Is Cricket 'DEAD' Thread

[Henry Jr]

4-155 with clarke failing, no text from henry jr to say 'f%^k you clarke' which is surprising.

Gees these cameraman are keeping me entertained with the best jo'berg has to offer.

Aussies will win this.

Ponting gone. GH looking like an amuture as usual.

 

[mrcurly]

still an outside chance i suppose, though there is plenty of responsibility on Shameless shoulders.

 

[Willie_Rioli]

still an outside chance i suppose, though there is plenty of responsibility on Shameless shoulders.

Hussey and Haddin are both due for big scores. So not over yet

 

[Henry Jr]

What a cracker by Steyn!

 

[Henry Jr]

Any chance that everyone's favourite use his feet for once instead of swinging like a number 11.

 

[go hawks!!!]

Ponting gone. GH looking like an amuture as usual.

amuture? .......scorecheck

 

[grizzlym]

Haddin has absolutely no foot movement. The only time he moves his feet is to leap into the air to play a backfoot defensive shot.

Clarke was the key wicket. If he'd only got 30-50, we'd be in a much better winning position.

And that shot from Hussey was a shocker. Fancy being out LBW to a ball pitching on middle, and hitting halfway up middle stump. Playing across the line again.

So Hank, are you now willing to concede that asking Watson to not only open the batting but play a key role in the bowling attack might just be bit much of an ask? Wouldn't you love Watson coming in at 6?

 

[go hawks!!!]

Ponting gone. GH looking like an amuture as usual.

68 runs, 5 wickets in hand.

Surely cannot lose from here.

Haddin has done well but surely cannot keep his spot.

For the NZ test matches, I would like to see Siddle and Johnson gone. Ever since Johnson started mouthing off at his old lady, his career has been screwed. Might have to stick to advertising for kmart or whatever.

Yes, Watson should not open. No.6 is right for me also.

Hussey needs to retire with Ponting.

 

[Willie_Rioli]

68 runs, 5 wickets in hand.

Surely cannot lose from here.

Haddin has done well but surely cannot keep his spot.

this is a team that lost 9/21 last week...

and bloody hell - Haddin's just out!

 

[Willie_Rioli]

man this is tense. we better not lose!

 

[Willie_Rioli]

unbelievable finish! got no idea how that LBW wasn't given out.
and Steyn's dropped catch that went for 4 was pretty blooding fortuitous too.

amazing and totally bizarre series. a shame there's not a deciding test.

 

[Henry Jr]

So Hank, are you now willing to concede that asking Watson to not only open the batting but play a key role in the bowling attack might just be bit much of an ask? Wouldn't you love Watson coming in at 6?

I'd drop him for the next test!

Yep, new selectors so time for a rethink.

Problem is.... Hughes is just as bad. Both think their million dollar stroke players. Instead, their job is to take the shine off the ball.

On current form, has to be Warner.

I'll post my best 22, I mean 11 later today.

 

[grizzlym]

Wow. Amazing win. It just shows the talent that MJ and Haddin actually have. All that being said, it makes their onfield disappearing acts even more bewildering. So a new regime begins, not before time either, and let's hope it's the making of the next generation of test cricketers and the rebirth of a couple of the incumbents.

 

[Roddy]

Fantastic win, great game, best test match I've watched for years. Stayed up til after 2am to watch the finish. Seriously not sure if it's the start of a 'new era' or anything like that though, the side still still looks very unsettled and quite brittle. I think we've still got quite a number of years in the wilderness before we're dominant again...

 

[mrcurly]

Yeah, i'm feeling the effects of way too much overnight cricket, but it was worth it for Cummins hitting the winning runs - what a tight finish.

If you look at this lineup i dont think there is one player (on current form) apart from Cummins that would have been given a cap 10 years ago, we are really at the beginning of another rebuild stage.

If the new selection panel are serious about rebuilding then surely that is the last we will see of Ponting. Haddin, Hussey and Johnson would also be feeling the heat.

Johnson is frustrating, the guy obviously has a heap of natural talent, yet there are times (even last night) when he appears to not have a clue how to play cricket. You would think with tailenders at the other end he would make an attempt to farm the strike, instead he just seemed to take every run that presented itself. I would also expect his bowling to have improved over the past few years, it seems to actually have gone backwards! ..anyway, he can probably feel he played a major part in steering the leaky ship home last night, so that should help his confidence.

Hussey is getting out to balls he would have defended easily a couple of seasons ago, he never appears to be completely settled, definitely not the immoveable object of the past.

What do you do with openers that have a style better suited to a ODI? Hughes reminds me of Jeff Moss, can absolutely cream a bad ball, but defence looks streaky - even after his hiatus. Watson and Hughes seem more like lower middle order players, but Watson can only be used sparingly as a classical all rounder due to his history of breaking down.

The bowling attack is improving courtesy of Cummins, Siddle is playing like nothing more than a stock bowler, though Lyon shows a bit.

Much like the Hawks early this season, i would rather see the Aussies lose and put even more faith in some new talent, than stagnate by hanging onto established players on reputation and past glories.

 

[go hawks!!!]

A while back I mentioned a West Indian batsman named Darren Bravo who is the half bro of Dwayne. This kid is starting to show the talent, scored 2 centuries in his last two tests, one against Bangladesh and the other against India and is now 50 odd not out.

This kid is a clone of B.C Lara, his technique is identical and even looks the same, and after 13 tests, their averages are exactly the same. At the age of 22 this kid has a real future, and will surely reach his potential unlike those other clowns in West Indian cricket. Chris Gayle is sitting on his arse cause of a disagreement with the board, they will not choose Sarwan cause he is too fat, and they are trying to force the 'man of steel' Shiv Chanderpaul to retire. Dwayne Bravo is not considered for selection and Keiron Pollard will never play test cricket.

Well if you get a chance watch him play or watch his career stats.

 

[grizzlym]

I know it's a cliche, but I'm convinced that batting is mostly mental, especially at test level. It's about judgement, confidence and playing within your limitations etc. I look at guys like Amla and Trott, they are very accomplished players, but I wouldn't call them great, yet they bat with a kind of maturity and calmness that speaks of understanding their game, playing within their limitations and minimising risks. I think that's something that might possibly have been lost with pour players, especially coming off a generation of success and dominance.

 

[grizzlym]

Yeah, i'm feeling the effects of way too much overnight cricket, but it was worth it for Cummins hitting the winning runs - what a tight finish.

If you look at this lineup i dont think there is one player (on current form) apart from Cummins that would have been given a cap 10 years ago, we are really at the beginning of another rebuild stage.

If the new selection panel are serious about rebuilding then surely that is the last we will see of Ponting. Haddin, Hussey and Johnson would also be feeling the heat.

Johnson is frustrating, the guy obviously has a heap of natural talent, yet there are times (even last night) when he appears to not have a clue how to play cricket. You would think with tailenders at the other end he would make an attempt to farm the strike, instead he just seemed to take every run that presented itself. I would also expect his bowling to have improved over the past few years, it seems to actually have gone backwards! ..anyway, he can probably feel he played a major part in steering the leaky ship home last night, so that should help his confidence.

Hussey is getting out to balls he would have defended easily a couple of seasons ago, he never appears to be completely settled, definitely not the immoveable object of the past.

What do you do with openers that have a style better suited to a ODI? Hughes reminds me of Jeff Moss, can absolutely cream a bad ball, but defence looks streaky - even after his hiatus. Watson and Hughes seem more like lower middle order players, but Watson can only be used sparingly as a classical all rounder due to his history of breaking down.

The bowling attack is improving courtesy of Cummins, Siddle is playing like nothing more than a stock bowler, though Lyon shows a bit.

Much like the Hawks early this season, i would rather see the Aussies lose and put even more faith in some new talent, than stagnate by hanging onto established players on reputation and past glories.

Top post too, Curly one.

I agree re Johnson. what's the story? he's got an 8-for, a test century, is the Australian left-armer with the most wickets and has the potential to do amazing things.... so why isn't he? What's the story? He should be a dominant player and with Watson provide some real quality in the middle order and with the ball. The potential from a team balance point of view leaves you drooling.

I think Micky Arthur is a very astute appointment. I like the guy.

 

[DESTRUKTOR]

Johnson has the capacity to bowl lethal deliveries, but trust me on this one, look at his wickets if you can. He got a lot of wickets with crap deliveries that produced crap shots. Once that was worked out, all batters needed to do was stop slashing at his wider, shorter deliveries. He is a bit of a 'rockstar', and it befuddles me how he got so many wickets in the earlier part of his career.

Really enjoyed listening to the cricket on the radio, so I say no!! Cricket aint dead!!

 

[morri]

I think the recent test series I watched were awesome. and I wouldnt want to miss it at all, I don't mind 50 ov cricket am not much of a fan of 20/20 but it is still watchable. surely there should be more test series, but those that are there I enjoy.

 

[Henry Jr]

I think the best thing to happen to Australian cricket is hiring Micky Arthur as coach.

He will come in with a no bullshit attitude. No playing favorites, needs to wipe the slate and start again.

So time to go Ponting, Hussey, Haddin, Siddle and Johnson.

 

[The BIG X]

I'd drop him for the next test!

Yep, new selectors so time for a rethink.

Problem is.... Hughes is just as bad. Both think their million dollar stroke players. Instead, their job is to take the shine off the ball.

On current form, has to be Warner.

I'll post my best 22, I mean 11 later today.

I think the best thing to happen to Australian cricket is hiring Micky Arthur as coach.

He will come in with a no bullshit attitude. No playing favorites, needs to wipe the slate and start again.

So time to go Ponting, Hussey, Haddin, Siddle and Johnson.

Looking forward to seeing your best 11 - excluding the above

 

[Henry Jr]

Looking forward to seeing your best 11 - excluding the above

This is what I would start a fresh with an eye on the next Ashes series.

D.Warner
P.Hughes (I don't like him but think the selectors will stick with him)
S.Marsh
M.Clarke
S.Watson
Special K
M.Wade
M.Marsh / J.Herrick
Cutting
Cummings
N.Lyon

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

I know it's a cliche, but I'm convinced that batting is mostly mental, especially at test level. It's about judgement, confidence and playing within your limitations etc. I look at guys like Amla and Trott, they are very accomplished players, but I wouldn't call them great, yet they bat with a kind of maturity and calmness that speaks of understanding their game, playing within their limitations and minimising risks. I think that's something that might possibly have been lost with pour players, especially coming off a generation of success and dominance.

Couldn't agree more Grizz. I think the modern generation got used to seeing guys like Hayden, Langer, Ponting just smashing bowling attacks and thought it was simply that easy. It's not the case, those guys were masters of their craft. The could play extranagently as well as playing a dour tough innings. To many aussie batsman aren't prepared to play a dour knock.

Siddle, Johnson out, Cutting and Harris back in, if Harris not fit, then bring in Copeland or J Pattinson

 

[Brishawk]

This is what I would start a fresh with an eye on the next Ashes series.

D.Warner
P.Hughes (I don't like him but think the selectors will stick with him)
S.Marsh
M.Clarke
S.Watson
Special K
M.Wade
M.Marsh / J.Herrick
Cutting
Cummings
N.Lyon

Special K? Kawaja?

If so I'd have him at 4 in that line up an push Clarke and Watson down one. With that opening 3 Clarke should come in at 5 as he needs the shine off the ball and he could find himself batting in the first session a lot! I don't think his technique/judgement is as good as many suggest, it just looks better than most of the guys who bat higher up the order

Not sure MM is ready yet so I'd go Pattinson. Has the talent.

Hughes is a flat track bully. Like Sewag but not as good. Only getting a game in lieu of another standout who is also young and/or not publicly insulted Cricket Australia, the Australian Captain and the selectors.

EDIT: I might add on S.Marsh that he has a ordinary first class record. His test form has been ok but I have big question marks over a guy who can't average 40 in domestic cricket and who has 23 50s and only gone on to make 7 100s . . .