Test The Ashes Fourth Test December 26-30 1000hrs @ The MCG

[CakeEater]

Ive been vocal on them picking Rocc in here, but when they go for another offie in the squad and dont pick him, thats just madness

 

[Crankyhawk]

Yep. Sydney a bit different and obviously if Lyon was there we wouldn’t do this but is a bloke who has 10 shield wickets this year really getting more than Jyhe or Neser?

lack of variety without a proper spinner concerns me. Isn't this (one of the many) reasons we have bagged the Poms for thinking Jacks = spin option

 

[Gough]

richo is probably not good enough to be named twice

It's Matt, he's usually good for 5 on the MCG.

 

[CakeEater]

It's Matt, he's usually good for 5 dummy spits on the MCG.

Efa

 

[Scorpus]

May as well drop Green while we're at it

Head
Weatherald
Labuschagne
Smith
Khawaja
Carey
Neser
Starc
Richardson
Boland
Doggett

 

[gandaal]

Maybe the selectors thought selecting two guys who got 5-for in their last test innings was the right call instead of the spinner.

I honestly thought there was no chance they were playing Murphy so I'm not sure why people are surprised.

 

[Pistol Night]

Efa

I’ve never seen a bloke that cracked the shits so much be so loved by fans.

 

[SportsCentre]

Perhaps the thinking is the value of Cummins is worth 2 quicks in his absence?

Picking Murphy in the squad may have been more a view to Sydney, picking the bloke who is based in Melbourne but not playing him in Melbourne doesn't really disrupt anyone.

 

[Black Diamond]

This makes me think the leadership doesn’t know how to manage or nurture Murphy.

Also makes me wonder if in the post-Lyon era we will play an all pace attack in most home tests?

 

[Borisdog]

Travis and Marnus can bowl spin

Yep.

The point is they do it about as well as Jacks.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

This makes me think the leadership doesn’t know how to manage or nurture Murphy.

Also makes me wonder if in the post-Lyon era we will play an all pace attack in most home tests?

4 quicks will be more regular except in Adelaide/Sydney obviously Adel depends on pink ball or not

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yep.

The point is they do it about as well as Jacks.

Maybe but is Murphy that much better on form? Obviously the selectors seem to think not really and we can go with the 4 quicks

 

[Gough]

The obits in 1919 Wisden are just a tragic list of young slaughter. D.R. Jardine scored 249 runs at 20 for Winchester College.

 

[Works atErrol St]

I reckon it’s good selecting players - who’d performed well in the series. Plus Richo.

 

[Westend]

Merry Christmas all

 

[Bedi]

Wtf is that side, lol. Four quicks?? Could have at least brought in Webster to cover all bases. With that said, absolutely thrilled for Richardson. Had a rough trot since his last game, so hope he makes the most of it.

 

[Pistol Night]

Wtf is that side, lol. Four quicks?? Could have at least brought in Webster to cover all bases. With that said, absolutely thrilled for Richardson. Had a rough trot since his last game, so hope he makes the most of it.

Were obviously going to go with a combo of Head, Marnus and Smith for some spin. Risky strategy so hopefully the quicks do the heavy lifting

 

[Bedi]

Merry Christmas all

Absolutely. Hope everyone is having a great day

 

[Pistol Night]

Absolutely. Hope everyone is having a great day

My goal is to get pissed twice today so i pass out early enough for the REAL Christmas Day tomorrow

 

[Westend]

Maybe but is Murphy that much better on form? Obviously the selectors seem to think not really and we can go with the 4 quicks

neser 5 wickets gives him the nod plus conditions

We're obviously going to go with a combo of Head, Marnus and Smith for some spin. Risky strategy so hopefully the quicks do the heavy lifting

I think they are more concerned with management of the quicks thats why they have gone 4 ....Starc is tired and soldering on and history says he drops off come the back end of series ..boland has a slight niggle ..and jhye coming back from a long lay off ..with green the back up

Neser being included makes sense and in all honesty with Carey coming up to the stumps neser pace is just medium these days and he cuts the ball a lot similar to a spinner

 

[Borisdog]

Maybe but is Murphy that much better on form? Obviously the selectors seem to think not really and we can go with the 4 quicks

He is a point of difference whose specialty is to BOWL.

If 4 quicks aren't working will 5? Cos that's what we're going to have.

Trav is no more than serviceable as a spinner.

I'm afraid I don't understand nor agree with the selectors.

We all have our personal beliefs though, for instance I rate Murphy and I've never really rated Richardson as a long form bowler. I don't think he represents anything different to any number of quicks around the side.

Murphy is comfortably the best right hand offie in Australia after Lyon. And I'd much rather the right handed offie against a side with plenty of right handed batsmen who love to cover drive with their bat 5 metres from their pad rather than any of our left handed offies. Particularly given the rough generated by Starc and all the Pom round the wicket bowlers is useless to a left handed offie.

 

[Leon Higgins]

If the poms can't beat us with 3 out of five of our top line bowlers out, they will never beat us. Starc and Boland are looking tired as well.

 

[Borisdog]

neser 5 wickets gives him the nod plus conditions

I think they are more concerned with management of the quicks thats why they have gone 4 ....Starc is tired and soldering on and history says he drops off come the back end of series ..boland has a slight niggle ..and jhye coming back from a long lay off ..with green the back up

Neser being included makes sense and in all honesty with Carey coming up to the stumps neser pace is just medium these days and he cuts the ball a lot similar to a spinner

They can't be that ****ing concerned if they're playing all of them and not playing the spinner.

Do we want to win?, or are we just managing the injury load for the ****ing finals.

The easiest way to manage the workload of the bowler you suspect is overworked is.................... Don't play him. Revolutionary thought process I know, but it's ****ing guaranteed.

 

[Tugga27]

But we have this constant talk of preparing the next generation of players - hell, just 3 or 4 posts above that was used to justify Green staying in regardless of his form and output.

Yet our 37yo spinner has just ripped his hammy off the bone, probably won't play again for Aus, we have 2 dead rubbers against an all at sea Poms outfit, and we don't want to try and even attempt to find our next spinner?

Fn pathetic if you ask me.

No such thing as dead rubbers these days.
Especially Ashes tests.

I would've like to have seen a spinner also, but the selectors have done a good job so far.

Hope Jhye plays in front of Doggett.

Webster should be in for Green IMO.

 

[Tugga27]

Well said.
Boxing Day Eve is ruined

Could’ve at least picked Webster for spin in this scenario ahead of Green.
No way they drop their golden boy though who’ll bat 7 and be a 5th bowling option.

Gotta have some variety I would’ve thought.

Seriously?