FOURTH TEST: THE GABBA

There can't have been many live Tests, with all results on the table, in a four or five Test series, in the middle of January, at the Gabba, for a while.

Comments

[I am Not Trampis]

foist again.
We should win easily. The pitch is one of the best around and out attack is suited by it. India is vastly under strength.

Tim do not act like a complete prat. Smith do not go anyway near the pitch when you are fielding.

Tonee where are you

[I am Not Trampis]

oh no, the 'experts' are saying it looks drier than usual. A second day pitch. the Gabba is usually bouncy but it may take more spin than usual.

[Ty Segall]

Tried to comment several times, but like our Test team, it's broken.

[Ty Segall]

What sort of glutton for punishment would actually go and watch a Test in Oz these days?

Not only do you have to sit all day in the baking sun with a cuck-mask breathing in your own expired air*, while watching two of the worst Tests teams cobbled together for some time on our shores, but now with the ever present risk you'll be verballed by a disgruntled bowler who's just been hit several times to cow corner and wants to take out his animus on anyone within earshot, with you the target who must now run the gauntlet of an irascible, obnoxious and sanctimonious mainstream media seeking vengeance on any and all who have been marked with the dread White Privilege.

Frack that for a joke!

*With only mid-strength beer for hydration.

[Tony Taylor]

Warner is broken.

[Ty Segall]

Btw, how the holy hell is Wade not dropped? And how is Langer not being lambasted as a poor selector? And why don't we take a leaf out of their book and substitute a better wickie who will stfu and catch when fielding but can bat when it comes time to bat? Or have Paine do the keeping and substitute with Wade when batting (since he can't be dropped) which allows us to actually bring in someone who can bat?

[Ty Segall]

Phew, that was a struggle getting that comment through. Much like the oncoming struggle sessions we'll all be subjected to soon.

[I am Not Trampis]

The Indian second 11 is going okay

[Ty Segall]

Thing is, that actually is an Indian second 11 whereas ours is a mish mash of Langer's brown nosers and yesterday's heroes.

I've grown weary of reading any sports journos but from what headlines and articles I've briefly scanned their up to their usual laziness and lies trotting out the "oh there just isn't the talent!" malarkey. C'mon man, I'm tired of this summer game.

There was even the annual cries for Sean Marsh's return ffs.

I'm not even gonna bother going through the shield stats to work out who was in form at best position as it's futile labouring in the fields where sports journos refuse to go or even acknowledge. But I did look up Kurtis Patterson to see how he's going. He still averages 144 in tests from his 2 matches before injury. Well, he was back for NSW and seemed to be going ok. For some reason he never gets a mention.

Plus ça change.

[Tony Taylor]

Harris got out like a batsmen promoted above his standard.

[Tony Taylor]

Dave Warner, Pat?

https://youtu.be/51oPKLSuyQY

[I am Not Trampis]

Shield cricket aint what it was. Few test players can play. so we have our modern day mitch Marsh in Green.

If Stuke bats against Arxher on a pitch which bounces and he gets to 92-95 mph he will be toast.

The small L still goes onto the front foot when a bouncer is bowled.

[Ty Segall]

LMAO that's gold!

[Ty Segall]

"modern day mitch Marsh in Green" but in his case he looks good with the bat, and though wicketless goes ok.

His shield stats demand selection, 50 with the bat and low 20s with the ball from memory. I endorse his selection.

[Tony Taylor]

Che Pu is modern cricket's archetypal Test batsman.

[I am Not Trampis]

Saini runs in strangely. If he ran in normally like you are running he would be a few yards faster .

[Ty Segall]

Pretty sure it was Chappell-I who was only just the other day shatbagging Che Pu for not scoring fast enough!

Speaking of Che Pu, that ex-race commissioner Tim Whatshisname, after having to confront the lack of any evidence of racism at the SCG, declared that making jokes about people's names can be racist too. So there.

[Tony Taylor]

You mean Tim Soupkitchen?

[I am Not Trampis]

Mate there was. It certainly happened on the previous day. We do not know whether it occurred on the next day.
smith out to a dart thrower?????

[Ty Segall]

That's inSaini, yet another Indian injury!

[I am Not Trampis]

This is a very ordinary attack. We should get well over 400. Should. If the Indians bowl a better line with the next new ball they might get one or two but I doubt it.

[I am Not Trampis]

The small has ben the luckiest batsman this season and has rarely capitalised on it.

[I am Not Trampis]

an ordinary attack on what some are saying looks a 2nd or 3rd day pitch at the Gabba. context is always needed

[I am Not Trampis]

There is a large difference between being a wikkie who can bat and playing as a batsman.

[I am Not Trampis]

poor shot from the small L. I would give grange the second new ball.

[I am Not Trampis]

Shadul and Nat should take the new ball for India. They both swing it and complement each other

[I am Not trampis]

umpiring today so see yuus tomorrow.

If the Indian openers get out cheaply it is goodnight Irene, I do hope ?Gill gets a ton. He is a beautiful stroke player

[Ty Segall]

This is where we're at in 2021 Siraj fields shouts of ‘grub’ from unruly group of fans at Gabba

"The guys behind me have been calling - shouting - both Washington and Siraj grubs," a spectator named Kate said.

Kate was seated in a section where several men dressed as lifeguards had a beer snake dismantled by security guards and another man was escorted from the ground for standing on his seat and starting an "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie" chant.

The first “Nah, nah, nah, nah; nah, nah, nah, nah; hey, hey, hey, hey; good bye,” chant reverberated around the Gabba about 1pm and security guards were soon spotted speaking to several sections at the Stanley Street end of the ground but there were no major incidents.

CA is encouraging fans to come forward to call out poor behaviour, to ensure that anti-social behaviour is stamped out.

We're beyond satire at this point with no way of ever coming back.

Msm organs like the SMH actively pursuing spectators to snitch and dob on fellow spectators so they can be publicly and nationally humiliated and defamed as the governing body, Cricket Australia, acts in concert and deciding that during these difficult economic times it's best that they do away with their fan base once and for all.

Who in their right mind would pay to be the prime focus in the panopticon of Test cricket in Oz anymore?

[Ty Segall]

It's such an overblown hyped-up hyperventilating sort of story it makes me wonder how the mysterious informant "Kate" was contacted to feed her story to the SMH.

Does the SMH have paid informants going to Tests venues to film, spy on and report on the spectators?

[Tony Taylor]

Remember when the authorities urged Andrew Symonds to call out racism on the field. How'd that work out?

I'll wait.

Waiting.

Woof.

[I am Not Trampis]

I don't believe anyone should be called a grub but it is not a reason to be asked to leave.

[I am Not Trampis]

on that pitch and against that attack and we cannot score over 400 runs!!

Called a no ball once for the ball not pitching on the pitch and again for bouncing twice before the popping crease!!

[I am Not Trampis]

Starc has essentially lost his inswinger. I won't repeat why he has but It is not hard to remedy. Until it is I can't see why Starc should be playing test cricket

[I am Not Trampis]

Why do some commentators who have played test cricket and even were bowlers not know the difference between a ball that swings ( which curves) and a ball that seams or cuts that goes at an angle ( ie no curve).

[I am Not Trampis]

no batsmen would bat out of the crease if the pitch is a good cricket pitch. This one is not good. It is far too true. Fancy Melbourne being better than Brisbane!

[I am Not Trampis]

I do not understand how the Indians were swinging the ball all day and we are struggling Starc aside because of what I have explained before.

[I am Not Trampis]

Our batting against the Indians who have perhaps never had their best bowlers bowling has been poor.

We really should get runs quickly today against this motley crew.

[I am Not Trampis]

I have said it before. The Indians should start with the lefthander and the medium pacer who got runs. You have to concentrate more if the ball is swinging and seaming the other way. Then bring om Grange and Seine

[Ty Segall]

Was that our best opening partnership of the series?

I can't see why Starc should be playing test cricket

You could see in Sydney Test he was out of form and should have been spelled. Who should they have replaced him with? Behrendorff would be my pick but I don't know how the bubble etc works.

[Ty Segall]

Yep, that *was* our best opening partnership of the series! Breathless.

Just for the hell of it I compiled the following on our opening partnerships to record what a glorious series it's been for our openers and their partnerships. Thank you for your brilliant selections, Gnome.

Below partnerships in order of who got out 1st.

South Oz - Oz won by 8 wickets after absurd Indian collapse

1st inns partnership = 16: Wade 8, Burns 8

2nd inns partnership = 70: Wade 33, Burns 51*

MCG - India won by 8 wickets. Oz dropped a bajillion catches

1st inns partnership = 10: Burns 0, Wade 30

2nd inns partnership = 04: Burns 4, Wade 40

SCG - Draw

1st inns partnership = 06: warner 5, Pucovski 62 (dropped twice)

2nd inns partnership = 16: pucovski 10, warner 13

Gabba

1st inns partnership = 04: warner 1, harris 5

2nd inns partnership = 89: harris 38, warner 48

1) Gabba 2nd Innings 89 - Warner & Harris
2) SA 2nd Innings 70 - Wade & Burns
3) Tie: SA 1st Innings 16 - Wade & Burns, SCG 2nd Innings Pucovski & Warner
4) MCG 1st Innings - 10 - Burns & Wade
5) SCG 1st Inings - 6 - Pucovski & Warner
6) Tie: MCG 2nd Innings - 4 - Wade & Burns, Gabba 1st Innings - 4 - Warner & Harris

Note: in an extremely poor bunch (don't forget Pucovski was dropped twice - sitters too) Wade was probably the best. To Wade!

(Are Warner & Wade the shortest players ever for Autralia in Tests? Be good to see a list of top 10 shortest Oz Test cricketers. Boon would be there wouldn't he?)

[I am Not Trampis]

They are both short and prats.
Probably suffer from sms

[I am Not Trampis]

We are not getting the totals again against a poor attack.
Grange bowls well most of the time and the small bloke swings it consistently and is on a length but the left hander's line is very poor whilst hymie is slow and all over the place. George is a promising spinner but that is it.

[I am Not Trampis]

I reckon Grange is their only test bowler. The other two are potential test bowlers and Saine and the left hander are rubbish and we scored what??

Pant has kept wrll here.

[I am Not Trampis]

Tones,

you should find some way of getting your tweets on this thread

[Ty Segall]

It would be helpful if Green could pick up his maiden Test wicket today...and very soon if possible.

[I am Not Trampis]

Not the way he is bowling.

They have a lot of all rounders in WA. Mitchell Marsh, Green ( sarc)

[I am Not Trampis]

This is a poor pitch. It should be spinning more on the last day.

[Ty Segall]

Well, credit where credit's due so all praise and congratulations to India on retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

That would be a fine enough achievement playing away from home but to do it in extremely restricted Covid-19 quarantine circumstances, a long long long tour in those conditions, losing the 2nd test batsman in the world today and one of India's all time greats, and for the majority of the 4 test series playing a 2nd 11 is a brilliant achievement. This tour has set a benchmark for all Indian teams. A benchmark of character and perseverance in the face of ongoing adversity. Well done, India!

Australia, you were ordinary at best. The Australian cricket public's waning interest in Tests is completely understandable given the poor selections constantly promoted to the highest honour, along with Cricket Australia's determination to harass the enjoyment out of a day at the cricket with a Stasi like focus on the fans. We can't blame the media, we all know they're misanthropic sh*theads, but we can hold CA ultimately responsible. The entre hierarchy should sack itself.

After CA has been frogmarched from head office Clanger must be replaced as selector and coach immediately, with the selector position never given to a player or a coach again. Selections need to be reviewed by an independent statistic based panel of experts along with cricket technique analysis. Till such a time the misery will only continue and Test cricket will become a sub-sport for autistes and degenerates.

[I am Not Trampis]

What few people realise is that bowling short takes a l ot out of a fast bowler, both physical and mental. Only wickets can rectify this.

The Aussies do look tired

[I am Not Trampis]

Starc is not the same bowler when he has lost his inswinger. No confidence at all.

Very easy to know why he has lost it as i have repeatedly pointed out.

[I am Not Trampis]

That was a shame. In some ways Gill reminds me of VVS Laxman

[I am Not Trampis]

Whatever occurs here both Starc and Lyons have been disappointments this series and hen we have our batting problems.

The Series has been enjoyable but given everything that has occurred to the Indian squad we should have won this series in a cater

[I am Not Trampis]

It is Headingly all over again only Pant is Stokes.

How could we lose to this Indian side

[Ty Segall]

Resign now Langer.

[Carrot]

Well, shit. Not sure what I’m feeling, here. It’s not like Headingley, and it’s not like losing the Ashes. But it’s not like I’m happy! Losing at home to India, and losing the ‘Gabba Test for the first time in a million years. It’s like beating Barcelona 3-0 at the Camp Nou and Messi scoring an own goal.

Cue mass-sackings? Maybe not, but I think the Paine era is over. It’s almost like they’ve wanted to give him as much time as possible so that they could find another replacement than Smith, but that’s pretty much unthinkable now. There’s no one other than Smith suitable, he’s the right age, and he seems to do well with the bat when he’s skipper, too. Not sure Paine loses his place, though - unless he wants to go. He dropped some catches this series, but he also averaged 41 with the bat. I still rate him as a better keeper than Haddin, too.

The ridiculous ongoing selection of Wade notwithstanding, we lost this series with the ball, though. Which is strange. What are you going to do about that? None of the quicks lose their place for me. And whilst Lyon continues to not step up as a wicket-taking threat when we really need him, I can’t see anyone else doing any better for the time-being at least.

Well played India, though. Unbelievable. They used to lose series against us in Australia routinely with one of the best batting line-ups the world has ever seen. Now they beat us with just about their second-choice XI, and the most inexperienced attack they’ve ever picked. Hats off. You can’t say they didn’t deserve it.

[I am Not Trampis]

totally agree more so on Barcelona.

neither Starc not Lyons stepped up in the last two tests. I think Starc is gone unless he changes his action and regains his in-swinger. We have batting problems.