Opinion NMFC Board Cricket ThreadII - Windies, Big Bash, Pakistan.

[Roostorm]

So who are we thinking for our long term test opener?

Go for a promising kid? Harris? Rejig Green or another middle order player as opener?

We probably should also be planning for Smith’s long-term replacement too.

Would love to see some new kids aka Ashley chandrasinghe, Jack Clayton, Aaron Hardie, Caleb Jewell…heck even Will Pucovski….is this likely to happen…doubt it mostly heading to the recycle bin of players…Green, Bancroft, Handscome, Renshaw….
Would love us to be daring try a youngster particularly with the test series…(2 games) against the west indies. Perfect opportunity.

 

[Nate7]

So who are we thinking for our long term test opener?

Go for a promising kid? Harris? Rejig Green or another middle order player as opener?

We probably should also be planning for Smith’s long-term replacement too.

Smith to open, there's more middle order talent at shield level than pure openers.

Long term, those middle order batsmen can move up.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

Yep some talented youngsters …crazy to think that’s it for them though. I did catch one of the commentators say our test schedule is west indies and New Zealand..thats it….surely not ..but theres buck loads of T20 ( World Cup)
around…

The lower level test playing teams barely play tests. Zimbabwe, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Ireland barely play tests. The icc scheduling is killing the smaller test teams.

 

[chairo]

South Africa is bleeding money when it comes to internationals, particularly for tests. 20-20s and Indian short-form tours are the only ways they make any decent money.

Pretty sad, that even their domestic T20 teams are all part-owned by IPL franchises. Meaning, a chunk of the profits from their most profitable format gets siphoned off to India. It would be interesting to know if these franchises had a role in not releasing players to play in the NZ test series.

 

[hellas_johnny]

I reckon to start Smith to open and bring green in at 4 or 5 with head moving up. Might suit to open Smith as it gets him in the game early instead of having to wait around

 

[Marstermind]

How many BBL games this year have even remotely gone down to the wire? Or even had any level of tension or a twist as the game entered its last half hour?

Good family fun, 30k tonight is a good turnout, but it's totally boring and predictable. Test cricket can't be threatened by this.

 

[wolvesRoos]

Yeah just on train home. This is my 4th game I have been to live this season and none had had a nice finish. Just a chance to chat with friends half watching the game

 

[wolvesRoos]

Good innings by Vince tho. For some reason the teams batting first struggling to post good scores

 

[marklovesbeer]

Good riddance to Warner. Flog cheat.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

Yeah just on train home. This is my 4th game I have been to live this season and none had had a nice finish. Just a chance to chat with friends half watching the game

Become a Hurricanes supporter. We're great at losing tight games.

 

[big_e]

How many BBL games this year have even remotely gone down to the wire? Or even had any level of tension or a twist as the game entered its last half hour?

Good family fun, 30k tonight is a good turnout, but it's totally boring and predictable. Test cricket can't be threatened by this.

Heaps of tests are boring and predictable, too, you know. How many AFL games go down to the wire? NBA? Any sporting league, really?

 

[krakouers]

Would love to see some new kids aka Ashley chandrasinghe, Jack Clayton, Aaron Hardie, Caleb Jewell…heck even Will Pucovski….is this likely to happen…doubt it mostly heading to the recycle bin of players…Green, Bancroft, Handscome, Renshaw….
Would love us to be daring try a youngster particularly with the test series…(2 games) against the west indies. Perfect opportunity.

We have three opening options, trialing two at a time is fine for two tests against WI, can give Smith/Khawaja/LooseBusChange two tests off
Better to give a specialist player in their best position particularly with no standout replacement (at least to them)
Best situation is to give someone an opportunity with two tests against WI and Chappell-Hadley to settle

 

[krakouers]

Australia, Pakistan set for cricket 'exchange program'

Australia and Pakistan are hoping a possible partnership between cricket boards could better prepare both nations for playing in unfamiliar conditions.

thewest.com.au

​

Australia, Pakistan set for cricket 'exchange program'​

Spoiler: Full article

Jasper Bruce
AAP
Sun, 7 January 2024


A mooted partnership with the Pakistan Cricket Board could help Cricket Australia better prepare future cricketers for tough subcontinental conditions.

PCB and CA representatives met to discuss the deal during Pakistan's tour of Australia, which ended on Saturday in an eight-wicket SCG win and 3-0 series whitewash for the hosts.

Through the partnership, Australia's women's and under-19s and the Australia A teams would have greater opportunities to tour Pakistan, which would send its own sides to Australia more often.

Pakistan has not won a Test match in Australia since 1995, with their 17-match losing streak in the country the longest of any team in world cricket in overseas conditions.

Australia have also had noted issues in Asia, with their victory in Pakistan in 2022 their only series win on the sub-continent since late 2011.

"We had a meeting with the CA chairman and CEO and they agreed on an exchange program," Pakistan coach Mohammad Hafeez said after the third Test.

"You will see very soon, the agreement will be signed.

"The objective is all about that we come here on a regular basis and they come to Pakistan on a regular basis just to develop the game within the two countries.

"Because we need more practice in these conditions and they need more practice in Asian conditions."

Pakistan's most dangerous player in the series, Aamir Jamal, boasted rare experience in Australia; the rookie quick played NSW grade cricket with Hawkesbury in the summer of 2016/17.

Aamir was awarded player-of-the-match at the SCG in a losing effort, scoring 100 runs across his two innings and taking a second six-fer for the series during Australia's first stint at the crease.

As Pakistan looks to reassert their Test credentials, Hafeez pointed to the rise of previously uncapped Aamir as a positive to take from the Australian tour.

"He stood tall," the coach said.

"Obviously before that he was not being given enough chances at that level but when you wait for your opportunity positively, it comes up very positively.

"I'm really proud of him."

History will show a 3-0 series shut-out but as they look to improve in Australian conditions, Pakistan will take heart from a competitive final two Tests.

In the Boxing Day Test, dropped catches cost Pakistan, who ended up falling by only 79 runs.

It was only after a Josh Hazlewood-inspired blitz late on day three that Australia appeared truly in control of the third Test at the SCG.

"I thought Pakistan were high-quality," Australian captain Pat Cummins said.

"There's nothing harder than playing away from home but I thought they played really well.

"MCG could've almost gone either way and if it wasn't for that hour of power last night, this one could've gone the other way as well. It was a great series."

 

[krakouers]

We have three opening options, trialing two at a time is fine for two tests against WI, can give Smith/Khawaja/LooseBusChange two tests off
Better to give a specialist player in their best position particularly with no standout replacement (at least to them)
Best situation is to give someone an opportunity with two tests against WI and Chappell-Hadley to settle

Just further to this, is it worth CA saying to South Africa “we will release Smith/Warner/Starc/Khawaja/else to play in your T20 comp early to help you get it off the ground”?

 

[Gasometer]

Heaps of tests are boring and predictable, too, you know. How many AFL games go down to the wire? NBA? Any sporting league, really?

At least AFLX died a quick death

 

[Marstermind]

Heaps of tests are boring and predictable, too, you know. How many AFL games go down to the wire? NBA? Any sporting league, really?

Can't speak for the NBA as I don't give a rat's arse about it and I can't be bothered trying to connect with it, but in the AFL in 2023, 52 of 216 games were decided by under 10 points. Doesn't necessarily mean that those game were high quality, or that all of them had a particularly exciting finish, but a rough 1 in 4 ratio translates the 7 of the 28 BBL games so far coming down to the last over or two. There haven't been more than one or two let alone 7.

Partially agree with Test cricket though - very few games have more than one result alive in the last fraction of the game. And genuine upsets don't really happen as weaker teams can't sustain the pressure for so long (eg Pakistan). I'll defend it though by saying that some Test matches develop a 'character' and moves through 'gears', the conditions are more variable, there is a greater likelihood for twists and momentum shifts, and that there is a history there that gives individual performances and moments a more significant meaning in the context of the sport.

I'm probably also harsh on BBL as this is the format of the game that is promoted that you can't look away - anything can happen and things can shift so quickly. But that simply doesn't occur. As what happened to the 50-over game the players just became too good for it. They know exactly how to structure an innings and run chase and the script is rarely deviated from.

Take last night for example. The moment the Stars couldn't get to 170+ the game was shot. OK, the moment an AFL team falls 40+ points behind they're probably shot too. The difference is that in BBL the game just enters a holding pattern for a couple of hours until in reaches an inevitable conclusion. The Sixers spent the whole innings just ticking along, putting bad balls away, picking off ones and twos, maybe target an over just to keep ahead of the rate. All done with little risk or anything the Stars could do to stop it. Hard coming up with an analogy from another sport, but it's like the AFL team 40+ up just doing circle work for the second half - easily chipping the ball around, keepings off, occasionally popping through a goal, but doing nothing that will threaten or strengthen their advantage and the losing team being powerless to stop it. That may happen sometimes but in BBL it happens just about every game.

I'm not against T20 cricket. I went last night, I watch when I can. It is pure sport as entertainment and there is certainly a place for that. But as sport as a contest or combat, I find it increasingly hard to connect with. And as sport as human endeavour it doesn't exist at all.

 

[shinboner magic]

At least AFLX died a quick death

It’s not dead - it’s on life support in an underground lab.
It’s where Caro was built

 

[krakouers]

It’s not dead - it’s on life support in an underground lab.
It’s where Caro was built

I thought she was brought forth from the Western Treatment Plant?

 

[Masked Avenger]

Can't speak for the NBA as I don't give a rat's arse about it and I can't be bothered trying to connect with it, but in the AFL in 2023, 52 of 216 games were decided by under 10 points. Doesn't necessarily mean that those game were high quality, or that all of them had a particularly exciting finish, but a rough 1 in 4 ratio translates the 7 of the 28 BBL games so far coming down to the last over or two. There haven't been more than one or two let alone 7.

Partially agree with Test cricket though - very few games have more than one result alive in the last fraction of the game. And genuine upsets don't really happen as weaker teams can't sustain the pressure for so long (eg Pakistan). I'll defend it though by saying that some Test matches develop a 'character' and moves through 'gears', the conditions are more variable, there is a greater likelihood for twists and momentum shifts, and that there is a history there that gives individual performances and moments a more significant meaning in the context of the sport.

I'm probably also harsh on BBL as this is the format of the game that is promoted that you can't look away - anything can happen and things can shift so quickly. But that simply doesn't occur. As what happened to the 50-over game the players just became too good for it. They know exactly how to structure an innings and run chase and the script is rarely deviated from.

Take last night for example. The moment the Stars couldn't get to 170+ the game was shot. OK, the moment an AFL team falls 40+ points behind they're probably shot too. The difference is that in BBL the game just enters a holding pattern for a couple of hours until in reaches an inevitable conclusion. The Sixers spent the whole innings just ticking along, putting bad balls away, picking off ones and twos, maybe target an over just to keep ahead of the rate. All done with little risk or anything the Stars could do to stop it. Hard coming up with an analogy from another sport, but it's like the AFL team 40+ up just doing circle work for the second half - easily chipping the ball around, keepings off, occasionally popping through a goal, but doing nothing that will threaten or strengthen their advantage and the losing team being powerless to stop it. That may happen sometimes but in BBL it happens just about every game.

I'm not against T20 cricket. I went last night, I watch when I can. It is pure sport as entertainment and there is certainly a place for that. But as sport as a contest or combat, I find it increasingly hard to connect with. And as sport as human endeavour it doesn't exist at all.

T20 unwittingly undermined the secret herbs and spices of Cricket - the battle between bat and ball.

Crowds have been okay this year but overall
the format is in definite decline in Australia.

All ironic when you see other Countries move away from Test Cricket.

Cricket Australia have a pile of work to do to keep Cricket relevant in this Country. Don't envy them.

 

[DarkPhoenix]

'Unpopular' opinion.

But the name "Big Bash League" sucks.

 

[krakouers]

'Unpopular' opinion.

But the name "Big Bash League" sucks.

It’s fitting….
You have test cricket or one day internationals
Then you have the Big Bash for mentally deficient people…
Or children

 

[Sillygit]

'Unpopular' opinion.

But the name "Big Bash League" sucks.

i agree, but it's also aptly named. It's all about batting and nothing else, and the players do not at all take it seriously, so big bash suits.

 

[Kangaroos4eva]

The next generation: who could star in Australia's future?

Plenty of allrounders, two spinners already capped at the top level and some young batters just starting out

www.espncricinfo.com

 

[Colbys Boots]

'Unpopular' opinion.

But the name "Big Bash League" sucks.

Unpopular? Is there anyone on the planet outside of the marketing team at CA and one focus group who came up with this awful name who actually think it's good?

 

[Colbys Boots]

Not sure if it's a popular or unpopular opinion but Steve Waugh should be shot out of a cannon for making it acceptable for Australian cricketers to wear worn out baggy green caps. This look is absolute s**t.



New rule - if Australian cricketers insist on continuing to wear worn-out caps from their first test, then they should also be forced to wear the same pants, shirt, socks, and jocks in every test, as well as the same bat, gloves, pads, box, helmet and other protective gear.