Unpopular Cricket Opinions

[Damon_3388]

The only speaking his domestic record says is "I'm s**t, don't pick me"

Moises Henriques, Australian Domestic Career (2006-17)

Sheffield Shield
51 matches
Batting - 38.69 average (6 hundreds, 12 fifties, 8 ducks)
Bowling - 33.36 average, 62.89 strike rate, 3.18 economy rate (1 5-fer)

List A
68 matches
Batting - 36.67 average (2 hundreds, 7 fifties, 3 ducks)
Bowling - 37.90 average, 44.80 strike rate, 5.08 economy rate (1 4-fer)

T20
85 matches
Batting - 25.06 average, 124.28 strike rate (0 hundreds, 7 fifties, 2 ducks)
Bowling - 32.72 average, 23.74 strike rate, 8.27 economy rate (0 4-fers)

Show me another active Australian all-rounder with a better domestic record in all-formats, particularly with the bat (largely the basis on what we're selecting an all-rounder for, given that Smith barely bowls them). I'll give you that his bowling is somewhat mediocre, but it's far better than guys like Cartwright and Stoinis who are being touted for their ability to "roll the arm over when needed" as well as swing the blade.

Maybe Mitch Marsh has a comparable domestic record, but he hasn't done it as consistently, for as long, and didn't have the domestic summer that Henriques did last time around either:

Moises Henriques, Australian Domestic Year (2016-17)

Sheffield Shield
9 matches
Batting - 13 innings, 64.58 average, 60.35 strike rate (2 hundreds, 4 fifties, 0 ducks, 1 not out)
Bowling - 60.4 overs bowled, 67.33 average, 121.33 strike rate, 3.32 economy rate (0 5-fers)

List A
8 matches
Batting - 8 innings, 69.00 average, 95.39 strike rate (1 hundreds, 2 fifties, 0 ducks, 2 not outs)
Bowling - 40 overs bowled, 44.24 average, 60.00 strike rate, 4.42 economy rate (0 4-fers)

T20
10 matches
Batting - 10 innings, 29.22 average, 142.16 strike rate (0 hundreds, 2 fifties, 1 duck, 1 not out)
Bowling - 3 overs bowled, 20.00 average, 18.00 strike rate, 6.66 economy rate (0 4-fers)

His bowling was hurt by carrying a shoulder injury through most of the season, but again, if we're picking (and dropping) an all-rounder largely on the basis of their batting, why did the most in-form all-rounder with the bat in the country in all formats get overlooked?

 

[JC Hawks]

Agree that Henriques should have been given a look in last summer especially since Hilton Cartwright was the alternative who was picked in place of him.

 

[Damon_3388]

Just to see if it can be done, I would like to see England pick an 18-man Ashes squad (three openers, five middle-order batsmen, two wicket-keepers, two spinners, six pace bowlers) consisting only of players born in England, with two English-born parents. Is it even possible? Or even possible for it to be good?

 

[JackOutback]

Henriques' problem probably comes down to a genuine all rounder whose batting average is under 40 and bowling average over 30, which just isn't up to scratch on either front (though it's very close). CA obviously thought Mitch Marsh had more potential and stuck with him but are now leaning towards a bat who can roll his arm over a little (Cartwright and Stoinis), which is probably all we need right now, given how Smith uses his fifth bowling option.

 

[The_Reaper]

Agree that Henriques should have been given a look in last summer especially since Hilton Cartwright was the alternative who was picked in place of him.

Disagree Cartwright was the correct choice but for the wrong reasons.

We have a weak batting lineup and a good attack. We don't need a fifth bowler (who Smith barely uses anyway) we need to pick six specialist batsmen.
Anyone who considers Cartwright an allrounder is kidding themselves, he is a specialist batsman who rolls the arm over here and there.

 

[74561347]

Show me another active Australian all-rounder with a better domestic record in all-formats, particularly with the bat (largely the basis on what we're selecting an all-rounder for, given that Smith barely bowls them). I'll give you that his bowling is somewhat mediocre, but it's far better than guys like Cartwright and Stoinis who are being touted for their ability to "roll the arm over when needed" as well as swing the blade.

cant, because theyre isnt one. but just because hes the best of a bad bunch doesnt mean he should be picked, particularly in the test side. no point picking an all rounder if theyre not good enough.

 

[Chaisa]

Just to see if it can be done, I would like to see England pick an 18-man Ashes squad (three openers, five middle-order batsmen, two wicket-keepers, two spinners, six pace bowlers) consisting only of players born in England, with two English-born parents. Is it even possible? Or even possible for it to be good?

Probably easier for that to get done than for us to do something similar.

 

[Hellgood]

Probably easier for that to get done than for us to do something similar.

Yeah I don't understand the righteous circlejerk about a players family background.

Whatever to keep the one-eyed mouthbreathers smug I suppose.

 

[Damon_3388]

Probably easier for that to get done than for us to do something similar.

I don't think it would be that difficult or that much of a blow for us really.

Off the top of my head, and without knowing everyone's family history, it would just mean we rule out Khawaja, Cartwright and Henriques from selection, as far as guys who are in/around the national setup currently.

 

[Damon_3388]

Yeah I don't understand the righteous circlejerk about a players family background.

Whatever to keep the one-eyed mouthbreathers smug I suppose.

I'm not saying it needs to actually happen, or that I think the current English squads are "wrong" or "invalid" or "unfair".Just moreso that it would be interesting to see it laid out and see exactly how much English cricket is influenced by people of other backgrounds.

 

[Damon_3388]

cant, because theyre isnt one. but just because hes the best of a bad bunch doesnt mean he should be picked, particularly in the test side. no point picking an all rounder if theyre not good enough.

True, I just think if the selectors are insistent on a batting all-rounder, then it's only logical to pick one with the best form and career record, which (at the time of Cartwright's selection, as well as Stoinis' leapfrog of others based on no form) was Henriques. I think he would have been perfectly suited to the subcontinental Test series we've played this year, and has more to offer right now than Cartwright or Stoinis (why is he being spoken about as an Ashes chance?)

 

[74561347]

True, I just think if the selectors are insistent on a batting all-rounder, then it's only logical to pick one with the best form and career record, which (at the time of Cartwright's selection, as well as Stoinis' leapfrog of others based on no form) was Henriques. I think he would have been perfectly suited to the subcontinental Test series we've played this year, and has more to offer right now than Cartwright or Stoinis (why is he being spoken about as an Ashes chance?)

prefer cartwright at 6 to henriques. 5 years younger than henriques with a far superior average. his bowling isnt much chop but looks like he can hold his own as a bat, which with our tendency to collapse helps more than henriques superior bowling in comparison.

as for stoinis he has to have embarrassing photos of someone at cricket australia. my grandmother is a better cricketer than him. and shes dead.

 

[Chaisa]

I don't think it would be that difficult or that much of a blow for us really.

Off the top of my head, and without knowing everyone's family history, it would just mean we rule out Khawaja, Cartwright and Henriques from selection, as far as guys who are in/around the national setup currently.

Smith's mum is English. Patto's parents are English and his brother famously played for them. Renshaw was born in England. There's probably more out there.

 

[eth-dog]

Smith's mum is English. Patto's parents are English and his brother famously played for them. Renshaw was born in England. There's probably more out there.

I don't think Smith counts as he was born here. As was Patto. Take out Renshaw. Handscomb's dad was from Yorkshire but again he was born and raised in Australia. Whiteman was born in England too. And since Portugal isn't really a cricket nation of any note would they really count? It'd end up somewhat like:

Bancroft
Warner
Smith
Handscomb
Patterson
Maxwell
Wade/Nevill/Carey/whoever
3 of Starc/Hazlewood/Pattinson/Cummins/Behrendorff
Lyon

 

[Chaisa]

I don't think Smith counts as he was born here

Missing the point ftr, Damon wanted a side which had both parents born in the country as well as themselves.

Indeed it looks possible that we'll see an England XI with all 11 of their guys born in England with Stokes out.

 

[eth-dog]

Missing the point ftr, Damon wanted a side which had both parents born in the country as well as themselves.

Indeed it looks possible that we'll see an England XI with all 11 of their guys born in England with Stokes out.

Ballance.

 

[Damon_3388]

Ballance.

Lazarus, rising for yet another Ashes campaign.

He's almost like the new John Crawley.

 

[Gough]

Smith's mum is English. Patto's parents are English and his brother famously played for them. Renshaw was born in England. There's probably more out there.

Uzzie was born in Pakistan, SOK is Malay by birth, and Hilton Cartwright is a Zimbo.

 

[Damon_3388]

prefer cartwright at 6 to henriques. 5 years younger than henriques with a far superior average.

You don't feel his average is a bit small sample size theatre? He's played just one full Shield season, and batted just 31 innings in total in Shield cricket.

 

[74561347]

You don't feel his average is a bit small sample size theatre? He's played just one full Shield season, and batted just 31 innings in total in Shield cricket.

fair point, but rather give the chance to the player whos 25, averages 50 and might be able to do it than the 30 year old who averages 35 over 11 years. or any young bat really, got 3 shield games before the first test, see who sticks their hand up.

 

[The_Reaper]

You don't feel his average is a bit small sample size theatre? He's played just one full Shield season, and batted just 31 innings in total in Shield cricket.

Average of 33 isn't worthy of batting at 6.

 

[The_Reaper]

Uzzie was born in Pakistan, SOK is Malay by birth, and Hilton Cartwright is a Zimbo.

SOK's parents were working at the RAAF base in Butterworth so he may not actually be Malay by birth.

 

[PhatBoy]

You don't feel his average is a bit small sample size theatre? He's played just one full Shield season, and batted just 31 innings in total in Shield cricket.

I’d pick him over Henriques.

Cartwright might have a bit to prove, and be a s**t bowler, but I don’t really believe Henriques’ figures do justic to how absolute rhinoceros-s**t his bowling actually is. It’s f***ing putrid.

Looking at his figures and seeing that average and strike rate wise, they fall into the ‘handy’ bracket, tells me basically that he should get on his knees every chance he gets, and blow the likes of Starc, Hazelwood, Bird, Copeland etc that have been taking bagfuls of wickets throughout his career and leaving him the odd bit of tail-cleaning to fatten his figures.

 

[footyfan1978]

Every Test nation should be limited to 12 Tests a year and 24 one dayers. Quality over quantity needs restoring in world cricket.
T20 cricket leave for the domestic franchises around the world at the various tournaments.

 

[Damon_3388]

Every Test nation should be limited to 12 Tests a year and 24 one dayers.

That's a lengthy career by Zimbabwe cricket standards.

I don't think any country is playing much more than that in any given 12 month period, but I do think the smaller full members and bigger associates should get more cricket. If it take ICC financing to help, then so be it.