Changes for the 3rd Test

[Coops93]

The myth that Nevill is some super-keeper is perputuated partly because of how few runs he makes, people think he must be a jet keeper when he's probably not even the best keeper in the country

He might not be a jet, but he's still the best in the country.

Similar to how most say Wade is hopeless at keeping. He's not as good as Neville, but he has definitely improved from his last test stint. No way he would make that many howlers again.

 

[iluvparis]

I am not comparing Nevill to Waugh... I am saying that batters can sometimes take a while to find their feet at international level.

Ok - how many tests would you give him before giving up?

 

[JackOutback]

Ok - how many tests would you give him before giving up?

A genuine question, but what would you demand of him? Centuries, semi-regular half centuries, regular scores in the 30s?

I definitely think his average has been harmed by coming in at 6 for bugger all too often.

 

[iluvparis]

A genuine question, but what would you demand of him? Centuries, semi-regular half centuries, regular scores in the 30s?

I definitely think his average has been harmed by coming in at 6 five for bugger all too often.

I'd expect an average higher than 23

Coming in at 6-fa-bugger all is no excuse. Basically you're saying he hasn't had enough games to make meaningless runs. We've never needed our keeper more in decades and he has failed repeatedly.

 

[JackOutback]

I'd expect an average higher than 23

Coming in at 6-fa-bugger all is no excuse. Basically you're saying he hasn't had enough games to make meaningless runs. We've never needed our keeper more in decades and he has failed repeatedly.

Coming in at 6 for bugger all means greater pressure, often batting with the tail, forced to face many more deliveries for your runs, It might not be an excuse, but it is a factor.

 

[corbies]

A genuine question, but what would you demand of him? Centuries, semi-regular half centuries, regular scores in the 30s?

I definitely think his average has been harmed by coming in at 6 five for bugger all too often.

People also forget he made innings like the 115-ball 9 in Sri Lanka when we were trying to save the test match. It effects his average adversely but its value is much more important than just runs.

FTR I agree with the Wade selection. I just don't think Nevill deserves the hate he is getting.

 

[Demosthenes]

Wade is a HUGE upgrade on batting.

We will see.

 

[iluvparis]

I don't think he deserves the love he is getting

 

[Kickin Goals]

It's batsmen not batters.

 

[a mayes ing]

It's batsmen not batters.

Does it really matter? I think everyone knows what they mean

 

[The Passenger]

I think everyone is putting a bit too much stock in the Wade/Nevill decision. Wade's batting is stronger, but his keeping is weaker. I think the end net result is going to be much the same. The real test for Wade will come in India where keeping is much more of a challenge.

I still don't understand what Chris Hartley has to do. Is a significantly better keeper then both. Would back his gritty style of batting to be able to replicate his FC performances at tests and average somewhere in the low 30's. If he can do that he'd actually be an upgrade on Nevill with that bat. The downgrade he would to Wade's keeping certainly would be made up behind the stumps. At 34 It'd go against the current mantra of lets look to some young guys, but I think he'd actually provide the perfect stop gap for a couple of seasons whilst another young keeper shows he is read to step in. But I feel like I'm banging my head against a brick door. I don't know if he's a bit of a prick and not well liked within the administration but it just seems bizarre that has not played a single international game (of any format) when he's been the best pure keeper in the system for the last decade.

Keep an eye out for a kid called Arjun Nair. A top order batsmen from ACT/NSW. Kid seems likely to be a very good player. Only 18 but showing plenty in grade cricket in NSW.

Massive wraps on him, but like many young guys is battling with the step up to adult cricket. Was playing first grade cricket whilst still playing Green Shield (U/16's) which is very rare. But his first grade performances have been somewhat underwhelming. Played about 40 games now and only scored around 500 runs averaging in the teens, and taken 44 wickets at an average of about 30. Having his best season with the ball so far in 16/17 with 8 wickets at 23 in 4 games, so maybe starting to find his feet with the ball in hand.

I've only seen him bowl on video highlights and he looks pretty handy, but they're only highlights so you don't see how he goes over an entire innings, how he constructs his bowling spells and whether he tires out, or why he is struggling to take many wickets. His economy rate is usually under 3, and this year is only just over 2 which is exceptional - so it appears bowling too much loose shit wouldn't be the problem.

He's junior record is massive, but in an open age grade cricket he's only scored 3 half centuries (only 1 in first grade) and taken 3 wickets in an innings on 3 occasions, all of them in first grade and 2 of them being 4-wicket hauls. One to finish last season and one so far this season.

 

[bird_man]

Kinda feels like Nevill was dropped because of the failures of the top 6 batsmen. His primary job is to keep. He needs more runs, thats obvious, however he has a FC aveage of 37 (over 40 before he debuted) which means he can bat. Just feels like we need the best keeper with future tours in mind (india etc.) as drops are so costly.

On another note, bit disappointing none of the top 6 can bowl anything. Smith doesn't bowl himself anymore. Maddo can bowl a few dollies but thats about it.

I'd much prefer to have a top 6 that can bat and not bowl then guys that can't bat but can get you a wicket a game.

Smith never should have let his bowling not become a priority at all though, that is disappointing.

 

[The City Boyz]

I am literally drunk on the all the delicious salty tears from all the Neville fappers in here complaining about him being drop despite him having the worst batting record for one of our keepers in living memory.

Pete the Incomplete has proven his batting is completely unacceptable for an Australian test player and was rightfully shown the boot.

Bury that Baggy Green in the backyard Pete - you won't be needing it again

Agree mate. Much rather Wade than him.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

He has a FC average of 37, so yes he can bat. He hasn't produced yet in tests but many batters have had similar problems. didn't Mark Waugh take ages before he got a century and was averaging quite low for that time as well..

Mark Waugh tonned up on debut. 138 at Adelaide. Steve Waugh took some time before he came good, but his bowling was solid

 

[Kram]

Warner smashed in the Gangulys at training.

If you look carefully you can see Bradesmaen in the background

 

[Gough]

Warner smashed in the Gangulys at training.

If you look carefully you can see Bradesmaen in the background

New nets at the Oval suck, they're designed to keep us plebs as far from the talent as possible.

 

[HBF]

I told you Matthew would get back in again. Ye of little faith.

Just keeping the gloves warm until Sam Whiteman is ready.

 

[Doodlesweaver]

http://www.sbs.com.au/comedy/articl...ers-can-save-australian-cricket-and-australia

lold at #12. Will be MMarsh soon.

I'm stealing 'pure and undeniable suckage' for the next Aus collapse.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I dont get the Wade/Nev shitfight. I wouldnt pick either.

Hanscomb is batting at 5 and can keep. Seems stupid that we're picking another keeper over an extra batsman/bowler. De **** isn't a perfect keeper but having a solid keeper who is a strong bat is a godsend.

Reminds me of when Healy was given a few extra games and Gilly was picked as a batsman only (and dropped a catch IIRC)

 

[Art Vandelay_]

Just keeping the gloves warm until Sam Whiteman is ready.

At the themed Christmas party you'd dress up as the Grinch I'm guessing. I've been waiting two years to give Kram a rubbing over Wade..

Don't spoil my fun

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I dont get the Wade/Nev shitfight. I wouldnt pick either.

Hanscomb is batting at 5 and can keep. Seems stupid that we're picking another keeper over an extra batsman/bowler. De **** isn't a perfect keeper but having a solid keeper who is a strong bat is a godsend.

Reminds me of when Healy was given a few extra games and Gilly was picked as a batsman only (and dropped a catch IIRC)

You'd be hard pressed to justify playing Handscomb as a keeper, considering he doesn't keep for his state, and hasn't kept for several years, barring T20 which is really when the keeper is a glorified back stop. He's not a keeper. Not matter how much we'd love him to be, he's not.

It's such a shame that Tim Paine got injured when he did, as he looked every bit as good as Haddin with the bat, and a better keeper overall and would probably still be playing now.

 

[frankrizzo]

Nevill was a tough call but in some ways he is a victim of our selectors long held delusional belief that our top 5 was so strong that we could afford a bowler at 6 and also a keeper picked for his keeping at 7, maybe with a stronger top 6 he might have in time found his way with the bat but as it was he didn't bat much when we were scoring 5/500 on roads and then often had to bat with the tail when we were 5/40 on any pitch with life.

In saying all that the only thing more delusional than our selectors is those that keep saying we and others pick the best keeper in the country even if they aren't currently scoring runs which is just rubbish, haddin was a very very ordinary keeper who could average 35 with the bat so he was picked, wade was picked because he could bat and many current teams pick a keeper because they can bat even if they aren't the best keeper in the land.

Like it or not keepers need to average at least 30 to keep their spot in this era.

 

[big_e]

I dont get the Wade/Nev shitfight. I wouldnt pick either.

Hanscomb is batting at 5 and can keep. Seems stupid that we're picking another keeper over an extra batsman/bowler. De **** isn't a perfect keeper but having a solid keeper who is a strong bat is a godsend.

Reminds me of when Healy was given a few extra games and Gilly was picked as a batsman only (and dropped a catch IIRC)

Happened a few times in ODIs about two years before Gilchrist made his test debut. Here's a thread about it: https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/healy-and-gilchrist.153266/

 

[The Passenger]

Hanscomb is batting at 5 and can keep. Seems stupid that we're picking another keeper over an extra batsman/bowler. De **** isn't a perfect keeper but having a solid keeper who is a strong bat is a godsend.

He's kept. He doesn't keep. "Not a perfect keeper" wouldn't really describe up Handscomb as much as "very poor keeper" does.

 

[nobbyiscool]

Of course not, there's a balance, but first and foremost he needs to keep. An average of 23 is not great but that used to be about standard for wicketkeepers. Plus, you could point to a few good innings. Gilly changed the way we think of them, now we want to average about 40, hit regular centuries etc. I don't see Wade as that much of an upgrade in batting to counter balance the downgrade in keeping. I just hope someone like Whiteman or Carey can come on soon and replace Wade.

This is such a cop out defence of Neville.

It's not Gilchrist - it's Dhoni, it's McCullum (when he kept), it's De Villiers (when he kept), it's De Kock, it's Bairstow et al.

This is not some pipe dream that people have about the 2nd coming of Gilchrist. It's the standard for all the best countries who have an extra batsmen.

I don't even really think that Wade is the answer - in the context of picking so many other young players I would've had a look at Whiteman. But I do know that, on his test match batting to date, Neville is not the answer.