Cricket 2016/7 Season

[TheNuclearOne]

It's not evenly poised any more unfortunately. An effective 3 for 5 has them well behind, with Marsh in doubt due to a back injury.

Warner has had a shit series.

I don't think we can expect much dominance away from home from Davey. If you took out games in S.A. games from his away average it would be pretty rank, particularly compared to home. S.A. pitches are similar to here. He was near out a few times in his short innings. With his style and technique he is never really set on unfavourable pitches, which is most that aren't very predictable. He has to work extremely hard and can go at any time.

That dropped catch yesty cost us immensely. Tho Saha only hit 31 we were denied a chance to run thru the tail many many runs earlier. They lost their last 4 for what, 15? Saha and Jedaja put on all but 100 prior to that. They wouldn't have got close to 332.

I think even 200 could potentially make them work hard. Lots of pressure on India. Partnerships are the key if we are to have any chance.

Prior to the game i thought Smith had put the cart in front of the horse giving so much media praise for Renshaw. It certainly didn't do him no favours.

[AndyP]

The lead needs to be at least 500.

[TheNuclearOne]

the lead needs to be at least 500.

lmfao!!!!!!

[TheNuclearOne]

There's goes Handscomb, bugger.

[AndyP]

Not on Foxtel Play yet. That's some serious buffering.

[AndyP]

Now he's out.

[AndyP]

It's not evenly poised any more unfortunately. An effective 3 for 5 has them well behind, with Marsh in doubt due to a back injury.

Warner has had a shit series.

More doubt Marsh's batting. Is that his last test?

[TheNuclearOne]

You'd think so, even with his excellent rear guard last game. We need to keep ushering in the new generation in this case i reckon. Kwaka should be straight back in.

[AndyP]

Here's hoping the Indians topple. Spinners to open?

Where does Maxwell sit in the future plans? He has batted well as the "all-rounder", yet Smith hasn't bowled him. It was over 100 overs before he got a bowl today.

[TheNuclearOne]

Here's hoping the Indians topple. Spinners to open?

Where does Maxwell sit in the future plans? He has batted well as the "all-rounder", yet Smith hasn't bowled him. It was over 100 overs before he got a bowl today.

Yadav did some damage early so pace it is.

I think they need to forget the all rounder nonsense until we have one worthy. Maxwell can fight it out for the number 6 batting spot i reckon, as a bat who can bowl a tad. Smith definitely doesn't like using non front liners. He should have bowled a few more overs himself over there imo. Cummins has bowled an immense amount of overs considering and despite so many whining he could not possibly back up this Test he has - with aplomb.

How good does our pace bowling stocks look with Hazlewood, Starc, Pattinson and Cummins. Jebus. Cummins has been unreal, especially considering his red ball history in recent years. Pattinson routed QLD the other day with 5-7 i think it was. He got a wicket first over in the Shield final today after scoring 80 odd. Starc, Pattinson and Cummins can all bat quite well too. Sayers is chipping away too, bowled superb in trying times the last two days. It's not impossible one of the young leggies might come good too.

There's a few young bats looking ok as well. Cartwright went on a bit of a tear late this season.

[jimandr]

According to my weak research, we have no more tests at all this winter or spring, which is a change. There is apparently a one-dayer Champions Trophy tourney in England later in the year, but frankly, I don't care about that.

With nothing to look forward to for quite some time, I may as well look back a few days.

Despite the way it finished, the India tour was a success.

Smith is now the best bat in the world (if he wasn't before). Renshaw showed enough to suggest he'll be successful for a long time, as did Handscomb. I'm not sure whether Maxwell will ever be the long-term answer (he will make a good scapegoat) but he did well, and he should bat well on our flat pitches. Warner and Khawaja will be happy to see our flat pitches again. So, in summary, with Wade back in form and favour, our batting should be Ok in Australian conditions, and we have nothing happening overseas for a while.

For Australian conditions, the bowling is now much better than it was before this tour. Starc will be fit again, Hazlewood is still good, and Cummins should be the new shining star if he forgets about bowling four bouncers an over. Lyon has his mojo back, but if he gets injured O'Keefe can fill a defensive spinner role. Add James Pattinson to this mix, and our bowling looks good.

I think our next tests will be The Ashes at home. I think the Poms are not as good as they were, so I reckon we might enjoy this series quite a lot.

[AndyP]

Holland called. He wants his test spot back.

[jimandr]

Finally, there is some cricket back on.

It is 50 over hit and giggle Champions Trophy, but its better than nothing.

As I write, Australia is getting thrashed by New Zealand, who are putting up a total that will be very hard to get.

I'm expecting to wake up to bad news in the morning.

[AndyP]

Rain saved the day.

[jimandr]

Billy Birmingham needs to make a comeback.

I couldn't help noticing that Dickwella is opening for Sri Lanka, and Fakhar opening for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.

As for the event itself, much as I would prefer other teams to triumph, it looks like the Poms are the best team on their home soil.

[TheNuclearOne]

Billy Birmingham needs to make a comeback.

I couldn't help noticing that Dickwella is opening for Sri Lanka, and Fakhar opening for Pakistan in the Champions Trophy.

As for the event itself, much as I would prefer other teams to triumph, it looks like the Poms are the best team on their home soil.

Wish granted and in no small way. What a thrashing.

[Jarro]

Crushing win by Pakistan over India in the final.

Good to see that goose Kohli humbled.

[Lagerlover]

Massive win

[TheNuclearOne]

Unreal finish by Pakistan absolutely flogging the Poms and India to get the silverware.

[jimandr]

Ireland and Afghanistan are now Test Playing Nations.

I'm not sure this type of expansion is what cricket needs, but time will tell, I guess.

I wonder if people will come out of the woodwork claiming Irish grandfathers in order to get a Test Cap? I would, to be honest, but I haven't got any Irish ancestry. When Scotland gets a start though, I'll be back into the nets.

[coalesce]

It's probably the first step to a 2 tier championship, which would work so long as Aus and Eng, and Ind and Pak were in the same division...

[jimandr]

At the risk of reawakening the 'women shouldn't play sport' brigade, I will say that I watched the Women's World Cup last night, and then much of the second innings this morning. I quite enjoyed it, but one thing really took my attention.

An Indian leg spinner was firing a few of her slower leggies at 58kph. To be fair, her faster deliveries were in the mid 70's and she was quite accurate.

As a demon leggie myself, terrorising Illawarra 3rd and 4th grade batsmen back in the day, I always wondered how quick the average lower grade paceman bowled, and even more so what pace I bowled at. Quite apart from my poor consistency and accuracy, my major weakness was an inability to change my pace. My regular delivery was too slow to force guys onto the back foot to defend, and my wrongun served as an even slower ball.

But I reckon I still got them through quicker than 58kph. It was strange watching someone bowling so slowly and not being smashed over the fence.

[3oneday]

It wasn't spinning and possibly peaked at 10 to 12 feet high, and they still couldn't hit it!

[Yossarian]

I reckon you were a lot slower than you imagine.

[sms316]

At the risk of reawakening the 'women shouldn't play sport' brigade, I will say that I watched the Women's World Cup last night, and then much of the second innings this morning. I quite enjoyed it, but one thing really took my attention.An Indian leg spinner was firing a few of her slower leggies at 58kph. To be fair, her faster deliveries were in the mid 70's and she was quite accurate.As a demon leggie myself, terrorising Illawarra 3rd and 4th grade batsmen back in the day, I always wondered how quick the average lower grade paceman bowled, and even more so what pace I bowled at. Quite apart from my poor consistency and accuracy, my major weakness was an inability to change my pace. My regular delivery was too slow to force guys onto the back foot to defend, and my wrongun served as an even slower ball.But I reckon I still got them through quicker than 58kph. It was strange watching someone bowling so slowly and not being smashed over the fence.

I enjoy watching a bit of lesbian action too.