Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[mrcurly]

I agree totally, there is absolutely no spark in the fielding, I could not believe how many relayed throws were coming in from the outfield in the Brisbane test, seems like there are not too many decent arms in the team.

As somebody noted earlier, our fielding has gone backwards, there are too many players that need to be hidden on the fine leg boundary, even Ponting is getting sloppy. You really would not want to be a short leg to much of our current bowling lineup, you would wake up in intensive care.

We had an embarassment of riches over the past 20 years, the reality now is good players are pretty thin on the ground. In ability this side is probably struggling to be the equivalent of Australia A from 10 years ago.

On the 'dead' discussion; Many years ago you could come home in the afternoon, pop on the telly and watch the last session of a Sheffield Shield match on the ABC. It gave you a chance to have a look at the next generation of talent coming through the ranks. It was also a nice homely mix of sport and self deprecating humour from the ABC commentators. With the intense commercialisation of the game it now seems to have grown bigger than the sum of its parts, commentary that drifts into infomercial, cross promotion and ads thinly disguised as cricket... I'm over it, they lost my attention about 5 years ago, too many meaningless fixtures, only the Ashes seems worth watching, and even that has disappeared around the S bend.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

Langford4FBOTC would probably open the batting. He could play that lad. 4 or 5 is where you might slot me in, might...

Thanks for the vote of confidence Grizz.... I was going to petition the skip for a push up the order

How/why is Smith there in front of a specialist batsman? Hughes opening is a huge gamble, then replacing an underperforming specialist batsman with a young all-rounder. It will be a rout.

Langers, your thoughts please.

They're clutching at straws.... pure & simple. Deck chairs on the Titanic

We can talk about the who and why, but quite simply, we don't have a world class spinner in the country.

If Beer is viewed as the one with the most potential, fair enough!.... Note to Ponting & brains trust: bowl him for long spells and support him with decent fields. Note to selectors: pick him for the remaining games.

From reports, Smith bowled well in the last game, but is a batting all-rounder at the moment. Test quality number 6.... not even close. I hope he does well. He needs to play as a bowling all-rounder so I would have thought you bat him at 7 or 8 depending if we play an extra batsman or extra bowler. I think Hadden will bat 6 with Smith at 7.

Hughes is a massive gamble. If he fails, I fear it'll destroy him. It's not that he doesn't deserve another shot, he just doesn't have the form. Again, I hope he performs brilliantly. They're predicting a green top, so good luck!

I found Hauritz's comments over the weekend particularly interesting. I think they speaks volumes for the current state of affairs and the way things are being managed.

 

[Henry Jr]

Speaking of Cheap Beers, he's 12th man.

Spinning duties, it will be Hot Pies from Smith and some Nudies from Rooters Back Clarke.

 

[grizzlym]

This will end in tears. Possibly the weakest batting line-up I've seen Australia field in many a moon. Nice to see us effectively play 5 seamers too.

 

[grizzlym]

We've got our natural number 6 opening, our wicket keeper playing at 6, and our spinner coming in at 7 instead of our keeper...

 

[grizzlym]

And Hughes gone 12 minutes into the opening session. The destruction of a fine prospect is almost complete by those in charge.

 

[CharlieMitchell]

The way his career has been "managed" by CA is embarassing. I just hope he can come back from this

 

[grizzlym]

And now Ponting - a great catch but a seriously reckless shot.

 

[grizzlym]

The captain in-waiting hangs his bat and departs. All out by tea?

 

[Henry Jr]

Ponting and Clarke must both go.

Hussey to Captain. He can open too.

Piss off Hughes. Your sh!t.

Watson
M.Hussey (c)
Khawaja
Ferguson
D.Hussey
Haddin (v)
Smith

 

[go hawks!!!]

Ponting and Clarke must both go.

Hussey to Captain. He can open too.

Piss off Hughes. Your sh!t.

Watson
M.Hussey (c)
Khawaja
Ferguson
D.Hussey
Haddin (v)
Smith

gees Henry you on the piss again?

Hussey was on the chopping block remember?

Clarke is a choker ponting down to 6

I see the demise of the windies happening to Australia

 

[Henry Jr]

gees Henry you on the piss again?

Hussey was on the chopping block remember?

Clarke is a choker ponting down to 6

I see the demise of the windies happening to Australia

Just state your current location please GH for the audience?

 

[Henry Jr]

Channel 9 now running the Commentators Audio thru one of Grizz's iPhone voice changing Apps.

 

[go hawks!!!]

Just state your current location please GH for the audience?

Still getting free pints mate.

 

[Henry Jr]

Still getting free pints mate.

You sent anymore of your employees back to the office yet whilst the boss sits at the bar drinking?

 

[grizzlym]

Still getting free pints mate.

Are you at Transport?

 

[Henry Jr]

Are you at Transport?

Cosmo

Someone kindly sent a photo in of GH just before...

 

[grizzlym]

And Smith gone. Resounding failure for the selectors this tets.

 

[Henry Jr]

Don't think we needed 4 quicks + watson.

Think the extra batsman had to play with smith batting at 7 as a batting alrounder.

Tried to play too much like a batsman rather than a swinging number 7.

 

[grizzlym]

How/why is Smith there in front of a specialist batsman? Hughes opening is a huge gamble, then replacing an underperforming specialist batsman with a young all-rounder. It will be a rout.

Langers, your thoughts please.

As forecast earlier in the week.

 

[go hawks!!!]

As forecast earlier in the week.

nope not at transport.

aussies are a joke....big time!!! looking more like the windies at the moment

 

[go hawks!!!]

Cosmo

Someone kindly sent a photo in of GH just before...

That was me when ponting was dismissed then again when clarke made a stupid shot

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

It's great isn't it..... a lot of focus on our bowlers over the last week or so, but you have to give them something to bowl at. Absolutely no pressure on the English batsman so far this series.

Pick Hughes with a Shield average of 17 this year, yet leave out our two best batting prospects who are in a bit of form.

 

[grizzlym]

Quite honestly the most bizarre team I can recall seeing us select for quite some time. The selectors have to wear this one as far as I;m concerned - Smith as a specialist batsman and Hughes were terrible, terrible calls.

It seems the calls for Pointing to drop down the order are gathering pace too.

Where to go from here?

 

[Messenger]

Quite honestly the most bizarre team I can recall seeing us select for quite some time. The selectors have to wear this one as far as I;m concerned - Smith as a specialist batsman and Hughes were terrible, terrible calls.

It seems the calls for Pointing to drop down the order are gathering pace too.

Where to go from here?

The Hughes dismissal was awful. The English exposed a technique chasm in that kid. Still reckon he'd runs against most others though.

Michael Clarke was pathetic and Smith well and truly out of his depth. He has #8 written all over him. I don't care if he opens for NSW, at this level he isn't a Test batsman.

I'm sure, however, we'll find a bowler to drop for Melbourne.