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Summer of Cricket 2013/14

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      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    Well, I'll kick things off for another summer ...

    Does anyone else here think we've made another set of selection blunders with this team?

    Warner
    Rogers
    Watson
    Clarke
    Smith
    Bailey
    Haddin
    Johnson
    Siddle
    Harris
    Lyon

    I still have a big question mark over Johnson.  "He bowled well in India in the ODIs".  Well so I hear.  But I seem to remember we conceded 300+ in every game.  But that was put down to the conditions.  Bailey made a lot of runs in those conditions too.  It seems to me at least one of those selections is dubious, but IMHO probably both.  

    Also, I thought the whole idea of the scheduling of this summer was to allow the contenders and members of the team 3 solid first class warm up/selection games in the Sheffield Shield.  But the team was announced after just the first 2 games, and form in ODIs in India was given more weight than 1st class performances in Australia.  Alex Doolan can feel hard done by IMHO.  

    But if you look at the leading run scorers in the Shield, Bailey doesn't make the top 20.  Of course he's only had the one game.  But two starts, 0 hundreds and 0 fifties.  The leading run scorer is Marcus North: with 2 centuries and 1 fifty, in conditions similar to that of the first two tests, and low scoring games IIRC too.

    I think more telling was Inverarity's comments about Bailey's selection: "he deserves this 'opportunity'".  As if he's in on probation only - a reward for a good job in the pyjamas in India, not because he deserves his spot on merit.  

    Spinners are topping the bowling in the Shield.  But the leading seaming is/was D Bollinger.
    Posted: 14 Nov 2013 21:27

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      bowralcommuter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
    I too think Alex Doolan deserves his chance more than Bailey, I think the selectors thinking is if Bailey can do so well in ODIs (his average was already excellent before India ODIs) then he can step up to test cricket too, which is no guarantee in the long term. I'm not too bothered though with Bailey's selection, better than choosing Khawaja or Hughes again. I have a bigger problem with Johnson, who can easily ruin any hard work Harris and Siddle do with a shyte over or two after they build up pressure with tight bowling. I'm glad they are sticking with Lyon (for now atleast) rather than dumping him because he isn't getting a 5-for every match. England will still win I think but we should give them a good run for their money I think. Smile  I noticed some of the bookies have us as favourites to win the first test! Laughing
    Posted: 15 Nov 2013 07:26
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    There used to be concept in sport called being "match fit". Cricket Asutralia appears to have abandoned this notion by preventing fast bowlers from playing and/or restricting the overs they may bowl when they do actually play (James Faulkner being the latest example.). The "match fit" notion appears to work well in AFL, NRL etc and it should be applied to cricket. The way to remain fit for a five day Test is to play in four day games and work at it. People like Lindwall, Davidson, Miller, McGrath, Conolly, Mackenzie et al did so, and it worked. CA is now beset with theoretical geniuses who would not know which end of a bat to hold, and it starts from the top with Sutherland, who ought to be the first out the door.
    Posted: 15 Nov 2013 09:59
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    I too think Alex Doolan deserves his chance more than Bailey, I think the selectors thinking is if Bailey can do so well in ODIs (his average was already excellent before India ODIs) then he can step up to test cricket too, which is no guarantee in the long term. I'm not too bothered though with Bailey's selection, better than choosing Khawaja or Hughes again. I have a bigger problem with Johnson, who can easily ruin any hard work Harris and Siddle do with a shyte over or two after they build up pressure with tight bowling. I'm glad they are sticking with Lyon (for now atleast) rather than dumping him because he isn't getting a 5-for every match. England will still win I think but we should give them a good run for their money I think. Smile  I noticed some of the bookies have us as favourites to win the first test! Laughing
    bowralcommuter
    I hope I'm wrong about Bailey, but I think his game has too many technical deficiencies for long form cricket.  In short form he makes runs by poking the ball about with limited footwork, collecting all the runs deliberately conceded with deep fields, then makes up his strike rate with the occasional cow shot for 6 against a well chosen mark.  There is no question he has a great cow shot, and a great temperament to use the abilities he has wisely.

    The trouble with test cricket is it's rare for any runs to be deliberately conceded, and cows shots are considered (quite rightly) rash and inappropriate at most stages of a game.  Which then leaves the question, how is he going to score?  

    And I agree with BC's critique of Johnson.  That said, I don't see who else we could have picked, other than going back to Doug Bollinger - who comes with his own issues (plus he's injured again).  I have a soft spot for Dougie because I think he got right royally shafted by the ACB the last time the Poms were out here.
    Posted: 15 Nov 2013 13:29
      Spletsie Chief Commissioner

    I'm looking forward to a competitive series. England deserve to be favourites, but I think we will give them a good run for their money.
    Posted: 18 Nov 2013 21:28
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    I agree about Doolan over Bailey.  Doolan is the future; Bailey isn't.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:23
      bowralcommuter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
    My predictions for the ashes:
    Warner-will get lucky with 1 hundred in the series but struggle in between
    Rogers-man of the series
    Watson-won't play test cricket again after this series, whether he gets injured or not
    Clarke-will get about the same amount of runs as in England with captaincy pressures weighing him down a bit
    Smith-will cement his spot at 5 with about 400 runs in the series
    Bailey-century on debut but struggle thereafter and dropped for next test series
    Haddin-will struggle with bat and gloves and retire after the series
    Johnson-will never play test cricket again after this series
    Siddle-will get 20+ wickets and continue his improving abilities with the bat
    Harris-will start well but get injured half way through
    Lyon-won't bowl brilliantly but well enough to keep the critics at bay.

    England 2-1 with rain intervening in 1 test and another being a tight draw where our bowlers again can't get last 1-2 wickets to win the test.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 08:37
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    By and large I think that bowralcommuter has summed up the situation pretty well, but a couple of my thoughts:-
    I'd concede Bailey a half-century on debut, but not three figures.
    Watson will be a lay-down misere to injure himself again - he's the only cricketer in the world to leave his body to medical science whilst still alive.
    The others look just about spot on to me, although I have a sneaking reservation about Smith getting 400 runs - I hope I'm wrong.

    England must start favourites. They have settled and better-performing top six batsmen than Australia; the pace bowling is line ball, and England has the better spinner.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 11:45

    Last edited by Valvegear on 19 Nov 2013 11:46; edited 1 time in total
      JimYarin Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide, South Australia
    the 7 day weather forecast https://www.google.com.au/search?q=brisbane+weather+forecast+7+days&oq=brisbane+weather+forec&aqs=chrome.3.69i57j0l5.6232j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8 suggests rain on sat, sun, mon which is the back 3 days of the test.

    winning the toss could prove vital to a win.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 14:48
      T88 Junior Train Controller

    Location: Banned
    I can't wait for the prime ministers eleven. Shocked
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 15:04
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Looking forward to watching the first Ashes game on Thursday.
    Posted: 19 Nov 2013 16:16
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    Selectors sticking with largely the same team that hasn't won a test match for nearly 12 months. What a great way to set the tone for the rest of the summer.

    Australia are, for some reason, favourites for the first test. England out to $3.30 for the win.

    Looks like a 'new' snicko and hot spot will both appear as a part of the DRS this summer. Number of reviews has also changed.
    Posted: 20 Nov 2013 10:54
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    Looks like a 'new' snicko and hot spot will both appear as a part of the DRS this summer. Number of reviews has also changed.
    "simont141"
    The whole system should be changed by scrapping it; accepting the umpire's decision, and getting on with the game.  I have no doubt that Tony Greig was instrumental in introducing the slo-mo replay, to judge by his delight when it seemed the umpire was wrong. Have replays at normal speed only, and keep it as a game for humans. Batsmen make mistakes or they wouldn't get out. Bowlers make mistakes or they wouldn't get hit out of the park. Umpires do the same. The game has been slowed down to a disgraceful extent now, and the DRS slows it more. How sides can possibly struggle to bowl 540 deliveries in a day's play absolutely eludes me.  In the 40's and 50's ( leaving out Hutton's deliberate slowing of the over rate in 54/55 ), teams were bowling between 600 and 700 deliveries a day . . . look it up ! We are being robbed blind; paying more to see less. Authorities obviously don't care or they'd get serious and start penalizing slow over rates with a runs penalty and suspension of the fielding captain. That would get the fingers out quickly.
    Posted: 20 Nov 2013 13:54
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    Clarke has won the toss and Australia will bat. Lyon in, Faulkner carrying the drinks.
    Prior passed fit for England, and Tremlett is the third quick.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 10:40
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    Rogers 1, Watson 22, Clarke 1, and now Warner has just committed suicide at 49. Not a great start.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 14:09
      bowralcommuter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
    Heaps of talk but not much action so far. Similar scenes to 10/11 series so far.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 14:51
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    No idea how Australia started the game as favourites. Those that backed England at $3.30 for the win would be feeling pretty happy right now.

    Australia 133/6 after 45.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 15:14
      bowralcommuter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
    No idea how Australia started the game as favourites. Those that backed England at $3.30 for the win would be feeling pretty happy right now.

    Australia 133/6 after 45.
    simont141
    Yeah I saw that the bookies had Australia was favourites, there was no f***ing way I was having a punt with those odds! Clarke really needs to sort himself out quickly or its another series win.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 15:27
      Donald Chief Commissioner

    Location: Donald. Duck country.
    8/273 at stumps.   Good recovery by Haddin & Johnson.   The rest gave up their wickets to waving the bat at the ball or not mastering the short pitch ball.   Not a good effort for so called Australia's best.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 19:49
      MC3801 Train Controller

    Hopefully Australia can get to 350 or 400.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 20:54

    Last edited by MC3801 on 21 Nov 2013 20:57; edited 1 time in total
      bowralcommuter Chief Commissioner

    Location: Asleep on a Manly Ferry
    8/273 at stumps.   Good recovery by Haddin & Johnson.   The rest gave up their wickets to waving the bat at the ball or not mastering the short pitch ball.   Not a good effort for so called Australia's best.
    Donald
    After watching Haddin and Johnson bat, I think 400 is a par score unfortunately.
    Posted: 21 Nov 2013 20:55
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    The second and third days should be best for batting. You'd have to believe that England has the potential to bat for both days, getting a big score in the process.
    All the talk from the Australian camp has been just that - talk.  We are just not producing players with Test match temperament or ability. As former selector John Benaud put it, "We now have third grade players playing first class cricket." The Sheffield Shield competiton has to be toughened up now, by playing each State's best players, rather than this "resting" nonsense. It will take time, unfortunately. The Shield used to be the toughest domestic competition in the world, but those days have gone.
    Posted: 22 Nov 2013 10:25
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    Here are some fun facts.

    Since 01 November 2012, Australia's top order has averaged 36 runs per player, per innings. India, on top of the list, averages 51 per player. Australia sits 7th on the list only above Zimbabwe, Pakistan and New Zealand.

    Australia has scored more runs than any other team over the same period, but has also played the most tests (and this and the average is somewhat skewed by a couple of big Clarke not out scores in there).

    One of the telling stats is that each player in the top 6 has faced an average of 65 balls - above only Zimbabwe's paltry 60. South Africa tops that stat with 86. Australia have also used more players in the top 6 than any other country.

    Now this is where it gets interesting - let's look at the bottom 5 (7 to 11) over the same time. Australia has easily faced more balls (1500 more), faced more balls per player, scored more runs, scored more 50+ scores (16 compared to Banladesh's 10 and England's 7) and averages more runs per player. In fact, the bottom 5 average 25, the top 6 average 36. India's bottom 5 average 17.

    Since 01 November 2012, Australia has used 28 different players.

    Pop quiz - last Australian bowler to take 10-for in a match? Bonus points for when and where. Bonus bonus point to name the only 2 bowlers who have in the last 5 years. No googling!
    Posted: 22 Nov 2013 10:45
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    Is the pop question about Test matches, or any first class game?
    Posted: 22 Nov 2013 11:03
      simont141 Chief Commissioner

    Location: Adelaide
    Is the pop question about Test matches, or any first class game?
    Valvegear
    Tests.
    Posted: 22 Nov 2013 11:05

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