Ashes 2021/22

[Sonny Hayes]

Yea, it's still so over the top. Just move on from it, wasn't a massive thing considering it's prevalence in cricket. Aus media still has an unhealthy obsession with it. I mean look at Afridi, he was biting a cricket ball like he was eating an apple and was doing the running man in the middle of the pitch. He's considered a hero in Pakistan.

The list of people that have done it is pretty long, what about trescothick admitted to ball tampering during the 05 Ashes which is close to the high point of English cricket this century, they won’t acknowledge it. Flintoff basically told his former team mates to be quiet because they had done some dodgy shit as well.

 

[Coops93]

Didn't even warrant a ban at all, did we not see what FAF got?

We certainly went way over the top, imo we fell into media pressure from all over the world, as after all everyone was piling on us despite all their previous indiscretions.

In Geoff Lemons book Steve Smiths men he talks about how the players in the SA camp and others across the world didn't really see it as any worse than any other case of tampering and thought the blow-up was over the top.

It's interesting Smith and co. are still derided so much despite ball tampering being a semi-common occurrence (at least, individuals being caught is) and none of them are ever brought up. CA going in super hard on the bans probably made that perception worse and caused more damage in the long run.

 

[Nuggetz]

It wasn't even the cricket media that was over the top, it was all other media personalities who probably only watch cricket during xmas period that went nuts. They'll be having hot takes during this ashes period too, no doubt.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

This is a bit much from Malcolm Conn

Nah, Malcom is spot in here. Warne has a weird vendetta against Starc. You can make an argument for Starc not to be picked for this particular series (I’d still pick him first test though), but Warne has been trash talking him from day dot.

 

[BarryMorgan]

Nah, Malcom is spot in here. Warne has a weird vendetta against Starc. You can make an argument for Starc not to be picked for this particular series (I’d still pick him first test though), but Warne has been trash talking him from day dot.

Speaking of vendettas, good to see Mark Waugh now entering his 20th consecutive summer of talking up Moises Henriques as a test option by hooking into Cam Green’s batting technique.

 

[PhatBoy]

Yea, it's still so over the top. Just move on from it, wasn't a massive thing considering it's prevalence in cricket. Aus media still has an unhealthy obsession with it. I mean look at Afridi, he was biting a cricket ball like he was eating an apple and was doing the running man in the middle of the pitch. He's considered a hero in Pakistan.

I’ve posted this a dozen times before so one more won’t hurt.

When you lead the charge for playing ‘fair’ cricket and are the most vocal in shouting down any other nation that dares stray from the path, you cultivate for yourself an image that is easier to tarnish and when you do tarnish it, the blowback is significant.

Imagine the most politically correct voice in football constantly decrying the work of Sam Newman, Tex Walker, the people that booed Adam Goodes, and then discovered that they once went to a party wearing blackface.

Their blowback would be disproportionately high.

 

[Coops93]

Nah, Malcom is spot in here. Warne has a weird vendetta against Starc. You can make an argument for Starc not to be picked for this particular series (I’d still pick him first test though), but Warne has been trash talking him from day dot.

Starc is playing a professional sport at the highest level and was a large reason we lost the test series. Regardless of personal happenings, once you walk out on to the field you're fair game, and if you perform badly you're open to critique.

He's not liked him since day dot, sure, but Starc definitely deserves criticism for last season. Just because it was hard for him doesn't mean he deserves a pat on the back, the Indians absolutely tore him apart.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Always read to the end...

Here I was thinking that plurals aren't used to refer to singular events...

 

[holybishop]

This is a bit much from Malcolm Conn

Malcolm is now a mouthpiece for Cricket NSW. He's also taken aim at Warne for being critical of Lyon.

 

[Red Till The End]

Imagine being someone who sides with Shane Warne on anything. Can't relate

 

[BarryMorgan]

Malcolm is now a mouthpiece for Cricket NSW. He's also taken aim at Warne for being critical of Lyon.

Why on earth does Warne think Conn would get a please explain from his boss for expressing an opinion?

 

[Coops93]

Imagine being someone who sides with Shane Warne on anything. Can't relate

Playing the man and not the ball was how Warne got many of his wickets

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Speaking of vendettas, good to see Mark Waugh now entering his 20th consecutive summer of talking up Moises Henriques as a test option by hooking into Cam Green’s batting technique.

Yeah, it’s a weird horse to flog to death that one, he’s been a white ball specialist for years.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Starc is playing a professional sport at the highest level and was a large reason we lost the test series. Regardless of personal happenings, once you walk out on to the field you're fair game, and if you perform badly you're open to critique.

He's not liked him since day dot, sure, but Starc definitely deserves criticism for last season. Just because it was hard for him doesn't mean he deserves a pat on the back, the Indians absolutely tore him apart.

I’m not saying that, however he obviously had some issues outside of the usual last series. Agree he was poor, however, he’s the incumbent with an enviable record, and as such he’s in the team. I reckon he’s on thin ice though.

warnes problem is not his recent form though, he hates him, it’s really weird. It’s time Warne stfu regarding Starc.

 

[Doashuey]

Playing the man and not the ball was how Warne got many of his wickets

Trying to reconcile how one would take a wicket by playing the ball...

 

[Coops93]

I’m not saying that, however he obviously had some issues outside of the usual last series. Agree he was poor, however, he’s the incumbent with an enviable record, and as such he’s in the team. I reckon he’s on thin ice though.

warnes problem is not his recent form though, he hates him, it’s really weird. It’s time Warne stfu regarding Starc.

In general he's definitely been overtly critical of him, but in this instance I think he's right (though he says it every year so was bound to happen). The journo saying he was being unfair because of Starcs Dad last yr is poor journalism. There's no excuses at the top level and as weird as Warnes thing with Starc can be he was correct to be critical of his last yr -18 months.

 

[Coops93]

Trying to reconcile how one would take a wicket by playing the ball...

Thus is the magic of SKW

 

[BarryMorgan]

Yeah, it’s a weird horse to flog to death that one, he’s been a white ball specialist for years.

Inherited Geoff Lawson’s position as Head of NSW Player Promotion at Expense of All Others. Lucrative gig.

 

[big_e]

So we change it then what…

Do you actually believe the premier won’t change rules 2 days before the game…I sure as anything wouldn’t bet against that happening…

Then what’s the plan we’ve changed the whole thing and then the premier puts more protocols in place. How about no.

England have been very fair they have done their quarantine they don’t need to waste more time doing it again. Hold the second match D/N at the MCG.

Also have the issues of families not being allowed in and restrictions on broadcasters. It’s a nightmare and it doesn’t need to be. Glad CA have said thanks but no thanks WA

A state changing rules that close to a test match? That hasn't happened since - *checks notes* - eleven months ago.

From our friends at Wikipedia....

In late December 2020, there was a COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, prompting tighter restrictions in New South Wales. As a result, Cricket Australia looked at the contingency of swapping the venues of the third and fourth Tests in Sydney and Brisbane respectively.

Other scenarios that Cricket Australia were looking at was to host the last two Tests in Sydney, to avoid travel between states, or to host the second and third Tests in Melbourne. On 29 December 2020, Cricket Australia confirmed that Sydney would host the third Test as scheduled.

On 4 January 2021, the crowd capacity of the Sydney Cricket Ground was reduced from 50% to 25%.

The lengths that Cricket Australia went to in order to preserve Melbourne and Sydney's test matches is in stark contrast to their traditional shafting of Perth.

Again, a good summary from Wikipedia.

In April 2020, Kevin Roberts, CEO of Cricket Australia looked at "creative" solutions for the tour due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These included the possibility of playing five Test matches instead of four, and to play all the Test matches behind closed doors at the Adelaide Oval. The Australian government was also looking at applying international travel exemptions to allow the tour to happen.

The following month, the BCCI confirmed that they were willing to put players in a two-week quarantine period to ensure that the tour goes ahead. Kevin Roberts later added that there is a "nine out of 10" chance of the tour taking place.

The Test series was scheduled to start in December 2020, with the first Test in Brisbane. The ODI series was scheduled to start in January 2021. On 28 May 2020, Cricket Australia confirmed all of the fixtures for the series. The following day, Kevin Roberts stated that the number of Test venues could be reduced to one or two grounds, depending on any travel restrictions imposed due to the virus.

Originally, the tour was also going to start with three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches, commencing on 11 October 2020, ahead of the then scheduled 2020 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. However, in July 2020, the International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed that the tournament had been postponed until 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, the T20I matches were postponed, after they clashed with the revised fixtures for the 2020 Indian Premier League.

Despite a lockdown in Melbourne in August 2020, Cricket Australia said they would do everything they can to ensure the Boxing Day Test goes ahead as planned. Cricket Australia were also looking at a revised schedule for the tour, including playing all the limited-overs matches before the Test series. On 20 August 2020, Sourav Ganguly, president of the BCCI, said that India's senior men's team would travel to Australia to fulfil their Future Tours Programme (FTP) commitments.

In September 2020, Cricket Australia were looking at further contingency plans for the tour, including moving venues if needed, and the possibility of replacing the Test match in Brisbane with white-ball fixtures. It was later announced that no matches of any form of cricket would be played in Perth, due to a major quarantine breach by then-Sydney Swans player Elijah Taylor during the 2020 AFL season.

In October 2020, an updated tour itinerary was published, with the ODIs taking place in Brisbane, the T20Is taking place in Adelaide, and the day/night Test match also taking place in Adelaide. Cricket Australia also confirmed that the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Manuka Oval in Canberra were part of their contingency plan to host the limited overs matches of the tour.

In October 2020, plans began to emerge to allow crowds back into venues, with Australia slowly coming out of COVID-19 restrictions. The following month, Cricket Australia confirmed the ground capacities for each match on the tour, with the possibility of more tickets being made available closer to the start of each match.

 

[big_e]

Malcolm is now a mouthpiece for Cricket NSW. He's also taken aim at Warne for being critical of Lyon.

Actually he's back to the writing for the paper again.

Still their mouthpiece, though.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

A state changing rules that close to a test match? That hasn't happened since - *checks notes* - eleven months ago.

From our friends at Wikipedia....



The lengths that Cricket Australia went to in order to preserve Melbourne and Sydney's test matches is in stark contrast to their traditional shafting of Perth.

Again, a good summary from Wikipedia.

Key words 11 months ago...

Times change and frankly get with the times.

 

[swingdog]

Key words 11 months ago...

Times change and frankly get with the times.

Get with the times because 'tradition', right?

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Get with the times because 'tradition', right?

Absolutely. Summer starts in Brisbane. If WA wanted the 5th test they had options it's that simple.

 

[Great8]

Head to bat at 5 from what I’m hearing.

 

[Torz]

Fox reporting the final XI. If true, I would’ve gone Jhye and Ussie over Starc and Head.