The Cricket Thread

[grizzlym]

The Lankans had a world class spinner, but he was rendered useless by the lack of runs to bowl to. Whoever our spinner/s is/are, we can't have a compromised batting line up. That last 100-150 with the tail will be crucial.

It will. Spoke to someone close to one of the T20 teams this morning (well, in marketing) he said that Michael Beer is a real chance for India. He's apparently developed a cracker of an arm ball and a few other variations that have really made him a better bowler. Which he'd have to be, 'cause a former selector told my brother he's one of the worst players to have played for Australia! Anyway, he's apparently bowling well and the thinking is he would suit the Indian pitches very well.

 

[Henry Jr]

With the intent of playing for a draw in that case?

Thats the theory or amass as many runs as you can and then see if your part timers can't shoot em out.

Similar to how the Poms used to play their cricket. Get into a position where you can lose, then go for the win.

 

[Henry Jr]

It will. Spoke to someone close to one of the T20 teams this morning (well, in marketing) he said that Michael Beer is a real chance for India. He's apparently developed a cracker of an arm ball and a few other variations that have really made him a better bowler. Which he'd have to be, 'cause a former selector told my brother he's one of the worst players to have played for Australia! Anyway, he's apparently bowling well and the thinking is he would suit the Indian pitches very well.

Doesn't most of our spinners just bowl the arm ball as stock? Be nice to see something turn or deviate on the odd occasion.

 

[grizzlym]

Only relaying what I was told. I think most of our spinners have a good straight one... It only piqued my interest because I heard he was back in consideration, especially after his short tenure in the national side and some of the comments bandied around.

 

[Brishawk]

Beer in the test team again??? Dear God, no!!!!

I'd rather take Zampa or Maxwell or O'Keefe!!

Beer has played 28 match for 70 wickets @ 40 with 9 @ 46 this season. Doesn't look any better to me . . . he has taken 9 wickets in 8 T20 matches though . . . because they count towards test selection and all . . .he has a strike rate of 80!! That is not going to cut it in tests . . . as Hauritz found out!

Zampa has played one first class and taken 5 wickets @ 9. Already clearly better than Beer.
Maxwell 9 @ 27 - 27 @ 33 in his career (15 matches) As a part-timer he still has a better strike rate than Beer. Obviously can bat too.
O'keefe 9 @ 34 - 70 @ 29 in his career (26 matches) Similar number of matches but bowled 1000 balls less. Has a better strike rate and is more economical. Can bat too as has an average of over 30.

If you exclude Zampa, O'Keefe is the only spinner in the country with a first class average of under 30 (including Lyon). He and Maxwell are the only spinners with strike rates under 70 (again, excluding Zampa).

There is simply no rational reason to pick Beer.

 

[Henry Jr]

Im happy with today's ODI line-up. Its like the NAB Cup where you get to see what youngsters have on offer.

Australia 1 Phillip Hughes, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 George Bailey (capt), 5 David Hussey, 6 Glenn Maxwell, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty

 

[grizzlym]

Beer in the test team again??? Dear God, no!!!!

I'd rather take Zampa or Maxwell or O'Keefe!!

Beer has played 28 match for 70 wickets @ 40 with 9 @ 46 this season. Doesn't look any better to me . . . he has taken 9 wickets in 8 T20 matches though . . . because they count towards test selection and all . . .he has a strike rate of 80!! That is not going to cut it in tests . . . as Hauritz found out!

Zampa has played one first class and taken 5 wickets @ 9. Already clearly better than Beer.
Maxwell 9 @ 27 - 27 @ 33 in his career (15 matches) As a part-timer he still has a better strike rate than Beer. Obviously can bat too.
O'keefe 9 @ 34 - 70 @ 29 in his career (26 matches) Similar number of matches but bowled 1000 balls less. Has a better strike rate and is more economical. Can bat too as has an average of over 30.

If you exclude Zampa, O'Keefe is the only spinner in the country with a first class average of under 30 (including Lyon). He and Maxwell are the only spinners with strike rates under 70 (again, excluding Zampa).

There is simply no rational reason to pick Beer.

Oh, I completely agree with you. That he played for Australia is all rather odd to me. Only passing on what I heard.

 

[Brishawk]

Oh, I completely agree with you. That he played for Australia is all rather odd to me. Only passing on what I heard.

Yeah for sure. No way would I believe an astute judge such as yourself would be suggesting Beer play for Australia! Thanks for the info. Although now I am going to lose sleep over Beer playing for Australia haha

 

[grizzlym]

Yeah for sure. No way would I believe an astute judge such as yourself would be suggesting Beer play for Australia! Thanks for the info. Although now I am going to lose sleep over Beer playing for Australia haha

Yes, well you and I aren't alone in that sentiment re playing for Australia. interestingly, this guy just said it was felt that he's now the type of bowler that could do ok in India. You don't need to turn the ball a huge amount etc.

I saw Mitchell Johnson yesterday in Melbourne - just around the G - he looked really odd because that tatt makes one arm look completely black. Did a kind of double take.

 

[Henry Jr]

Wouldn't mind having shares in the company manufacturing the Test and ODI caps these days... Must be a 24/7 production line!

 

[Brishawk]

Yes, well you and I aren't alone in that sentiment re playing for Australia. interestingly, this guy just said it was felt that he's now the type of bowler that could do ok in India. You don't need to turn the ball a huge amount etc.

I saw Mitchell Johnson yesterday in Melbourne - just around the G - he looked really odd because that tatt makes one arm look completely black. Did a kind of double take.

They also thought that about Cameron White

 

[Henry Jr]

Is this National Anthem / Indigenous ceremony before every bloody cricket match is starting to wear a bit thin. Have one at the start of the Test series and thats it.

Having one every match is just having it for the sake of having one to be honest now.

 

[Henry Jr]

Seriously, why wouldn't you schedule an ODI at the MCG on a Saturday? Would have got an extra 20k thru the gates. Leave the mid-week games to the smaller drawing grounds.

 

[Henry Jr]

Who designed the Sri Lankan netball bibs? Looks like a can of yellow paint got poured down the back...

 

[Henry Jr]

I love it how you can't take a glass bottle inside the ground anymore yet its alright to take in a sea shell the size of a basketball!

 

[Spanish Sahara]

Lol Sri Lanka.. horrible horrible running.

Great fielding for the first by Maxwell

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

Is this National Anthem / Indigenous ceremony before every bloody cricket match is starting to wear a bit thin. Have one at the start of the Test series and thats it.

Having one every match is just having it for the sake of having one to be honest now.

Yep, agree 100%. It's a yawnfest.

 

[Henry Jr]

From what I have seen of Maxwell's bowling.. He aint going anywhere near India.

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

This is the first time I've seen Maxwell bowl, and if this is his usual standard, you can find parklands bowlers better than him.

 

[Henry Jr]

George Bailey has taken more marks on the MCG tonight than Big Max has for his career!

 

[grizzlym]

This is the first time I've seen Maxwell bowl, and if this is his usual standard, you can find parklands bowlers better than him.

That's Maxwell. He's assessed differently because he's an 'all-rounder'. A euphemism the selectors are fond of using instead of saying, 'a player who weakens the batting order and only bowls in theory'.

 

[Langford4FBOTC]

If they're using this series as a trail for an Indian berth, the Hussey name is staking a claim to remain part of the test eleven. Although I say that just looking at his figures. I assume he bowled his darts better than Maxwell?

First time I've seen Hughes bat this summer. He looks a more rounded player. I liked his footwork... well balanced and light on his feet.

 

[grizzlym]

First time I've seen Hughes bat this summer. He looks a more rounded player. I liked his footwork... well balanced and light on his feet.

He looks like he's turned his stance out a bit too. I agree. Looks good to me.

I know he'll be much better managed this time around, so I've got the feeling he'll in national side for a fair time to come.

He's an exciting batsman. Easy to forget he's only 24ish.

 

[grizzlym]

Ian Healy on Wade's work behind the stumps this summer.

"Ian Healy has slammed Matthew Wade's wicketkeeping during the Test summer and said Australia needed to choose their best gloveman for the upcoming tours of India and England. Healy, who watched from the commentary box as Wade kept wicket for his first home summer, was disappointed not only with the way Wade missed opportunities for stumpings and catches, but also what he perceived as a lack of discipline in getting the basics right.

"He's not happy at all. He didn't have a good summer with the gloves at all," Healy told Radio Sport National on Friday. "Even some of the basic stuff that he's not tidying up, he's not getting to the stumps, he's not taking returns well, he's not sharpening up the fielding effort. Even those basic disciplines weren't being created, let alone missed dismissals.

"Nathan Lyon wouldn't have been that happy, there were four or five chances missed from his bowling. He's getting criticised for not taking wickets. These are all the little internal conflicts of an under-achieving wicketkeeper. Matthew Wade says he's still young and he wants to keep improving, but I don't think he's that young. He's 25"

http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2012/content/story/600442.html

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

That's Maxwell. He's assessed differently because he's an 'all-rounder'. A euphemism the selectors are fond of using instead of saying, 'a player who weakens the batting order and only bowls in theory'.

Watching Maxwell last night, it realised my biggest fear in our over-focus on the truncated form of the game. We are producing mechanical line and length bowlers, trying to pretend they're spinners. If he starts getting Test matches, Test cricket has big problems. They've tried these left arm orthodox bowlers and it's failed, now they're trying straight breakers like Maxwell.

I had to laugh last night when Chandimal hit him for 4 and 3 off 2 deliveries, and when he got down the bowler's end, Maxwell was gobbing off to him. Rightly so, Chandimal responded and I wouldn't mind thinking he said, "Listen pal, you keep bowling that garbage to me, I'll keep hitting it for four".

Just on Healy's comments about Wade, I think he's on the money with a lot of points he raises. Having watched Wade in the Tests, and then Haddin last night, there's no doubt in my mind that Haddin's the better keeper. He doesn't "shot watch" as much as Wade does. Haddin's batting isn't all that far behind Wade either. The only thing that bothers me about Haddin's batting is his inability to handle the 2nd new ball. A Test No.7 will encounter this many times in his career, but Haddin seems to be unable to deal with it.

And Phil Hughes. To me, there was never any doubt he'd be back and performing. I've seen it all before, too many times. Young, talented batsmen come along, show enormous potential, but then bowlers begin to work on their weaknesses and they go away to work on them.

Players such as Ian Chappell, Ponting, Clarke, Langer, Hayden, etc are all such examples. What's happened to Hughes is nothing new, and it always surprises me when people continue to write off young talented batsmen so early.