Cricket Discussion - Part 1

[philreich]

That's pretty damn ordinary form from S Smith... toughen up princess!

Didn't see it - what happened?

 

[LFC2010]

Didn't see it - what happened?

he had a talk to the umpires obviously complaining about the ball which had just been replaced which was controversial in itself as it was 79 overs old, next over the covers come on and an early lunch is called.

 

[mic59]

he had a talk to the umpires obviously complaining about the ball which had just been replaced which was controversial in itself as it was 79 overs old, next over the covers come on and an early lunch is called.

Sure there'll be something in the presser about it after today's play, certainly if I was a journalist there that's one of the questions I'd be asking Steve Smith. Makes it look like the calling for replacement balls was a ruse and was just done to get them closer to the bad weather.

 

[philreich]

he had a talk to the umpires obviously complaining about the ball which had just been replaced which was controversial in itself as it was 79 overs old, next over the covers come on and an early lunch is called.

So in other words you're suggesting that Steve Smith doesn't like it when things aren't going Australia's way. Newsflash Steve - things are gonna get a whole lot tougher when you go to India.....

 

[LFC2010]

So in other words you're suggesting that Steve Smith doesn't like it when things aren't going Australia's way. Newsflash Steve - things are gonna get a whole lot tougher when you go India

It does seem that way doesn't it.

our so much revered bowling attack has claimed 4 wickets in 80 overs, 2 of those were bad defensive shots from the batsmen.

Our bowling attack is cooked.

 

[philreich]

Looking forward to seeing how our batsmen respond, facing a 400+ total. We've been great front runners of late, but how good are the temperaments of our top 6 when they're playing catch up?

 

[Mufc1975]

So Smith gives Maddinson 3 overs,which btw cost more runs than he has made in his test career . I can see Smith claiming he is needed for his bowling as an all-rounder.

 

[Greasyrhys]

Looking like a draw for this Test...

 

[philreich]

Hazlewood head and shoulders above the rest in this innings - 26 overs, 11 maidens, 2 for 33. Those are McGrath-like figures: he seems to be getting better and better, the more he bowls for his country.

 

[Quadzilla]

Hazlewood head and shoulders above the rest in this innings - 26 overs, 11 maidens, 2 for 33. Those are McGrath-like figures: he seems to be getting better and better, the more he bowls for his country.

Bird is doing ok. Personally I wouldnt have picked him.

 

[raptalia]

This wicket is not that difficult and if Australia bat for five sessions in their first dig this will be a draw. Plenty more rain on the way as the forecast is for 70-80% chance of rain in Melbourne for the next three days.

The Pakis really need quick runs and an early declaration if they are to force a win. Unfortunately for them that has never been part of the Pakistani psyche.

 

[philreich]

Unless they get bowled out, you'd think Azhar gets his 200, and then the declaration comes. Surely if Pakistan are serious, they wouldn't be satisfied with a draw.

 

[mic59]

The Pakistan late order batting has piled on a few runs in the first two tests. Amir has featured in partnerships of 54, 92 and 49. Riaz has featured in a 66 partnership and Yasir 71, both in the first test. The Sohail/Azhar partnership is 116 unbroken.

Until a few years ago India and Pakistan on a lot of occasions were 6 out - all out.

 

[mic59]

Azhar too ready to take the quick single. Sohail was just off the mark slightly late and was run out by millimetres, his bat was on the line but not breaking it. His running was a bit lazy too, just a small lunge would have got him in.
Maddinson will definitely be in the Sydney test now with a catch, a run-out and 3 overs.

 

[philreich]

Azhar too ready to take the quick single. Sohail was just off the mark slightly late and was run out by millimetres, his bat was on the line but not breaking it. His running was a bit lazy too, just a small lunge would have got him in.
Maddinson will definitely be in the Sydney test now with a catch, a run-out and 3 overs.

If he makes a 50, he'll be captain in Sydney

 

[philreich]

I wouldn't be writing this off as a draw just yet. If the Aussies keep scoring at the current rate (4.67), they'll be around 300 by stumps - only 150 behind. That would then leave around 190 overs to force a result.

 

[Garibaldi Red]

Mark Nicholas taken to hospital again

 

[philreich]

Mark Nicholas taken to hospital again

Whoa!!!! Hope he's OK

 

[raptalia]

Whoa!!!! Hope he's OK

Suspected burst appendix was the early diagnosis.

 

[LukeSA]

Typical Watson, duck...

 

[raptalia]

The Pakis only have themselves to blame for what is looking like an inevitable draw. Down 0-1 they should have been forcing the pace from the outset on a good batting strip rather than occupying the crease and allowing the runs to accumulate.

As I posted previously, history shows that Pakistan are a side that waits for victory to fall into it's lap rather than taking the initiative. This is a good Pakistani side with strong batting but they really need turbo charging in the tactics department. Mickey Arthur was never the answer with the Proteas or with Australia and one wonders how much longer he has with the Pakis.

 

[philreich]

The Pakis only have themselves to blame for what is looking like an inevitable draw. Down 0-1 they should have been forcing the pace from the outset on a good batting strip rather than occupying the crease and allowing the runs to accumulate.

As I posted previously, history shows that Pakistan are a side that waits for victory to fall into it's lap rather than taking the initiative. This is a good Pakistani side with strong batting but they really need turbo charging in the tactics department. Mickey Arthur was never the answer with the Proteas or with Australia and one wonders how much longer he has with the Pakis.

I think the real villain here is Misbah-ul-Haq. His field placings at times defy belief: if Pakistan happen to take 20 wickets in this game, it'll be because at least 17 Aussie batsmen got themselves out.

But the forecast for tomorrow doesn't look good, so it may not matter anyway.

 

[mic59]

Looks like it's not just the Strikers who can drop easy catches to lose the unlosable.

 

[raptalia]

I think the real villain here is Misbah-ul-Haq. His field placings at times defy belief: if Pakistan happen to take 20 wickets in this game, it'll be because at least 17 Aussie batsmen got themselves out.

But the forecast for tomorrow doesn't look good, so it may not matter anyway.

True, but the Pakis were up against it before they even got into the field. To the Pakistanis Test cricket always seems to be one of personal stats before the good of the team. Someone in the Paki top order needed to take a risk or two and take the fight to the Australians but that did not happen. I am critical of David Warner at times but he does keep the scoreboard ticking over and that type of approach was needed in the Paki batting line up.

You are right, the weather does not look good and a draw is the likely option from here.

 

[Hellgood]

The Pakis only have themselves to blame for what is looking like an inevitable draw. Down 0-1 they should have been forcing the pace from the outset on a good batting strip rather than occupying the crease and allowing the runs to accumulate.

As I posted previously, history shows that Pakistan are a side that waits for victory to fall into it's lap rather than taking the initiative. This is a good Pakistani side with strong batting but they really need turbo charging in the tactics department. Mickey Arthur was never the answer with the Proteas or with Australia and one wonders how much longer he has with the Pakis.

Really? I think that Pakistan's batting plan was perfectly fine, including how they went about it yesterday. At that point their best chance was to push into and up into the high 400's in the hope they could knock off Australia for a measly score first time round and then either back themselves to clean them up on the final day or enforce the follow on if possible. Obviously that hasn't happened with Warner and Khawaja having a field day yesterday but they were the best tactics to go for in the position.

Micky Arthur was the answer at the Proteas. They developed into the sustained number one under his watch and which involved exacting their revenge on Australia on home soil, beating the English on their own turf and drawing with the Indians over there. They went undefeated overseas in a test series for three to four years. You can whinge all you like as people did with Buchanan that the players can take all the credit, but that doesn't make it correct. As far as his Australian career went, well we had a mixed draw in the short NZ series, annihilated India at home, lost the series against the Proteas at home after Faf & AB turned the Adelaide test on it's head and then went into Perth with a horrendously outgunned bowling attack (yes, rotations) and we then knocked off the South African's at home. The big black mark then came with the demolition over in India.

I question however were his results actually that much worse than under the cult of Boof. We've had all of the same embarrassments and chartered new territory having Sri Lanka wipe the floor with us as well as being smashed (not just losing) at home by South Africa. We did have the highs of the home Ashes in 2013/14 and the world cup, but given that bipolar cricket has been characteristic of this Australian group of players for probably six or seven years now I don't think it's too much to claim that Arthur would have by virtue of longevity would have experienced the same or equivalent success in charge.