WTC Final 2025

[jannissary]

soon...

i'm optimistic, but i think the selectors will pick a bad side going in.

 

[yabsy]

I'll assume they'll go with Hazlewood, despite the quick turnaround from the IPL finals & recent recovery from another injury...He'll be desperate to play having missed the last WTC final as well...Which would make Webster an absolute certainty to play

 

[Westend]

soon...

i'm optimistic, but i think the selectors will pick a bad side going in.

Bad side ???...selectors been okay we are in the final so they have been doing something right

 

[jannissary]

Bad side ???...selectors been okay we are in the final so they have been doing something right

by that i mean pick a side that will be unprepared/not good enough our match selection team haven't exactly torn the world apart in recent years.

 

[cricketnut14]

by that i mean pick a side that will be unprepared/not good enough our match selection team haven't exactly torn the world apart in recent years.

difficult to have a lead up series , with the WTC final in England and the IPL window just prior to it.

also not knowing 2 years out who's gonna make the final presents fixturing problems.

in saying that, Australia could've organised a test v ireland or a 4 day game against a quality county side or even 2 aussie XI's probables v possibes etc .

the WTC final of 2023 was an actual lead up match to the ashes and may well be again in 2027 if Australia make it

 

[Gethelred]

Smith isn't the best against the moving ball, and Green has a more classical technique.

We tried batting him at #3 in 2015, with very mixed results.

On the contrary:

https://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerPositions.asp?PlayerID=3756

Averages 67.08 at 3 from 29 digs. That's not mixed results; it's superior to his stats at 4.

 

[largebus]

Ashes tickets were a shitshow - I got NOTHING. Hopefully my mate who was also trying got me one for Day 1. Nothing quite like a Boxing Day Ashes Test.

I'm genuinely worried for the WTC final without any real lead-up matches.

Lead up matches, what are they? IPL is all you need.

 

[big_e]

Lead up matches, what are they? IPL is all you need.

Worked last time.

 

[cricketnut14]

south africa have rested/dropped 7 from the WTC squad and added 8, for the upcoming zimbabwe test series - before the WTC final has even started.

is this a sign of things for test cricket - a second string side as zimbabwe aren't a part of the WTC.

will be interesting if the 2 tiered comp comes in after the next WTC cycle.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Whilst a lead up match would’ve been nice, we have a few playing CC and a few more who were playing IPL, so it’s not like they’ve all been off. I’m not sure how you’d really organise one - maybe a county side?

SA’s bowling will present a problem, but if we can see off the new ball we should be able to put up a solid score.

My only concerns re selection are Haze (fitness) and Marnus (form) - and god forbid we open with him.

 

[DaRick]

On the contrary:

https://www.howstat.com/cricket/Statistics/Players/PlayerPositions.asp?PlayerID=3756

Averages 67.08 at 3 from 29 digs. That's not mixed results; it's superior to his stats at 4.

Look more closely at those stats.

Many of them were in the subcontinent, where the moving ball is typically not a massive consideration.

If you look closely at that ENG 2015 series, he was wildly successful on relatively flat pitches at Lords and The Oval, but he flopped hard at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, where the ball moved considerably more.

There's a reason why his stint at opener was short-lived.

 

[Gethelred]

Look more closely at those stats.

Many of them were in the subcontinent, where the moving ball is typically not a massive consideration.

If you look closely at that ENG 2015 series, he was wildly successful on relatively flat pitches at Lords and The Oval, but he flopped hard at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston, where the ball moved considerably more.

There's a reason why his stint at opener was short-lived.

By the same token, I'd be very interested in when precisely he came in to bat in any number of his innings at 4 too, because there was a patch in there in which our innings only really got going when he walked out. In my opinion, when you're walking out to bat and the score is sub 50 runs, there's precious little difference between batting at 3 or 4; in both situations, the ball is new and the bowler's tail is up.

Another consideration is that Green is arguably worse against the moving ball than Smith is, anyway.

Finally, we either take statistics at face value or we don't. Smith's 2019 destruction of England came with both openers - Warner, Bancroft and Harris - being walking wickets; while batting at 4, he might as well have been batting at 3. Do we categorise those knocks in context, or do they count as knocks at 4?

In the end, I can't see them moving him, but in my opinion they should. It solves a number of problems and has a statistical backing stronger than any of the other options.

 

[DaRick]

By the same token, I'd be very interested in when precisely he came in to bat in any number of his innings at 4 too, because there was a patch in there in which our innings only really got going when he walked out. In my opinion, when you're walking out to bat and the score is sub 50 runs, there's precious little difference between batting at 3 or 4; in both situations, the ball is new and the bowler's tail is up.

Another consideration is that Green is arguably worse against the moving ball than Smith is, anyway.

Finally, we either take statistics at face value or we don't. Smith's 2019 destruction of England came with both openers - Warner, Bancroft and Harris - being walking wickets; while batting at 4, he might as well have been batting at 3. Do we categorise those knocks in context, or do they count as knocks at 4?

In the end, I can't see them moving him, but in my opinion they should. It solves a number of problems and has a statistical backing stronger than any of the other options.

That's a very good point.

Although in 2019 he was still at his apex technically, and Root had no idea how to bowl to him. Also, no Anderson made some difference.

Also I vaguely recall the pitches being more even in quality than they were in 2015.

Moreover, sometimes batsmen just enter a vein of form where nothing seems to matter.

 

[Silver Tongue]

Whilst a lead up match would’ve been nice, we have a few playing CC and a few more who were playing IPL, so it’s not like they’ve all been off. I’m not sure how you’d really organise one - maybe a county side?

SA’s bowling will present a problem, but if we can see off the new ball we should be able to put up a solid score.

My only concerns re selection are Haze (fitness) and Marnus (form) - and god forbid we open with him.

Hoping they do not play Marnus at all. Konstas allegedly working hard on revisiting a more compact technique according to reports. Marnus is all over the shop and his CC form has offered nothing of note.

My preference is they play Boland over Hazelwood ... but we don't lose anything either way.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Hoping they do not play Marnus at all. Konstas allegedly working hard on revisiting a more compact technique according to reports. Marnus is all over the shop and his CC form has offered nothing of note.

My preference is they play Boland over Hazelwood ... but we don't lose anything either way.

We might lose a bowling option knowing Hazelwoods recent fitness, but hopefully not.

I have an awful feeling we’ll see Marnus at the top of the team sheet with Ussie

 

[Gough]

Now with added poll!

Test - WTC Final South Africa v Australia June 11-16 1900hrs @ Lords

South Africa from, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne Australia from, Pat Cummins (c), Scott...

www.bigfooty.com

 

[BGman]

Bad side ???...selectors been okay we are in the final so they have been doing something right

Reckon Westend. Aussies going in as strong favorites
The Aussie campaign started with the controversial '23 Ashes that finished in a 2-2 draw and ended with a 3-1 series victory over India, to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. In between we rolled Pakistan 3-0 at home, drew 1-1 with the Windies, the Kiwis 2-0 on their soil then did the same to Sri Lanka, in what was Australia's first series triumph in the island nation in 14 years. I call that super impressive. Compared to our opponents who defeated West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to inexplicably top the points standings. Note none of the big three among their wins. Also recall we took down the Saffers in late '22 just before this WTC cycle.

 

[MarcMaverick]

Reckon Westend. Aussies going in as strong favorites
The Aussie campaign started with the controversial '23 Ashes that finished in a 2-2 draw and ended with a 3-1 series victory over India, to win the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade. In between we rolled Pakistan 3-0 at home, drew 1-1 with the Windies, the Kiwis 2-0 on their soil then did the same to Sri Lanka, in what was Australia's first series triumph in the island nation in 14 years. I call that super impressive. Compared to our opponents who defeated West Indies, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan to inexplicably top the points standings. Note none of the big three among their wins. Also recall we took down the Saffers in late '22 just before this WTC cycle.

We don't play cricket on strong favourites. It all depends on the line-up and what we do on field.

 

[BGman]

Boland over Hazelwood

Nah Hazlewoods previous Ashes tours has him way ahead even if he wasnt an automatic selection if fit and reportedly he is and raring to start taming the Lords slope again at one of his happiest hunting grounds.

We don't play cricket on strong favourites.

Saffer legend AB de Villiers says Australia are clear favorites. That'll do me.

AB also says the Saffers still carry the 'chokers' tag which hangs heavily over their cricket and must be banished if they are to win the world title.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Is the only way to watch this on Prime ?

 

[largebus]

Is the only way to watch this on Prime ?

Yes unless you raise the skull and crossbones and sail the 7 seas

 

[Run n Spread]

Absolute boys club. Nothing changes.
Inglis Konstas and Boland screwed over.
Labaschagne Green and Hazlewood lucky.

 

[eth-dog]

Absolute boys club. Nothing changes.
Inglis Konstas and Boland screwed over.
Labaschagne Green and Hazlewood lucky.

Eh. Green over Inglis fair enough, Inglis was 50/50 with Webster but they elected to go with the extra bowling. Konstas should have been selected over Lab, agreed. Hazlewood and Boland I'd have gone Scott but zero issues with Haze, has an excellent record at Lord's and England in general