Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG

[MarcMaverick]

Trav, will have nightmares about that.

 

[philreich]

Tongue in for Carse?

Bethell might be a better bet .

 

[JackOutback]

Far too close to be attempting that shot. He needs to play balls on their merit.

That's the problem with Head opening the batting, you have to take the bad with the good.

Almost willing to accept it. Take the 12 with the 170. But hopefully an opener stakes his claim in the second half of the Shield, Khawaja retires in Sydney and we go back to a proper opening duo.

 

[Gethelred]

Yes, against a ragged and unfit team who can't do the basics properly.

VVS Laxman didn't play on drives but flicked off his legs and hip, almost up to mid chest height. Was he playing against 'a ragged and unfit team who can't do the basics properly' when he got that ton in Perth?

Graeme Smith held the bat in a highly unconventional manner which all but prevented him from playing a shot with any power between cover-point and mid on. When he got runs against Australia, was he playing against 'a ragged and unfit team who can't do the basics properly'?

Virender Sehwag barely moved his feet when he played, instead simply freeing his hands and keeping his head still. He averaged 46.86 in Australia. Was he always playing against 'a ragged and unfit team who can't do the basics properly'?

Do I have to keep getting out examples from the long and storied history of cricket concerning the technical flaws in great players before my point is made sufficiently for your liking?

Cricket is interesting because of the differences between players, because of the areas of strength or weaknesses. Head is a near perfect illustration of it: there are just so many areas of weakness and insufficiency he covers by just blasting you for 4.

And just blasting it for 4 works regardless of where you bat. It worked for Greenidge. It worked for Hayden. It worked for Sehwag. It works for Head.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

Beating up on spuds at home? Surely you jest

I jest that this England team are spuds?

Or I jest that Head is rubbish outside Australia?

Which of these assertions do you think is funny?

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Head isn't an opening bat in conditions like these. His horizontal bat shots without genuine width always a risk when you misjudge the bounce with a new ball on a fresh deck.

Ridiculous that we didn't give Khawaja the opportunity (even if he'd score a 25 (70)) to do what he's done well and open the batting in tough conditions and set up an innings for Head to counterpunch. We've left runs out there by losing Head by forcing him to try (and fail) to manage being sent in.

 

[Neese]

Nice Marn

 

[philreich]

Who said we'd be two down at lunch?

Guilty.

 

[Pistol Night]

Tongue in for Carse?

Read that while you’re squinting..

 

[Westend]

Almost willing to accept it. Take the 12 with the 170. But hopefully an opener stakes his claim in the second half of the Shield, Khawaja retires in Sydney and we go back to a proper opening duo.

That’s the plan

 

[Pakenhamsaint]

Nice Marn

Is he giving them the shampoo and conditioner?

 

[FullyBigKPro]

Are you at the ground/in a box FullyBigKPro ? I reckon you need to give us all a wave of apology

In a corp box tomorrow

 

[Back Pocket Rocket]

Who said we'd be two down at lunch?

That would be a good result

 

[cats_09]

And having just watched Travis get out, Jake tries a similar type of shot

 

[jb04]

Tongue in for Carse?

It's too early in the morning to wrap my head around this.

 

[SparklingAle69]

Is Gus Atkinson related to Rory Atkinson?

 

[Kapow!!!]

On a trip with the father in law to tick one off the bucketlist. At home: Wife with 1 year old who's teething. At the G: 500ml Midstrength Goats. This may end badly...

 

[dogs105]

In a corp box tomorrow

Need a pic of the food and drink situation in the corporate area...

 

[Pistol Night]

Is he giving them the shampoo and conditioner?

Haydos promoting Head and Shoulders shampoo then being bald 2 years later should send a warning to potential companies

 

[Membling]

And having just watched Travis get out, Jake tries a similar type of shot

The t20 mindset effect.

Keep swinging the bat no matter the situation.

 

[Cory]

Listening to Warner commentate is like listening to nails on a chalkboard

 

[dogs105]

Soft hands Labs

 

[HBF]

Anyone want to take a stab at what a good score on this pitch will be?

 

[dogs105]

Soft hands Labs

Soft leg Labs

 

[MarcMaverick]

Some Afrikaan banter between Carse and Labs.