearly needs a rest... the Australian Captain, not so much.

I can't see any changes to the Australian bowling line-up for Boxing Day. Smith definitely comes in, assuming he's recovered from vertigo, with Inglis almost certainly making way for him. Webster SHOULD replace Green, but probably won't, knowing the depth of the selectors' infatuation with Green's unfulfilled "potential".

 

[Eagleboy2011]

It won't save the Poms. Looks like a reasonable crowd on TV. PA would like that many out there.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Friday was bloody hard work just sitting on a chair. Never again if it's 40

The sun really got to you. It was 40 °C on Thursday and a freezing 29c Friday.

 

[Mostyn]

He's hardly played as been on 12th man duties.

Webster has showed he is comfortable at Test level & his form is better than what Green is showing since he returned.

Once again, how many runs did Head score in the lead up? Some on here were panicking & i said at the time Head will lift when needed... & he has in spades.

No one sensible said that about Head.

Green and Webster both played Shield, and Green had some good scores and Webster couldn't get out of single figures.

There's no way they're dropping a young player like Green from our team of senior citizens, especially from an Ashes winning side.

He just needs a run of fitness to finally turn his first class form into test form. We NEED Green to become what he promises to be if our side is to stay this successful from 2028 onwards.

 

[Vader]

No one sensible said that about Head.

Green and Webster both played Shield, and Green had some good scores and Webster couldn't get out of single figures.

There's no way they're dropping a young player like Green from our team of senior citizens, especially from an Ashes winning side.

He just needs a run of fitness to finally turn his first class form into test form. We NEED Green to become what he promises to be if our side is to stay this successful from 2028 onwards.

You're right about them needing Green to fulfil his "potential". It would just be really nice to see some signs that this is going to eventuate. Other than that one innings in NZ, he's shown SFA since first being selected.

 

[Samcro24]

Go away rain

Washed my car yesterday, sorry

 

[Cromulant]

Lyon pinged a string.

 

[GreyCrow]

Renshaw has to be talked about

 

[Cromulant]

Renshaw has to be talked about

Should be, but i think they'll do with another seamer and Smith

 

[StonesThrow]

Lyon pinged a string.

Probably gonna make it close! Their tail has put on a few runs this series

 

[Cromulant]

Probably gonna make it close! Their tail has put on a few runs this series

At times they have, others they've flopped.

Need Jacks out early to feel comfortable.

 

[Interloperer]

Webster's bowling form has been infinitely superior to Cam Green, who is theoretically an allrounder.

 

[Cromulant]

Some pretty poor captaincy here

 

[GreyCrow]

Some pretty poor captaincy here

What would you do

 

[Cromulant]

What would you do

Wouldnt have bowled Head with the new ball straight after the break, and with the field back no less. We gifted them 20 runs

 

[Cromulant]

MARNUS !!!!!!!!

 

[Cromulant]

And Green puts down a tough one.

Things are happening

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Kane McGoodwin btw, how is your old man after the other day? OK, I hope. Was it just the heat?

 

[Cromulant]

Starc again

Archer creamed that.... straight to Weathers

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Kane McGoodwin btw, how is your old man after the other day? OK, I hope. Was it just the heat?

He's ok now thanks.

Heat was a factor, along with doing too many things before the game.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

No one sensible said that about Head.

Green and Webster both played Shield, and Green had some good scores and Webster couldn't get out of single figures.

There's no way they're dropping a young player like Green from our team of senior citizens, especially from an Ashes winning side.

He just needs a run of fitness to finally turn his first class form into test form. We NEED Green to become what he promises to be if our side is to stay this successful from 2028 onwards.

Plenty on here in this thread were worried about Head. Go back & have a read for fun.

Webster's allround game in the Shield was a strong as Green as took more wickets.

Bottom line in Webster was performing at international level. Green hasn't!