It's time Usman

[DaRick]

Rogers was only in the test team for two years. If he was able to bat as well as he did at the age of 35-37, who knows how good he could have been if he got games in his prime.

And his average was barely 1 run lower than Khawaja's.

He definitely should have been selected over the likes of Ed Cowan, but Rogers' face didn't fit the golden era.

Matthew Hayden apparently loathed him.

But any comparison between Rogers and Khawaja is odd.

I think Rogers had the theoretical ability to have the sort of career that Khawaja has had (maybe better), but for various reasons it just didn't happen.

 

[PhatBoy]

He definitely should have been selected over the likes of Ed Cowan, but Rogers' face didn't fit the golden era.

Matthew Hayden apparently loathed him.

But any comparison between Rogers and Khawaja is odd.

I think Rogers had the theoretical ability to have the sort of career that Khawaja has had (maybe better), but for various reasons it just didn't happen.

Rogers is very much a quiet, analytical type and wouldn’t fit the yahoo let’s-go-get-em-do-it-for-Straya-stick-it-up-em-show-em-how-it’s-done bullshit mantra of Big Dos.

Imagine him being asked to wear that stupid hat for starters and what his reaction would be

 

[DaRick]

Rogers is very much a quiet, analytical type and wouldn’t fit the yahoo let’s-go-get-em-do-it-for-Straya-stick-it-up-em-show-em-how-it’s-done bullshit mantra of Big Dos.

Imagine him being asked to wear that stupid hat for starters and what his reaction would be

Rogers also wasn't a Queenslander, which wouldn't have endeared him to the rather parochial Hayden.

 

[Kram]

Matthew Hayden apparently loathed him.

Did Bucky refuse to put on the t-shirt?

 

[DaRick]

Did Bucky refuse to put on the t-shirt?

View attachment 2504444

Hayden's ego could power several cities, I swear.

 

[Jack Mundy]

Rogers was an opener, Khawaja batted 144 of his 157 test innings at opener or 3.

Rogers and Khawaja don’t have any statistical abnormalities or anomalies propping up their record.

The only thing separating them is sample size.

Voges never batted higher than 4 in a test match, and almost all of his innings’ were at 5/6.
His entire record is built around some anomalies put together in relatively friendly circumstances and the only thing he has in common with either player is that he played a low amount of test matches like Rogers, towards the end of his professional career.

Rogers and Voges had short careers about same length. Usman had extended career where he built record which stands with the best openers to ever play for Australia.

 

[Gethelred]

This isn’t a facetious question - I understand why it would be taken as one given my… leanings….

But what does everyone think the likely outcome will be in SA?

Two years ago I would have looked at that series and thought Australia would romp it in with MAYBE the outside chance of Rabada leading them to an upset win in one match with the help of 1-2 other bowlers.

Now it’s a year away or near enough. SA are world champions albeit they’re ranked 2. They’ve won in India and drew on some tough pitches in Pakistan. They’re still a bit dicey with the bat but Australia have all sorts of problems with the bat themselves apart from Head, Carey, and Smith who is good but now mortal.

Lyon you would assume won’t be a HUGE factor so one of the 5 ‘top liners’ is negated somewhat (though Maharaj has a good record there so who knows).
Hazlewood can’t string regular games together.
Starc and Boland are obviously pretty reliable body wise.

Rabada and Jansen are deadly over there and they seem to always have a revolving door of quicks ready to go.

It really does look basically like a shootout of who can scrape up enough runs to let their attack win them the game.

The problem IMO is Bavuma. We have a match for Markrum (Head) and the rest of their bats are as hit/miss as ours are, but Bavuma is both in his prime and we don't have a ready answer to him the way they would against Root or Kohli.

The way I see it, they'll be around 20 to 60 runs too good per innings than we are pretty consistently, and that'll be enough.

 

[Jack Mundy]

He definitely should have been selected over the likes of Ed Cowan, but Rogers' face didn't fit the golden era.

Matthew Hayden apparently loathed him.

But any comparison between Rogers and Khawaja is odd.

I think Rogers had the theoretical ability to have the sort of career that Khawaja has had (maybe better), but for various reasons it just didn't happen.

People dismissing Usman's claims not knowing him, but saying Roger's face didn't fit lol.

 

[DaRick]

People dismissing Usman's claims not knowing him, but saying Roger's face didn't fit lol.

I never actually commented on Usman's claims TBH.

I was simply commenting on Rogers.

It's been attested that Hayden froze Rogers out when the latter made his Test debut, and had a go at him during a Shield game.

Hard for me to imagine Rogers enjoying a long Test career under those circumstances.

Brad Hodge apparently had his own issues fitting in, and he became a footnote rather than the solid servant he could have been.

 

[Owen_AFC97]

We only have Usman to thank for the series not being 2-2 at the moment. If he didn’t have a day out playing golf prior to the Perth test then the outcome would have been very different if Head wasn’t opening.

 

[DaRick]

The problem IMO is Bavuma. We have a match for Markrum (Head) and the rest of their bats are as hit/miss as ours are, but Bavuma is both in his prime and we don't have a ready answer to him the way they would against Root or Kohli.

The way I see it, they'll be around 20 to 60 runs too good per innings than we are pretty consistently, and that'll be enough.

Markram is in many ways more like Shaun Marsh than Travis Head.

Capable of brilliance, but he suffers a lot of outs in between.

I still think SA are marginal favourites, just because Bavuma in recent years has averaged around 50 in a very tough era for batting.

 

[Bedi]

Did Bucky refuse to put on the t-shirt?

View attachment 2504444

that's next level egomania

 

[Spirit Level]

Good career, was a big fan of him at the start and was graceful to watch when on song.

Definitely rungs below the likes of Langer, Hayden, Katich, Warner etc

The last couple of months definitely leave a sour taste on the legacy though. Came across as a bit of a whinger

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Rogers is very much a quiet, analytical type and wouldn’t fit the yahoo let’s-go-get-em-do-it-for-Straya-stick-it-up-em-show-em-how-it’s-done bullshit mantra of Big Dos.

Imagine him being asked to wear that stupid hat for starters and what his reaction would be

Believe it or not, but Rogers is actually the loosest of loose cannons with a legendary after hours reputation!

Even though he looks like an accountant

 

[Sea fog]

Khawaja's on-field brilliance pales in comparison to his true impact

Before his debut in 2011, Australia had never seen a cricketer like Usman Khawaja and, thanks to his work on and off the field, he'll be followed by plenty more.

www.abc.net.au

Retirement confirmed.

Think he deservedly sits in that close-to-the-top-of-the-pantheon echelon - not quite at the Bradman, Smith, Border, Ponting level, but comfortably alongside the Langer, Hayden, Hussey, the Chappells etc.

But his outspokenness is ultimately going to leave his career as a bit of a political Rorschach test as well.

Bradman is in a class of his own. Greg Chappell has to be at the same level as Smith, Border and Ponting. In fact at one point he went back up to #3 in his ageing years because Border was struggling there. And his average would be around 55, if they counted the matches against the Rest of the World and World Series Cricket and they featured bowlers much more challenging than what cricketers around the world have faced since. He never played against the Bangers, played 1 test against Sri Lanka and every test team in his era had at least one very good fast bowler at any time. To put Hussey and Langer at his level is insulting. BTW, Ussie is not in the same postcode as Greg Chappell.

 

[Sea fog]

Dizzy Gillespie has hit out at what he perceives as Ussie playing the 'race' card.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/cricket/jason-gillespie-rejects-usman-khawajas-claims-of-raciallycharged-golfing-criticism/news-story/c38d6ea120cbe6df845159061bfcd7d1

Former Australian pace star Jason Gillespie has rejected Usman Khawaja’s claim that criticism of the retiring veteran’s preparation in the lead up to the Perth Test was racially charged.
At his retirement press conference on Friday, Khawaja suggested that there were racist undertones within the commentary surrounding his decision to play golf ahead of the Ashes opener, a decision which was brought into light after he was unable to open the batting in either innings because of back spasms.

But speaking to the ABC, Gillespie - Australia’s first male Indigenous Test cricketer - said questions about Khawaja’s preparation were legitimate.

“I’m not questioning the racism that Usman has faced throughout his life,” Gillespie said.

“I’ve actually always admired him and applauded him for speaking up because racism is a big stain on our society, and it always needs to be called out.

“He referenced racism when he was talking about criticism that he received.

 

[Spirit Level]

Did he really claim that criticism about preparation and performance was racially driven?

If so, yeahhh **** off mate, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

 

[revo333]

It's amazing how ppl think cricket is so easy...

A test average over 40 for over 70 tests played is very good.

 

[Spirit Level]

Was looking at test averages today, seems wrong that Michael Clarke averaged under 50.

He was better than that

 

[Jack Mundy]

Bradman is in a class of his own. Greg Chappell has to be at the same level as Smith, Border and Ponting. In fact at one point he went back up to #3 in his ageing years because Border was struggling there. And his average would be around 55, if they counted the matches against the Rest of the World and World Series Cricket and they featured bowlers much more challenging than what cricketers around the world have faced since. He never played against the Bangers, played 1 test against Sri Lanka and every test team in his era had at least one very good fast bowler at any time. To put Hussey and Langer at his level is insulting. BTW, Ussie is not in the same postcode as Greg Chappell.

Steve Waugh with Border was one of five batsmen to score +4000 runs at average over 50 between 1984 and 2000.

 

[DaRick]

A test average over 40 for over 70 tests played is very good.

It is. Averaging 43 over 88 Tests is even better.

Honestly, the bloke seems like a bitter old fart.

Was looking at test averages today, seems wrong that Michael Clarke averaged under 50.

He was better than that

In his prime, he was absolutely unstoppable. He pretty much carried the batting lineup on his back for 2 years or so.

But his back injuries messed with him, and ultimately curtailed his career.

 

[Daka]

A test average over 40 for over 70 tests played is very good.

I know, also ppl have been disgusting and saying he is not good on social media, it's crazy and I'm seeing a lot ppl being racist as well on X which just proves Usman right.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Great to see the back of this whiney campaigner.

 

[Jack Mundy]

Good career, was a big fan of him at the start and was graceful to watch when on song.

Definitely rungs below the likes of Langer, Hayden, Katich, Warner etc

The last couple of months definitely leave a sour taste on the legacy though. Came across as a bit of a whinger

Slipped in katich lol

Rogers is very much a quiet, analytical type and wouldn’t fit the yahoo let’s-go-get-em-do-it-for-Straya-stick-it-up-em-show-em-how-it’s-done bullshit mantra of Big Dos.

Imagine him being asked to wear that stupid hat for starters and what his reaction would be

This thread is full of people who refuse to believe being Muslim could be an obstacle in an insular culture like Australian cricket, yet imagine Rogers faced discrimination for being quiet.

 

[Spirit Level]

Slipped in katich lol

I honestly didn't rate him at all up until around 2008, but then he carved out a good little run as an opener and I came around.

On reflection Katich can move down to the Usman, Chris rogers tier