Cricket Thread: Ashes 2025-26 Boxing Day Test

[Kane McGoodwin]

What a shock - Wood and Archer both don't make it through the series

Mind you we didn't have Hazelwood & perhaps only 1 test Cummins.

Starc iron Man.

 

[Cromulant]

Mind you we didn't have Hazelwood & perhaps only 1 test Cummins.

Starc iron Man.

Amazing given he never used to be, likewise Boland going into his 4th Test.

Our bowling depth is still very good

 

[Vader]

Without Archer, how will the poms expect to take 10 Australian wickets - let alone the 20 required to win the Test Match? Their other bowlers are unmitigated rubbish.

 

[spenze]

Without Archer, how will the poms expect to take 10 Australian wickets - let alone the 20 required to win the Test Match? Their other bowlers are unmitigated rubbish.

Hopefully they keep their gun spinner going, another test of half tracker pies could have out batsmen in knots

 

[spenze]

... and yet, Murphy's on-field achievements for the Crows comfortably exceed Green's on-field achievements for Australia.

C’mon man.

I can wear not living up to his talent in this series but he was the only one consistently scoring in the Windies.

He can be afforded more time now the series is won

 

[StonesThrow]

Still think Archer has been in their best couple of players this series. Probably only stokes has performed more consistently.

Thought they were a good chance with a depleted Australian side but now not so sure.

 

[Vader]

Still think Archer has been in their best couple of players this series. Probably only stokes has performed more consistently.

Thought they were a good chance with a depleted Australian side but now not so sure.

Root has been pretty good too, most of the time.

Archer has clearly been their most dangerous bowler, at least since Wood went home after Perth. Without Archer, it's hard to see how England can take 10 wickets - let alone the 20 required to win a Test match.

Australia's bowling line up has been significantly weakened too, with the loss of Cummins & Lyon - but they showed in Perth & Brisbane that they still have bowlers capable of taking 20 wickets even in the absence of the two champions.

 

[Vader]

Interesting selections in the Australian team for the Boxing Day Test tomorrow.

• No Beau Webster.
• No Todd Murphy, with Head & Labuschagne the only spin options.
• Green to bat at #7 (still 1 place too high).

With Doggett, Neser and Richardson all named in the 12, one of them will be missing out. Your guess is as good as mine.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Interesting selections in the Australian team for the Boxing Day Test tomorrow.

• No Beau Webster.
• No Todd Murphy, with Head & Labuschagne the only spin options.
• Green to bat at #7 (still 1 place too high).

With Doggett, Neser and Richardson all named in the 12, one of them will be missing out. Your guess is as good as mine.

Really should be getting games into Murphy, particularly on his home deck.

Playing Webster over Green would have at least given us a spin option.

Strange selections.

 

[Scorpus]

C’mon man.

I can wear not living up to his talent in this series but he was the only one consistently scoring in the Windies.

He can be afforded more time now the series is won

Green also has two Test centuries, whereas Murphy has no notable achievements of any kind

 

[Vader]

Really should be getting games into Murphy, particularly on his home deck.

Playing Webster over Green would have at least given us a spin option.

Strange selections.

Murphy doesn't exactly fill me with excitement, but the omission of Webster means we really are down to just part-time spin options.

Interesting selection choices.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Green also has two Test centuries, whereas Murphy has no notable achievements of any kind

Green clearly has ability at the top level.

Just needs to produce consistently.

Doesn't look mentally right to me. Doesn't even look confident in the field.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Both teams without a proper spinner. Almost have to bowl first if you win the toss

 

[Interloperer]

Without a score in the next two tests I think Cam Green is on the downward slide out of international cricket. I mean in a meaningful sense, inertia will give him a good 2 or 3 years of getting picked for non-world cup limited overs cricket where half the first XI is rested.

The converse of a younger player getting picked on potential over bad form, is that they become older players who aren't picked on good form due to having been tried and failed.

 

[FR0GGY]

Starc 22@17 after 3 is incredible in its self but to also average 50 with the bat is surely all time series stuff.

 

[Cromulant]

Starc 22@17 after 3 is incredible in its self but to also average 50 with the bat is surely all time series stuff.

Hes having some sort of series thats for sure

 

[Mostyn]

... and yet, Murphy's on-field achievements for the Crows comfortably exceed Green's on-field achievements for Australia.

What this tells us is that Green is wasting his talent & potential. Murphy was arguably one of the least talented players to ever represent the AFC, yet he made the most of his limited abilities. Green would do well to emulate him in this regard.

You are absolutely correct that Green is the opposite of Murphy. Right now, he's more like Troy Menzel or Curtly Hampton - players blessed with ridiculous talents, but who never came close to fulfilling their potential.

You do post some stupid shit sometimes.

Cam Green has already had multiple test centuries and has a five for against South Africa IN South Africa.

Not a single thing Murphy achieved comes within a mile of that.

Green has battled some injuries and some form - but he's still only 26. There is an extraordinary test cricketer there.

 

[Gtowncrow]

Hes having some sort of series thats for sure

'Cometh the moment...'

Losing Hazelwood and Cummins before the first test put everything on his shoulders.
Awesome response by the big guy.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Both teams without a proper spinner. Almost have to bowl first if you win the toss

Sure enough, Stokes wins and bowls first

Smith said we would have bowled too

 

[Mostyn]

Murphy doesn't exactly fill me with excitement, but the omission of Webster means we really are down to just part-time spin options.

Interesting selection choices.

It's a green top - probably the only thing that gives the English bowlers a chance

 

[FR0GGY]

Bethell looks like Nick Watson and dermies love child

 

[Cromulant]

Bethell looks like Nick Watson and dermies love child

Bit of Jake Paul about the hair, not the shattered jaw.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Fun fact posted on CricInfo... Australia's number #8 has 5 more 1st class centuries than England's #3.

 

[Vader]

So... Australia have named Neser at #8, ahead of Starc at #9. Given how well Starc has batted this series, and how poorly Green has batted, should Green be batting at #9?

 

[Vader]

Well that's unfortunate... David Warner is back in the commentary booth for the Boxing Day Test. I thought he was out for the duration of the BBL. Unfortunately for the viewers' ears (and intelligence), it seems this is not the case.l