The Cricket Season of 2018/19

[Ron Burgundy]

I think you are confusing the one day game with Test matches, I can’t remember a bounce throw in a test match unless it has been to assist the keeper who may have been looking into the sun. No bowler either fast or slow would want both sides of the ball damaged.

https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.cricket.com.au/news/ryan-harris-umpires-bounce-throws-to-keeper-christchurch-australia-new-zealand/2016-02-23%3fmode=amp

[AndyP]

Nathan Lyon cheated on his wife. Does that count?

Anyway, nice to see a couple of wickets, but a collapse might be wishful thinking.

Why do channel 7 keep pairing Slater and Brayshaw, who both have the boofhead style of commentating? Are they giving us the option of muting for that half an hour, knowing that we will have a decent run after that.

[Steve57]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/www.cricket.com.au/news/ryan-harris-umpires-bounce-throws-to-keeper-christchurch-australia-new-zealand/2016-02-23%3fmode=amp

Ok fair point but I still challenge anyone to consistently throw the ball so that it lands on just the one side. As an ex opening bowler there is no way you want that to occur. Yes you let one side of the ball go but you work like hell trying to keep the shine up on one side.

[TheNuclearOne]

Ok fair point but I still challenge anyone to consistently throw the ball so that it lands on just the one side. As an ex opening bowler there is no way you want that to occur. Yes you let one side of the ball go but you work like hell trying to keep the shine up on one side.

It's not hard to land it on one side side arming it in.

[mrbluu]

No firing squad but life bans would have sent a message to not only our up and comers but also to the world.There is no room in any sport for cheats!

The only reason Smith, Warner and Bancroft got long bans is the India are touring and the India board runs cricket.

It was also ironic that we got done for ball tampering in SA cos they are specialists in that area.

[perci]

Although I'm not much of a Warner fan you must admit his state of mind had to be Jaded with the Sonny Bill Mask dilemma !

[Stuart]

First two days down, and much as expected really. Bating last may be tough, as there are some worrying signs with balls keeping low, so Australia really needs to now just look to bat out time. If Australia’s batsmen could somehow match India’s patience (unlikely I know), they should aim to bat until well into the final session on day 4 and hopefully not have too much of a deficit. India would then be left with an interesting second innings scenario, as they would love to win this Test, but they are far more likely to be cautious and ensure they don’t go to Sydney in a position that they can’t win the series (for the first time ever in Australia).Fully support the idea of moving the Boxing Day Test to Adelaide, as Melbourne doesn’t deserve it anymore. Crowd numbers looked pretty crap today, so there isn’t even the argument that the big MCG capacity is needed. This will never happen of course - the influence of the Melbourne and Sydney mafia is too strong.

[HOPHEAD]

Move it to Adelaide!!!

[3Puttpete]

First two days down, and much as expected really. Bating last may be tough, as there are some worrying signs with balls keeping low, so Australia really needs to now just look to bat out time. If Australia’s batsmen could somehow match India’s patience (unlikely I know), they should aim to bat until well into the final session on day 4 and hopefully not have too much of a deficit. India would then be left with an interesting second innings scenario, as they would love to win this Test, but they are far more likely to be cautious and ensure they don’t go to Sydney in a position that they can’t win the series (for the first time ever in Australia).Fully support the idea of moving the Boxing Day Test to Adelaide, as Melbourne doesn’t deserve it anymore. Crowd numbers looked pretty crap today, so there isn’t even the argument that the big MCG capacity is needed. This will never happen of course - the influence of the Melbourne and Sydney mafia is too strong.

There were more there today than any day of the Adelaide test.

[Stuart]

There were more there today than any day of the Adelaide test.

True, but a crowd of mid 30 thousand on day 2 of the public holiday period isn’t particularly strong. Who knows what Adelaide would have done if given the opportunity. The Adelaide Oval now has a larger capacity than the SCG, and got 50,000+ there last year for the Ashes Test.First day at MCG had a lot more of course, but you wonder how many didn’t bother going after seeing what happened on day 1. I have heard the argument that we cannot move the match from the MCG as we need a capacity of 100,000 for all the sport-loving Melbournians who turn up to anything. My point was that this doesn’t seem to be the case, even with Indian supporters out in numbers.

[3Puttpete]

True, but a crowd of mid 30 thousand on day 2 of the public holiday period isn’t particularly strong. Who knows what Adelaide would have done if given the opportunity. The Adelaide Oval now has a larger capacity than the SCG, and got 50,000+ there last year for the Ashes Test.First day at MCG had a lot more of course, but you wonder how many didn’t bother going after seeing what happened on day 1. I have heard the argument that we cannot move the match from the MCG as we need a capacity of 100,000 for all the sport-loving Melbournians who turn up to anything. My point was that this doesn’t seem to be the case, even with Indian supporters out in numbers.

One day of 50k and Adelaide should get the Boxing Day test? Yeah nah.

Boxing Day should not be moved from the MCG because they still regularly get more than any other test venue can hold.

[jimandr]

Crowds appear to be down in all forms at the moment. The Big Bash doesn't seem to quite have the buzz it used to have.

Not surprising really. The Scandal hurt a lot, the best two batsmen are missing, and we are a losing team. The Board may be quite glad they agreed to a revenue sharing arrangement with the Players Union, because revenue would clearly be well down.

I have a feeling our spirits will be down as well, based on the evidence of the last session today.

Harris and Finch made it look really hard to bat. Maybe it was, and it be easier tomorrow, or it will be easier once the ball loses its hardness, but I have no confidence. Our bats need it to be really easy for them to look comfortable. Of course, if there is a Marsh/Marsh led recovery, all will be forgiven.

Two dull days of play so far. A third dull day would actually be good, as it would mean we have batted a long time. I suspect it will be another slow run rate day. Hopefully it will be a slow wicket rate as well.

[Steve57]

One day of 50k and Adelaide should get the Boxing Day test? Yeah nah.

Boxing Day should not be moved from the MCG because they still regularly get more than any other test venue can hold.

So true!
If it had have been the Poms instead of the Indians, the first day crowd would have beaten the total for the 5 days at any other ground.

[Ron Burgundy]

If the MCG keeps serving up these shite pitches and the ICC keeps rating them as ‘poor’ then they’ll be stripped of the rights to play international matches for 2 years. This’ll be the second one in a row. Do it again next year and they’re gone. Then Adelaide is a chance to exact some revenge for Melbourne stealing the F1.

[Sookie1]

Give a test back to Brisbane. **** Melbourne.

[PerryGroves]

Give a test back to Brisbane. **** Melbourne.

If anyone turned up you might get it back...……..happy if its never played up there again

[3Puttpete]

Give a test back to Brisbane. **** Melbourne.

Helpful

[3Puttpete]

If anyone turned up you might get it back...……..happy if its never played up there again

You’ve got 4 more weeks of happiness

[PerryGroves]

You’ve got 4 more weeks of happiness

Sri Lanka, the Bangas and other 2nd tiers. Looking fwd to the test from the other great metropolis...….Canberra

[AndyP]

When will a test be placed in the great sporting capital of the Gold Coast? If two home games of the Brisbane Heat, which consistently gets home game crowds of 30,000 plus at the Gabba, can be held there, it is only a matter of time before they get a test.
I'm a little dirty, because I'm a member, and I was away for the first Gabba game, and now the Heat won't appear at the Gabba again until their sixth game.

The above scenario is as likely as the MCG not getting the Boxing Day test. It's the SCG that should have its test moved, since it keeps raining there during the test match.

[AndyP]

So, a score of 243 or so would be good....

[Hatchman]

So, a score of 243 or so would be good....

Looks like it will be left to the tail again if they are to get that.

[AndyP]

I've adjusted the goal to 143.

[Steve57]

I've adjusted the goal to 143.

That’s ambitious!

[Yossarian]

India into the batting now.