Big Cricket Thread

[Ochre]

Don't see how Monday's Scorchers game can be played in WA now.

 

[WCE_phil]

yeah not saying he’s gonna displace smudge and Marnus but for me 3-6 in the national side should always be top order batsmen at state level. He bats at 4 at times at shield level but IMO 3 is more harder as could easily come in with a moving ball with barely anything on the scoreboard.

Not speaking specifically of Marsh here however I am still firmly of the belief that positions 5-6 in the batting line up should not be filled with top order batsmen. Yes, the shield competition is weaker now than it has been in the past and I can agree that moving higher up the batting order could potentially help players get picked in the national side.

However I firmly believe in the structure of a test side and in particular if you want to be successful in differing playing conditions that there should be a structure to the batsmen who fill the roles. Your openers should show great resilience, technique and very importantly when to leave. Think of Justin Langer and Mark Taylor types.

Your number 3 and number 4 batsmen should technically be the strongest batsmen in your side. The point of openers is to see off the new ball and develop the groundwork for a large total. The number 3 in particular should also be technically capable of playing the role of an opener or be able to simplify his game so that should an opener fall early they can then see off the new ball. Think of your Pontings, Smith's, Ian Chappells, Michael Clarke's, Mark Waugh's and Damien Martyn types.

Once the new ball has been seen off your number 3 and 4 are generally your most talented batsmen. They may have deficiencies in technique which could be their undoing against the new ball and will often bat with differing techniques to those that are traditional. But once those first 10 overs are done and in particular 20 once the new ball isn't moving around or as hard they should be pushing for runs to build the teams score more quickly than that of the openers. Your number 4 should in a perfect world not be as technically capable of filling the role of an opener but sometimes particularly with huge talent they may be. What they need to be is a player that can anchor your innings and in particular be equally proficient in playing against quality spin bowlers as well as fast bowlers.

Your number 5-6 hold a different role and this becomes even more important in a third or fourth innings. They need to be gritty, able to handle a deteriorating pitch, play well against spin in particular as well as being very good at farming the strike so that if their partners start to fall they can hold as much of the strike as possible to even if slowly build a large total. Think of players two of Australia's all time greats here in Steve Waugh and Alan Border and even one that's not an all time great but Darren Lehmann was another in this mould.

In modern cricket you need at least 1 player and hopefully 2 in the top 6 who can bowl at a decent level, even if it's not at a great strike rate but in keeping the run rate down so that your strike bowlers in particular the fast bowlers can get enough rests between spells of bowling.

Your wicketkeeper whilst hopefully proficient with the bat and better than your out and out bowlers should first and foremost be a great keeper. They know better than any other how the ball will carry depending on the pitch, age of ball and bowler bowling will operate and how the ball will carry. They should also be able to line up the slip cordon in particlar and help the captain in making the adjustments there.

Your bowlers should combine multiple attributes and all bring something to the table. In non sub continental pitches the break down of these 4 positions is optimally 3 pacemen and 1 spinner. It can be argued in day/night tests where the ball moves about a lot more that 4 pacemen is the way to go and equally in sub continental pitches and india in particular that 2 spinners and 2 pacement is the right balance. Preferably one wrist and 1 finger spinner. (It's also why im sad Adelaide has become a day/night test as it was the most likely pitch in Australia where during day games you could play 2 genuine spinners with the SCG the only other real option)

One top of this like a batting order you need to be able to operate a balanced bowling setup. You should have two genuine strike bowlers. They may and tend not to have the best averages and tend to go for more runs but they take more wickets at a faster rate. You should always have one pace bowler who can bowl just pure good line and length at a good pace. I mean doing it at express pace is perfect but is only seen maybe once a generation by 1 bowler in the world. If playing with one spinner they should be able hold up an end for many overs bowling with slight variations. This is traditional of finger spinners. If bowling two spinners one may not be as great at putting the ball on the spot and getting slight variations but be more of a strike bowler. Again they will likely have a higher average but a better strike rate. This is a lot of the time the realm of great wrist spinners and we were incredibly fortunate to be able to witness the greatest of all time do it in Shane Warne. If your side has 3 fast bowlers for diversity one of them should hopefully be a left armer as it keeps the opposition on their toes and having to change up their style over to over.

 

[Agent93]

WCE_phil I'm down-voting you for no mention of MEK Hussey.

 

[WCE_phil]

WCE_phil I'm down-voting you for no mention of MEK Hussey.

He was only not mentioned due to structure. Spectacular player and one of my all time favourites. Also the reason why Gilchrist wasn't mentioned due to his amazing batting but it is not normal like the Australian team had from the mid nineties to mid 2000's to have multiple players all in one side who could traditionally be considered to be a generational talent. (across all sides in the world)

 

[Agent93]

Also the reason why Gilchrist wasn't mentioned due to his amazing batting

Gillie was doubly outstanding in that selectors couldn't believe how good he was so they gave Healy 3 more years, and after Gillie was done wicketkeeper expectations were ruined for a decade (to the fortune of Matthew Wade).

 

[Tugga27]

Don't see how Monday's Scorchers game can be played in WA now.

Why is that?
We're playing the Hurricanes.

 

[Ochre]

Why is that?
We're playing the Hurricanes.

Both teams have played in NSW recently

 

[Truckosaurus]

Three centuries in the last two BBL games :0

Edit: Well, two centuries and 99*

 

[KBLT]

Stranded on 99. Gotta feel for Philippe.

 

[THE A5]

Not speaking specifically of Marsh here however I am still firmly of the belief that positions 5-6 in the batting line up should not be filled with top order batsmen. Yes, the shield competition is weaker now than it has been in the past and I can agree that moving higher up the batting order could potentially help players get picked in the national side.

However I firmly believe in the structure of a test side and in particular if you want to be successful in differing playing conditions that there should be a structure to the batsmen who fill the roles. Your openers should show great resilience, technique and very importantly when to leave. Think of Justin Langer and Mark Taylor types.

Your number 3 and number 4 batsmen should technically be the strongest batsmen in your side. The point of openers is to see off the new ball and develop the groundwork for a large total. The number 3 in particular should also be technically capable of playing the role of an opener or be able to simplify his game so that should an opener fall early they can then see off the new ball. Think of your Pontings, Smith's, Ian Chappells, Michael Clarke's, Mark Waugh's and Damien Martyn types.

Once the new ball has been seen off your number 3 and 4 are generally your most talented batsmen. They may have deficiencies in technique which could be their undoing against the new ball and will often bat with differing techniques to those that are traditional. But once those first 10 overs are done and in particular 20 once the new ball isn't moving around or as hard they should be pushing for runs to build the teams score more quickly than that of the openers. Your number 4 should in a perfect world not be as technically capable of filling the role of an opener but sometimes particularly with huge talent they may be. What they need to be is a player that can anchor your innings and in particular be equally proficient in playing against quality spin bowlers as well as fast bowlers.

Your number 5-6 hold a different role and this becomes even more important in a third or fourth innings. They need to be gritty, able to handle a deteriorating pitch, play well against spin in particular as well as being very good at farming the strike so that if their partners start to fall they can hold as much of the strike as possible to even if slowly build a large total. Think of players two of Australia's all time greats here in Steve Waugh and Alan Border and even one that's not an all time great but Darren Lehmann was another in this mould.

In modern cricket you need at least 1 player and hopefully 2 in the top 6 who can bowl at a decent level, even if it's not at a great strike rate but in keeping the run rate down so that your strike bowlers in particular the fast bowlers can get enough rests between spells of bowling.

Your wicketkeeper whilst hopefully proficient with the bat and better than your out and out bowlers should first and foremost be a great keeper. They know better than any other how the ball will carry depending on the pitch, age of ball and bowler bowling will operate and how the ball will carry. They should also be able to line up the slip cordon in particlar and help the captain in making the adjustments there.

Your bowlers should combine multiple attributes and all bring something to the table. In non sub continental pitches the break down of these 4 positions is optimally 3 pacemen and 1 spinner. It can be argued in day/night tests where the ball moves about a lot more that 4 pacemen is the way to go and equally in sub continental pitches and india in particular that 2 spinners and 2 pacement is the right balance. Preferably one wrist and 1 finger spinner. (It's also why im sad Adelaide has become a day/night test as it was the most likely pitch in Australia where during day games you could play 2 genuine spinners with the SCG the only other real option)

One top of this like a batting order you need to be able to operate a balanced bowling setup. You should have two genuine strike bowlers. They may and tend not to have the best averages and tend to go for more runs but they take more wickets at a faster rate. You should always have one pace bowler who can bowl just pure good line and length at a good pace. I mean doing it at express pace is perfect but is only seen maybe once a generation by 1 bowler in the world. If playing with one spinner they should be able hold up an end for many overs bowling with slight variations. This is traditional of finger spinners. If bowling two spinners one may not be as great at putting the ball on the spot and getting slight variations but be more of a strike bowler. Again they will likely have a higher average but a better strike rate. This is a lot of the time the realm of great wrist spinners and we were incredibly fortunate to be able to witness the greatest of all time do it in Shane Warne. If your side has 3 fast bowlers for diversity one of them should hopefully be a left armer as it keeps the opposition on their toes and having to change up their style over to over.

Agree with the sentiment overall but feel like the quality and pitches of the shield is no longer there. Going back to Mitch, one if his biggest weaknesses is his mental game and ability to handle pressure(especially in red ball cricket). I think 3 at shield level allows him to get used to batting with pressure and great responsibility. It also allows him to work on his ability to rotate strike and not be a boundary or dot ball type player. It’s also not a huge move to 3 as he seems to be batting more at 4 these days too. I purely want him at three to work on his mental game cause thats what has let him down a lot of times for Australia in tests.

 

[ep2018]

Ryan Daniels claiming the Scorchers/Hurricanes home game is being moved to tassie. That's about it for cricket in WA this season. Sucks for WACA members.

 

[ep2018]

Smith and Starc will be back for the sixers toward the end of the season. Hard to see anyone coming close to them this season per usual.

 

[Seadog]

Pat Cummins is a close contact of a covid case.

 

[Ochre]

Happy to see Jhye in, but you gotta feel for Neser, been 12th man for most of the past 8 bajillion years it feels like, and just as there's an injury, Jhyes gone past him.

 

[Dazzler9]

I can see this series getting derailed real quick.

Unless....they play the series in WA!!

 

[Godfather32]

I can see this series getting derailed real quick.

Unless....they play the series in WA!!

I can see next year being worse than this year for disruptions etc to sporting events

 

[WCE_phil]

****ing day/night tests. Day off work, get up, get ready for the cricket and check.......... 4 hours till game starts.

 

[Godfather32]

******* day/night tests. Day off work, get up, get ready for the cricket and check.......... 4 hours till game starts.

I'm going out for a game of golf, should be back just in time for the first ball....unless we go to the pub after

 

[Chris_6678]

******* day/night tests. Day off work, get up, get ready for the cricket and check.......... 4 hours till game starts.

Sleep in ,fap over marshs ton in the BBL , breakfast beers…you will be fine mate.

 

[WCE_phil]

Going to go to bunnings, grab some fencing and do some work.

 

[Godfather32]

Going to go to bunnings, grab some fencing and do some work.

Out of all the options you chose the least day off to watch the cricket one

 

[Biggie]

 

[Keys]

So our two best bowlers from the first test are out to be replaced by a 3rd gamer and a debutante

Meanwhile England bring back two guys with 1000+ test wickets between them

This will be far closer than Brisbane

 

[Dazzler9]

So our two best bowlers from the first test are out to be replaced by a 3rd gamer and a debutante

Meanwhile England bring back two guys with 1000+ test wickets between them

This will be far closer than Brisbane

Meanwhile England bring back two guys with 1000+ test wickets between them...in a pink ball game.

 

[Keys]

Meanwhile England bring back two guys with 1000+ test wickets between them...in a pink ball game.

Well at least neither of them have a history of swinging the ball

oh wait….