Cricket Thread: Ashes done, 4-1

[spenze]

Interesting theory on Cricinfo that Uzzy would have had a batting average in the mid 60s if he ran hard between wickets

 

[Peter Doherty]

Tongue gets Head. I can see a headline somewhere here.

 

[GreyCrow]

Interesting theory on Cricinfo that Uzzy would have had a batting average in the mid 60s if he ran hard between wickets

As would Ranatunga

 

[Eagleboy2011]

View attachment 2506896

Dont say it. It got Rankine 6 matches.

 

[GreyCrow]

1 at a time guys

No need for sneaky twos

 

[Mostyn]

Well, if "reliable" is consistently bowling mid-track "hit me" balls, then yes - he's been reliable.

Let's be realistic here. He's bowled one good spell for the entire series. He averaged 70.75 for the series. No other player has averaged more than 56 runs per wicket, with Jacks being the next worst.

Source: https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/e...756;template=results;type=bowling;view=series

If we're being honest, then we need to admit that his batting for the series has been woeful (averaging just 21) and his bowling has been even worse. Cam Green has been the worst performed player of the series, from either side, with Pope the only other player in the conversation.

I was talking about Josh Tongue, you nuffy.

 

[Mostyn]

I think it’s a case of technique, a high standard of bowlers at the test level and greater cricket analytics to identify his weakness. Now it’s up to him, get in the nets and iron out that troublesome technique.

Travis Head is a perfect example. When he moved from the shield level to test cricket, he had a poor technique dealing with the ball moving away from him with a left hand bowler. He was dropped and went away and worked on it. It’s now not a problem.

I think Cameron Green will have a very successful test career but he must put the work in before he can move forward.

Except it's obviously not technique. He is consistently getting in. Then he's doing something of low cricket IQ that gets him out - it's like he has a brain fade.

Good knock to still be around at the end of the test.

 

[Mostyn]

If we're looking at Green's Test career objectively, it doesn't make for pretty reading.

He's played 37 Tests, having played 58 innings and finishing not out on 5 occasions. His average (32.33) is decidedly mediocre. He's only scored 2 centuries in that time (and 7x 50s). That's a LOT of Tests (and innings) for a batsman who has only scored 2 centuries. His highest score (174*) came against the Kiwis in Feb 2024 - he's only passed 50 once since then.

His bowling record is even worse. He's bowled in 53 innings. He has precisely 1x 5-for and 1x 3-for, other than that he's never taken more than 2 wickets in an innings. Both of those successes were in 2022 - a long way back in the rear view mirror now. His average of 38.94 is poor, even for an all-rounder. He hasn't taken multiple test wickets (i.e. 2) since the last Ashes series in England (back in mid-2023) - it's all been 1s or 0s since then.

As things stand right now - he's a Temu version of Mitch Marsh, and you all know how highly I rated the WoaT.

People say he's "only" 26. That's young by the standards of today's Australian Cricket Team, but it's not young by historic standards - and with 37 games under his belt he's no longer an inexperienced kid. Age & inexperience can no longer be used as an excuse for his ongoing poor performance.

There is no debate that he showed outstanding talent/potential when he was first selected, back in 2020. Today though, he's a pale shadow of the player he was back then.

He does have an extensive history of injury, which no doubt has shaken his confidence and put gremlins in his mind. Maybe the lesson here is that he shouldn't be rushed straight back into the side, but given time to regain confidence at Shield level before having his weakness exposed at Test level?

As I said - due to injury, he's only played nine tests in the last two years, and that includes this series. Prior to that, he was averaging 37.

 

[Daniel6]

Except it's obviously not technique. He is consistently getting in. Then he's doing something of low cricket IQ that gets him out - it's like he has a brain fade.

Good knock to still be around at the end of the test.

Yeah, I really have no idea.

I think you could be right. I just hope he can have a wonderful career.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Combined Ashes Team of the series

1 Head 629 runs @ 63
2 Crawley 273 @ 27 lucky!
3 Smith 286 @ 57
4 Root 400 @ 44
5 Brook 358 @ 40
6 Carey 323 @ 46; 28 dismissals
7 Stokes 184 runs @ 18; 15 wickets @ 25
8 Nesser 75 @ 19; 15 @ 20
9 Starc 156 @ 26; 31 @ 20
10 Tongue 18 @ 20
11 Boland 20 @ 25

 

[Mostyn]

1 Head
2 Renshaw
3 McSweeney
4 Smith
5 Green
6 Carey
7 Webster
8 Cummins
9 Starc
10 Boland
11 Kuhnemann

Assuming Head remains as opener.

I like that, though i reckon they'll keep Labuschagne at 3, and probably Murphy as the spinner. You version works well though.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I like that, though i reckon they'll keep Labuschagne at 3, and probably Murphy as the spinner. You version works well though.

I agree with you they will likely pick Marnus, but imo they should not as he has now had several years of poor batting averages lacking big scores. He's had enough chances & we need to replenish the batting line-up as Smith won't be around forever.

Spinner it's up for grabs.

 

[Vader]

I was talking about Josh Tongue, you nuffy.

My apologies! I (obviously) thought this was a continuation of the Cam Green discussion. Looking back at the discussion thread, I was clearly wrong.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I'm not sure we're any closer to solving the looming selection dilemmas than we were than at the start of the series, outside of Travis Head opening.

1. Travis Head
2. Other opening spot still a question mark. Weatherald again or try another?
3. Labuschagne okay but not enough. Stay?
4. Smith we already knew
5. At 5 to replace Khawaja...Green? Inglis? Someone else?
6. Carey
7. The all-rounder spot... Webster?
8. Pat Cummins
9. Next spinner after Lyon...?
10, 11. Next quicks after the old champs finish up? Starc, Hazelwood, Boland then what? Richardson looked just average albeit coming back from injury

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

I would like to see us make room for 2 allrounders if Green can sort out his mental issues, but if the selectors choose only 1, then Webster should be prioritised.

Careers so far.

Webster v Green
Tests 8 v 37
Batting Ave 41.1 v 32.8
Bowling 24.5 v 38.9

1 is performing much better than the other.

Great allrounders average more with the bat than the ball.

Beau Webster steps off the sidelines into the light as promise of Cameron Green wilts | Geoff Lemon

With his one Ashes opportunity Webster outscored his fellow all-rounder while looking calmer, more organised and switching to off-spin

www.theguardian.com

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Strange series overall. Promised to be an epic series like 2005 but instead was over in record time.

England had some decent moments but tended to flush any advantage down the toilet instantly with sheer idiocy, so it didn't feel like we were truly tested.

They were arrogant beforehand with no proper tour games
Arrogant by resting all their test players from the pink ball practice match
Dumb for assuming Wood and Archer could spearhead their attack for 5 tests after both have had years out injured
Batted recklessly when they were on top, gifting us wickets
Picked Pope ahead of Bethell
Brought a spinner Bashir along to be a net bowler
Picked a keeper on his batting; he batted terribly and kept even worse
No fielding coach and dropped countless sodas

The good thing is that they're unlikely to learn from it at all. A bit unlucky to win 4 coin tosses (according to Stokes), a couple of costly reviews went against them, moral victories and MBEs for all

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Strange series overall. Promised to be an epic series like 2005 but instead was over in record time.

England had some decent moments but tended to flush any advantage down the toilet instantly with sheer idiocy, so it didn't feel like we were truly tested.

They were arrogant beforehand with no proper tour games
Arrogant by resting all their test players from the pink ball practice match
Dumb for assuming Wood and Archer could spearhead their attack for 5 tests after both have had years out injured
Batted recklessly when they were on top, gifting us wickets
Picked Pope ahead of Bethell
Brought a spinner Bashir along to be a net bowler
Picked a keeper on his batting; he batted terribly and kept even worse
No fielding coach and dropped countless sodas

The good thing is that they're unlikely to learn from it at all. A bit unlucky to win 4 coin tosses (according to Stokes), a couple of costly reviews went against them, moral victories and MBEs for all

Felt confident when I watched them warming up playing mainly soccer.

Need to question their professionalism & preparation.

Sure keep in fun, but need to have proper drills imo.

 

[spenze]

New Zealand next summer yawn.

Suppose they'll be rolling out Glenn Turner and Stephen Fleming again

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

New Zealand next summer yawn.

Suppose they'll be rolling out Glenn Turner and Stephen Fleming again

Interestingly a hot, boring drawn test match against New Zealand a few years ago was Adelaide Oval's biggest earner in terms of catering.

No one wanted to watch the game so they drank. Bars full, out the back was chockers. Caaa-ching. Captivating tests against Sth Africa, India or England are no good because people watch the game and stop spending.

 

[Mostyn]

My apologies! I (obviously) thought this was a continuation of the Cam Green discussion. Looking back at the discussion thread, I was clearly wrong.

Nah, I was just stirring - it's an easy mistake to make considering how much we were discussing Green.

That being said - it was your post on Tongue I responded to!

 

[Vader]

Nah, I was just stirring - it's an easy mistake to make considering how much we were discussing Green.

That being said - it was your post on Tongue I responded to!

... which made my response even worse!

 

[Peter Doherty]

Head averaged more than Smith.

 

[Mostyn]

I'm not sure we're any closer to solving the looming selection dilemmas than we were than at the start of the series, outside of Travis Head opening.

1. Travis Head
2. Other opening spot still a question mark. Weatherald again or try another?
3. Labuschagne okay but not enough. Stay?
4. Smith we already knew
5. At 5 to replace Khawaja...Green? Inglis? Someone else?
6. Carey
7. The all-rounder spot... Webster?
8. Pat Cummins
9. Next spinner after Lyon...?
10, 11. Next quicks after the old champs finish up? Starc, Hazelwood, Boland then what? Richardson looked just average albeit coming back from injury

Surely Weatherald is gone. It would have been a flip of the coin whether to give him a chance and he's wasted it. I think that's definitely Renshaw, unless Kellaway somehow bolts forward.

Labuschagne still somehow has credits in the bank. He stays, though it's a frustration.

Khawaja retiring means they avoid any difficult Green and Webster questions, as both can stay. Inglis was always outside the best 11.

I guess there's a question over spinners, though Murphy seems a fair way ahead of Kuhnemann, who had to change states to get a guaranteed game.

There's a great mix of young quicks coming through so I don't think I they're losing much sleep over that.

 

[Eagleboy2011]

He probably had it wrapped up after the 2nd test. Travis Head must have just missed.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Head averaged more than Smith.

Smith wasn’t even in Australia's top 3 players imo.

1 Starc
2 Head
3 Carey