Cricket Thread: Aus vs Bangladesh test series... just 4 months away

[Daniel6]

He usually makes runs on big occasions.

He’s a big game player.

Just like his NYE innings for the Strikers many years ago when he scored a 100 off the last ball.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Run a ball 150.Travball at its best.

Now has 590 runs @ 74, but also striking at 88!

Only Duckett striking higher at 96, but a miserable average of 18.

Played more good cricket shots compared to the higher risk Brook, who is striking lower at 81 & also nearly half the average of 40.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Stokes can't rate Jacks if he waits to the 65th over to bring him on, particularly with the like of Port's being tonked.

Even Head & Marnus got a bowl earlier for Australia.

 

[FR0GGY]

England have played 200 more tests

And probably still won less?

 

[FR0GGY]

What’s the point of the outside the line rule?
I mean if it’s going to hit the stumps it’s going to hit the stumps?

 

[Vader]

Well in my time, the Australian selectors are more conservative making changes.

True... but that alone isn't enough to account for the discrepancy, given that we're talking 149 years of history. That might account for a 20 player difference, not 200+.

As spenze pointed out, the poms have played 200 more tests, which is likely to be a bigger factor.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

True... but that alone isn't enough to account for the discrepancy, given that we're talking 149 years of history. That might account for a 20 player difference, not 200+.

As spenze pointed out, the poms have played 200 more tests, which is likely to be a bigger factor.

Reckon the average Tests played by an Australian is well above the average Tests played by a Pom, given our selectors are more conservative.

1.86 Tests per Australian
1.52 Tests per Pom

22% more by an Australian

 

[Vader]

And probably still won less?

Correct.

Australia - 882* matches for 425 wins
England - 1094* matches for 404 wins

Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/results-summary-283877

 

[Vader]

Reckon the average Tests played by an Australian is well above the average Tests played by a Pom, given our selectors are more conservative.

It would be much higher. The poms have played ~20% more Tests, but have used ~40% more players. Logic says that the average Test per player would therefore be higher for Australia.

Australia have gone through periods of turbulence, when we've churned through a lot of players looking for the team to take us forward to the next successful era. This usually happens when a number of players retire together, or when there's a major disturbance (e.g. World Series Cricket & the rebel tours to South Africa). But once the team has settled, there is generally little movement in our out of the team, other than injuries.

Given that Australia's long-term success rate, with a win/loss ratio of 1.8 (England is next best with 1.2), it's hard to argue against the results of having a settled team.

Based on these numbers, Australia have enjoyed much longer periods of settled team selections than England, over the game's 149 year history. This does not appear to be a recent phenomenon.

 

[Vader]

What’s the point of the outside the line rule?
I mean if it’s going to hit the stumps it’s going to hit the stumps?

I'm honestly not sure - but the rule has been in place for a VERY long time.

If the batsman plays a shot, then the ball needs to have pitched in line, struck in line, and been going on to hit the stumps.

If the batsman does NOT offer a shot, then they need only be struck in line and have the ball going on to hit the stumps. They can't be out if the ball pitches outside leg, but can be given out if it pitches outside off.

 

[FR0GGY]

I'm honestly not sure - but the rule has been in place for a VERY long time.

If the batsman plays a shot, then the ball needs to have pitched in line, struck in line, and been going on to hit the stumps.

If the batsman does NOT offer a shot, then they need only be struck in line and have the ball going on to hit the stumps. They can't be out if the ball pitches outside leg, but can be given out if it pitches outside off.

Makes it hard for a spinner
Thinking about it, was probably designed for pre replays and drs.
Hard for an umpire to judge if it's hitting the stumps if it's outside the line.

 

[Vader]

Further to the discussion about Head's ICC batting ranking...

On 20th November, the day before the start of the 1st Test, he was ranked #10 in the world, with 740 rating points.
As of 26th December, before the start of the 4th Test, he was ranked #4 in the world, with 816 rating points.

The ICC haven't updated their ratings since 26th December 2025, so the Boxing Day Test results haven't been included in the current ratings. The Ashes Boxing Day Test is the only Test to have been completed, anywhere in the world, since that date - so no other player's rating will have changed.

Head's rating jumped by 76 rating points in the first 3 Ashes Tests, where he scored 2x centuries. He didn't do a lot in Melbourne (no batsman did), so his rating wouldn't have changed much as a result of the Boxing Day Test. Based on those numbers, his rating should increase by ~40 points as a result of his SCG century. This would definitely be enough to push him ahead of Kane Williamson.

However, Root's 160 and Brook's 84 are likely to give them enough ratings points to stay ahead of him in 1st and 2nd on the list respectively.

 

[Vader]

Makes it hard for a spinner
Thinking about it, was probably designed for pre replays and drs.
Hard for an umpire to judge if it's hitting the stumps if it's outside the line.

Pitching outside leg was designed to counter "leg theory". It prevents teams from pitching the ball constantly outside the leg stump (with a packed leg-side field), attempting to do nothing more than prevent batsmen from scoring.

I'm not sure why the rule about pitching outside the off-stump is there.

 

[Vader]

Similarly, the rule preventing teams from positioning more than 2 players behind Square Leg was also introduced to prevent another "Bodyline" series.

 

[FR0GGY]

Nooo trav

 

[Vader]

Thinking about it a bit more, Head probably won't be getting a 40 rating point lift from his century.

Ratings points are contextual. Players get more points for big scores in low scoring matches, but not so many points for big scores in high scoring matches. Head would have received a bucketload of points for his century in Perth, where few other batsmen troubled the scorers. Conversely, this match has already seen scores of 84 from Brooks and 160 from Root, suggesting that his rating will not go up by as much this time around.

It should still be enough to get him past Williamson, but it's highly unlikely he'll overtake Brook for 2nd.

 

[spenze]

Vader I'd also suggest the number of counties in English cricket would also factor in for why so many players picked, there would be so many voices for the selectors to be bombarded with

 

[Concussion test]

I'm honestly not sure - but the rule has been in place for a VERY long time.

If the batsman plays a shot, then the ball needs to have pitched in line, (only for balls pitched outside leg stump) struck in line, and been going on to hit the stumps.

If the batsman does NOT offer a shot, then they need only be struck in line and have the ball going on to hit the stumps. They can't be out if the ball pitches outside leg, but can be given out if it pitches outside off.

 

[Vader]

Vader I'd also suggest the number of counties in English cricket would also factor in for why so many players picked, there would be so many voices for the selectors to be bombarded with

That's an interesting thought. Possibly correct, or at least a significant factor. I guess it's similar to the argument about needing to reduce the number of District Cricket teams in SA, in order to improve the quality of the SA Shield cricket team.

 

[FR0GGY]

What a waste of a review you idiot usman

 

[FR0GGY]

Vader I'd also suggest the number of counties in English cricket would also factor in for why so many players picked, there would be so many voices for the selectors to be bombarded with

According to boof they don’t ask them anyway

 

[Vader]

Can someone please explain to me why Khawaja would choose to waste a review on that one, if he wasn't absolutely certain that he'd hit it? Rarely do you see a decision which is more plum.

 

[Vader]

Carey doesn't like running. 12 runs so far - all in boundaries!

 

[Eagleboy2011]

Can someone please explain to me why Khawaja would choose to waste a review on that one, if he wasn't absolutely certain that he'd hit it? Rarely do you see a decision which is more plum.

It was absolutely out. He didn't even look or ask Smith.

 

[FR0GGY]

It was absolutely out. He didn't even look or ask Smith.

Smith should bat him at 11 in the second innings