Thank **** for Cummins ,
Thank **** for Cummins ,
Why do the Australian coach and captain have Cummins as a first drop bowler?
Some bowlers struggle with controlling the new ball and bowl better when it is a bit scuffed up . In Cummins case it’s probably seniority, but time has come for him to get it
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Interesting match against a disappointing Sri Lanka. Cummins continued his brilliant form, Richardson looked at home in Test cricket and Patterson looked ok as well and Marnus and Head contributed well. Excellent fielding and catching display. On the downside Starc still well below his significant best, Kwaka failed again and no tons.
Fascinating game over in the West Indies.
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Bloody hell. 3 for 30 and another sensational failure by khawaja. How many chances are they going to give this useless prick.
At the start of the summer, did anyone have Burns in the sweep stake for the first century of the cricket season?
He'll be too tired to go dogging tonight.
Have to wonder if that turns out to be the shot that costs Harris an Ashes berth.
Good to see that the second new ball is still swinging and moving around a bit. Shows that there might be a bit in it for the Australian quicks tomorrow.
It also provides Patterson and Burns (for the second time) with a bit of an outing against the swinging pill which the selectors will certainly take note of. Finch, Handscombe and the two Marshes must in some way wish they were second cab off the rank LOL
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Burns has certainly done his hopes of an Ashes tour no harm. With the very limited number of Shield games between now and then (particularly for those players in the ODI / T20 lineup), it is hard to see someone jumping over him at this stage. Head has likewise cemented his spot (the curse of the VC role notwithstanding). Patterson has also looked like a Test quality batsman, and if he pushes on tomorrow, he could well jump over Marnus in the relative standings. Patterson has batted against the new ball twice now (once under lights when everyone else was falling over), and has looked the goods. Having a solid no. 6 who is good against the second new ball could be very useful.
If we assume that Warner and Smith both come straight back in, Harris' place looks a lot more fragile than it did just a day ago. Another brain-fade shot at just the worst time - a century was there for the taking if he just had the patience to tough it out. Langer's criticism of him from a few years ago is rearing its head again - flashes of brilliance amongst consistent mediocrity.
Ussie looks completely shot mentally - the end of this season cannot come quickly enough for him. I would take him to England, as he has demonstrated his class in the past, but I wouldn't be 100% on him making the team. Smith batting at no.3 is not a bad option. However, so long as he gets a break and then regains some form, I would stick with him as he seems to bat better with a dominant Warner and Smith on either side of him.
Possible batting order for the First Ashes Test could well be Warner, Burns, Ussie, Smith, Head, Patterson and Paine. If they were all in form, it actually doesn't look too shabby.
Well said. If Harris reigns in a bit on shot selection he should be quite a decent bat. Hayden's recent spiel was quite prophetic. If he plays in the First Test Kwaka might be better suited batting lower. Maybe he will find form by then. He needs some Shield runs or he might well miss out.
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Interesting about Pucovski - great potential but realistically he is still a 20 year old kid who has only played a handful of first-class games. I fully support him being in and around the Test side at the moment, particularly as there is no other cricket for him, but I also think that he needs to play a full season or two of Shield games before we anoint him as Tim Paine's replacement (as Shane Warne undoubtedly wants). This will give him some time to adapt to the mental requirements of travel, stress etc and to see whether he can cope.
I teach at a university and see lots of 18-21 year olds who are leaving the security of home for the first time. Some have no problems at all, while others encounter significant problems with anxiety until they work themselves out. And still others always struggle with mental health issues. It may be that this is an issue that Pucovski will never overcome fully, and he may never play Test cricket. But if he is supported, that would be a better outcome than if he is chewed up and spat out by the system while still in his early 20s.
I have been told (I was certainly never good enough to find out myself!) that it is incredibly hard to start batting again after being at the crease all of the previous day. You are stiff and sore, and they say you are actually more vulnerable early than normal as your reactions are slightly down. Everyone expects you to just continue on merrily, but both mentally and physically it is difficult. It is quite common for a player to dominate on one day, and then get out immediately the next day.
However, if you make it through the first five overs or so, the muscle aches tend to disappear and things get back to normal. Will be fascinating to see how Burns goes - ideally Patterson would take the majority of the first few overs with the still-new ball, and allow Burns some time to ease back into it. In that case, he may well push on to a really big one.
Unlucky for Burns. Nice dig to keep himself in calculations but it really is a very very tame/lame attack. Better to be getting 180 odd than failing tho of course. Pucovski needs to sort life out and it sounds like he might have a ways to go. Hopefully the guy can find consistent good health. Keeping pressure off him and going slowly is probably the ticket as you say. He is surely not ready for the rigors of intense media (curcus) scrutiny. Kudos to them for not playing him despite heavy pressure from ex stars and has been's.
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Good knock from Patterson - have to give some props to the selectors for being willing to include him into the side on the basis of his good form. The question now is who is going to miss out when Warner and Smith come back.
Starc already hitting mid 150kms in his first over. Great line for right handers - shame both the openers are left handers. Starc’s 10th ball before the Sri Lankan openers had to play a ball onto the off-side. Was very quickly followed by a short wide one that was easily cut away to the boundary. Rhythm looks good, but his line is awful.
Last edited by Stuart; 2nd February 2019 at 01:29 PM.
Another stunning result in the West Indies. This is the best thing that could happen for our (slimish) Ashes chances. The Pommie press will be savage.
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Awesome result in the Windes - have watched it with some happiness
But England at home are going to be vastly different. The batsmen will do better, as will the bowlers. Anderson and Curran (in particular) are the equivalent of flat track bullies in that they struggle dramatically in conditions that don’t suit them. Back in England though, where the pitches and conditions will be obviously suited to the home side, they will bowl much better.
In terms of the Sri Lankan Test, it is good to see Starc going back to just bowling fast without worrying about trying to swing it. I think that suits him (and Hazlewood) much better. And, by doing so, I think the swing will then come back naturally. Unfortunate to see Usman just drop an absolute sitter off Starc, as him getting a five wicket hall would be good for his confidence.
They will be totally different over there for sure but it's good to see they will be under intense scrutiny and plenty of pressure prior. We really didn't want them on a roll. Starc's bowled with superb pace but badly needs to tighten tings up a little. Perhaps the WC will be the spark he needs. Our bowlers are mostly ordinary when it comes to delivering the seam well. Richardson is ok and Josh has improved quite a bit.
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Thanks Richard -
Usman Khawaja’s recent dry spell with the bat has been a particularly big thorn in Australia’s side this summer — and boy did Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella love to point it out in the field midway through day three.
Khawaja was victim to a barrage of banter from behind the stumps as he battled his way to 20 as Dickwella berated him for his lack of form.
“I really want you to get some runs here. I don’t want you to feel bad ... after that series (against India) watching your team play on TV,” he said.
“This is his last innings boys. Like (the) Marsh brothers. Remember (the) Marsh brothers?”
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