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

[Gough]

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 Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster. Travelling reserve: Brendan Doggett

 

[Cuzz09]

If its a draw who lifts the trophy?

 

[AJ_2000]

If its a draw who lifts the trophy?

Joint winners. Plus there is a reserve day in case of English Weather

 

[Cmarsh]

I'd like to see this held outside of England at some stage.

 

[Cmarsh]

I'm a little surprised to see Australia strong favourite with the bookies.

Wonder if they will actually pick Konstas.

 

[hugecannon]

My team:-

Labuschange (last chance saloon)
Khawja
Smith
Green
Head
Webster
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

Boland 12th

 

[Cuzz09]

Joint winners. Plus there is a reserve day in case of English Weather

ah nice, stops one team just batting for 5 days at least

 

[Gough]

My team:-

Labuschange (last chance saloon)
Khawja
Smith
Green
Head
Webster
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

Boland 12th

I'd play Konstas as a bit of a wild card, it's no bigger risk than playing Marnus and because I like an alliterative opening partnership.

 

[Cuzz09]

Be nice if a few guys make some decent runs rather than relying on our bowlers every game

 

[The Lobbster]

I'm a little surprised to see Australia strong favourite with the bookies.

Wonder if they will actually pick Konstas.

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

 

[cricketnut14]

Be nice if a few guys make some decent runs rather than relying on our bowlers every game

that's rough.

smith, carey, green made tons in their last test apperance.
usman, inglis made made tons 2 tests ago
head made a ton 5 tests ago.
webster's done a job.

 

[Wallaby]

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

It's almost like the World Test Championship is some weird crappy little add-on to the international calendar that no one cares about until the game is actually played, and no one cares about immediately after it's over.

I could be wrong, of course...........................

 

[cricketnut14]

I'd play Konstas as a bit of a wild card, it's no bigger risk than playing Marnus and because I like an alliterative opening partnership.

will be like derek kickett of '93 for the bombers if marnus misses out - played every game throughout the WTC cycle.

if marnus plays and does well, it may keep konstas waiting a little longer until an opportunity presents - perhaps until usman calls it a day.

 

[Taylor]

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

That explains why I've heard people saying that if this game isn't over in three days they'll be furious at Australia.

Personally, I just want it to be interesting.

 

[Taylor]

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

That explains why I've heard people saying that if this game isn't over in three days they'll be furious at Australia.

Personally, I just want it to be interesting.

 

[Cmarsh]

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

Sure. I do think their bowling is quality enough to trouble our bats though.

 

[cricketnut14]

It's almost like the World Test Championship is some weird crappy little add-on to the international calendar that no one cares about until the game is actually played, and no one cares about immediately after it's over.

I could be wrong, of course...........................

yeah, it's funny you say that when everyone sees test cricket as the pinnacle.

the last WTC final was hardly mentioned as it took place a week prior to the ashes, where everyones focus was.

so comparing it to AFL, it was like - let's not focus on the grand final, let's focus on round 1.

 

[Cmarsh]

yeah, it's funny you say that when everyone sees test cricket as the pinnacle.

the last WTC final was hardly mentioned as it took place a week prior to the ashes, where everyones focus was.

so comparing it to AFL, it was like - let's not focus on the grand final, let's focus on round 1.

That's not true. There was quite alot of interest in that Aus v India final despite it being just before the Ashes.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I'd like to see this held outside of England at some stage.

England isn't a bad option. At least we know it will always be a neutral venue.


Ideally it would be a series, with the team that topped the table hosting; but different season across hemispheres and nations makes that tricky with all the T20 circus that has to be catered for.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

That's not true. There was quite alot of interest in that Aus v India final despite it being just before the Ashes.

There was, but probably still more in the Ashes from the general public (and possibly from CA).

 

[Taylor]

If it were in the summer of the champion team then we would have to find another test spot in Australia over December and January, rubbish to have it before mid December if like this year it's an Ashes series and I think Australia might be a bit test fatigued by the 16th of January for another five day test in Tasmania.

 

[Westend]

My team:-

Labuschange (last chance saloon)
Khawja
Smith
Green
Head
Webster
Carey
Cummins
Starc
Lyon
Hazelwood

Boland 12th

Cummins already stated that smudge will bat four I think that will be the 11

 

[Westend]

Not much talk about Starc all about hazelwood boland wonder how Mitch is travelling ?

 

[PhatBoy]

Of the 4 teams directly below the finalists on the WTC table, South Africa have only played 6 matches against them, winning 3. They also didn’t a test match in England during the cycle.

By comparison, Australia played 14 tests and won 9 (against those 4 teams (England, India, NZ and SL))

The prevailing narrative is that SA sort of snuck into the final by not playing a whole lotta tests against the good teams.

They literally sent a C team to NZ and were competitive with them and should have drawn the series. They can’t beat teams they don’t have series against; it’s not their fault Australia, England and India have a perennial circle jerk that seems to see them playing a series against one another every three weeks

 

[nobbyiscool]

This snuck up on me a bit. Pretty excited now realising that it's on this week.