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

[Linda Lovelace]

This seems to be the expected XI, from what I’ve pieced together from the media whispers. Personally, I don’t really see the point of playing Webster at 8 — you may as well have played Murphy or kept Jhye in.

Head
Weatherald
Labuschagne
Smith
Khawaja
Carey
Green
Webster
Neser
Starc
Boland

This guy nailed the complete stupidity of the selectors. Bravo, sir.

3 all-rounders and no spinner? Are we playing for the draw?

England will lose anyway, but that doesn't mean the selectors haven't been huffing paint.

 

[Westend]

Morning all

Nice to see the green haters out in force again

good to see webbie in the team

no murphy selectors came to there senses and realised they picked the wrong spinner in the squad

 

[cats_09]

When in doubt leave out the Victorian even if it’s a spinner at the SCG??? wtf!!!! Why would anyone want to bowl spin here? CA are screwing the spinners in this country.

The commentators on 7 questioned pitch preparation in this country for this series saying they can't remember the last time that spin played such a minimal role in a test series

Need to do some work on that side of things

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

When in doubt leave out the Victorian even if it’s a spinner at the SCG??? wtf!!!! Why would anyone want to bowl spin here? CA are screwing the spinners in this country.

The SCG's spin reputation was over-stated even when it was Australia's spinnign wicket. It was never Hyderabad or anything, juyst a turner by Australian standards. That said, very rarely is not playing a specialist spinner a smart move. If the game gets beyond two days of play (as sopposed to merely beyond day two, its Sydney weather after all) not having a genuine spinner may be a problem.

 

[Bedi]

Finally Webster and Green in the same side. Only took 5 tests to get there ffs. But batshit crazy not playing a specialist spinner. If we opened with Khawaja in place of Weatherald we could have fit in Murphy too

 

[10Dulkar]

feel similiar. but is it because we've been brought up on this being a 70s born person?

I'm a lot younger than that but I'll keep saying my big takeaway from this series is test cricket is far richer for the specialist skills of a class keeper and spin bowler as Carey and Lyon have shown this summer.

 

[Black Diamond]

There was 10mm in Melb it’s 6mm here

How about batsmen show an ounce of application?

I just wanted the meme.

 

[Plugger35]

So much for England wanting to chase in the 4th innings, they won't be in this test unless Australia follow on and set a target.

 

[CakeEater]

What is wrong with just dropping Green for Webster. Green is obviously well entrenched in the boy's club cult. A cult where you can be the most average player going but never get dropped.

Jim, you could make the case Green deserved to be dropped certainly.

I would have not let Ussie in to the team for Adl and brought webster in then.

I dont like testimonial test matches as a general rule.

 

[Scorpus]

We're playing a spinner

Head

 

[cats_09]

There was 10mm in Melb it’s 6mm here

How about batsmen show an ounce of application?

5mm was said at the toss

 

[Saint12]

What sort of a person would walk up to someone like Ussie and say to his face "you will never play cricket for Australia"

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Our third best batsman is at 10, that's mad.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

What is wrong with just dropping Green for Webster. Green is obviously well entrenched in the boy's club cult. A cult where you can be the most average player going but never get dropped.

He's the anointed no-rounder, much like Shane Watson and Mitch Marsh for the bulk of their careers before him. Every now and then CA pulls out a designated undroppable who has 18-24 months of deserving to be in the team and gets many, many years.

 

[cats_09]

What sort of a person would walk up to someone like Ussie and say to his face "you will never play cricket for Australia"

Some yobbo on the street would be my guess

 

[troybe]

people on bigfooty whinging about the pitch before a ball has even been bowled ffs.

Isn’t that what BigSooky was made for? So everyone could have a whinge equally

 

[Hamingja]

I have agreed with most of the changes this summer but this team is a joke. If you replaced Green with Webster, that would be ok given Green's current form struggles, but it is bat shit insane picking Webster as a bowler. Neser and Boland are military medium, this is the most toothless bowling attack I can recall. They better hope the pitch plays as a green seamer.

 

[peternorth]

Who else is sick of the westpac ad featuring cummins, lyon, healy?

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Some yobbo on the street would be my guess

Michael Slater?

 

[Jack Lord]

Morning all

Nice to see the green haters out in force again

good to see webbie in the team

no murphy selectors came to there senses and realised they picked the wrong spinner in the squad

Plenty of us Green haters would love him to do well. Just frustrated.

 

[Saint12]

This guy nailed the complete stupidity of the selectors. Bravo, sir.

3 all-rounders and no spinner? Are we playing for the draw?

England will lose anyway, but that doesn't mean the selectors haven't been huffing paint.

Picking the side based on a very poor top 6 batting line up

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Plenty of us Green haters would love him to do well. Just frustrated.

Its not hatred. Its anger. And not all directed at him.

 

[10Dulkar]

Who else is sick of the westpac ad featuring cummins, lyon, healy?

Between that and the Toyota McGrath ad...

 

[Grumpyshades]

any chance winning a toss

 

[jb04]

I have agreed with most of the changes this summer but this team is a joke. If you replaced Green with Webster, that would be ok given Green's current form struggles, but it is bat shit insane picking Webster as a bowler. Neser and Boland are military medium, this is the most toothless bowling attack I can recall. They better hope the pitch plays as a green seamer.

This game must make it to day 3!