Cricket Thread: Ashes 2025-26 Boxing Day Test

[Peter Doherty]

Inglis has been the next man up as a batsman previously.

Why though?

It's not because they saw him as the next best batsman in the cupboard, they just wanted to squeeze Carey out.

I'm no expert, but even I can see Inglis is not a top 6 test batsman.

 

[Cromulant]

Why though?

It's not because they saw him as the next best batsman in the cupboard, they just wanted to squeeze Carey out.

I'm no expert, but even I can see Inglis is not a top 6 test batsman.

I don't think they wanted to squeeze Carey out as such, they were just a touch concerned about some technical issues with both bat and gloves.

To his credit Alex has worked extremely hard

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Based on his interview i dont think Cummins plays Boxing Day either. One of the more non-committal tones ive heard in a while.

Neser probably replaces him IF thats the case

Not worth risk with quick turnaround.

Save him for Sydney (edit he may not even play in Sydney).

Nesser is a handy replacement!

 

[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

I think Murphy replaces Lyon now.

Has 10 wickets @ 24 which is decent (better than Lyon this year).

We need an eye for the future.

 

[Vader]

I think Murphy replaces Lyon now.

Has 10 wickets @ 24 which is decent (better than Lyon this year).

We need an eye for the future.

Murphy, or Kuhnemann? Murphy has had a couple of goes at Test level so far, and has been found badly wanting both times. Kuhnemann was definitely the better of the two on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Murphy, or Kuhnemann? Murphy has had a couple of goes at Test level so far, and has been found badly wanting both times. Kuhnemann was definitely the better of the two on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Murphy's 22 wickets @ 28.1 is better than Lyon's average of 30.2! Should only get better with experience like Lyon has.

Kuhnemann 25 @ 22.2 handy too.

Not fussed with either, but who do we see as long term replacement? Murphy 25 & Kuhnemann 29.

 

[Cromulant]

Murphy, or Kuhnemann? Murphy has had a couple of goes at Test level so far, and has been found badly wanting both times. Kuhnemann was definitely the better of the two on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Yeah not quite sure whether you mean Todd or Lachie there.

 

[Vader]

Murphy's 22 wickets @ 28.1 is better than Lyon's average of 30.2! Should only get better with experience like Lyon has.

Kuhnemann 25 @ 22.2 handy too.

Not fussed with either, but who do we see as long term replacement? Murphy 25 & Kuhnemann 29.

Players are playing well into their 30s more & more often now. Kuhnemann at 29 is not a problem at all - Lyon is 39 after all!

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Players are playing well into their 30s more & more often now. Kuhnemann at 29 is not a problem at all - Lyon is 39 after all!

Imo, we should be picking who we see as Lyon's long-term replacement. A left arm orthodox in the absence of a decent leggies isn't a bad option.

Lyon's body is showing that he is going to struggle to get through full series, so we need to start thinking about the future.

 

[Vader]

Imo, we should be picking who we see as Lyon's long-term replacement. A left arm orthodox in the absence of a decent leggies isn't a bad option.

Potentially, Kuhnemann could have 8 years ahead of him. That's reasonably long term.

If we're going younger, we could skip right over Murphy and see if there's someone even younger worth looking at.

Murphy has had some good results in the Shield this season, but he really hasn't impressed me at all when he's been given opportunities at Test level in the past.

 

[spenze]

Probably go Kunnie if we are picking a spinner

 

[Eagleboy2011]

 

[cleanhands]

I’ve had Johnson stay up longer

 

[Gtowncrow]

Murphy's 22 wickets @ 28.1 is better than Lyon's average of 30.2! Should only get better with experience like Lyon has.

Kuhnemann 25 @ 22.2 handy too.

Not fussed with either, but who do we see as long term replacement? Murphy 25 & Kuhnemann 29.

Wickets are relevant but I like a spinner who looks able to win a game in the fourth innings.

I'm not across the shield teams enough to comment but a fourth innings specialist gets my vote.

 

[Vader]

It's a real pity McSweeney is injured.

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

It seems I may owe you an apology on this one. It appears that Cummins went above & beyond in getting back for the Adelaide Test, and may be ruling himself out of the Melbourne & Sydney Tests now that they're dead rubbers.

 

[Mostyn]

Why though?

It's not because they saw him as the next best batsman in the cupboard, they just wanted to squeeze Carey out.

I'm no expert, but even I can see Inglis is not a top 6 test batsman.

It's because they saw him as the next test batsman. They wanted someone who was already around the team.

Why possibly would anyone think they wanted to squeeze out Carey?

 

[Mostyn]

I don't think they wanted to squeeze Carey out as such, they were just a touch concerned about some technical issues with both bat and gloves.

To his credit Alex has worked extremely hard

Carey has been playing across all formats for years. I think any technical concerns would be long gone. He's the best keeper in world cricket

 

[Mostyn]

Murphy, or Kuhnemann? Murphy has had a couple of goes at Test level so far, and has been found badly wanting both times. Kuhnemann was definitely the better of the two on the recent tour of Sri Lanka.

Kuhnemann's Australian numbers aren't great. Goes at 30 historically, and has only four wickets at 36 this year.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

It's because they saw him as the next test batsman. They wanted someone who was already around the team.

Why possibly would anyone think they wanted to squeeze out Carey?

There were plenty of calls about a year ago to replace Carey with Inglis.

Fortunately common sense prevailed.

 

[Vader]

Kuhnemann's Australian numbers aren't great. Goes at 30 historically, and has only four wickets at 36 this year.

Rocchiccioli the favourite to replace Lyon apparently, which renders the whole Kuhnemann vs Murphy discussion moot.

 

[spenze]

I hope we play Alana King as our spinner

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Stokes appears to have taken the series loss hard. Just needs to find more players that give effort like himself.

End of Baz?

https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ben-stokes-complains-about-coin-tosses-brendon-mccullum-finally-admits-england-got-it-wrong/news-story/0ce054d3e8693e7bef063deae27fba92

 

[Cromulant]

Carey has been playing across all formats for years. I think any technical concerns would be long gone. He's the best keeper in world cricket

Ponting highlighted a few batting things from about 18 months ago, so they arent long gone as such.

But hes not in any danger at all now.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Ponting highlighted a few batting things from about 18 months ago, so they arent long gone as such.

But hes not in any danger at all now.

He's reduced risky shots, including reverse sweeping. Doesn't need to play too many high risk shots, when he has enough good scoring shots available.

 

[Cromulant]

He's reduced risky shots, including reverse sweeping. Doesn't need to play too many high risk shots, when he has enough good scoring shots available.

Hes also straightened up his backlift hence not getting beaten through the gate quite as much.

Its a very difficult thing to do "late" in a career, but it shows you both the talent and the mental application he's got.