Opinion Cricket thread

[KiwiRoo]

The concept of the Test Championship has been a major disappointment. The weighting of points is totally skewed - winning an Ashes match gets you 24 points, but beating West Indies in a match from a two-Test series gets you 60? I guess COVID mucked it up a bit so it's now got even more convoluted with points being averaged out against game played, but since it started at the 2019 Ashes, Australia has only played one overseas series, but the toughest three opponents - England, NZ and India. Bangladesh has hardly played anyone. England did play in NZ, but for some reason that didn't count? And even if COVID never happened, there was never going to be an Ashes Test, or a series against WI or SL, home or away, this side of the final. And now it looks like the two finalists won't include England, but the final will be at Lord's in front of no one?

and we've played pretty much solely at home too

Ive no idea how the points work, but after the world cup, we're owed a F%Ked up points system in our favour !

 

[KiwiRoo]

The good judges love Test cricket and know it’s the only form that genuinely counts (outside of the 50:50 WC).

Our fraudulence with the ball over the last few years is alarming, it is creating exciting scenarios out of otherwise boring Test Matches (see Sydney & Headingley)

if both sides had held their catches it would be interesting to see how the series would have evolved. Been some pretty poor fielding on both sides and both keepers have been poor

 

[Sillygit]

drawing your way to a series not-loss, the least desirable outcome

 

[desie]

Can’t help but feel the trajectory of a few careers might be determined by what happens over the course of the next few hours.

A 1-1 draw under the circumstances should bring on some significant introspection.

 

[big_e]

The good judges love Test cricket and know it’s the only form that genuinely counts (outside of the 50:50 WC).

Our fraudulence with the ball over the last few years is alarming, it is creating exciting scenarios out of otherwise boring Test Matches (see Sydney & Headingley)

The vast majority of the cricketing public don't care. And frankly, given our reluctance to play anyone but England and India, how much does CA really care about it either?

For the good of the game, we should be playing everyone. More countries should have test status, and that status should be at risk for the lowest performing countries, to give hope to new teams coming through.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.....

 

[DaveyBoy123]

drawing your way to a series not-loss, the least desirable outcome

Can’t help but feel the trajectory of a few careers might be determined by what happens over the course of the next few hours.
A 1-1 draw under the circumstances should bring on some significant introspection.

I agree with both of you... BUT... It looks like India are going for the win here! Rahane is 23 runs off 20 balls and doing as he pleases against Lyon.

 

[Sillygit]

I agree with both of you... BUT... It looks like India are going for the win here! Rahane is 23 runs off 20 balls and doing as he pleases against Lyon.

that's true, i spoke too soon

 

[Marstermind]

Can’t help but feel the trajectory of a few careers might be determined by what happens over the course of the next few hours.

A 1-1 draw under the circumstances should bring on some significant introspection.

We shouldn't see Burns or Wade again, but aside from those predictable moves, career trajectories will keep chugging along as is. Even in the case of Burns, Langer said that it should be harder to get out of the side than in it. None of the other batsmen will be under any pressure at all given the lack of anyone even politely knocking on the door and peeking through a window to see if anyone is home, let alone banging it down. Paine's had a good series with the bat, but his captaincy, keeping and demeanour have been ordinary - lucky for him there's no one else up for the captaincy. Starc should be under pressure and was probably lucky that Pattinson is shit at mowing his lawn, and Lyon's reputation seems to have transcended to some other level despite his awful form this series so he isn't going anywhere.

The introspection will be 50% navel gazing, 30% empty thought bubbles, 19% media spin doctoring and 1% actually doing something (which will probably be Pucovski back for Harris until being ruled unfit, and Head for Wade.)

 

[DaveyBoy123]

that's true, i spoke too soon

And there goes Rahane... 3 out now... EDIT: It's gonna be interesting with Pant striding to the crease early.

 

[Usayed Givashe]

The vast majority of the cricketing public don't care. And frankly, given our reluctance to play anyone but England and India, how much does CA really care about it either?

For the good of the game, we should be playing everyone. More countries should have test status, and that status should be at risk for the lowest performing countries, to give hope to new teams coming through.

Thanks for coming to my TED Talk.....

I like seeing Ireland v ‘Kenya’ Tests as much as the next bloke but there is 3 series that I Givashe about.

England Away
India Away
Souf Africa Away

 

[Themanbun]

Pant in early. Love this from India, have a dip.

 

[Marstermind]

And there goes Rahane... 3 out now... Agarwal in next, but it's gonna be interesting when Pant strides to the crease at the fall of the 4th wicket.

Pant in now - looks like India are up for the win.

 

[Usayed Givashe]

Fair play to India.
They’re every chance from here and thoroughly deserve it.

 

[King Corey]

Fair play to India.
They’re every chance from here and thoroughly deserve it.

Agreed.

Would help if we didn't employ a strict 1 lame duck per innings selection policy.

 

[Marstermind]

Fair play to India.
They’re every chance from here and thoroughly deserve it.

Aside from the 36 in Adelaide, they've played by far the more enterprising, aggressive, determined and resilient cricket. They've had a heap of obstacles but have been led better on and off the field, and simply don't deserve to lose.

 

[desie]

We shouldn't see Burns or Wade again, but aside from those predictable moves, career trajectories will keep chugging along as is. Even in the case of Burns, Langer said that it should be harder to get out of the side than in it. None of the other batsmen will be under any pressure at all given the lack of anyone even politely knocking on the door and peeking through a window to see if anyone is home, let alone banging it down. Paine's had a good series with the bat, but his captaincy, keeping and demeanour have been ordinary - lucky for him there's no one else up for the captaincy. Starc should be under pressure and was probably lucky that Pattinson is sh*t at mowing his lawn, and Lyon's reputation seems to have transcended to some other level despite his awful form this series so he isn't going anywhere.

The introspection will be 50% navel gazing, 30% empty thought bubbles, 19% media spin doctoring and 1% actually doing something (which will probably be Pucovski back for Harris until being ruled unfit, and Head for Wade.)

Was thinking Wade and Starc in particular as well as Paine’s captaincy.

I have no idea whether Smith would want the job back or whether CA have any appetite but in the absence of alternatives there’ll be a question asked by some of whether enough water’s gone under the bridge with him.

Not including Harris as he’s clearly a one off.

 

[Passmore]

And there goes Rahane... 3 out now... EDIT: It's gonna be interesting with Pant striding to the crease early.

 

[Sillygit]

so, 145 runs or 7 wickets in a session. If anything other than a draw happens that will be impressive.

Also, while I do agree to some extent that India have played well and would be deserving winners, they aren't the only team that deserve to win, or would be harshly fated by a loss. They have fielded poorly at times, have failed to capitolise on pressure moments to take full control of games, and Adelaide was record breakingly bad. It shouldn't be just cast aside as an anomoly.

Either team wins this they deserve to win the series.

 

[Marstermind]

Was thinking Wade and Starc in particular as well as Paine’s captaincy.

I have no idea whether Smith would want the job back or whether CA have any appetite but in the absence of alternatives there’ll be a question asked by some of whether enough water’s gone under the bridge with him.

Not including Harris as he’s clearly a one off.

Not sure if Smith would want it. What would CA's pitch to him be? "Steve, there's a job we'd like you to do. You've done it before and you weren't that good at it and your unsuitability for it caused a national embarrassment and nearly broke you after we banned you from playing for a year because of it. But we just can't think of anyone else so we're settling on you. When can you start?"

 

[Usayed Givashe]

Aside from the 36 in Adelaide, they've played by far the more enterprising, aggressive, determined and resilient cricket. They've had a heap of obstacles but have been led better on and off the field, and simply don't deserve to lose.

Agreed, they have displayed more balls on this tour than the previous 15 combined.

Our bowlers simply aren’t skilled enough, they’re collectively good, sure. But outside of Cummins and Hazlewood, we really are pedestrian unless the pitch and conditions are heavily in our favour. Even then it’s not enough.

Simple things like seam position to allow swing is lacking, no slower balls, Starc and Lyon seriously lack any semblance of variation.

can’t wait for the new ball!

 

[Themanbun]

Agreed, they have displayed more balls on this tour than the previous 15 combined.

Our bowlers simply aren’t skilled enough, they’re collectively good, sure. But outside of Cummins and Hazlewood, we really are pedestrian unless the pitch and conditions are heavily in our favour. Even then it’s not enough.

Simple things like seam position to allow swing is lacking, no slower balls, Starc and Lyon seriously lack any semblance of variation.

can’t wait for the new ball!

I'd be tempted to bring Neser or Richardson in as bowlers who can swing it. Desperately need some movement in the air.

 

[king rising]

This would honestly be one of the great test match victories if India can win this.

 

[Marstermind]

This would honestly be one of the great test match victories if India can win this.

It's got to the stage where they should win from here. Not even close. Fantastic by India but appalling in equal measure by the Aussies.

 

[giantroo]

 

[Kanga Glory]

I wish pat Cummins played for us. He is a beauty