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

[peternorth]

Not go into town for sure - it'll be full of Barmy Armies getting pissed and singing mindlessly chanting on street corners.

When Indian supporters do this there are cries of DEPORT. Should this be applied to english and welsh supporters!?

 

[Gough]

At least Dyson got a hundred in Sydney against a good West Indies attack, took a goodish catch that Test too.

 

[Nicho50]

Weatherald gets Sydney and the next series for mine. We’ve had so much chopping and changing and I think the Head Weatherald pair at this point in time has done enough in terms of partnerships and what it looks like.

Let these guys settle in for the next 12-24 months.

For batting changes it’s Green, Marnus and Uzzie that I’d be changing up first before a guy whose literally in the start of his test career.

Bring Renshaw in at 3 for Marnus.

Not sure Inglis is the option for 5. Perhaps they can get Kellerway in and ease him into it at 5.

Webster did nothing wrong and deserves the AR spot for now.

Richardson was underwhelming on a good bowling wicket but give him another run.

I’d rest Starc for Sydney and get Bartlett into the team.

 

[sr36]

Usman batted well 1 Test ago, look I'm all for new blood in the batting lineup however it's actually ridiculous to deny him the Sydney Test at this point.

I thought he batted very well in the first innings here too.

 

[JimmyBC]

I've gotta say I've soured on getting the slug from snug back in the side his bowling is nanna rolling the arm over stuff & I don't think he's good enough purely as a batter.

 

[sr36]

The simple answer is all 5 tests should be held at Adelaide Oval.

Brisbane was an outstanding pitch too.

 

[peternorth]

Look, I hear you, I’m very much an old school Cricketer and cricket coach and what you have posted is music to my ears, but sadly it isn’t going to happen.

So many things have moved against what we would like to happen thar unfortunately we are never going to get back to that place.

I see you as the doyen on this board and cricket on bigfooty. And you are correct, the toothpaste is out of the tube.

However, how prevalent are t20 type strokes at junior level these days? Are they practicing reverse sweeps, ramps et al?

If I take a sport thats close to my heart in basketball, the accurate Steph Curry has transformed the game in the NBA into a 3pt shooting comp with fundamentals such as the mid range J and defensive pride a distant memory.

Is it the tiktok generation? Lack of will to grind it out, short attention span. Adrenaline rushes and dopamine hits. Doom scrolling and neck craning looking at smart devices regularly. Things that is widespread these days

 

[unitedhawk2]

The simple answer is all 5 tests should be held at Adelaide Oval.

A 'Gather' series of Test Cricket?

Not the worst idea in the world.

 

[peternorth]

Smith should have taken more of the strike when the tailenders arrived but he mainly plays for himself..

steve waugh likes this

 

[checkraiseulite]

Look how the top scorers batted. Controlled accumulation just wasn't going to work on that pitch. No one was middling it so you had to reduce the chances of edges being caught.

exactly. you had to score while the pitch had just been rolled and the ball was hard.

going hard early was 100% the right call.

 

[peternorth]

Anyway, pitch should be flatter today. Lots of runs on offer

 

[Bedi]

Weatherald gets Sydney and the next series for mine. We’ve had so much chopping and changing and I think the Head Weatherald pair at this point in time has done enough in terms of partnerships and what it looks like.

Let these guys settle in for the next 12-24 months.

For batting changes it’s Green, Marnus and Uzzie that I’d be changing up first before a guy whose literally in the start of his test career.

Bring Renshaw in at 3 for Marnus.

Not sure Inglis is the option for 5. Perhaps they can get Kellerway in and ease him into it at 5.

Webster did nothing wrong and deserves the AR spot for now.

Richardson was underwhelming on a good bowling wicket but give him another run.

I’d rest Starc for Sydney and get Bartlett into the team.

rest Starc for what? No chance he's agreeing to that.

 

[HBF]

Beyond disappointed.
Had a ticket for today and was really looking forward to going to the G.

Does anyone know what the process is to get my refund processed?

 

[Ohitsthatguy]

rest Starc for what? No chance he's agreeing to that.

Which is unfortunate because his record at the SCG is diabolical

 

[Bedi]

Which is unfortunate because his record at the SCG is diabolical

i didn't know that, but that's interesting to hear given it's his home ground.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

rest Starc for what? No chance he's agreeing to that.

Given what is coming up is mostly T20, not another test series, I see even less reason to rest him than would otherwise be the case. I may have rested him in Melbourne had Cummins stayed fit, given he does have a history declining toward the end of long series. You could do that for Sydney, but do we want to go into a Test with zero of the first choice bowling l;ine up.
Sydney weather will probably rest him anyway.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Its hard to drop players from a side thats 3-1 up but imo they should be.

Renshaw in - Weatherald out
Murphy in - Starc (Rested)
McSweeney in - Green out

I would pick the following.

Head
Renshaw
Labuschagne
Smith
Khawaja (Retirement Game)
McSweeney
Carey
Neser
Richardson
Murphy
Bolland

 

[Voice of the G]

Given what is coming up is mostly T20, not another test series, I see even less reason to rest him than would otherwise be the case. I may have rested him in Melbourne had Cummins stayed fit, given he does have a history declining toward the end of long series. You could do that for Sydney, but do we want to go into a Test with zero of the first choice bowling l;ine up.
Sydney weather will probably rest him anyway.

Boland has played all tests so far and I thought they might have rested him in Sydney and Starc in Melbourne but looks like they will play both in Sydney now.

 

[smasha]

Page "We prepared the pitch for the last days of the test"

How about prepare it for ALL days of a test.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Not sure if already posted.

 

[Around the Wicket]

Next boxing day will be a road I can see it now.

Williamson 250 - ill bump this post in 12 months.

 

[Cainozz]

At least this series has shown there is depth and ongoing options for pace bowlers
Really need to work out what the batting lineup will look like for a big run of matches coming up

September/October ‘26 - SA 3 tests Away

December/January ‘26, ‘27 - NZ 4 tests Home

January/February ‘27 - India 5 tests Away

March ‘27 - Bangladesh 2 tests Home

March ‘27 - England 1 test Home

June/July ‘27 - England 5 tests Away

What could it look like, will need a reliable and diverse group of players to pick from

Keeping Head at the top of the order should be the way to go as I can see him having a big series in SA and at home next summer. Also good if he’s still our opener for India so there’s no disruption in the batting order.

I would like to see McSweeney be protected at no.5 and given a decent stint of 5 tests. Think he could be a handy accumulator at no.5.

Marnus and Green need a big off season, plenty of training and red ball practice in the winter. Maybe Pete Handscomb gets selected for the India tour as one last hurrah for added experience.

 

[dumb]

Be surprised if the Curator isn't given the arse tbh. Surely someone at CA was saying we want roads for maximum revenue now the series is done.

it seems like he made an oopsie. but i swear, some of the actions from cricket australia makes it appear formats other than t20 are designed for failure. they will knife the curator, while not even publicising an odi game.

 

[HoldMyBeer]

On the 7th day 'ye shall rest' Exodus

Righto, got the family, gathered around the telly and looking forward to Day 3 of the cricket ----

 

[Bedi]

Given what is coming up is mostly T20, not another test series, I see even less reason to rest him than would otherwise be the case. I may have rested him in Melbourne had Cummins stayed fit, given he does have a history declining toward the end of long series. You could do that for Sydney, but do we want to go into a Test with zero of the first choice bowling l;ine up.
Sydney weather will probably rest him anyway.

Futher to that no one needs a rest after a match that went less than two days. Should not be gifting anyone a baggy green