Cricket Thread: Ashes 2025-26 Pink Test

[FR0GGY]

Seems to be, which is odd because they've backed him to the max like very few youngster before him.

I wonder if they've concentrated so hard on his technical issues that they've played with his mindset to a point he overthinks it.

Definitely doesnt look to be playing with any freedom.

He’s been Godden’d

 

[Bucking Beads]

I'd be shooting Khawaja into the sun before picking him for the SCG test.

 

[Concussion test]

Why didn't anyone ask them the tough question?

Page keeps claiming he made the same preparations as last year's pitch, yet added another 3 mm of grass compared to last year's 7mm.

That is NOT the same!

Whoops... only a $10M mistake & ****ing it up as a spectacle.

But great, he has learnt his lesson... is this a bit like Nicks learning his lessons?

Inside the 21-minute grilling of the MCG curator and his boss

When MCG curator Matt Page and MCC chief executive Stuart Fox emerged from gate two of the empty coliseum on Sunday, their slow walk towards dozens of journalists said it all.

www.theage.com.au

The press conference officially lasted 21 minutes
The journos were just heating up the blow torch when the MCC chief Stuart Fox pulled a master stroke...

From the article
"By the 18-minute mark of Sunday’s media conference some good news emerged. Not only were the media offered free pies – a fan favourite that would otherwise go uneaten etc"

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

The press conference officially lasted 21 minutes
The journos were just heating up the blow torch when the MCC chief Stuart Fox pulled a master stroke...

From the article
"By the 18-minute mark of Sunday’s media conference some good news emerged. Not only were the media offered free pies – a fan favourite that would otherwise go uneaten etc"

21 minutes is plenty of time to ask the 1 question that needed answering.

What a sham!

 

[spenze]

21 minutes is plenty of time to ask the 1 question that needed answering.

What a sham!

"Do you have Sauce for these pies?"

 

[adelaidecrows]

I get the dollars come from the BBL but play the BBL after Christmas. Red Ball Cricket should be a priority to cover form of reserves up until Christmas. Australias test summer is usually over by the Sydney test and rarely if ever goes longer.

We are asking for trouble. It is a possibility that one day we are back to being a terrible side and we are struggling to stay in a series. This was a reality not that long ago where we were desperately trying to justify BBL form to replace struggling test players. Yes players who hit flat track bowling from grade cricketers were being earmarked for test selection. These players were seriously touted by the media.

And for those bashing the curator, Even Jason Gillespie says while there pitch favoured the bowlers it wasnt that much and the batters need to own up to some extremely poor batting.

 

[adelaidecrows]

Why didn't anyone ask them the tough question?

Page keeps claiming he made the same preparations as last year's pitch, yet added another 3 mm of grass compared to last year's 7mm.

That is NOT the same!

Whoops... only a $10M mistake & ****ing it up as a spectacle.

But great, he has learnt his lesson... is this a bit like Nicks learning his lessons?

Inside the 21-minute grilling of the MCG curator and his boss

When MCG curator Matt Page and MCC chief executive Stuart Fox emerged from gate two of the empty coliseum on Sunday, their slow walk towards dozens of journalists said it all.

www.theage.com.au

As much as he is the curator and the turf expert, I think you will find the whole issue is not as black and white as you think. There is a food chain and he would have had a lot of meetings with ground committees that represent the board of directors. There would have been a lot of talk about the hot weather at the back end of the test. My take was the decision was made out of fear of the test match being heavily favouring the team bowling in the 4th innings. So to avoid the controversy the decision was to gamble with the pitch on the first and second day. The board are protecting him because they all made the mistake, it wasnt just the curator.

Worked at a golf club, committees are full of 'know-it-alls'

Always follow the money. Its not his money to gamble with. He would have presented the scenerios made his recommendations. He may have even been the one to recommend the length and why he is claiming the mistake. But its unlikely he went off half cocked.

 

[skam85]

Do you even watch cricket?

I’m yet to be convinced Vader watches any sport at all

 

[Mostyn]

For the next test I think they’ll be reasonably conservative:-

Out: Richardson/Neser & Green
In: Murphy & Webster

I think it's just Richardson for Murphy.

 

[Mostyn]

Interesting to see Khawaja (2024) 7th and Warner (2023) 10th on the list. Says how reluctant our current selectors are to drop their mates, despite prolonged periods of seriously awful form.

It's often been said that it was harder to get out of the Australian team than it was to get in - rarely has this been truer than in the last 3 years, under the current batch of selectors.

It's tough to criticise the selectors, when the Australian cricket team has won literally everything over the last five years.

Now will be the issue for them. This series has been the last stand before it crumbles.

 

[spenze]

I’m yet to be convinced Vader watches any sport at all

Vader: "Hey, Boxing Day Test Match coming up."
Friend: "Yeah, you wanna come over to my house and listen to ball-by-ball updates on the radio?"
Vader: "Oh, yeah, okay. Oh, and then after the days play, we can watch the still photos on the 11:00 news."
Friend: "Not too shabby!"

 

[Mostyn]

Lol, I knew you wouldn't agree, but I'm thinking long term, whereas you are not!

Head is not the long term solution as an opener, so we need to find a new opener or 2.

Imo, Renshaw is the current best option, yet you bat him at #3.

Khawaja will no doubt play, but has no future.

BTW, Smith has successfully batted at #3. It's where he averages the most lol - 65! Do you even watch cricket?

We need to be thinking long-term & the last Test we should be using to find out a few answers.

Smith hates batting at 3, fwiw. He's only done it 30 times.

That being said, I don't disagree with you.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

I’m yet to be convinced Vader watches any sport at all

The ACT is a cold and dark place.

 

[Mostyn]

Drugs Are Bad Mackay? - who do you think are the genuine next generation of test cricketers for us?

I guess Konstas, Renshaw and Kellaway at the top of the order. Ollie Peake as a middle order bat. Beardman and Vidler as bowlers.

Who else do you have your eye on?

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Smith hates batting at 3, fwiw. He's only done it 30 times.

That being said, I don't disagree with you.

Smith imo is our best option for #3 & is effectively coming in early too, given our top order.

Green doesn't look like a top order player to me & more suited to #4 & onwards.

We need to be thinking what our long-term side should look like.

 

[BRL121]

The ACT is a cold and dark place.

Ciold yes, dark no way.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Ciold yes, dark no way.

Dark humour?

 

[Scorpus]

Murphy in for Neser/Richardson

Otherwise unchanged

Starc may have needed a breather if this test went the distance but not now

No test match until August so no rush to solve the batting & allrounder issues

They will probably hand out quite a few mulligans due to the pitch (eg Khawaja, Weatherald)

If the pitch looks like an absolute road, the last thing we need is to have a guy that has performed badly all year to score a pointless hundred (eg Labuschagne) to retain his spot going forward.

So if it's a normal or bowler friendly pitch, keep the current batting line-up and see what they've got. If it's a road, drop Labuschagne, Khawaja and Weatherald to pick some newer players to give them a taste of Test cricket

 

[spenze]

They will probably hand out quite a few mulligans due to the pitch (eg Khawaja, Weatherald)

If the pitch looks like an absolute road, the last thing we need is to have a guy that has performed badly all year to score a pointless hundred (eg Labuschagne) to retain his spot going forward.

So if it's a normal or bowler friendly pitch, keep the current batting line-up and see what they've got. If it's a road, drop Labuschagne, Khawaja and Weatherald to pick some newer players to give them a taste of Test cricket

Back in the day, that was why we dropped Dean Jones, good scores when the series was over

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Back in the day, that was why we dropped Dean Jones, good scores when the series was over

& he pissed off the wrong people.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

They will probably hand out quite a few mulligans due to the pitch (eg Khawaja, Weatherald)

If the pitch looks like an absolute road, the last thing we need is to have a guy that has performed badly all year to score a pointless hundred (eg Labuschagne) to retain his spot going forward.

So if it's a normal or bowler friendly pitch, keep the current batting line-up and see what they've got. If it's a road, drop Labuschagne, Khawaja and Weatherald to pick some newer players to give them a taste of Test cricket

We need to be thinking about the next Test series regardless of the pitch, but the Australian selectors don't like change.

After the Melbourne Test, you can be assured Sydney won't be made too bowler friendly. Groundsman will want to keep their job.

 

[Mostyn]

They will probably hand out quite a few mulligans due to the pitch (eg Khawaja, Weatherald)

If the pitch looks like an absolute road, the last thing we need is to have a guy that has performed badly all year to score a pointless hundred (eg Labuschagne) to retain his spot going forward.

So if it's a normal or bowler friendly pitch, keep the current batting line-up and see what they've got. If it's a road, drop Labuschagne, Khawaja and Weatherald to pick some newer players to give them a taste of Test cricket

I think Khawaja and Weatherald are probably finished as test cricketers, but they'll get another test to finish the summer.

 

[Cromulant]

They will probably hand out quite a few mulligans due to the pitch (eg Khawaja, Weatherald)

If the pitch looks like an absolute road, the last thing we need is to have a guy that has performed badly all year to score a pointless hundred (eg Labuschagne) to retain his spot going forward.

So if it's a normal or bowler friendly pitch, keep the current batting line-up and see what they've got. If it's a road, drop Labuschagne, Khawaja and Weatherald to pick some newer players to give them a taste of Test cricket

Its Sydney, the pitch will spend 2 days under water.

 

[Cromulant]

We need to be thinking about the next Test series regardless of the pitch, but the Australian selectors don't like change.

After the Melbourne Test, you can be assured Sydney won't be made too bowler friendly. Groundsman will want to keep their job.

Its been a tough one to bat on this year.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I think Khawaja and Weatherald are probably finished as test cricketers, but they'll get another test to finish the summer.

They sure will as Ronnie doesnt like making changes even if the poor form stretches a year or so.

Likely only 1 change & won't be a batsman... but Murphy in for Richardson.

‘Love to pick him’: Aussie coach hints at SCG recall; struggling star ‘hasn’t nailed down a spot’

‘Love to pick him’: Aussie hints over shuffle, struggling star who ‘hasn’t nailed down spot’

www.foxsports.com.au