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Cricket 2019 - World Cup & Ashes

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      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    Squad changes for the final Test are in, and it looks like both sides have gone nuts!

    Australia (12 man squad, 11 to play)
    In: Mitchell Marsh, Peter Siddle
    Out: Travis Head

    England (playing XI)
    In: Sam Curran, Chris Wakes
    Out: Jason Roy, Craig Overton
    Posted: 11 Sep 2019 23:24

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      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    The age-old first principle of cricket:-

    When you win the toss, bat.
    If in doubt, think about it, then bat.
    If in serious doubt, consult a colleague, then bat.
    Posted: 12 Sep 2019 21:14
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    The age-old first principle of cricket:-

    When you win the toss, bat.
    If in doubt, think about it, then bat.
    If in serious doubt, consult a colleague, then bat.
    Valvegear

    In this case, I agree with you.  

    I can understand why Paine bowled though, given how fragile the top order is, and how fragile the middle order is with M Marsh in it.  The Aussie batting selected for this test is the weakest lineup so far.
    Posted: 14 Sep 2019 17:33
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    As Ian Healy (among others) has pointed out, there are glaring technical deficiencies among Australia's batsmen. The major one is lack of correct footwork. It's either back and across or right forward, and our batsmen are repeatedly being found out half way between the two. The other glaring fault is the failure to play straight in defence. Too many play across the line of flight and are getting out lbw or bowled as a result. The only two worth their places are Smith and Labuschagne. Labuschagne has performed well, and experience will teach him to convert his good starts into centuries. It is definitely worth persevering with him. If he keeps talking to Warne, and learns a little more about bowling leggies, he will be a really valuable player.

    It's a funny thing, that when Smith gets 80, the automatic reaction is, "Oh,he's failed", which, of course is absolute nonsense. It's just that he's spoilt us by reeling off hundreds, and that automatic reaction is a measure of the way that we've been forced to rely on him for huge scores. Given the fact that Australia has dropped four catchable chances, means that we need more runs.
    Smith's not well; he was packed full of Codral Cold Tablets before going onto the field, and still scored. He never ceases to amaze me.
    Posted: 14 Sep 2019 18:01
      djf01 Chief Commissioner

    Smith's not well; he was packed full of Codral Cold Tablets before going onto the field, and still scored. He never ceases to amaze me.
    Valvegear

    I've probably said this before here, but I think Smith has everyone conned.

    Just imagine if I said that @Valvgear, I've worked him out.  I just need to bowl four balls an over wide outside off stump, and follow it up with two half volleys on leg stump.  I don't care how many decades @Valvgear has lived on this earth, I'm sure he'd still make runs against that sort of bowling.

    Whenever someone bowls a good ball at Smith, he leaves it then humiliates the bowler like he's Luke Skywalker taunting Darth Vader.

    For all his unorthodoxy, Smith's footwork is back and across, and he hits through the line of the ball - with his unorthodox grip that should see him hit inside out countered by him opening his hips.  Back and across, play through the line - time honoured orthodox batting hidden amongst all the other outrageous movements.
    Posted: 14 Sep 2019 20:55
      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    I can understand why Paine bowled though, given how fragile the top order is, and how fragile the middle order is with M Marsh in it.  The Aussie batting selected for this test is the weakest lineup so far.
    djf01
    Poppycock.

    If you have a weak batting lineup, you bat first to avoid exposing them to a fourth innings chase. This generally applies to all sides, but especially so when you consider Australia's long-running weakness in fourth innings chases (12 wins, 20 losses, only 2 draws since Ponting resigned the captaincy in 2011)

    Paine is still replaying his Headingley Test failures in his head.
    Posted: 15 Sep 2019 16:06
      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    First milestone passed in the chase: this is both the highest and longest opening partnership of the series for Australia.

    Only 385 runs to go.
    Posted: 15 Sep 2019 20:50
      Valvegear Oliver Bullied, CME

    Location: Norda Fittazroy
    I know what Steve Smith wants for his birthday - to come in to bat with at least 100 runs already on the board. Both openers gone for very little yet again, and Labuschagne and Smith left to do the rescue work as usual.
    Posted: 15 Sep 2019 21:10
      Graham4405 The Ghost of George Stephenson

    Location: Dalby Qld
    Labuschagne and Smith left to do the rescue work as usual.
    Valvegear
    Yep, a double century each and Australia wins, simples... Wink

    Oops, Labuschagne out as I type...
    Posted: 15 Sep 2019 21:44
      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    Wade isn't going to be much help, if his choice of the slog sweep on his second ball is anything to go by.

    He hasn't done anything since Edgbaston to mark him down as a long range selection for the Gabba against Pakistan.
    Posted: 15 Sep 2019 22:54
      justapassenger Minister for Railways

    Smith getting out for 23 straight after lunch and leaving Australia's last recognised batsman to bat with the tail just about seals the result.

    If Wade manages to bring it home with only bowlers and a specialist speech-maker* for company, there would have to be a case for getting the anti-fixing people to have a look at it.

    * who has one last challenge ahead of him in this series: attempting to do a classier job of claiming a tie as a win than Eoin Morgan did after the World Cup Final a couple of months back.
    Posted: 16 Sep 2019 00:12
      bingley hall Minister for Railways

    Location: Last train to Skaville
    Smith getting out for 23 straight after lunch and leaving Australia's last recognised batsman to bat with the tail just about seals the result.

    If Wade manages to bring it home with only bowlers and a specialist speech-maker* for company, there would have to be a case for getting the anti-fixing people to have a look at it.

    * who has one last challenge ahead of him in this series: attempting to do a classier job of claiming a tie as a win than Eoin Morgan did after the World Cup Final a couple of months back.
    justapassenger

    It's funny how those jumping up and down and making the most noise about the World Cup final are Australians - who weren't even good enough to get into the final. England won the WC based on the rules of the competition. Yes, there was an umpiring error, but there are umpiring errors in every sport that is played and the results are rarely if ever revised retrospectively. It's a pity the WC rules didn't stipulate that in the event of a draw, the team that finished highest in the round robin would be declared winner, then the Aussies would have had nothing to whinge about.

    With a few obvious exceptions, given the crap batting and average bowling in this series - which was still a lot of fun - no-one deserves to have retained or won The Ashes  Razz
    Posted: 16 Sep 2019 13:43

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