Cricket Discussion - Part 2

[raptalia]

The quicker bouncier wickets have found the Black Caps out and they are not the first team to flounder in Australia for that reason. It would have been interesting if Williamson had elected to bat first in Melbourne. History shows that visiting Captains who put Australia in are asking for trouble. It was almost as if Williamson was not prepared to back his batsmen in on a first day wicket against the best pace attack in the world atm. Australia batted first in each of the Tests, racked up a big score and had the Black Caps playing catch up.

Warner did what most good judges expected him to do. Overseas on lower slower decks Warner has problems but In Australia he is a different batsman. Warner produced the goods against Pakistan and the Black Caps as did Marnus Labuschagne who has filled a gap in the Australian line up that has existed since Ricky Ponting called it a day. The fact that Australia were able to carry the Tests 5-0 without Steve Smith dominating was reassuring and suggests we are not the one man band we appeared to be at the beginning of this summer.

Credit where it is due, Tim Paine had a couple of good Tests against the Kiwis. His keeping and batting in Melbourne and Sydney were good after a couple of blemishes in Perth. Paine actually got a DRS right on the last day in Sydney so hopefully he and the side have sorted something out in this area.

Australia currently sits at no2 in the ICC rankings which is a good recovery following the disaster at Capetown two years ago. We have a well balanced attack with plenty of quick bowling depth and a quality spinner. Our batting is settled with the possible exception of an opening partner for Warner. The big test will come in India where our players will have to face spin on turning tracks and our quicks will doubtless have to cope with the occasional flat track.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

NZ are always a letdown in Australia they were barely Shield level in this series.

Nah 1985-86 and 2001-02 they were very good.

 

[TeeKray]

The fact that NZ made T20 type totals in 4 of their 6 innings says it all really.

 

[raptalia]

I know I sound like a broken record but geez Aleem Dar invites controversy every time he officiates in an Australia Test. His call against Labuschagne and Warner for running on the wicket was ludicrous.

On the subject of rules and umpiring one thing the toothless tiger aka the ICC has to sort out is the tendency to bowl wide of the leg stump to an on side field. Bowling outside the line of the leg stump with a packed on side field has the potential to severely damage Test cricket as a spectacle. Williamson and Wagner's tactics were designed to restrict and frustrate rather than attack and they smack of the leg theory tactics employed by Jardine and Larwood almost ninety years ago. The game's lawmakers introduced field restrictions to eliminate leg theory but if the Williamson /Wagner tactics become the norm the current law makers will have to restrict the use of leg side attack. There were times in Perth when Wagner bowled six shortpitched deliveries on the line of the leg stump in one over. In fact in the Perth Test Wagner set a record for short deliveries bowled by a single bowler in a Test in Australia. In one over Matthew Wade was struck several times and that should have been dealt with by the Umpires. If that type of attack is allowed to continue it is likely to become boring to watch and someone will get hurt.

Dar and Erasmus allow a batsman to be hit repeatedly in one over yet penalise a batsman for running on the pitch. Erasmus should also be spoken to about his on air comments when Dave Warner asked for a wide. Likening the situation to Shane Warne's bowling was ill thought out and unnecessary. Erasmus is an official not a commentator and should stick to making decisions and not pass comment on his decisions and non decisions. Warne's comment when he heard what Erasmus had to say was priceless. Warne said, 'yeah but I wasn't bowling with eight men on the leg side'.

 

[philreich]

Justin Langer was asked to nominate his highlight of the summer. His answer? The performance of Tim Paine. Huh? Sure, he did well, but surely the extraordinary feats of Labuschagne were better.

 

[raptalia]

Justin Langer was asked to nominate his highlight of the summer. His answer? The performance of Tim Paine. Huh? Sure, he did well, but surely the extraordinary feats of Labuschagne were better.

Why doesn't that surprise me? Paine is obviously good for team morale and helps Langer with the man management aspect of his job so Langer pumps Paine's tyres up at every opportunity. Apart from Labuschagne's stellar performance I would have thought Dave Warner's 335 would have been hard to top as would a five zip result including 3-0 against the no2 ranked side in the world.

The more Justin Langer opens his mouth the less confidence I have in his judgement. So far so good as Langer must get credit for the salvage job he and Paine have done after Capetown but there is a touch of the bizare about Langer and you cannot help but feel that he has the capacity to unload and upset those around him if things suddenly go bad.

 

[1954]

I'm not a fan of Langer either, there is no doubt he was a gutsy batsman but as a coach he comes across to me as a bit of a West Aussie figjam, it could even be suggested he can be a tad smarmy.

The Aussies should have won the ashes 3 - 1 and I would love to be as sure of winning lotto as I am that his selection policies, particularly with the bowlers, were a major part of the reason why we didn't.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Why are people talking about the coach of the oz cricket team being like a footy coach?

The captain has the power, not the coach. As long as the coach isn't a selector, then he should stay in the corner and co-ordinate things and not be given so much weight to his opinion.

 

[raptalia]

Why are people talking about the coach of the oz cricket team being like a footy coach?

The captain has the power, not the coach. As long as the coach isn't a selector, then he should stay in the corner and co-ordinate things and not be given so much weight to his opinion.

Langer is a selector.

National Selection Panel | Cricket Australia

Meet Australian cricket's selection panel

www.cricketaustralia.com.au

How much influence Langer exerts is debatable but he is one of three and he only has to convince one other to have a majority. . The panel is Trevor Hohns (C), Justin Langer and newcomer George Bailey.

The set up is almost the same set up as an AFL club with the head Coach having a say in who gets the nod at the selection table. Like an AFL club the Australlian Cricket team has specialist coaches. These guys look after the basics such as batting and bowling so it is anybody's guess as to what the Head Coach takes charge of. If I had to hazard a guess I would say that the Head Coach would work pretty closely with the Captain pre match on tactical issues such as bowling spells, the toss, declarations etc. If Langer has a good working relationship with Paine in this regard it is obvious that he would want to keep him in the job.

One plus for Langer was his role in counselling Glen Maxwell when he had issues earlier this season. Apparently it was Langer who first noticed that Maxwell was not in a good place so he took him aside and helped him. That sort of man management is probably a key issue in the Head Coach's job description. Another positive for Langer is he is not likely to let things get away from him as was the case with Boof Lehmann. I imagine that Langer and Paine work pretty closely to ensure that the CA team ethos and the team rules are strictly followed.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Langer is a selector.

I knew the coach was a selector on tours but if this list is accurate for home tests since 2011-12, then I'm a bit behind the times.

Australian cricket selectors - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

........

• 2000–01: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border
• 2001–02: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border
• 2002–03: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border
• 2003–04: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border
• 2004–05: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Allan Border
• 2005–06: Trevor Hohns (c), Andrew Hilditch, David Boon, Merv Hughes
• 2006–07: Andrew Hilditch (c), David Boon, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes
• 2007–08: Andrew Hilditch (c), David Boon, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes
• 2008–09: Andrew Hilditch (c), David Boon, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes
• 2009–10: Andrew Hilditch (c), David Boon, Jamie Cox, Merv Hughes[15]
• 2010–11: Andrew Hilditch (c), David Boon, Jamie Cox, Greg Chappell
• 2011–12: John Inverarity (c), Mickey Arthur, Michael Clarke, Rod Marsh, Andy Bichel, Ryan Terry
• 2012–13: John Inverarity (c), Darren Lehmann, Rod Marsh, Andy Bichel
• 2013–14: John Inverarity (c), Darren Lehmann, Rod Marsh, Andy Bichel
• 2014–15: Rod Marsh (c), Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh, Trevor Hohns
• 2015–16: Rod Marsh (c), Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh, Trevor Hohns
• 2016–17: Trevor Hohns (c), Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh, Greg Chappell
• 2017–18: Trevor Hohns (c), Darren Lehmann, Mark Waugh (T20I only), Greg Chappell
• 2018–19: Trevor Hohns (c), Justin Langer, Greg Chappell
• 2019–20: Trevor Hohns (c), Justin Langer, Greg Chappell
• 2020–present: Trevor Hohns (c), Justin Langer, George Bailey

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Justin Langer was asked to nominate his highlight of the summer. His answer? The performance of Tim Paine. Huh? Sure, he did well, but surely the extraordinary feats of Labuschagne were better.

Labuschagne's position is beyond question. Tim Paine is his captain and its questionable if he should even be in the side. Hence the pump him up as much as possible approach.

 

[raptalia]

Shane Warne's baggy green has fetched $1,000,007 at the close of bidding. According to Seven News the cap was bought by the Commonwealth Bank and they intend to use the cap to raise more money for the Bushfire Appeal.

Well done Warnie, the CBA and all those who made a bid.

 

[philreich]

Shane Warne's baggy green has fetched $1,000,007 at the close of bidding. According to Seven News the cap was bought by the Commonwealth Bank and they intend to use the cap to raise more money for the Bushfire Appeal.

Well done Warnie, the CBA and all those who made a bid.

Yep, and Jeff Thomson has followed suit, auctioning off his baggy green and blazer. I doubt the figure will match Warne, but every bit helps.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Australia demolished India in the first one day international at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India 255 (49.1 overs)
Australia 0/258 (37.4 overs)

Warner 128 no
Finch 110 no

Warner and Finch both scored centuries in the largest partnership against India in one-day cricket, for any wicket anywhere in the world, as they easily chased down their target of 255 with 12.2 overs to spare.

It marked just the fifth time in history that two Australian openers have both scored centuries in the same game, and it’s the team's first ever 10-wicket win in India.

Records tumble as Australia crush India by 10 wickets | cricket.com.au

David Warner and Aaron Finch post unbeaten centuries as Australia record their biggest-ever win over…

www.cricket.com.au

 

[philreich]

Australia demolished India in the first one day international at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

India 255 (49.1 overs)
Australia 0/258 (37.4 overs)

Warner 128 no
Finch 110 no

Warner and Finch both scored centuries in the largest partnership against India in one-day cricket, for any wicket anywhere in the world, as they easily chased down their target of 255 with 12.2 overs to spare.

It marked just the fifth time in history that two Australian openers have both scored centuries in the same game, and it’s the team's first ever 10-wicket win in India.

Records tumble as Australia crush India by 10 wickets | cricket.com.au

David Warner and Aaron Finch post unbeaten centuries as Australia record their biggest-ever win over…

www.cricket.com.au

It's only the third time in history where a team has won by 10 wickets, when chasing 250 or more.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[raptalia]

Kohli gets away with murder. In no other sport would a player be able to harangue an Umpire the way he does. Kohli ****ed up the DRS by reviewing a delivery that was edged and clearly going down leg side. The next ball was LBW but given not out and thanks to a poor call from Kohli India had no reviews left. When the Ump gives his decision Kohli carries on like a pork chop.

 

[Duckimus Prime]

Kohli gets away with murder. In no other sport would a player be able to harangue an Umpire the way he does. Kohli f’ed up the DRS by reviewing a delivery that was edged and clearly going down leg side. The next ball was LBW but given not out and thanks to a poor call from Kohli India had no reviews left. When the Ump gives his decision Kohli carries on like a pork chop.

Review would've been umpires call and stayed not out anyway.

 

[raptalia]

Review would've been umpires call and stayed not out anyway.

I do not think that is correct. Hawkeye showed the ball hitting the stumps. The point is Kohli thought it was out and obviously would have reviewed if he had one left.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

Umpiring in the Renegades v Thunder T20 is rubbish. In the space of a few overs;

Harper hit on the pads with a low full toss in front, not out. Ball would have hit middle.

Couple of overs later, Harper hit well outside line of off stump, given out lbw.

Khawaja edges one and almost taken in front of first slip by the keeper, given not out. Overturned on video review.

 

[philreich]

Umpiring in the Renegades v Thunder T20 is rubbish. In the space of a few overs;

Harper hit on the pads with a low full toss in front, not out. Ball would have hit middle.

Couple of overs later, Harper hit well outside line of off stump, given out lbw.

Khawaja edges one and almost taken in front of first slip by the keeper, given not out. Overturned on video review.

Helen Keller = patron saint of umpires.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

The summer of Aussie cricket lovefest was derailed a bit as India won the deciding one dayer and it was revealed Australia’s batting order still stops at 4.

Watching Travis Head effortlessly hit 4s and 6s against Hobart on Sunday made me wonder how Ashton Turner became a better international one day cricketer than Travis?

Heck, I would have even gone back to the well with Stoinis or Maxwell.

 

[Grave Danger]

The summer of Aussie cricket lovefest was derailed a bit as India won the deciding one dayer and it was revealed Australia’s batting order still stops at 4.

Watching Travis Head effortlessly hit 4s and 6s against Hobart on Sunday made me wonder how Ashton Turner became a better international one day cricketer than Travis?

Heck, I would have even gone back to the well with Stoinis or Maxwell.

Bizarre selection, Turner - been out of form for ages:

 

[Ford Fairlane]

raptalia Justin Langer hometown selection alert!

 

[philreich]

The selectors clearly picked Turner on the back of his miracle innings a couple of years ago, when he led us to a famous victory. Like 10 wicket wins, such feats don't often happen again.