At least it's not a dead rubber. Not quite, anyway.
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Happy New Year, everyone. Staying up for this one - hope my dodgy website works.
I thought we’d done reasonably well with limited resources up until Perth and pretty much had our best team on the park. But since then it’s been an absolute joke. Picking Marsh for no good reason was just ridiculous, and now we’ve got a guy batting at 3 that averages 33 in first-class cricket. Aaaaaaaabsolute piss-take. I don’t quite get as angry as Pat from a supporter’s perspective, but I sort of do for the state players in line for selection who deserve to be taken seriously and never are. The sort of arbitrary and nepotistic decisions that have been made lately have been an absolute disgrace. Part of me hopes that we get absolutely destroyed in this match. I hate the PInk Test anyway!
Bryce McGain was massively unlucky with his timing. Was all set for a relaxing day at the cricket when whatsisface, the WA lefty pulled out. He had not time to prep, then forgot to spin the ball in a dead rubber. He was the best spinner in the Shield for ages.
Can’t remember such a long technical conversation from Nine about something like wrist and seam-position for years, possibly decades. I haven’t seen a lot of the coverage this series so far, but what’s the verdict? Better than Nine?
And where’s Ponting, btw? Wasn’t he supposed to be the new Doyen? Or is he just on Fox, or just presenting or something?
forget about how he is holding the ball. Hazelwood had never had a problem of swinging the ball. Starc has now and they are seemingly befuddled. No I hear the Indians are suspect to the short ball?
Pujara? No Kholi? No Rahane? No. Vihari desert Yes, Agarwal? maybe
This has the look of last year’s Ashes series about it, when the stock ball from the Australian attack was pretty much the bouncer. You LIKE seeing guys getting roughed up by good fast bowling, but over-reliance on short-pitched stuff to the top order doesn’t often make for interesting cricket.
Well - not so much the yorker, which is so often used with the short stuff; howsabout just a bit of back-of-a-length, or even good-length, channel bowling? Hazlewood got his wicket from a good length right at the start of play. To be fair to the Indians, when we gave them anything to drive at earlier on they put a lot of deliveries away, but since then it’s like we’ve decided that the ball’s not moving around much so we’ll frighten you out instead. Which against these guys, both of them getting hit and a few anxious moments notwithstanding, really shouldn’t get you that many wickets.
E Kohli has never lost a test when he has won the toss. Cant see a change to that situation in this game. Whenever Greg Chappell is involved, things go pear shaped, Did for India, has for us. Get rid of him from the slecton panel. And pick Maxxie for the Sri Lankan series at no. 6 and let him tear lose. They owe him that. We might even beat them.
You certainly get the impression the selectors would rather get to clever for themselves than just pick a straight forward side. There needs to be a law for the selectors like for parliamentary papers which releases meeting minutes after 20 years.
I am worried about our attack.
Hazelwood has merely looked competent, Cummins comes in a bags it in but that is all and Starc as I have been harping on ALL SEASON is not swinging the ball consistently.
We know what is in store in the UK. Anderson can bowl over there until he is 50.
The Three Lankans are unlikely to test us that much so we go to England with our tail starting at 3 and our bowling bot at is best
Was listening to ABC Grandstand at lunch.
Ed Cowan and Dirk Nanness are way above anything on Seven.
I have to say in Shires we would NEVER let Batsmen talk between balls. you really do not need to take 10 minutes to know if the batsman is ok after being hit because he took his eye off the ball
Oh, so Ponting is commentating on Seven? I must have just not heard one of his stints. Has he not been on today, though? I watched all the first session and he didn’t make an appearance.
I don’t mind the time being taken when someone’s been hit, particularly anything involving the helmet. And it’s definitely good to see bowlers making a point of checking with the batsmen if he’s ok. It might seem like overkill, but it’s a quiet nod to Phil Hughes and that can’t be a bad thing.
Hows this for speeding the game up. If the batsman gets hit on the helmut, has to leave the field immediately for dressing room check. Can come back on after 15 minutes. This might get the batsman to watch the ball a bit closer.
Yes the Big L is a Marsh equivalent. A first class bowling average of 48 and 12 off the first over.
Part-timers do bowl more than their share of half trackers.
So can we blame all the selectors for the travesty of this decision? Lets here them present their cogent argument. 1-0 0 12 is enough evidence as not to play him.
okay I am from NSW but it seems to me the selectors do not like Mexicans. If there is something more egregious than what they have done to Finch than what about Maxwell G?
From a bowling point of view the major question is why are we not swinging the ball as well as the Indians. This is even worse given they bowl mostly ( and stupidly) around the wicket.
The problem of Starc is easy to rectify. Get him to point his right foot to first slip. Once this occurs he is immediately side on . It is easier to swing ( and he bowls faster.) IMHO the right arm goes up straighter naturally.
Hazelwood is more problematic. It could be melancholy as his power station was shut down. ( get it).
I think it is more he does not have a consistent bowling plan. If the bal lis swinging bowl a good length. bowl short when it stops swinging.
Cummins is not much of a swinger.
I might add I get very grumpy as befitting my age when they start talking about FAST bowling.
Thommo easily bowled faster than 160. Lille was above 150 in 74-76. As was Holding, Roberts, Marshall.
Youniss, Akram and Khan did sometimes but b not consistently.
They all swung the ball but Thommo.
India did to Oz what Steve Waugh's team did so many times to touring teams yesterday. And it was a nice ironic flourish (and ominous warning to Test cricket aspirants) to see his son's name (Austin) on the teamsheet.
And seeing as the stumps score was 4/303 perhaps today the Indians can apply Rule 303 to our team and thus the selectors and the entire malodorously malignant edifice of the Oz cricket cognoscenti.
I should add one more thing. you need to cock your wrist to bowl an outswinger but not an inswinger.
If your foot is pointing to the WK or are bowling around the wicket it is much harder to do. not so for an inswinger.
Hence for Power station he swings less when he opens up in his bowing action.
I still think Starc is carrying an injury.
Starc and Power Station are a good opening bowling combination as they swing it differently being left and right handed. Throw in Cummins who is again is different and when on song batsmen have to concentrate all the time. It takes a lot out of them.
On captains me thinks they are over-rated. I have been watching test cricket since India came here in 67/68 and I have seen but two good captains, Chappelli and Mark Taylor.
One good thing that’s happened this morning is that we’re at least keeping them relatively quiet. There can’t be any doubting Pujara’s patience though - he’ll keep them out there for weeks before he gets bored and plays a silly shot.
India haven’t got away from us, here. A bit of luck with Vihari’s wicket, and a guy at the crease who can and probably will get bored and play a stupid shot, and we could be in with a sniff.
Starc is reversing at present. Can't understand why the Seven commentators have missed it. Afterall he doesn't bowl inswingers to lefthanders naturally
If a batsman is not ready when the bowler is ready to bowl I tell them to make sure it does not occur again. If it does I tell them the nest time and its an official warning.
The Indians have declared three innings in this series. Thats a record for a four test series apparently. How to resolve this issue
1. Day/night test: non-negotiable.
2. Plant as much grass as humaly possible on SCG and MCG.
3. Stop calling our attack the best in the world.
4. Always start at the GABBA: non-negotiable
We couldn't have been more hospitable to the Indians if we'd hired personal valet's for each Indian player and changed the name "Australia" to "India".
Our national selection panel is Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell and Langer and all three surely will be under notice by the new Cricket Australia administration. I firmly believe the selections have made this one of the weakest Australian Test teams I have seen and, while I truly hope they can rub my noses in this assessment, I doubt it very much.
I hope Labushame does well today but even if he does he will also return to scores that got him his 1st class average. That's what the average indicates.
As for the rest of the order, moving an out of form 1st drop to opener, and inserting an out of form bits-and-pieces player into 1st drop, all to protect a constantly under achieving Sean Marsh bodes only bad things.
Furthermore, what of the opportunity cost to Australian cricket? Every player selected over a more deserving player (Patterson, Maxwell, Burns, Wade) is runs gone missing, foundations unlaid, investment in better products gone to seed.
And perhaps the greatest factor, compounding these missed opportunities, is the message sent out to the Shield and to all juniors: It doesn't matter how consistently well you perform selection is predicated on enigmatic criteria that you will never have clarified...if you aren't an insider.
If you have proven yourself as one of the best and yet you still don't get selected you best be seeking employment elsewhere. You've been de-platformed and ghosted out of existence. Nothing you ever do will make any difference. There are those in and those out and you? You're out.
Also, I feel it’s only right that you pick players who are in some semblance of form. If they can’t play well in the Sheffield Shield, what hope have they got against the No. 1 Test team in the world?
Exactly! It's basic common sense not even requiring a statistical brain. Yet it's a fact that eludes the majority of professional cricket punditry as well as selections.
It’s not Labuschagne's fault and I wish him well, but I can't see any justification for his selection as he hasn’t really made a run this year. Opening or batting at three are specialist jobs and they need to play the best batsmen first and foremost, and not because they bowl a little.
He's averaging 28 this season ffs! Over 57 with the ball! Why isn't the media tearing into our selectors?
Read the rest.
The averages at end of the article are overall stats which should be read alongside the current form stats which can be found here and then clicking menu item on Stats.
Well said, Deano. Finally someone has put it out there.
Justin Langer left Australia scratching its head when he said there wasn’t anyone knocking down the door. One graph has left him with egg on his face.
What's more, as I have detailed, this season's (this current season - right here right now) Shield stats are areadily available. There is even a section titled "Highest Averages" under Batting.
Further: Why doesn't Patterson ever get a mention?
Interesting comment: "While Shield stats alone can’t predict a Test star — Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh and David Warner were all selected with domestic averages in the 30s — the current Australian selection panel’s fixation on records has been a jumbled mess this summer.
What were their career stats when selected? High 30s mid or low? And what was their current season stats?
Would love to have this clarified. Would be even better if a stats man could compile the average 1st class average when successful vs non-successful batsman are selected for national honours. This is the sort of thing an AI app would resolve and why Cricket Australia need to invest in one to replace the selectors.
Warner was selected on the hope he could use his skills from the t20 abomination into tests and it took time and mostly flat tracks.
today is Pink day where money is put into the Mcgrath foundation.
now if the $2.1 k is achieved then the wage for each nurse is $89. That is a fair old whack. What are the administrative costs of the foundation.
The Shane Warne foundation was obviously thought up to give the brother money. Not saying the McGrath foundation is even in the same league but you put your charity dollars into the charities where admin costs are the loerst so the money goes to the most deserving.
We know nothing in this area.
Just caught a glimpse of the Pink Day Parade and was thinking the same things.
Surely it's time also CA got on board with a men's issue related charity like prostate cancer.
Or if they prefer to be binary-gender-neutral as is the SJW promoted way of things then bowel cancer charity is probably more deserving (as I've noted before).
I am well over 60 so I am allowed to repeat myself
A bowler should only go around the wicket if he is swinging, swerving , cutting or spinning the ball too much. If not you simply bowl straight balls erring sometimes down the legside.
I can understand even to change things when the batsman is well on top but straight away makes no sense to me.
I have no problem with having a pink day just want more info. Prostrate cancer kills more men than breast cancer women.
Our batsmen get runs on this disgraceful batting strip and then agin the Three Lankans. We 'solve' our batting problems. We got to England who produce the same pitches they did agin India not the two flat tracks we got at Lords and the Oval as we got in 2015.
We get done very bad in the Ashes when our techniques are found out yet again
That was moving to watch Labuschagne's face at the end of that over in his mid-pitch convo with Harris. The nervous excited smile, the deep breath out, the looking around the ground in awe.
Good on him. Hope he has a good dig for Oz.
But I also feel more for those who will never get that opportunity even though they deserve it more.
Cant see us ever winning the Ashes over there until Jimmy Anderson retires. He ls too good for our blokes in his backyard. We won 4 series there because we were much better than they were. Not the case anymore.
Also I like this india team, they seem a great bunch of blokes. Even E Kohli has been pretty well behaved. They took their chance when we were weak. Cant blame them for that. We however, can blame the selectors for our weakness.
Also I like this india team, they seem a great bunch of blokes. Even E Kohli has been pretty well behaved. They took their chance when we were weak. Cant blame them for that. We however, can blame the selectors for our weakness.
Happy New Year, everyone. Staying up for this one - hope my dodgy website works.
I thought we’d done reasonably well with limited resources up until Perth and pretty much had our best team on the park. But since then it’s been an absolute joke. Picking Marsh for no good reason was just ridiculous, and now we’ve got a guy batting at 3 that averages 33 in first-class cricket. Aaaaaaaabsolute piss-take. I don’t quite get as angry as Pat from a supporter’s perspective, but I sort of do for the state players in line for selection who deserve to be taken seriously and never are. The sort of arbitrary and nepotistic decisions that have been made lately have been an absolute disgrace. Part of me hopes that we get absolutely destroyed in this match. I hate the PInk Test anyway!
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Lost the toss. We're bowling again. We're losing again.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:22 AM
My comments at https://nottrampis.blogspot.com/2019/01/the-fourth-test.html
I naturally link here for considered comments
I am thinking of picking the worst eleven ever.
People such as Les Joslin, Ken Eastwood, John Watkins
Help me out lads
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:33 AM
Scott Muller, Hilton Cartwright, Michael Beer...
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:39 AM
Starc again not swinging the ball on a cloudy humid day. Why?
Look at his right foot. It is pointing at the WK not first slip.
No idea of why they picked Rahul. In bad form. I would have picked Panda or Kumar
Posted by: I am Not trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:48 AM
Sean Young, Bryce McGain, Mitchell Marsh.....
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:51 AM
Bryce McGain was massively unlucky with his timing. Was all set for a relaxing day at the cricket when whatsisface, the WA lefty pulled out. He had not time to prep, then forgot to spin the ball in a dead rubber. He was the best spinner in the Shield for ages.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:57 AM
Has there been an explanation for why Cummins hasn’t been taking the new ball in this series?
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 10:57 AM
No explanations, but plenty of "I'm happy to bowl wherever" cliches.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:00 AM
Sure thing. You can’t deny that his one Test was an absolutely disaster, though!
Re: Cummins, maybe it’s because they want Starc to swing the new ball. Which he hasn’t been, consistently, all series.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:03 AM
*absolute
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:03 AM
Cummins is not known for his swing
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:05 AM
Yes. McGain's one Test was a career killer.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:07 AM
Never mind he must make money selling all those chips
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:19 AM
Can’t remember such a long technical conversation from Nine about something like wrist and seam-position for years, possibly decades. I haven’t seen a lot of the coverage this series so far, but what’s the verdict? Better than Nine?
And where’s Ponting, btw? Wasn’t he supposed to be the new Doyen? Or is he just on Fox, or just presenting or something?
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:21 AM
We’re only an hour in and I think you’d definitely say that we need a wicket.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:30 AM
The game is being set up for Labuschagne to come out and get a match winning, series leveling, triple ton on debut.
Posted by: Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:35 AM
forget about how he is holding the ball. Hazelwood had never had a problem of swinging the ball. Starc has now and they are seemingly befuddled. No I hear the Indians are suspect to the short ball?
Pujara? No Kholi? No Rahane? No. Vihari desert Yes, Agarwal? maybe
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 11:38 AM
This has the look of last year’s Ashes series about it, when the stock ball from the Australian attack was pretty much the bouncer. You LIKE seeing guys getting roughed up by good fast bowling, but over-reliance on short-pitched stuff to the top order doesn’t often make for interesting cricket.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 12:17 PM
Yes Carrot. Where is the well pitched yorker. (yes I know that is a tautology)
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 12:29 PM
Well - not so much the yorker, which is so often used with the short stuff; howsabout just a bit of back-of-a-length, or even good-length, channel bowling? Hazlewood got his wicket from a good length right at the start of play. To be fair to the Indians, when we gave them anything to drive at earlier on they put a lot of deliveries away, but since then it’s like we’ve decided that the ball’s not moving around much so we’ll frighten you out instead. Which against these guys, both of them getting hit and a few anxious moments notwithstanding, really shouldn’t get you that many wickets.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 12:36 PM
Well, at lunch there are two things that come to mind:
1) Shut up and take my money!
and
2) Boating, Camping, Fishing, it's BCFing fun!
Posted by: Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 12:42 PM
E Kohli has never lost a test when he has won the toss. Cant see a change to that situation in this game. Whenever Greg Chappell is involved, things go pear shaped, Did for India, has for us. Get rid of him from the slecton panel. And pick Maxxie for the Sri Lankan series at no. 6 and let him tear lose. They owe him that. We might even beat them.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 12:57 PM
Spinners are averaging 48 or thereabouts recently at the SCG. This will suit our new cricket concept, the no.3 all rounder.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:00 PM
You certainly get the impression the selectors would rather get to clever for themselves than just pick a straight forward side. There needs to be a law for the selectors like for parliamentary papers which releases meeting minutes after 20 years.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:03 PM
Agree Carrot.
I am worried about our attack.
Hazelwood has merely looked competent, Cummins comes in a bags it in but that is all and Starc as I have been harping on ALL SEASON is not swinging the ball consistently.
We know what is in store in the UK. Anderson can bowl over there until he is 50.
The Three Lankans are unlikely to test us that much so we go to England with our tail starting at 3 and our bowling bot at is best
Was listening to ABC Grandstand at lunch.
Ed Cowan and Dirk Nanness are way above anything on Seven.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:05 PM
Seven is fine when Ponting is on. Tim Lane and Ponting together are better than anything Nine ever served up.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:08 PM
Over rate hopeless. Will be playing till 8pm to get the overs in.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:13 PM
Agree Tonee.
I have to say in Shires we would NEVER let Batsmen talk between balls. you really do not need to take 10 minutes to know if the batsman is ok after being hit because he took his eye off the ball
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:16 PM
Oh, so Ponting is commentating on Seven? I must have just not heard one of his stints. Has he not been on today, though? I watched all the first session and he didn’t make an appearance.
I don’t mind the time being taken when someone’s been hit, particularly anything involving the helmet. And it’s definitely good to see bowlers making a point of checking with the batsmen if he’s ok. It might seem like overkill, but it’s a quiet nod to Phil Hughes and that can’t be a bad thing.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:23 PM
Hows this for speeding the game up. If the batsman gets hit on the helmut, has to leave the field immediately for dressing room check. Can come back on after 15 minutes. This might get the batsman to watch the ball a bit closer.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:47 PM
This has been a very good partnership. They’ve soaked up a lot of pressure. Pretty one-dimensional stuff from the Australians, though.
I’m off to bed. Evenin’ all.
Posted by: Carrot | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:49 PM
Unfortunately Ponting misses regular Test days because he does the Big Bash at night.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 01:54 PM
Another thing Seven is copying from Nein.
Bowling Sharma bowls highs 130s ans he is fast medium. I agree. Cummins bowls the same speed and he is express.
Say no more
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 02:24 PM
on a technical point.
you can only lose a toss if you call.
Paine therefore has lost only three tosses and Kholi once (this series).
My favourite KFC ad was the pommy last season.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 03:02 PM
Yes the Big L is a Marsh equivalent. A first class bowling average of 48 and 12 off the first over.
Part-timers do bowl more than their share of half trackers.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 03:09 PM
So can we blame all the selectors for the travesty of this decision? Lets here them present their cogent argument. 1-0 0 12 is enough evidence as not to play him.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 04:47 PM
okay I am from NSW but it seems to me the selectors do not like Mexicans. If there is something more egregious than what they have done to Finch than what about Maxwell G?
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 05:12 PM
Why are Hazelwood and Starc bowling from the wrong ends. The breeze is muzzling Any swing they may gain?
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 05:29 PM
Spinners are averaging 48 or thereabouts recently at the SCG. This will suit our new cricket concept, the no.3 all rounder.
Comment of the day.
Posted by: Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 05:54 PM
...so we go to England with our tail starting at 3 and our bowling bot at its best
Tied for first place.
Posted by: Patard | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 05:56 PM
Will the Test crack day 5? India will bat 2 days, then roll us cheaply twice with a hit and giggle when they don,t enforce the follow-on.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 06:37 PM
I think Kholi will bat again just to ensure Australia have to bat last.
forecast here is for showers on both Sunday and Monday
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 08:01 PM
Thanks Patard. The sad fact is that it is true.
Posted by: Philsgone | Thursday, January 03, 2019 at 08:07 PM
From a bowling point of view the major question is why are we not swinging the ball as well as the Indians. This is even worse given they bowl mostly ( and stupidly) around the wicket.
The problem of Starc is easy to rectify. Get him to point his right foot to first slip. Once this occurs he is immediately side on . It is easier to swing ( and he bowls faster.) IMHO the right arm goes up straighter naturally.
Hazelwood is more problematic. It could be melancholy as his power station was shut down. ( get it).
I think it is more he does not have a consistent bowling plan. If the bal lis swinging bowl a good length. bowl short when it stops swinging.
Cummins is not much of a swinger.
I might add I get very grumpy as befitting my age when they start talking about FAST bowling.
Thommo easily bowled faster than 160. Lille was above 150 in 74-76. As was Holding, Roberts, Marshall.
Youniss, Akram and Khan did sometimes but b not consistently.
They all swung the ball but Thommo.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 09:47 AM
Good insights, Homer, especially re. swing and Starc.
Nice pun on Hazelwood Power Station.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 09:54 AM
India did to Oz what Steve Waugh's team did so many times to touring teams yesterday. And it was a nice ironic flourish (and ominous warning to Test cricket aspirants) to see his son's name (Austin) on the teamsheet.
And seeing as the stumps score was 4/303 perhaps today the Indians can apply Rule 303 to our team and thus the selectors and the entire malodorously malignant edifice of the Oz cricket cognoscenti.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 10:05 AM
I should add one more thing. you need to cock your wrist to bowl an outswinger but not an inswinger.
If your foot is pointing to the WK or are bowling around the wicket it is much harder to do. not so for an inswinger.
Hence for Power station he swings less when he opens up in his bowing action.
I still think Starc is carrying an injury.
Starc and Power Station are a good opening bowling combination as they swing it differently being left and right handed. Throw in Cummins who is again is different and when on song batsmen have to concentrate all the time. It takes a lot out of them.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 10:29 AM
You get the feeling that this is going to get very depressing very quickly. Pujara to get at least a double ton, India to declare for at least 550.
Posted by: Carrot | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 10:41 AM
On captains me thinks they are over-rated. I have been watching test cricket since India came here in 67/68 and I have seen but two good captains, Chappelli and Mark Taylor.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 10:43 AM
You get the feeling that this is going to get very depressing very quickly.
Cricket Australia and the broadcast partners should promote healthy minded activities to keep you occupied throughout the next 4 days.
For example, I bought one of the kids a build-your-own R2D2 from Aldi for Christmas which I think I'll get started on asap.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 10:57 AM
One good thing that’s happened this morning is that we’re at least keeping them relatively quiet. There can’t be any doubting Pujara’s patience though - he’ll keep them out there for weeks before he gets bored and plays a silly shot.
Posted by: Carrot | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 11:00 AM
I like Pujara’s style. Bat's within his limitations, nothing flash, compiles runs, understated celebrations of tons.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 11:09 AM
He’s the modern-day Dravid.
Posted by: Carrot | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 11:13 AM
India haven’t got away from us, here. A bit of luck with Vihari’s wicket, and a guy at the crease who can and probably will get bored and play a stupid shot, and we could be in with a sniff.
Posted by: Carrot | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 11:42 AM
I suspect their score is already beyond us
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 11:48 AM
Starc is reversing at present. Can't understand why the Seven commentators have missed it. Afterall he doesn't bowl inswingers to lefthanders naturally
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 12:05 PM
Powerstations is now copying Starc. His left foot is aimed at the WK so he is opening up. He also does not cock his writ.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 12:21 PM
I suspect their score is already beyond us
Correction:
Their score is already beyond us.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 12:27 PM
Tones, your soccer/football related tweet reminded me of this classic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MusyO7J2inM
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 12:55 PM
Given the forecast India is playing for a draw. That can be the only answer as to why Pant is batting thus
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 01:38 PM
Ha. David Mitchell is always good for a laugh and let's face it, we need a few. Laughs that is, and batsmen, and bowlers, and selectors.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 01:52 PM
India will bat until they are all out. They can't lose, so the series is won.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 01:53 PM
Pujara has scored more than Australia will make
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 01:59 PM
Top knock the Poo.
He's single-handedly shat all over us.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 02:01 PM
Now for the Pantsman to dak our entire 11.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 02:02 PM
Has anyone worked out if Pujara has batted longer than our team in this series yet?
Posted by: Philsgone | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 02:47 PM
I haven't worked it out, but it sure feels like it.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 03:11 PM
One more thing on slow over rates.
If a batsman is not ready when the bowler is ready to bowl I tell them to make sure it does not occur again. If it does I tell them the nest time and its an official warning.
Umpires far too lax on batsmen in test cricket.
!5 overs an hour should be a doddle
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 03:14 PM
Used to bowl 100 8 ball overs a day under Richie.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 04:04 PM
Yes the theory about adopting 6 ball overs was more balls in a days play.
I enjoyed bowling 8 ball overs
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 04:19 PM
Just caught a bit of the ABC Grandstand commentary and I must say Harsha Bhogle is sounding rather jolly, gods bless him!
Harsha was trying to initiate a conversation about when to declare and was met with the answer, "Why declare?".
Suddenly sanity has prevailed in terms of declarations. Unfortunately it has coincided with us being on the receiving end.
It also occurred to me that surely the time has come for the entire selection panel, or whatever they are called, to be replaced by an AI app.
Eeven should we lose at least we'd know the best team possible was chosen.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 04:24 PM
Replace the slectors with funny-face oven gloves.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:09 PM
"Slectors" deserves to be misspelled.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:11 PM
The only thing against an innings defeat would be Kholi wanting to give his bowlers a rest.
Otherwise I reckon an innings and 100 run defeat.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:11 PM
Unless the weather forecast is for rain, Kohli will bat again.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:26 PM
The only way we can win - I know, I know, go with me - is if we bat twice and make India bat on day 5.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:32 PM
Nice work by the openers. The Next Don a little lucky with that Pants down but otherwise nicely played, especially Harris.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:52 PM
None down at lunch will do thanks.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:53 PM
That's none, not nine.
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 05:56 PM
Head and The Next Don had pretty much the same bowling figures as Labushame. Not often you see 3 allrounders in the top order.
So many options, so much variety. Paine must feel spoilt for choice.
Posted by: Patard | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 06:01 PM
The Indians have declared three innings in this series. Thats a record for a four test series apparently. How to resolve this issue
1. Day/night test: non-negotiable.
2. Plant as much grass as humaly possible on SCG and MCG.
3. Stop calling our attack the best in the world.
4. Always start at the GABBA: non-negotiable
Posted by: Philsgone | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 06:07 PM
We couldn't have been more hospitable to the Indians if we'd hired personal valet's for each Indian player and changed the name "Australia" to "India".
Posted by: Tony Tea | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 06:21 PM
all tests in OZ should be on bouncy greentops.
I am with phil. Day/night also mens more deadly swing.
Should only ever be on tton in a test. Think G chappell at Lords 72 or K Hughes at the G agin the Windies
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Friday, January 04, 2019 at 07:49 PM
Dean Jones hits the mark: Enough is enough: The mystery of Australian selection
Our national selection panel is Trevor Hohns, Greg Chappell and Langer and all three surely will be under notice by the new Cricket Australia administration. I firmly believe the selections have made this one of the weakest Australian Test teams I have seen and, while I truly hope they can rub my noses in this assessment, I doubt it very much.
I hope Labushame does well today but even if he does he will also return to scores that got him his 1st class average. That's what the average indicates.
As for the rest of the order, moving an out of form 1st drop to opener, and inserting an out of form bits-and-pieces player into 1st drop, all to protect a constantly under achieving Sean Marsh bodes only bad things.
Furthermore, what of the opportunity cost to Australian cricket? Every player selected over a more deserving player (Patterson, Maxwell, Burns, Wade) is runs gone missing, foundations unlaid, investment in better products gone to seed.
And perhaps the greatest factor, compounding these missed opportunities, is the message sent out to the Shield and to all juniors: It doesn't matter how consistently well you perform selection is predicated on enigmatic criteria that you will never have clarified...if you aren't an insider.
If you have proven yourself as one of the best and yet you still don't get selected you best be seeking employment elsewhere. You've been de-platformed and ghosted out of existence. Nothing you ever do will make any difference. There are those in and those out and you? You're out.
Also, I feel it’s only right that you pick players who are in some semblance of form. If they can’t play well in the Sheffield Shield, what hope have they got against the No. 1 Test team in the world?
Exactly! It's basic common sense not even requiring a statistical brain. Yet it's a fact that eludes the majority of professional cricket punditry as well as selections.
It’s not Labuschagne's fault and I wish him well, but I can't see any justification for his selection as he hasn’t really made a run this year. Opening or batting at three are specialist jobs and they need to play the best batsmen first and foremost, and not because they bowl a little.
He's averaging 28 this season ffs! Over 57 with the ball! Why isn't the media tearing into our selectors?
Read the rest.
The averages at end of the article are overall stats which should be read alongside the current form stats which can be found here and then clicking menu item on Stats.
Well said, Deano. Finally someone has put it out there.
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 08:38 AM
Way down in the News cricket section: There are, evidently, plenty of batsmen ‘knocking on the door’
Justin Langer left Australia scratching its head when he said there wasn’t anyone knocking down the door. One graph has left him with egg on his face.
What's more, as I have detailed, this season's (this current season - right here right now) Shield stats are areadily available. There is even a section titled "Highest Averages" under Batting.
Further: Why doesn't Patterson ever get a mention?
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 09:31 AM
Headline on the front page was "Ugly graph spotlights Langer fib"
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 09:34 AM
yes , they are either incompetent because they are too lazy to examine shield averages or they are lying through their teeth.
Tonee,
Can I request an usual blog post after the series ends.
Reflections, What we have learnt from the Series
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 09:42 AM
Interesting comment: "While Shield stats alone can’t predict a Test star — Michael Clarke, Steve Waugh and David Warner were all selected with domestic averages in the 30s — the current Australian selection panel’s fixation on records has been a jumbled mess this summer.
What were their career stats when selected? High 30s mid or low? And what was their current season stats?
Would love to have this clarified. Would be even better if a stats man could compile the average 1st class average when successful vs non-successful batsman are selected for national honours. This is the sort of thing an AI app would resolve and why Cricket Australia need to invest in one to replace the selectors.
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 09:46 AM
Warner was selected on the hope he could use his skills from the t20 abomination into tests and it took time and mostly flat tracks.
today is Pink day where money is put into the Mcgrath foundation.
now if the $2.1 k is achieved then the wage for each nurse is $89. That is a fair old whack. What are the administrative costs of the foundation.
The Shane Warne foundation was obviously thought up to give the brother money. Not saying the McGrath foundation is even in the same league but you put your charity dollars into the charities where admin costs are the loerst so the money goes to the most deserving.
We know nothing in this area.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 10:10 AM
It would be remiss of me not to point out how poor our pitch is. It aint a drop in like Melbourne so there are no excuses.
Take the Sydanee and Melbourne tests away nest year to tell all and sundry we want decent pitches. Poor pitches no tests.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 10:35 AM
Well said, Homer.
Just caught a glimpse of the Pink Day Parade and was thinking the same things.
Surely it's time also CA got on board with a men's issue related charity like prostate cancer.
Or if they prefer to be binary-gender-neutral as is the SJW promoted way of things then bowel cancer charity is probably more deserving (as I've noted before).
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 10:38 AM
I am well over 60 so I am allowed to repeat myself
A bowler should only go around the wicket if he is swinging, swerving , cutting or spinning the ball too much. If not you simply bowl straight balls erring sometimes down the legside.
I can understand even to change things when the batsman is well on top but straight away makes no sense to me.
I have no problem with having a pink day just want more info. Prostrate cancer kills more men than breast cancer women.
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:01 AM
I have a bad feeling. A few what ifs coming up.
Our batsmen get runs on this disgraceful batting strip and then agin the Three Lankans. We 'solve' our batting problems. We got to England who produce the same pitches they did agin India not the two flat tracks we got at Lords and the Oval as we got in 2015.
We get done very bad in the Ashes when our techniques are found out yet again
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:25 AM
That was moving to watch Labuschagne's face at the end of that over in his mid-pitch convo with Harris. The nervous excited smile, the deep breath out, the looking around the ground in awe.
Good on him. Hope he has a good dig for Oz.
But I also feel more for those who will never get that opportunity even though they deserve it more.
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:27 AM
Great 50, Harris. Now go on with it.
Note: Career first class = 35.49. 2018/2019 Shield season averaging 71.57.
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:31 AM
Cant see us ever winning the Ashes over there until Jimmy Anderson retires. He ls too good for our blokes in his backyard. We won 4 series there because we were much better than they were. Not the case anymore.
Also I like this india team, they seem a great bunch of blokes. Even E Kohli has been pretty well behaved. They took their chance when we were weak. Cant blame them for that. We however, can blame the selectors for our weakness.
Posted by: Philsgone | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:45 AM
Also I like this india team, they seem a great bunch of blokes. Even E Kohli has been pretty well behaved. They took their chance when we were weak. Cant blame them for that. We however, can blame the selectors for our weakness.
Well said, mate.
Posted by: Patard | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:52 AM
Patard, interested what his average is when the 200 is taken out.
not saying you should take it out merely want to know what hos other innings were
Posted by: I am Not Trampis | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:54 AM
Post 100. Hope that gets MArcus Harris folllowing suit.
Posted by: Philsgone | Saturday, January 05, 2019 at 11:58 AM