Opinion Cricket thread

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KiwiRoo

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There are some who seem to be considered automatic selections. Starc and Hazlwwood shouldn’t be automatic anymore, they’re figures against top line players the past year are pathetic. Surely there’s someone who can bowl a consistent line at pace and who’s bowling plan isn’t short,short,leg side for four on repeat


That Riley Merideth guy looks interesting Groucho.. Only seen him bowl in the BBL but looks to have a future

I agree re Hazelwood too. He doesn't seem right to me. He's a fine bowler, but just doesn't look to have much spark at the moment
 

SonofSamsquanch

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Add to this, the channel 7 coverage with it's bored commentators and disinterested on-ground special comments people plus the likes of Mike Whitney doing special interest items... well the cricket is near to unwatchable. The only person who ramps up the excitement is the English woman (Liz???) but her over-excited exasperations for a play and miss or a completely safe lob into a vacant part of the field are completely out of context.

I saw 7 news ads stating how they are the station to watch to be informed on everything about the summer of cricket. Then Tim * Watson comes on to do the sport, but doesn't read out the scores, and they simply run a highlights package without giving any insights.

So... for me, I can't really be bothered with cricket at the moment.
 

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Mar 17, 2012
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The game has become so diverse skill wise over the past decade that the pool of Juniors with skills to adapt to whichever format is being played is appearing non existent; there appears to be a shallow pool to choose from

Is this the case SpiderBurton22 ???

Not really. The kids are still there (after being pillaged by football clubs who insist on kids choosing footy) and the better juniors will generally excell in all formats. It's all about development and management once they leave juniors.

I could on about this for ages and it's been mentioned above but Greg Chappell has ****ed the pathways up by pushing for elite juniors being fast tracked with the future's league.

State 2nd XI's became an under 23 comp which meant the standard lowered. Blokes aged 25-28, making runs and taking wickets in Grade cricket had no incentive to continue. Young blokes then come into Shield cricket based on potential and without tough cricket under their belts.

Then we get to selection policies.....
 
Mar 17, 2012
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There are some who seem to be considered automatic selections. Starc and Hazlwwood shouldn’t be automatic anymore, they’re figures against top line players the past year are pathetic. Surely there’s someone who can bowl a consistent line at pace and who’s bowling plan isn’t short,short,leg side for four on repeat

They have been worn down. By Sth Africa last summer and India this year. They've bowled on crap, unresponsive pitches for long periods with short turnarounds due to our pathetic batting line up. A rotation policy should have taken place.
 
May 28, 2013
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We are also way too nice for touring teams with our pitches. We have a great fast bowling attack but our pitches are roads.

India have dust bowls to help with their spinners, the poms seaming wickets to help with their medium pace attack and reverse swing. Flat lifeless pitches don’t help us at all. No surprise we got our only result on the bounce friendly WA pitch.
 
Watched a fair bit of the test and can only come to one conclusion - we are just s**t at the moment. Hate losing to India but they have played excellent cricket and deserve their win.
 

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We are also way too nice for touring teams with our pitches. We have a great fast bowling attack but our pitches are roads.

India have dust bowls to help with their spinners, the poms seaming wickets to help with their medium pace attack and reverse swing. Flat lifeless pitches don’t help us at all. No surprise we got our only result on the bounce friendly WA pitch.
I thought our pitches were financial decisions (the harder it should be to take wickets, the more days you get per Test).
 

arden station

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There are some who seem to be considered automatic selections. Starc and Hazlwwood shouldn’t be automatic anymore, they’re figures against top line players the past year are pathetic. Surely there’s someone who can bowl a consistent line at pace and who’s bowling plan isn’t short,short,leg side for four on repeat
Warne highlighted how poor Starc and Hazelwood's figures were against top 6 batsmen in 2018. Then Slater pulled out 2 years worth of their wicket stats at the start of this test to argue they're top class.

Against South Africa and India in 2018 they rarely presented an upright seam when they pitched it up and around off stump. Hazelwood can when he bowls short of a length and outside off stump which might look good but good batsmen just watch it go by. And he falls away in his action when he bowls straighter and fuller and the seam is tilted in. Starc is similar but less accurate. Both those seam positions might swing for a few overs when the lacquer is on the ball, if it's humid or later if there's reverse swing but not otherwise.

In contrast Rabada, Steyn (who didn't play) and Philander present upright seams all the time. And so do Bumrah and Shammi. They don't need to reverse it to take wickets.

Cummins doesn't but he hits the deck much harder and gets seam movement.

Saker has talked about getting Starc and Hazelwood to stop falling away but it's not working for long periods.

The reality is that in the post-reverse era, Starc and Hazelwood are finding it very tough.
 
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Maxwell goes BAAAAANG!

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