Australia v India, 1st Test at Adelaide Oval Dec 6-10.

I reckon the issue is confidence. The team as a whole is on the back foot due to the witch hunt of earlier this year and their careful PR tactics required feel as though they've filtered into the batting and we're just not scoring. It's certainly not the most talented team to represent Australia in recent times, but they've done really well get through the full day in what seem to be somewhat tricky conditions. They just haven't been able to score. Hope the public really get behind the team, obviously its difficult since the most vocal tend to be those who want to tear the team down.

So much of today has felt like a team has truly bought into the idea they're not good enough as batters. How easily bogged down we've been has just been frustrating to say the least.

At least Head so far has played an excellent innings, the rest, sheesh.
 
Jun 7, 2012
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I know he’s an easy target but Shaun Marsh has got to have the worst career for an Australian who has played as much as he has. Now he has 23 scores under five from his 62 innings, which is about 38% of his innings. He’ll score a century next game like he always does just before he’ll get drops which will guarantee him a few more matches.

Really solid innings from Head, hopefully he can continue this tomorrow and we can build a bit of a lead. Handscomb was slightly disappointing, he gave a bit of a fight which is something the team lacks but it doesn’t look like he has improved his game much since he got dropped last year. Looked vulnerable most of his innings. Took Shami apart who was bowling short too him but Bumrah had him in all sorts bowling the fuller length.

Ashwin and Ishant have definitely improved from the last time they came over here. Bowled really well today and if they keep that up it’s going to be a tough series for our batsman.
 
Kohli is this generations best player

So the hype is justified

Smith average: 61.99, centuries: 23
Kohli average: 54.99, centuries: 24.

Pretty hard to make that argument, seeing the numbers just don't back that statement up at all. Top 5 bat, potentially number 2 overall.
 
Still think we can potentially get a lead if Starc finds his groove and keep rotating the strike with Head.

Problem is with us batting last - our lead needs to up near 100 - and i can't see that happening

Just watched the wickets - gee Paine and Cummins copped beauties
 
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Smith average: 61.99, centuries: 23
Kohli average: 54.99, centuries: 24.

Pretty hard to make that argument, seeing the numbers just don't back that statement up at all. Top 5 bat, potentially number 2 overall.
I think Kohli is further ahead of the competition in limited overs than Smith is ahead of the pack in Tests, so overall I would probably have him ahead, but in Tests Smith is comfortably the best bat of the generation. I think they're both equally limited captains though (although Kohli hasn't managed to drop a nuke on his own side yet, so I'd have to give him the edge there as well).
 

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Wade is more deserving of a recall based on form in the last 12 months than Maxwell.

Unless we need a specialist fielder I couldn’t care less about that given our dire situation when it comes to our batting stocks.

His recent form has definitely been better, but I do have concerns about playing a left-hander against Ashwin at #6.

He did OK with the bat in India though, so I wouldn't complain too much if he got selected.
 
His recent form has definitely been better, but I do have concerns about playing a left-hander against Ashwin at #6.

He did OK with the bat in India though, so I wouldn't complain too much if he got selected.

Marsh is a left hander anyway. Can replace Marsh and we’d lose nothing
 
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