Certified Legendary Thread The Cricket Thread 2025/26

[BStaff17]

I didn't watch a ball all series.

But looking at the scorecards the non-competitiveness in all facets of the game its truly embarrassing.

I grew up watching the Aussie team from 1999 onwards at the start of there dominance under Waugh.

Every Test Match & ODI game Australia played not only felt like it was important but also going out and winning every game to create an aura & psyche over the opposition never giving them an inch.

The current state of international cricket is worse then that it was 20-25 years ago and the game is poorer for it.

Thanks to T20 Franchise cricket killing the game.

The T20Is are a complete farce we hand out Australian caps now like there smarties these days to anyone who scored a quickfire 20 in a BBL game while we leave out Steve Smith & Alex Carey two of the better players of spin.

We have cheapened the Australian Jersey in Cricket.

We play T20 world cups every 2 years which is overkill.

We have the Australian Captain sit out of a world cup but be 100% fit for the IPL to collect his bonus paycheck on top of the millions CA pay him.

And to top it off we now have 2 x Asian countries full ICC Members (Pakistan & Bangladesh) boycotting against playing India.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

There's no way we are winning a world cup in Sri Lanka on current form and ability against spin.

 

[swanny1234]

Yet Steve Smith whose seeing them like a watermelon isnt good enough for this side.

Honestly how you can pick Connolly, Renshaw, Stoinis and Short ahead of Smith and keep a straight face is ridiculous.

 

[swanny1234]

There's no way we are winning a world cup in Sri Lanka on current form and ability against spin.

May as well hand India the trophy now tbh. This whole tournament is a complete farce.

 

[Docker82]

The two late changes to the squad are laughable tbh.

Dwarahuis bowling wise is the weakest link in the Sixers XI yet he's replacing Pat Cummins for Australia because he can bat a bit.

Renshaw over Smith is crazy.

I've said it many times and will say it again. Genuine cricketers will be more successful than hitters with poor technique and bits and pieces cricketers against the best in the world especially in conditions less favourable for Australia and/or bowling friendly conditions - Yes, even in the t20 format.

The batters capable of striking at 120 on difficult pitches and your best bowlers still need to be picked in t20is. Ellis amd Hazlewood missed against Pakistan but I still don't think we've got enough of either in our squad.

The selectors and Cricket Australia are reasonably lucky that AFL and NRL pre season games are starting to ramp up. The Australian media will barely mention cricket again until after both Grand Finals are over, shield games start and they can talk about who plays the first test of the summer.

 

[BStaff17]

The selectors and Cricket Australia are reasonably lucky that AFL and NRL pre season games are starting to ramp up. The Australian media will barely mention cricket again until after both Grand Finals are over, shield games start and they can talk about who plays the first test of the summer.

Says a lot about the CA mentality tbh there happy to be hidden away from AFL & NRL these days

They used to own October to February

The old Tri-series would finish up mid-february.

Now they just give up all of Feb to both winter codes

 

[Spirit Level]

Does anyone really care about the t20 world cup though?

Like really really?

 

[Taylor]

Was Smith told he wasn't being picked in the T20 side so went out to the Sixers and showed he was just about the best batter we have in that league?

 

[swanny1234]

Does anyone really care about the t20 world cup though?

Like really really?

Just a billion odd Indians… that’s the only country that takes notice of it. It happens every two years which is just stupid. Every other sports World Cup happens every 4, except for t20 cricket.

Kind of funny Pakistan just bailed on the India game, which is the only reason they have these tournaments so often - as they refuse to play each other in bilaterals.

The ICC’s golden goose is India vs Pakistan, and now the Pakistanis have blown that up (which in my opinion is good, because the ICC have been absolutely taking the p*ss when it comes to relenting to everything India want)
This tournament is now utterly pointless without that game.

 

[Paracleet]

The two late changes to the squad are laughable tbh.

Dwarahuis bowling wise is the weakest link in the Sixers XI yet he's replacing Pat Cummins for Australia because he can bat a bit.

Renshaw over Smith is crazy.

I've said it many times and will say it again. Genuine cricketers will be more successful than hitters with poor technique and bits and pieces cricketers against the best in the world especially in conditions less favourable for Australia and/or bowling friendly conditions - Yes, even in the t20 format.

The batters capable of striking at 120 on difficult pitches and your best bowlers still need to be picked in t20is. Ellis amd Hazlewood missed against Pakistan but I still don't think we've got enough of either in our squad.

The selectors and Cricket Australia are reasonably lucky that AFL and NRL pre season games are starting to ramp up. The Australian media will barely mention cricket again until after both Grand Finals are over, shield games start and they can talk about who plays the first test of the summer.

Yeah well Smudge bought it upon himself by opening.for the 6s. He was hardly forcing Head, Marsh and Green out of the team. Top order, middle order and lower middle order are specific roles in T20 Cricket and Smiths record as middle order player is moderate to poor. It's the middle order (4 specifically) our T20 side is weakest at.
I'd rather have Smith than Renshaw or Short at 4 instinctively but he has no exposed form there.

 

[swanny1234]

Was Smith told he wasn't being picked in the T20 side so went out to the Sixers and showed he was just about the best batter we have in that league?

Smith and Alex Carey are both better than every batsman we have in the squad except Head, it’s actually absurd both of them aren’t in the team.

 

[Taylor]

Can you imagine if Australia said we will only play "a country" in Australia for security reasons, even if they are hosting the competition - we will make them play us at our home ground.

We would be laughed out of the room.

The other side of that is how interesting it is that radical groups in a nation are not a big deal as soon as that nation has nuclear weapons - nobody is lining up to deal with that.

 

[swanny1234]

Yeah well Smudge bought it upon himself by opening.for the 6s. He was hardly forcing Head, Marsh and Green out of the team. Top order, middle order and lower middle order are specific roles in T20 Cricket and Smiths record as middle order player is moderate to poor. It's the middle order (4 specifically) our T20 side is weakest at.
I'd rather have Smith than Renshaw or Short at 4 instinctively but he has no exposed form there.

Smith easily bats 3 ahead of Green… let’s take our WA biases off for a second. He’s a better player than Green or Marsh, comfortably.

Personally I’d open with Smith and Head and bat Marsh 3, Alex Carey 4…. Particularly in the subcontinent.
We genuinely have no one that plays spin well in the squad.

 

[swanny1234]

Can you imagine if Australia said we will only play "a country" in Australia for security reasons, even if they are hosting the competition - we will make them play us at our home ground.

We would be laughed out of the room.

The other side of that is how interesting it is that radical groups in a nation are not a big deal as soon as that nation has nuclear weapons - nobody is lining up to deal with that.

I assume you’re referring to India refusing to play Champions Trophy in Pakistan?

That’s where this whole thing started. If the ICC had any level of credibility they would’ve told India exactly what they just told Bangladesh to do… either show up or opt out.

They’ve reaped what they’ve sown by allowing a dangerous precedent where India can do whatever they like, and every other country just has to lump it.

No coincidence that Jay Shah who is the head of the ICC, is the son of the Indian foreign minister.

 

[Chris25]

I like Head as much as the next person, he’s not actually that good in T20 though. When was his last decent score? Assuming you don’t count 20 off 10.

 

[Taylor]

I like Head as much as the next person, he’s not actually that good in T20 though. When was his last decent score? Assuming you don’t count 20 off 10.

Last T20I fifty was in 2024. Nearly four of them in 2025 IPL.

 

[Alfonz]

The two late changes to the squad are laughable tbh.

Dwarahuis bowling wise is the weakest link in the Sixers XI yet he's replacing Pat Cummins for Australia because he can bat a bit.

Renshaw over Smith is crazy.

I've said it many times and will say it again. Genuine cricketers will be more successful than hitters with poor technique and bits and pieces cricketers against the best in the world especially in conditions less favourable for Australia and/or bowling friendly conditions - Yes, even in the t20 format.

The batters capable of striking at 120 on difficult pitches and your best bowlers still need to be picked in t20is. Ellis amd Hazlewood missed against Pakistan but I still don't think we've got enough of either in our squad.

The selectors and Cricket Australia are reasonably lucky that AFL and NRL pre season games are starting to ramp up. The Australian media will barely mention cricket again until after both Grand Finals are over, shield games start and they can talk about who plays the first test of the summer.

There's also the Winter Olympics which is over the first few weeks of the T20WC. People (including me) are suckers for the Olympics, even the winter version, and it will probably get rammed down our throats with the coverage.

The timing of the skiing events is pretty good for WA. Starts around 6.30pm if there is a single run, or 5pm+8.30pm if there are two runs. I find the skiing pretty compelling viewing, better than most of the summer olympics events to me.

 

[Tonga Bob]

Hi all, we have just under a week left of voting for the Poster of the Year. Three people are tied in the lead, yet only eight people have voted so if you haven't yet please take a few minutes to vote on your favourite Game preview of 2025.

Every vote matters!

Win Prizes Thread 'Season 2025 Game Previews'

Mar 4, 2025

​

Hello my purple friends, another season has quickly rolled around and that means we have another season of Game Previews to look forwards to! For those new to the concept, here's the skinny...

Since 2017 many brave yet foolhardy souls have been the standard bearers for the Fremantle Football Club when it comes to irreverent yet informative previewing. Righteo was the initial architect of the concept, and since then many of us have saluted in the most creative of ways. From the poetic melt of Arcassius in 2017, to the *...

• Tonga Bob
• Replies: 97
• Forum: Fremantle

• 
• 

 

[Minz]

Hi all, we have just under a week left of voting for the Poster of the Year. Three people are tied in the lead, yet only eight people have voted so if you haven't yet please take a few minutes to vote on your favourite Game preview of 2025.

Every vote matters!

Win Prizes Thread 'Season 2025 Game Previews'

Mar 4, 2025

​

Hello my purple friends, another season has quickly rolled around and that means we have another season of Game Previews to look forwards to! For those new to the concept, here's the skinny...

Since 2017 many brave yet foolhardy souls have been the standard bearers for the Fremantle Football Club when it comes to irreverent yet informative previewing. Righteo was the initial architect of the concept, and since then many of us have saluted in the most creative of ways. From the poetic melt of Arcassius in 2017, to the *...

• Tonga Bob
• Replies: 97
• Forum: Fremantle

• 
• 

I’ve done my bit! Re-reading those previews has enhanced my life!! Some absolute crackers, it’s a tough choice

 

[Tonga Bob]

I’ve done my bit! Re-reading those previews has enhanced my life!! Some absolute crackers, it’s a tough choice

You're a good egg!

 

[swanny1234]

There's also the Winter Olympics which is over the first few weeks of the T20WC. People (including me) are suckers for the Olympics, even the winter version, and it will probably get rammed down our throats with the coverage.

The timing of the skiing events is pretty good for WA. Starts around 6.30pm if there is a single run, or 5pm+8.30pm if there are two runs. I find the skiing pretty compelling viewing, better than most of the summer olympics events to me.

The Winter Olympics absolutely sh*ts on the summer Olympics in my humble opinion. Far more interesting event, with sports we normally never get to watch.

 

[Taylor]

The Winter Olympics absolutely sh*ts on the summer Olympics in my humble opinion. Far more interesting event, with sports we normally never get to watch.

I can't help but feel like it's the rich kid Olympics.

 

[swanny1234]

I can't help but feel like it's the rich kid Olympics.

There certainly is an element of that, definitely dominated by Europeans. I just love watching sports we see less of on TV and like to see them get some airtime.

The summer Olympics doesn’t need tennis, golf, soccer, rugby etc, they all have their own world cups and are generic sports (heck they’re including cricket next time). But only once every 4 years do we see Snowboarding, Speed skating, Moguls etc. it’s a more unique experience I think.

 

[Spirit Level]

100% agree that if the Olympics isn't the pinnacle of the sport, it shouldn't be in there.

I can make a case for Tennis as many high ranking players say a gold medal is up there with a grand slam, but definitely no golf, football, rugby etc.

Talking of bringing cricket in? Give me a break.

I quite like skateboarding being in there but you could even argue that has the X games and doesn't need the olympics

 

[largebus]

I can't help but feel like it's the rich kid Olympics.

Rich and (largely) conveniently geographically located kid Olympics.

The 2 WA Olympians are in bobsled and skeleton. Put it this way, its much easier for Jamaica to put together a bobsled team than a snowboarding team.