First test of the aussie summer

[t_94]

Bavuma sucks. Has one ton in 51 matches and averages mid 30's. He wouldn't get a game if not for the quotas. Apparently Erwee is an opener so maybe him.

He’s a good player but doesn’t convert his 50s so his overall average is underwhelming. He is in the best 6 bats in South Africa currently.

 

[corbies]

Agreed but SA are probably good enough with the ball to overcome that and close the gap a bit. Australia should just back it’s batting in whatever the conditions.

Against the West Indies I’d agree.

I think with juice in the wickets we are every bit as dangerous but obviously we aren’t equipped to make runs on it.

Curious to see how the likes of Bonner, Da Silva, Mayers and possibly Chanderpaul go.

Brathwaite has made runs here before I’m hopeful he can do it again.

I hope you're prepared for blokes watching the West Indies for the first time in 6 years to give their concrete assessments on every single player and how to fix West Indies cricket after walking past the tele and watching for 12 minutes in between beers.

And that's just in the commentary box.

 

[FRUMPY]

I hope you're prepared for blokes watching the West Indies for the first time in 6 years to give their concrete assessments on every single player and how to fix West Indies cricket after walking past the tele and watching for 12 minutes in between beers.

And that's just in the commentary box.

compare todays batsmen to the glory days of lara, sir viv, sobers etc....

like they do with their fast bowling everytime they are out here

funnily enough, they never mention how much cricket is on the nose in every part of the world except india and when the ashes is on

 

[PhatBoy]

I hope you're prepared for blokes watching the West Indies for the first time in 6 years to give their concrete assessments on every single player and how to fix West Indies cricket after walking past the tele and watching for 12 minutes in between beers.

And that's just in the commentary box.

It’s a given every time we play.

I got a nice little taste of it last month when we were bundled out of the WC and people were surprised, as though they’d been frozen in stasis since the word ‘name’ left Ian Bishop’s lips at the 2016 edition.

‘Aren’t these blokes one of the best sides in the world?’
‘No, they are not.’


Encouragingly the quality of the domestic one day comp seems to have gone up SLIGHTLY this year so that’s a small plus.

 

[Gough]

For a generation of Australians the West Indies are different. Despite being on the receiving end of it all of much of the time we want the pomp of four faster bowlers and batsman that could pulverise any attack, it was simply thrilling cricket and we'd love to see even a fraction of that again from them.

 

[PhatBoy]

For a generation of Australians the West Indies are different. Despite being on the receiving end of it all of much of the time we want the pomp of four faster bowlers and batsman that could pulverise any attack, it was simply thrilling cricket and we'd love to see even a fraction of that again from them.

Interestingly we actually have the speed at the moment: Gabriel when fit (I have doubts he will ever play test cricket again), Joseph and O’Shane Thomas all regularly threaten or reach 150km/h.

There are a few others in and around the white ball sides who are genuinely quick as well.

Speed was a real issue for a while but not right at the moment.

I actually like that we have gone away from poor man’s stroke makers who could make a flashy 20 and be gone in five minutes. Our batting is largely made up of grafters and though it is not edifying for the eyes it actually gives me some hope that we are going to win a lot more matches in the coming years than we did say, 2010-2016

 

[Mikevk123]

South Africa really need to blood some new batsmen. It’s quite concerning for them.

This is who id pick.

1. Elgar
2. Erwee
3. Janneman Malan
4. Stian Van Zyl
5. Temba Bavuma
6. Aiden Markram
7. Kyle Verrynne
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Kasigo Rabada
10. Anrich Nortje
11. Lungi Ngidi

 

[PhatBoy]

South Africa really need to blood some new batsmen. It’s quite concerning for them.

This is who id pick.

1. Elgar
2. Erwee
3. Janneman Malan
4. Stian Van Zyl
5. Temba Bavuma
6. Aiden Markram
7. Kyle Verrynne
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Kasigo Rabada
10. Anrich Nortje
11. Lungi Ngidi

If fit they can’t not pick Marco Janssen

 

[Plugger35]

Yeah Jansen will surely be in South Africa's best XI for the test series, he will be a handful on the test pitches here with his left arm pace and bounce,

He is also a decent lower order batsman and they will need all the help they can get with their flimsy batting line up, I'd be staggered if he was left out.

 

[Belnakor]

Sure and in an optimum world I’d agree. Problem is the options are hardly great right now.

Hunt- inconsistent this season, has a score today that’s good
Renshaw- sure but he hasn’t been opening in a couple of years. First season back is promising
Harris- rubbish and not test standard
Pucovski- not even considering the bloke for 12 months

hate to say it but Bancroft has been decent last couple of seasons.

if Warner has a poor summer season i cannot see how the selectors are picking him to goto India and England where he averages less than 25(!) over 21 test matches. Its disgraceful he is an automatic selection for those tours as it stands now. literally mitchell starc has a better record with the bat than Warner does in india/england.

 

[The 747]

South Africa really need to blood some new batsmen. It’s quite concerning for them.

This is who id pick.

1. Elgar
2. Erwee
3. Janneman Malan
4. Stian Van Zyl
5. Temba Bavuma
6. Aiden Markram
7. Kyle Verrynne
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Kasigo Rabada
10. Anrich Nortje
11. Lungi Ngidi

Yeah the production line of batters has just dried up big time. Class bowler production continues as usual.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

hate to say it but Bancroft has been decent last couple of seasons.

if Warner has a poor summer season i cannot see how the selectors are picking him to goto India and England where he averages less than 25(!) over 21 test matches. Its disgraceful he is an automatic selection for those tours as it stands now. literally mitchell starc has a better record with the bat than Warner does in india/england.

Think Whiteman is a better shout than Bancroft but not sure he’d do any better. Think Renshaw is the one but would they make the change this close?

 

[11kgm]

FAF giving Warner a whack in his new book calling him a bully

I am shocked, Warner no way

 

[Del125763]

Good Post NYRB I understand where you are coming from and I do believe we need to look to the future.

In regards to Jhye currently being managed atm as he has a sore heel missing this weeks shields game. They stated he should be right for the NSW game next week...I believe they are looking at the Aus A game V South Africa for Jhye to play.....looking at the backend of the summer to get him right if needed for the tests.

I thought it was strange that both Hazelwood and Starc where picked for next weeks ODI...I thought it would of been a great opportunity for both to go back to shield cricket and prepare for the first test. Lots of cricket coming up and I cannot see how all three Cummins Starc Cummins can play these ODI 2 tests against WI and then 3 against South Africa...reckon they are going to be cooked come the backend of the summer. I would of rewarded both Neser and Dorff on good Marsh/cup form and played them this ODI series.

Boland is going okay and is a good backup I would prefer him on the slower lower decks of Melb and SCG ...even though the G has been juiced up a bit...due to Boland line and length But I do believe Aus will ask for batting decks come the MCG and SCG tests due to the South Africans bowling attack...but that's another story.

Warner as I have stated in previous threads should be given this summer as a test swansong....and to concentrate on white ball cricket only

On another note I have noticed is the conservatism of Ronnie and Cummins and the way Australia plays its cricket it will be interesting to see this summer if we play a attacking style of cricket.

Warner, Starc, Lyon should be long gone, they were all awful in that home summer v India, and all should have been moved on then, if not earlier. But if Warner scores a flat-track bully ton against a club-level Windies attack to start the summer, that's his automatic pick status secured for another 3 years.

Hazlewood has only taken 3 test wickets since we lost to India. Since he was part of the attack that failed badly in both Sydney & Brisbane v India, his entire red-ball output, shield & test, is 5 games, 9 wickets, average of 40, strike rate of 94. If he's fit, he really should be playing the first half of the shield season and proving he's currently a better choice than the likes of Neser, Boland, etc. As he's not doing that, I'd rather pick the in-form guys over the one who has barely bowled a red ball in 18 months. don't think that counts as dropping him.

Cummins still belongs, even if he's never had to perform at state level. He's only played 14 first class games in his entire 11+ year career that weren't tests.

Smith still belongs too, even if he's no longer up to the same level as that 4 year, best in the world run that ended just before the sandpaper tour.

 

[SSwans2011]

FAF giving Warner a whack in his new book calling him a bully

I am shocked, Warner no way

In fairness, 99% of people in world cricket over the last decade could call Warner a w***er, and I'd agree with them.

Faf is in that 1% that has no right to be throwing stones.

A-grade w***er and a cheat himself.

 

[Gough]

Australian and white South Africans are more alike than either of us would care to admit in my experience.

 

[11kgm]

In fairness, 99% of people in world cricket over the last decade could call Warner a w***er, and I'd agree with them.

Faf is in that 1% that has no right to be throwing stones.

A-grade w***er and a cheat himself.

He and De Villers don't talk anymore because he was jealous of him haha

 

[Nicho50]

Really looking forward to seeing this West Indies outfit, its a shame they we don't get the series as often and they don't get exposed to the big games as much as they should. They have a promising batting line up that is now more suited to test cricket. I still have major doubts they can score enough runs to win over here but they have a group of guys who seem committed to being good test players. Their bowling attack in the pace department is up there with some of the best IMO Joseph and Seales have loads of potential , Roach is consistent. Just lacking a spin bowler.

Still don't see them winning either test but they should be far more competitive than previous years.

 

[Del125763]

FAF giving Warner a whack in his new book calling him a bully

I am shocked, Warner no way

did you buy the book out of curiosity?

 

[Belnakor]

Warner, Starc, Lyon should be long gone, they were all awful in that home summer v India, and all should have been moved on then, if not earlier. But if Warner scores a flat-track bully ton against a club-level Windies attack to start the summer, that's his automatic pick status secured for another 3 years.

Just waiting for "Davey" to hit a second innings hundred in a game where we have a first innings lead of say 200 and suddenly he is "back". You know like the pakistan series where he did absolutely nothing but hit 340 lol

 

[11kgm]

did you buy the book out of curiosity?

No sadly they had snippets on the BBC, was interesting he seems like a complete campaigner but anyone who hates Warner is a good bloke

 

[Belnakor]

No sadly they had snippets on the BBC, was interesting he seems like a complete campaigner but anyone who hates Warner is a good bloke

angry ant

 

[Tugga27]

No sadly they had snippets on the BBC, was interesting he seems like a complete campaigner but anyone who hates Warner is a good bloke

I've just got it.
There's heaps of free copies (ebooks) around.

Books by Faf and those types of players are often the most interesting as they don't pull any punches.

Books from players like Gilly are so vanilla.

 

[11kgm]

I've just got it.
There's heaps of free copies (ebooks) around.

Books by Faf and those types of players are often the most interesting as they don't pull any punches.

Books from players like Gilly are so vanilla.

You'll have to let me how it goes

 

[Gough]

I've almost finished the new Gideon Haigh on Dan Christian and am waiting for his one on Wasim Akram to arrive.