Test The Ashes Fifth Test January 4-8 1000hrs @ The SCG

[dumb]

Webster seems like a good option to replace Ussie at 5 unless they're looking for new blood

 

[kickazz]

After 5 summers I don't see either. He just hasn't made the step up as he should. How long do you wait? He looks like he's make a great short form player but the long game he just hasn't performed. 2, or maybe even 3 summers, I'm happy to agree. 5 summers though....nup.

Maybe he has been out on a reduced load by the KKR so isn't allowed to bat for too long.

 

[theiaofseed]

Now that Webster is in too, then replace him with a spinner.

Who comes in for Khawaja?

 

[Portmagpies36]

I 100% understand what the selectors see in Green and I always have. I was lucky enough to see his brilliant innings in Wellington in 2024 live and thought he was on the precipice of emerging as the best player in Australia, perhaps even the world.

Since then he's averaged 22.28 from 18 innings. The stress fracture a few months after that brilliant Wellington innings came at an incredibly inconvenient time for sure, but at a certain point, you can't just keep selecting someone that keeps failing at international level based on potential. Particularly when you have an alternative, who, with almost every opportunity he has gotten, has looked far more comfortable at the level.

Green's still only 26-years-old so he has plenty of time to come back and realise his potential, but based on what we've seen from him since his return to the Test team, I think it's reasonable for people to be peeved that the selectors continue to blindly back him.

Has anyone noticed Green has a higher batting average than Stokes this series?

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Who comes in for Khawaja?

Mcsweeney

 

[Kennedy Parker]

I 100% understand what the selectors see in Green and I always have. I was lucky enough to see his brilliant innings in Wellington in 2024 live and thought he was on the precipice of emerging as the best player in Australia, perhaps even the world.

Since then he's averaged 22.28 from 18 innings. The stress fracture a few months after that brilliant Wellington innings came at an incredibly inconvenient time for sure, but at a certain point, you can't just keep selecting someone that keeps failing at international level based on potential. Particularly when you have an alternative, who, with almost every opportunity he has gotten, has looked far more comfortable at the level.

Green's still only 26-years-old so he has plenty of time to come back and realise his potential, but based on what we've seen from him since his return to the Test team, I think it's reasonable for people to be peeved that the selectors continue to blindly back him.

Watching Cam Green reminds me of a lot of following Sam Reid’s career at the Swans

Demonstrates such incredible athleticism and wide set of skills early on to get everyone excited about his potential but just struggles to put together a consistent run of form at the top level. But will always manage to play a blinder every 6 games or so to make everyone go ‘wow’

Then later when he finally begins to build great form, frustratingly cops an injury and loses the momentum

 

[JackOutback]

Has anyone noticed Green has a higher batting average than Stokes this series?

Above Duckett, Stokes, Pope and Bethell

 

[matty lloyd the champ]

Who comes in for Khawaja?

Hopefully not Josh Inglis.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Agree with all of this but it’s the last paragraph that is perfect.

Almost everyone calling for him to
Be dropped isn’t calling for him to never get another opportunity. Just for him to go back, work on his game and earn another chance.

This attitude of ‘we can’t drop him because he is so important to our future’ is so stupid. The fact he’s important to our future is why he should be.

But the point about highlighting his Shield stats is that he's already done what people propose he do - go back to the Shield and dominate. If he does it, we're back to square one, unless you think there's a chance he actually does fail at Shield level.

It's probably worth highlighting he didn't get to bat on the easiest pitches to bat on against the weakest opponent (Sri Lanka) in this run of form, too.

And Khawaja's retirement opens up a spot too. Maybe he takes Khawja's spot. But you're replacing him with the second best middle order bat if we drop two players.

 

[western royboy]

Just had a look. Yardley and Hogan both 5fers, and Wessels and Hookes both 140's

Must be Kandy, venue of Hookesy’s sole Test ton

 

[Gough]

I saw a play about Marty Feldman and there was a line in it after he got his first paid work where he said that he was going to be bigger than Tim Brooke-Taylor who was also in the audience that night.

 

[GreekLunatic]

For a spinner is sangha any good for the future

 

[Sonny Hayes]

But the point about highlighting his Shield stats is that he's already done what people propose he do - go back to the Shield and dominate. If he does it, we're back to square one, unless you think there's a chance he actually does fail at Shield level.

It's probably worth highlighting he didn't get to bat on the easiest pitches to bat on against the weakest opponent (Sri Lanka) in this run of form, too.

And Khawaja's retirement opens up a spot too. Maybe he takes Khawja's spot. But you're replacing him with the second best middle order bat if we drop two players.

Everyone who gets dropped performed at shield level before getting picked.

If it’s good enough for a Ponting, Clarke, Waugh it’s good enough for Green.

I simply think we have seen he is not currently good enough to warrant a spot in the team, it’s that simple. Give Mcsweeney a go and also give Green a chance to find form at the lower level

 

[western royboy]

For a spinner is sangha any good for the future

How would we know? Pitches aren’t conducive to slow bowling anymore. Lloyd Pope and Swepson play occasionally in the Shield but not all the time. Too much white ball seems to dull them. Just an opinion.

 

[Coasters7]

No need to play two all-rounders.

McSweeney would slot in perfectly at 5 as a direct Khawaja replacement, and can also bowl a bit.

Why does it matter what they’re classified as? If they’re amongst the best handful of bats at state level and there’s a spot for them then they play. Who cares if they’re both allrounders, they don’t both need to bowl.

McSweeney feels a bit Ferguson-esque. Probably not good enough but deserves a go in the middle.

If we made drastic changes (which isn’t realistic). It’d be Renshaw for Weatherald and McSweeney for Marnus for mine.

 

[ABAB]

Has anyone noticed Green has a higher batting average than Stokes this series?

He use to struggle to a start, now he gets a start and gets himself out.

 

[sr36]

For a spinner is sangha any good for the future

Definite chance in short form.

 

[Coasters7]

Mcsweeney in for green

McSweeney for Marnus or Weatherald.

Dropping Green in favour of state blokes that are nowhere near it seems to be a fantasy for many.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Neser did well as a nightwatchman. Certainly put Weatherald and Labuschagne to shame.

Head as good as he was, he left a double out there.

Khawaja, thank you for your service.

Carey, needs to practice not stepping on the same rakes.

Green, if potential could fire and fuel a rocketship, he'd be in Neptunes orbit.

 

[Alfonz]

An inspirational standard setter who nobody follows.
By the way he is averaging 20 with the bat this series.

And those 20 runs have been scored at the lowest strike rate out of anybody except Boland, Lyon and Tongue. And the players are supposed to follow him preaching about bazball?

The guy is a complete fraud as leader. Petulant, selfish, sooks at every opportunity. He's not a good captain's arseh*le. He's just a thug who wants to abuse and bash people.

He's not even that great a player. Sure, he is a Test standard all-rounder with a couple of iconic performances under his belt, but overall he is about on par with Watson (as someone else has duly noted), or a slightly better version of Green.

 

[threenewpadlocks]

Everyone who gets dropped performed at shield level before getting picked.

This is a bit of a false equivalence. Nobody has played as well as Green at Shield level, not even Webster - Green would have equalled Webster's record breaking from a couple of seasons ago if you gave him more Shield games to play.

Merely "performed" at Shield level is not close to Green's literally dominance in two facets of the game.

I simply think we have seen he is not currently good enough to warrant a spot in the team, it’s that simple.

I disagree. With Khawaja retiring, and Weatherald a factor too, I think that Green is within the 7 players most likely to score the most runs for Australia among all the options we have. He might have dropped down to number 7 on that list now because of his current form, but I'm not convinced we've got better options.

If we weren't a weak batting line up and a strong bowling line up, I would otherwise agree with dropping him like we did to the players you listed.

Not convinced by McSweeney's Shield form this season either.

 

[swingdog]

Green really reminds me of Graeme Hick.

Dominated domestic cricket for years, couldn’t do it in tests.

Shield form is an indicator of potential test form, not a guarantee.

 

[western royboy]

Green really reminds me of Graeme Hick.

Dominated domestic cricket for years, couldn’t do it in tests.

Shield form is an indicator of potential test form, not a guarantee.

Similarity’s go a bit further, tall men, bad footwork early

 

[MisterMarcus]

McSweeney for Marnus or Weatherald.

Dropping Green in favour of state blokes that are nowhere near it seems to be a fantasy for many.

Webster isn't "a state bloke who's nowhere near it" though.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Green really reminds me of Graeme Hick.

Dominated domestic cricket for years, couldn’t do it in tests.

Shield form is an indicator of potential test form, not a guarantee.

Similarity’s go a bit further, tall men, bad footwork early

Green is the cricket version of Jack Watts.