Test The Ashes Fifth Test January 4-8 1000hrs @ The SCG

[sabso]

I used to really like 2nd January as the first day of the SCG test. They then decided that there wasn't enough time between Melbourne and Sydney for this to happen. I think it started as late as the 6th in recent times.

It's been a strange series. There's only been 13 days of cricket but I've had enough of it already.

Try being an England supporter. We had enough after 2.

 

[MarcMaverick]

This Ashes series has been quite flat.

 

[Pistol Night]

This Ashes series has been quite flat.

No momentum, weird start days, definite questions over our batting going forward

 

[Pistol Night]

We can’t drop this one. These weird campaigners will think they’ve won the Ashes if we only beat them 3-2. They’ll dive into the Dennis DeNuto reasoning as to why it’s a series win

 

[western royboy]

No momentum, weird start days, definite questions over our batting going forward

Those questions were already there, we’ve got no answers and even more questions now

 

[Sonny Hayes]

This Ashes series has been quite flat.

I disagree, I’d say almost every session has been must watch. It’s certainly not been the highest quality but at this point I just don’t know what people want.

People complain big time every summer when we smash our opponents or we play ‘minnows’ and get told what a waste of time having them out is.

We now get a series that had 4 pretty competitive games so far and it’s still disappointing to some.

I wish we got a higher quality series but the highs have been very high this summer

 

[Westend]

I disagree, I’d say almost every session has been must watch. It’s certainly not been the highest quality but at this point I just don’t know what people want.

People complain big time every summer when we smash our opponents or we play ‘minnows’ and get told what a waste of time having them out is.

We now get a series that had 4 pretty competitive games so far and it’s still disappointing to some.

I wish we got a higher quality series but the highs have been very high this summer

The hype leading into the series was huge and unfortunately the series has not lived up to expectation for me

Poor batting from both sides...the poms playing shit bazball crap disrespecting the conditions and the opposition

Spinners having virtually no part

Two 2 day tests ...its just shit

The only highlights for me was Heads hundred...that was a special innings in Perth

and Starcs bowling for the series

 

[caveman72]

If he said that id make him skipper

You're a mean bastard, you just wanna see Smithy cry on TV again

 

[Jack Lord]

This Ashes series has been quite flat.

Yep. All that hype and it’s been a dud.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

The hype leading into the series was huge and unfortunately the series has not lived up to expectation for me

Poor batting from both sides...the poms playing shit bazball crap disrespecting the conditions and the opposition

Spinners having virtually no part

Two 2 day tests ...its just shit

The only highlights for me was Heads hundred...that was a special innings in Perth

and Starcs bowling for the series

To be fair though i think poor batting and Bazball were to be expected were they not?

I think Starc with the ball and Head have been huge highlights, i enjoyed Carey batting multiple times and his keeping has been flawless, some quality fielding from smith and marnus have been great to watch, Starc batting with the tail has been great.

It is by no means an all time great series, but anyone expecting it to be i think had too lofty expectations.

It has been the most entertaining Ashes we have had on Aussie soil in a long time, it beats what is dished up by most other teams when they tour here.

 

[kenneje]

Last Test before I reckon we see a fair bit of succession planning kick into gear.

Renshaw and McSweeney look like the in-form bats at proper “peak” age. Would be ideal if they could lock down 1/2 and 5 for a while.
Bit of a shame Sangha hasn’t really gone on with it this year, because I still think he’s got bags of talent and he looked ****ing awesome last season.

And underneath those two there’s actually a decent amount of high-end talent coming through (which is funny given how doom-and-gloom people get about the batting).
Guys like Goodwin, Peake, Kellaway, Connolly and Konstas don’t feel that far off being in the mix.
JFM and Wyllie are still really interesting longer-term too...both have clearly got “it”, it’s just about putting it together.

On the bowling side, if Richardson’s fit he’s the guy who plays whenever two of Cummins/Starc/Hazlewood/Boland aren’t there.
That’ll be more often than not, so we really need one of Spencer Johnson, Morris, Bartlett or Meredith to properly grab the next spot before the next “next gen” take over. Because Vidlar, Beardman, Straker and O’Neill are all elite talents.

Edit: The horrific luck for Pucovski is so miserable. He was gonna be the one.

 

[Linda Lovelace]

Press conference to be fronted by Khawaja tmrw suggests he's going to announce his retirement. I mean it would be weird to call a press conference to announce he's going to keep on playing, but we'll see...

There's always the third David Warner option.

'I would like to announce my retirement...after the centenary test and WTC final in 2027'

Don't underestimate CA's ability to enable sh*t like this.

 

[Westend]

To be fair though i think poor batting and Bazball were to be expected were they not?

I think Starc with the ball and Head have been huge highlights, i enjoyed Carey batting multiple times and his keeping has been flawless, some quality fielding from smith and marnus have been great to watch, Starc batting with the tail has been great.

It is by no means an all time great series, but anyone expecting it to be i think had too lofty expectations.

It has been the most entertaining Ashes we have had on Aussie soil in a long time, it beats what is dished up by most other teams when they tour here.

Yeah forget Careys keeping and batting thats been good ...and overall Aussies fielding has been very good

but I still think its been a poor series

 

[revo333]

Pendelbury has a basketball background you know

Someone actually made YouTube about if Pendlebury could have played in the NBA.

 

[revo333]

Press conference to be fronted by Khawaja tmrw suggests he's going to announce his retirement. I mean it would be weird to call a press conference to announce he's going to keep on playing, but we'll see...

He is so lucky we ended up winning the first test and eventually the series.

Although I still think there is still some negative feelings towards him in regards to playing golf and playing with the injury.

It could have easily been a forgettable retirement for him.

 

[revo333]

Any reason why the test against India last year started on the 3rd but this one is starting on the 4th?

 

[Around the Wicket]

Any reason why the test against India last year started on the 3rd but this one is starting on the 4th?

Starting on a Sunday this year is odd

 

[BStaff17]

Starting on a Sunday this year is odd

And stupid

I suppose they are justified the test is sold out but its a pain of arse when Day 1 could have been a Saturday.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Starting on a Sunday this year is odd

It’s the minimum break between tests on a Back to Back basically

I know it was a 2 day test but we need to assume it goes till the 30th.

 

[Stax on the mill]

Has there been a problem with access to Big Footy for quite a few hours? Or is it just me?

 

[Pistol Night]

And stupid

I suppose they are justified the test is sold out but it’s a pain of arse when Day 1 could have been a Saturday.

“Let’s **** then off royally and have another Saturday with no cricket and most of the match when a lot are back at work. That’ll be a pisser”

 

[Gough]

Has there been a problem with access to Big Footy for quite a few hours? Or is it just me?

There's been an upgrade and unfortunately everything posted for a couple of hours today has been lost.

 

[Stax on the mill]

There's been an upgrade and unfortunately everything posted for a couple of hours today has been lost.

No worries, thanks.

 

[Borisdog]

Those questions were already there, we’ve got no answers and even more questions now

I reckon a fair few of the answers are known. Solutions are always a little more taxing than mere answers.

 

[MarcMaverick]

There's been an upgrade and unfortunately everything posted for a couple of hours today has been lost.

It's why I kept my posting to a minimum.